A/n: Hi all! I didn't forget you! First I wanted to thank you all for the
nice reviews you sent me during this time. They are always so helpful for a
writer. Then I didn't stop or abandoned my story, it's only that I've been
busy with my work and couldn't follow this. But now I'm here With a new
chapter. Hope you'll like it. Please review me and let me know. A special
big thank to Kentucka. You're great.
CH.24
The races started again in the afternoon and Annie won them all as well as Dom, Letty and Hector. When the sun set the voice over the loudspeakers called it a day and stopped the races.
Annie met Hector for the money. "Ok, Hector see you tomorrow," she told him after having taken what was hers and put it in her jeans pocket.
"What? Where are you going?" He asked frowning stopping her.
"Back home. I'll be here tomorrow just in time," she reassured him.
"Oh! Come on! You can't do that! It's too far! You have to stay, plus there's a big party tonight!" Hector said putting an arm around her shoulder.
"No listen I don't want to stay," she replied. "But I'll be here tomorrow morning early enough, don't worry," she insisted. The idea of a possible meeting with Toretto's team, worried her more than everything.
"Come on! Do it for me, chica! You won't meet Toretto. I promise. This is a big place you can loose people very easily!" Hector said lightly.
"What-? How do you know that?" she asked him surprised.
"'bout Toretto? Hon, I've always known that. C'mon stay with us! Besides, I want to show you off," Hector said with a friendly smile. He was smarter than she'd thought.
"You want to show me off???" she repeated incredulously and ironically, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure! When have I ever had such a good racer in my team??" Hector replied smiling charmingly at her.
"But I don't have a place where to sleep!" Annie tried to protest.
"You'll sleep at my sister's. She's got a caravan," Hector said slapping on her shoulder and taking her arm. "C'mon! It'll be fun! And you'll meet a lot of funny people!" He insisted.
"But? Oh-. . . Ok, ok!" finally gave in Annie still a bit confused.
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Three hours later. The Party.
What Hector had simply described as a "party" was a big open space between some cars with psychedelic lights, music and lots of people.
Annie arrived with Carla at this party. After all, Hector was right, why not have some good time? That place was so big, what were the chances to meet Toretto and his team? Carla took Annie to Hector and his friends.
"Wow! Anastasia! I'm- speechless. You're - beautiful!" Hector said with a truly amazed expression.
"Isn't she?" Carla said smiling. "Told her, with that body, it was a pity not to show it!" she added satisfied.
"You're definitely right sis," Hector replied still observing Annie.
Carla had dressed her and now she wore an "off the shoulder" black crop top with a short flowing black mini-skirt that left her navel free. She also had on a thin golden chain belt and high heeled sandals. She'd left her hair free for the wind to play with and notwithstanding the fact that this wasn't her usual look, she had to admit that it made her feel sexy and good. Carla had also stuck a sort of tattoo to her skin made of small diamond-like stones on one arm representing a dauphin and had applied a special kind of golden shimmering spray to her body, which accentuated her perfect skin in these lights. She blushed more.
"Here. Let me present you some friends," Carla said and without waiting took her to a group of persons close-by. Immediately the word that she was there spread. Some guys joined them just to meet the mysterious girl who was winning everything. She smiled feeling a bit uneasy at first, but it was funny after all, when she saw- "Stan? Greg? What are you doing here???" Annie asked two guys nearby her, completely astonished.
"Anastasia??? You here???" Stan said turning and seeing her. Then he opened his mouth in disbelief at her sight. "You're so -beautiful tonight!".
"You're amazing and terribly sexy!" Greg added with an admiring male look smiling sensually.
She smiled and felt herself more at her ease. Her two friends were here. She looked at them: they were as different as the sun and the moon.
Stanley was very tall and thin but firm, with brown short hair with some blond stripes and an earring. He was a bit shy but he was very intelligent and there was something in his eyes, something attractive in his look.
Greg, was different. Not as tall as Stan but with a muscled body, long blond hair, tied in a low ponytail and blue charming eyes. He was a playboy par excellence. He wasn't a true nice guy, but there was something sexy in his accent and his French manners, that made girls become crazy for him. He was a sunny character, funny and smart.
"So why you here?" Annie asked surprised.
"We just followed a friend," Stan said, "he told us it would be funny and it is!" he ended looking around.
"And we would have never missed the chance to see you race. Thought that you were good but- hey! Not like this! You're great!" Greg continued really surprised.
She smiled: "Ok. So you discovered me. Surprised?" asked Annie.
Stan shook his head: "Thought you were special, and . . . I was right!" he shrugged. She hugged him: "Thank you," she replied smiling happy.
"So," Greg said interrupting them, "let's have fun!"
"Ok!" Annie smiled.
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Two hours later Annie was having big fun. She'd danced with different guys but mostly with Greg who had flirted with her the whole party long, she knew that, but she'd decided to accept it. After all it was fun. Being courted by someone who really liked her and with whom she didn't have to hide herself, because of this. She had also danced two, three times with Stan, but he'd preferred to drink and pick up girls only with his magnetic look and his manners on the side of the dance floor.
Dom arrived at the party around midnight. He didn't want to go, but Letty had insisted unrelentingly, and in the end he'd given up. She wanted to have fun that night and he'd decided to please her, but inside of him he would have liked to have a walk and find Anastasia. He'd been looking for her attentively but she seemed to have disappeared just after the end of the races. So now here he was, drinking his beer on a side of the dance floor, with his team. He'd won all his races that afternoon and he was in a very good place on the list, but he wasn't satisfied. His mind always ran back to that morning when he'd seen her getting out from her car. She had been stunning, and he felt attracted to her more than ever.
He blinked his eyes forcing himself to free his mind from those dangerous thoughts. Letty was dancing just in front of him, moving very sexy but strangely, it didn't affect him.
He scanned the crowd as usual: Tran's team, Edwin's team, Hector's team but Anastasia wasn't there. Leon and Jesse had found a couple of girls and were having a good time with them.
"So, Dom? Having fun?" Vince asked joining him.
"Yeah," Dom answered thoughtfully. Vince looked at him: the party was great, but his friend wasn't in the mood for it. His mind was elsewhere.
Then suddenly the music changed. The rhythm slowly increased in a captivating crescendo. The loudspeakers now played "Music is no good without you" of Cher.
People seemed to like it because the dance floor was now completely filled.
Dom absently took a swallow of his beer. He strangely started to feel nervous now. Then suddenly a chill ran down his back, like a jolt of electricity.
He blinked and slowly he realized that he was feeling her. He couldn't help but slowly turn and look at the mass of people dancing in front of him. It was dark and psychedelics green, red, blue and white neon enlightened the dance floor intermittently. He didn't see her, but he knew she was there.
He forced his eyes through the dark to focus on the people, when suddenly, as if by magic, the crowd partially opened and finally he saw her and held his breath: it was like a punch in his stomach.
She was amusing herself dancing on the opposite side of the dance floor with two guys.
She moved so sensually all taken by the song. Hell, she was beautiful! She made her hips swinging sexily following the rhythm of the music. Her black mini skirt danced hypnotically on her tanned legs as her movements required. She rolled her head back, and laughed amused as a blond guy who was holding her told her something in her ear. Her golden hair softly waved in the wind, caressed her back making a fabulous contrast with her perfect golden tanned skin.
She was . . . stunning. She was the sexiest girl he'd ever seen in his life. He forced himself to breath, discovering that he'd been in a kind of apnea since he'd seen her. He couldn't help but gaze at her mesmerized.
Incredibly, as though she'd felt something, she turned and met his eyes. A sensual warm smile appeared on her lips and he felt himself melting. For a moment, they stared at each other, their eyes locked. Then someone called her and she turned again to the man she was dancing with.
Dom swallowed, his eyes still on her.
"You alright man?" Bryan asked him turning to see what Dom was staring at. "Oh. You saw her," he noted lowering his tone. "Yeah," Dom muttered, not stopping to observe Annie, who danced provokingly with a blond guy.
"She's the big star tonight," Bryan continued. "Seems like everybody wants to talk and dance with her, but looks like she dances only with him," Bryan ended. This didn't help Dom's mood.
"Her fifteen minutes of glory," Letty commented acidly, joining them: "Tomorrow I'll put her back in her place," she ended sure of herself.
"For once, I mean only one time, why don't you acknowledge the abilities of your rival?" Dom burst out, loosing his control and taking his eyes from Annie for a moment to coldly glance at his girlfriend. Letty shrugged as it didn't matter to her. He shook his head and went back to watching Annie. It was useless to try to explain that to her.
"You wanna dance?" she asked him, dropping subject. "No, Letty. Thank you," he wearily answered breathing deeply, trying to control himself. She shrugged and went back to the dance floor.
She was dancing with Greg while Stan had stopped and was watching them drinking his beer. Greg was a very good dancer and together they had found a good rhythm. She was having a lot of fun, a way she hadn't felt for months. Then suddenly she felt something, like someone staring at her, like . . . There was only one person who made her feel like that. It was like a chill. She felt the need to turn slowly and despite the crowd she met dark eyes gazing at her deeply. Dominic.
He was watching her so intensely that she felt her knees bending. A sudden heat pervaded her body. It was an hot admiring male look, and she felt her stomach tighten at it. She forced herself to reply to his smile, trying to show some confidence she was far from feeling.
Greg noticed her change of mood and called her many times till she turned to look at him blinking her eyes: "Yes . . . ?" she asked lost.
"Hey? Seems like you've just seen a ghost!" Greg said ironically. "You look shocked!" he added with an amused smile.
"N-no . . . It's nothing. I just - saw - an old friend and -" Annie said gesturing vaguely to the dance floor.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Greg teased her with his dragging smile and tightened his hold on her waist.
She smiled at him, he was smarter than she'd thought, but nice and direct as always. "I'm feeling hot, let's drink something," she said mischievously playing his game.
"Mmh," he smiled sensually. "I like it when you're hot," he whispered in her ear with a conspiratorial and allusive look. He passed his arm around her waist holding her to himself possessively. Annie shook her head amused; he was a true playboy. She spent the rest of the party talking with him, Stan and other people while drinking something, leaning against a car.
Dom spent the rest of the party staring at her. He didn't want to but, . . . . he couldn't stop it. Each time a man came and danced with her or touched her, he became more and more nervous. He would have liked to beat the shit out of them, especially the blond one, who seemed to stick at Annie. His hands were always on her, everything was an excuse to hold her to him. He would have liked very much to kill him.
Around 3:30 am, the party was ending. Only a few disparate people were still there talking or drinking and the music was softer than before. Annie had remained only with her two friends while of Toretto's team only Dom and Vince were still there.
"Dom man, I'm over. Think I'll have some sleep," Vince finally announced. Dom nodded looking at his friend. "You?" Vince asked.
"End this beer and then I'll come too," Dom replied quietly. Vince nodded and went away.
Dom remained alone, leaned against a car, letting the breeze refresh his body while thoughtfully taking a swallow of his beer.
His look came on Annie and her two friends. She was now sitting on a hood. One of them whispered something in her ear and she laughed while with the other hand he tightened his hold on her waist pushing her against his body.
Dom half closed his eyes thinking. She wasn't his girl. They'd had only two nights. He didn't have to be angry or jealous.
No, it wasn't true. Who was he kidding? She had to be his and no one else's. Because he still wanted her. He was hungry for her now, more than before and he couldn't even tolerate that other men could look at her. So when the blond guy sensually blew in Annie's ear making her blush embarrassedly and giggle, Dom decided it was enough. He couldn't stand that scene anymore. He took the last swallow of his beer and with a tough decisive look started to walk toward them.
"You don't introduce me to your friends?" a quiet husky voice said to Annie.
She immediately stopped talking and slowly turned astonished to where the voice came from.
Dom was standing just in front of them in all his stateliness looking daggers at them with flaming eyes and a fake quiet smile on his lips.
Greg, not caring about Dom's presence, whispered something funny in her ear. She smiled nervously. Suddenly she felt like the land under her feet was burning.
Dom's eyes darkened at Greg's simple gesture and clenched his fists. Annie immediately noticed it and cleared her throat as to recall Greg. He noticed her change of mood and stopped but said nothing.
"Dom, please meet Stanley Jobson," Annie said trying to show a confidence that she didn't have, indicating the tall dark blond man, who quietly leaned against the car: "He's a hacker. Well, . . . . an ex-hacker," Annie explained exchanging a conspiratorial look with her friend that smiled. "Because now, he cannot even stand nearby a computer!" she ended smiling.
Stan gestured his head "hi" and raised his bottle of beer in greeting.
"And here to my right, please meet Gregoire De Fronzac. French impoverished noble in forced holidays here in US," she ended with an amused smile. He chuckled at her presentation and tightened his hold on her waist.
"Hello," he said in an unmistakable French accent, smiling politely.
Dom decided he didn't like them, especially the French one. "C'mon. Let's dance," he suddenly ordered her sharply.
"Oh! Oh, man? What's wrong with you?" Greg said losing his smile at Dom's words. "She's with us," Stanley added approaching Annie protectively.
Dom darted a grim glance at both of them. "You, why don't you go back to your computer?" Dom started acidly to Stan. "And you, go back cooking your crepes, 'Gregoire'!" Dom ended, provocative.
Annie's eyes widened and her mouth opened speechless.
"Looking for troubles?" Greg said standing up menacingly, ready for everything.
Annie looked at her friend, astonished: he wasn't scared at all by Dom.
"You know, I wouldn't recommend you to do that," Dom suggested in a low, warning tone. His eyes flashing of fury. This scared Anastasia more than anything.
"Oh, yeah? Why?" Greg replied toughly.
"Greg! Please!" Annie intervened by placing her hand on his forearm, but he seemed not to hear her: "I know him, s'il te plaît!" she insisted. He finally looked at her. There was a plea in her eyes. She was seriously scared for him. "S'il te plaît," she repeated softly tightening her hold on his arm. He glanced at Dom, then back at her and finally nodded silently, calming down.
"Yeah, Greg! 'S'il te plait'!" Dom echoed ironically, not upset at all by the guy. Greg shot an evil eye at him ready to reply but again Annie tightened her hold. He looked at her and stopped.
"If you need me, I'm here," Greg only said quietly. "She won't need you," Dom stated in a low determined tone and without waiting grabbed Annie's wrist and dragged her to the dance floor.
The music changed in the exact moment they reached the dance floor. A soft, strange, oriental music filled the air.
"Who do you think you are, to come here and talk like this to my friends?" protested Annie angrily once she was in his arms dancing. "Never knew the meaning of the word -manners-?" she insisted vehemently.
"Who are they?" Dom asked her motioning with his head to the two men.
She shook her head: "Why do you never listen to me?" she answered irritated: "They are -friends of mine-," she underlined her words.
"Yeah, whatever," Dom surly replied: "You shouldn't go out with people like that."
"Why? They are very good friends. They accepted me the way I am," she defended herself.
He silently stared at her.
Then she glanced at them and couldn't restrain a smile: "What a colorful group we are," she admitted thoughtfully, mostly to herself. "We're all running away from something," she ended lightly.
He raised an eyebrow. "And you? What are you running away from?" he quietly asked her.
She looked at him and for a moment was lost in the depths of his caramel eyes. She would have wanted to say -you- . She took her eyes away from him: "My past," she whispered.
"You've changed," he noticed after a long silent moment still observing her. The small tattoo, her tanned firm body . . . she'd lost weight. But this didn't matter since he'd liked her even when she was more . . . soft.
"I'm grown. I'm more mature," she promptly replied.
"You're sexy."
"I've always been," she smiled provokingly, raising an eyebrow.
"Arrogant," he smirked.
"Yes, besides that's the way you like it," she teased him.
"So you're doing this for me," he smartly underlined.
"The same arrogant, egocentric, megalomaniac, male chauvinist!" she replied resentful, but not too much, there was something true in what he'd said.
He openly smiled. "I take it as a yes," tightening his hold.
She shook her head resigned and continued to dance. Without even noticing, little by little she started to softly sing the theme.
"You know this song?" he asked surprised.
She looked at him and slowly smiled: "It's an old French song called 'Aicha'," she explained. "It talks about an unrequited love." She stopped listening to the words. "He says that he would give his life for her. She's the most beautiful thing in the world . . . .," she ended in a whisper, her gaze lost in space, her eyes glittering. "Must be beautiful to be loved in such a way . . .," she murmured, lost in her thoughts.
He thoughtfully observed her and frowned. That song was talking about him and her. Because she was the most beautiful thing in the world. Suddenly, he couldn't stop himself from raising his hand and delicately brush her cheek with the back of his hand. She stared at him lost in his eyes holding her breath.
His lips slowly bent in a gentle grin. She smiled and blushed lowering her eyes. This was the Anastasia he loved the most. So tender and defenseless.
She moved her face and cleared her throat to regain her self control. He let his hand fall down to hold her again in his arms.
"Why did you do that today. Why did you help me?" Dom suddenly asked.
Annie shrugged: "It felt good," she admitted. She paused and stared at him with hooded eyes. "And you . . . .why did you trust me?"
He looked at her and shrugged: "Don't know, I felt - I could do it," Dom answered directly. Then he shook his head thinking back at that morning: "Is it possible that you know everything about everybody?" he couldn't stop himself to ask her sincerely curious, following the line of his thoughts.
"Well, this should be my work" she replied enigmatically with a half smile.
"How many languages you speak?"
"Five fluently, plus some sentences of Russian, Greek and Turkish and some words in Arabian," she ended in a shrug as if it was normal: "I could say 'Good morning' in five languages," she added smiling lightly.
"Or 'I love you' in five languages," he whispered in a breath staring her deeply. He was mesmerizing, she felt her mouth become dry, she was speechless, she was - breathless.
"Y-yes . . .," she babbled lowering her eyes blushing. He smiled, not arrogant anymore but sincere, and softly caressed her back continuing to dance.
"Why did you run away that night? Because of me?" he asked her serious after a while.
She looked at him. After all it was the truth, oh! She would have liked to say yes, but she couldn't. She had to keep him far away from her. "No, it's because of me," she whispered, her eyes downcast, not having the courage to meet his eyes. It would be better if he thought that it was her fault, she sadly considered.
"Who are they?" Dom asked quietly hinting to Stan and Greg.
"They are good friends, nice people, you don't have to worry about them," she sincerely admitted absent-mindedly. Immediately afterwards she paused and frowned: "But, then -why should you be worried?" she remarked. "I'm nothing for you, there's nothing between us, I'm not yours," she ended toughly. These were harsh words, she knew, but it was the truth. They both knew it.
It was like a slap in the face for him. He half closed his eyes and pushed her more against him so strongly that it almost hurt her.
"Can't - can't breath!" she whispered trying to free herself.
"Shut up!" he ordered furiously through his teeth.
She raised her eyes to meet his gaze and felt her knees bending at this. She melted. Speechless. Notwithstanding his tone, his eyes were darkened by desire. Everything seemed to disappear around them. There was no more music, or dance floor, or anything else except for them. "Stay with me, tonight," he suddenly whispered on her lips.
She swallowed: "Why?" she asked in a breath, lost in his eyes. "Because - " he hesitated.
She could read in his eyes, his inner struggle, but she wanted him to tell her. She needed to know and she would have given herself to him completely, she only needed three words. Not necessarily The Three Magic Words, but maybe that he needed her. Wanted her.
"Because . . . "
"Dom? Dom!" a female voice was calling him: "Dom!" Letty insisted peremptorily reaching the dance floor.
Annie blinked and Dom took a deep breath, the spell of the moment broken. They looked around realizing only in that moment that the music had ended. They untied from their embrace but still held hands.
"Dom!" Letty said through her teeth angrily: "Mia is looking for you!" she said putting her hands on her waist.
Annie gave him a bitter look: 'See? I was right'. "Go, now. She's calling you," she gently muttered. There was no irony or anger in her words, just an ascertainment. Only the unvarnished reality.
He was dumbfounded, uncertain, did not know what to do. He didn't want to let her go, he wouldn't go.
"Dom!" Letty repeated to receive his attention. He turned to look at her without even truly seeing her. "It's urgent!" Letty insisted giving with her eyes sign to go.
He turned to look at Annie. "Gotta go," he whispered near her ear.
She shivered closing her eyes, then opened them and looked at him, "I know," but her eyes showed sadness, bitterness. He left her slowly, tarrying sweetly to stare at her for a few more seconds, then moved away fast.
Annie turned to look around breathing deeply to regain her control but it was useless. She loved him, She still loved him. How could she have only imagined that she could forget him? Being in his arms, his look had been enough to reawake those sensations she had thought had died. She only hoped he hadn't noticed it. Funny. She should have thanked Letty for this. A few seconds longer and it would have been too late. She looked for Greg and Stan, but they were gone: "Good friends!" she grunted.
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CH.24
The races started again in the afternoon and Annie won them all as well as Dom, Letty and Hector. When the sun set the voice over the loudspeakers called it a day and stopped the races.
Annie met Hector for the money. "Ok, Hector see you tomorrow," she told him after having taken what was hers and put it in her jeans pocket.
"What? Where are you going?" He asked frowning stopping her.
"Back home. I'll be here tomorrow just in time," she reassured him.
"Oh! Come on! You can't do that! It's too far! You have to stay, plus there's a big party tonight!" Hector said putting an arm around her shoulder.
"No listen I don't want to stay," she replied. "But I'll be here tomorrow morning early enough, don't worry," she insisted. The idea of a possible meeting with Toretto's team, worried her more than everything.
"Come on! Do it for me, chica! You won't meet Toretto. I promise. This is a big place you can loose people very easily!" Hector said lightly.
"What-? How do you know that?" she asked him surprised.
"'bout Toretto? Hon, I've always known that. C'mon stay with us! Besides, I want to show you off," Hector said with a friendly smile. He was smarter than she'd thought.
"You want to show me off???" she repeated incredulously and ironically, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure! When have I ever had such a good racer in my team??" Hector replied smiling charmingly at her.
"But I don't have a place where to sleep!" Annie tried to protest.
"You'll sleep at my sister's. She's got a caravan," Hector said slapping on her shoulder and taking her arm. "C'mon! It'll be fun! And you'll meet a lot of funny people!" He insisted.
"But? Oh-. . . Ok, ok!" finally gave in Annie still a bit confused.
-------------------------------------
Three hours later. The Party.
What Hector had simply described as a "party" was a big open space between some cars with psychedelic lights, music and lots of people.
Annie arrived with Carla at this party. After all, Hector was right, why not have some good time? That place was so big, what were the chances to meet Toretto and his team? Carla took Annie to Hector and his friends.
"Wow! Anastasia! I'm- speechless. You're - beautiful!" Hector said with a truly amazed expression.
"Isn't she?" Carla said smiling. "Told her, with that body, it was a pity not to show it!" she added satisfied.
"You're definitely right sis," Hector replied still observing Annie.
Carla had dressed her and now she wore an "off the shoulder" black crop top with a short flowing black mini-skirt that left her navel free. She also had on a thin golden chain belt and high heeled sandals. She'd left her hair free for the wind to play with and notwithstanding the fact that this wasn't her usual look, she had to admit that it made her feel sexy and good. Carla had also stuck a sort of tattoo to her skin made of small diamond-like stones on one arm representing a dauphin and had applied a special kind of golden shimmering spray to her body, which accentuated her perfect skin in these lights. She blushed more.
"Here. Let me present you some friends," Carla said and without waiting took her to a group of persons close-by. Immediately the word that she was there spread. Some guys joined them just to meet the mysterious girl who was winning everything. She smiled feeling a bit uneasy at first, but it was funny after all, when she saw- "Stan? Greg? What are you doing here???" Annie asked two guys nearby her, completely astonished.
"Anastasia??? You here???" Stan said turning and seeing her. Then he opened his mouth in disbelief at her sight. "You're so -beautiful tonight!".
"You're amazing and terribly sexy!" Greg added with an admiring male look smiling sensually.
She smiled and felt herself more at her ease. Her two friends were here. She looked at them: they were as different as the sun and the moon.
Stanley was very tall and thin but firm, with brown short hair with some blond stripes and an earring. He was a bit shy but he was very intelligent and there was something in his eyes, something attractive in his look.
Greg, was different. Not as tall as Stan but with a muscled body, long blond hair, tied in a low ponytail and blue charming eyes. He was a playboy par excellence. He wasn't a true nice guy, but there was something sexy in his accent and his French manners, that made girls become crazy for him. He was a sunny character, funny and smart.
"So why you here?" Annie asked surprised.
"We just followed a friend," Stan said, "he told us it would be funny and it is!" he ended looking around.
"And we would have never missed the chance to see you race. Thought that you were good but- hey! Not like this! You're great!" Greg continued really surprised.
She smiled: "Ok. So you discovered me. Surprised?" asked Annie.
Stan shook his head: "Thought you were special, and . . . I was right!" he shrugged. She hugged him: "Thank you," she replied smiling happy.
"So," Greg said interrupting them, "let's have fun!"
"Ok!" Annie smiled.
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Two hours later Annie was having big fun. She'd danced with different guys but mostly with Greg who had flirted with her the whole party long, she knew that, but she'd decided to accept it. After all it was fun. Being courted by someone who really liked her and with whom she didn't have to hide herself, because of this. She had also danced two, three times with Stan, but he'd preferred to drink and pick up girls only with his magnetic look and his manners on the side of the dance floor.
Dom arrived at the party around midnight. He didn't want to go, but Letty had insisted unrelentingly, and in the end he'd given up. She wanted to have fun that night and he'd decided to please her, but inside of him he would have liked to have a walk and find Anastasia. He'd been looking for her attentively but she seemed to have disappeared just after the end of the races. So now here he was, drinking his beer on a side of the dance floor, with his team. He'd won all his races that afternoon and he was in a very good place on the list, but he wasn't satisfied. His mind always ran back to that morning when he'd seen her getting out from her car. She had been stunning, and he felt attracted to her more than ever.
He blinked his eyes forcing himself to free his mind from those dangerous thoughts. Letty was dancing just in front of him, moving very sexy but strangely, it didn't affect him.
He scanned the crowd as usual: Tran's team, Edwin's team, Hector's team but Anastasia wasn't there. Leon and Jesse had found a couple of girls and were having a good time with them.
"So, Dom? Having fun?" Vince asked joining him.
"Yeah," Dom answered thoughtfully. Vince looked at him: the party was great, but his friend wasn't in the mood for it. His mind was elsewhere.
Then suddenly the music changed. The rhythm slowly increased in a captivating crescendo. The loudspeakers now played "Music is no good without you" of Cher.
People seemed to like it because the dance floor was now completely filled.
Dom absently took a swallow of his beer. He strangely started to feel nervous now. Then suddenly a chill ran down his back, like a jolt of electricity.
He blinked and slowly he realized that he was feeling her. He couldn't help but slowly turn and look at the mass of people dancing in front of him. It was dark and psychedelics green, red, blue and white neon enlightened the dance floor intermittently. He didn't see her, but he knew she was there.
He forced his eyes through the dark to focus on the people, when suddenly, as if by magic, the crowd partially opened and finally he saw her and held his breath: it was like a punch in his stomach.
She was amusing herself dancing on the opposite side of the dance floor with two guys.
She moved so sensually all taken by the song. Hell, she was beautiful! She made her hips swinging sexily following the rhythm of the music. Her black mini skirt danced hypnotically on her tanned legs as her movements required. She rolled her head back, and laughed amused as a blond guy who was holding her told her something in her ear. Her golden hair softly waved in the wind, caressed her back making a fabulous contrast with her perfect golden tanned skin.
She was . . . stunning. She was the sexiest girl he'd ever seen in his life. He forced himself to breath, discovering that he'd been in a kind of apnea since he'd seen her. He couldn't help but gaze at her mesmerized.
Incredibly, as though she'd felt something, she turned and met his eyes. A sensual warm smile appeared on her lips and he felt himself melting. For a moment, they stared at each other, their eyes locked. Then someone called her and she turned again to the man she was dancing with.
Dom swallowed, his eyes still on her.
"You alright man?" Bryan asked him turning to see what Dom was staring at. "Oh. You saw her," he noted lowering his tone. "Yeah," Dom muttered, not stopping to observe Annie, who danced provokingly with a blond guy.
"She's the big star tonight," Bryan continued. "Seems like everybody wants to talk and dance with her, but looks like she dances only with him," Bryan ended. This didn't help Dom's mood.
"Her fifteen minutes of glory," Letty commented acidly, joining them: "Tomorrow I'll put her back in her place," she ended sure of herself.
"For once, I mean only one time, why don't you acknowledge the abilities of your rival?" Dom burst out, loosing his control and taking his eyes from Annie for a moment to coldly glance at his girlfriend. Letty shrugged as it didn't matter to her. He shook his head and went back to watching Annie. It was useless to try to explain that to her.
"You wanna dance?" she asked him, dropping subject. "No, Letty. Thank you," he wearily answered breathing deeply, trying to control himself. She shrugged and went back to the dance floor.
She was dancing with Greg while Stan had stopped and was watching them drinking his beer. Greg was a very good dancer and together they had found a good rhythm. She was having a lot of fun, a way she hadn't felt for months. Then suddenly she felt something, like someone staring at her, like . . . There was only one person who made her feel like that. It was like a chill. She felt the need to turn slowly and despite the crowd she met dark eyes gazing at her deeply. Dominic.
He was watching her so intensely that she felt her knees bending. A sudden heat pervaded her body. It was an hot admiring male look, and she felt her stomach tighten at it. She forced herself to reply to his smile, trying to show some confidence she was far from feeling.
Greg noticed her change of mood and called her many times till she turned to look at him blinking her eyes: "Yes . . . ?" she asked lost.
"Hey? Seems like you've just seen a ghost!" Greg said ironically. "You look shocked!" he added with an amused smile.
"N-no . . . It's nothing. I just - saw - an old friend and -" Annie said gesturing vaguely to the dance floor.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Greg teased her with his dragging smile and tightened his hold on her waist.
She smiled at him, he was smarter than she'd thought, but nice and direct as always. "I'm feeling hot, let's drink something," she said mischievously playing his game.
"Mmh," he smiled sensually. "I like it when you're hot," he whispered in her ear with a conspiratorial and allusive look. He passed his arm around her waist holding her to himself possessively. Annie shook her head amused; he was a true playboy. She spent the rest of the party talking with him, Stan and other people while drinking something, leaning against a car.
Dom spent the rest of the party staring at her. He didn't want to but, . . . . he couldn't stop it. Each time a man came and danced with her or touched her, he became more and more nervous. He would have liked to beat the shit out of them, especially the blond one, who seemed to stick at Annie. His hands were always on her, everything was an excuse to hold her to him. He would have liked very much to kill him.
Around 3:30 am, the party was ending. Only a few disparate people were still there talking or drinking and the music was softer than before. Annie had remained only with her two friends while of Toretto's team only Dom and Vince were still there.
"Dom man, I'm over. Think I'll have some sleep," Vince finally announced. Dom nodded looking at his friend. "You?" Vince asked.
"End this beer and then I'll come too," Dom replied quietly. Vince nodded and went away.
Dom remained alone, leaned against a car, letting the breeze refresh his body while thoughtfully taking a swallow of his beer.
His look came on Annie and her two friends. She was now sitting on a hood. One of them whispered something in her ear and she laughed while with the other hand he tightened his hold on her waist pushing her against his body.
Dom half closed his eyes thinking. She wasn't his girl. They'd had only two nights. He didn't have to be angry or jealous.
No, it wasn't true. Who was he kidding? She had to be his and no one else's. Because he still wanted her. He was hungry for her now, more than before and he couldn't even tolerate that other men could look at her. So when the blond guy sensually blew in Annie's ear making her blush embarrassedly and giggle, Dom decided it was enough. He couldn't stand that scene anymore. He took the last swallow of his beer and with a tough decisive look started to walk toward them.
"You don't introduce me to your friends?" a quiet husky voice said to Annie.
She immediately stopped talking and slowly turned astonished to where the voice came from.
Dom was standing just in front of them in all his stateliness looking daggers at them with flaming eyes and a fake quiet smile on his lips.
Greg, not caring about Dom's presence, whispered something funny in her ear. She smiled nervously. Suddenly she felt like the land under her feet was burning.
Dom's eyes darkened at Greg's simple gesture and clenched his fists. Annie immediately noticed it and cleared her throat as to recall Greg. He noticed her change of mood and stopped but said nothing.
"Dom, please meet Stanley Jobson," Annie said trying to show a confidence that she didn't have, indicating the tall dark blond man, who quietly leaned against the car: "He's a hacker. Well, . . . . an ex-hacker," Annie explained exchanging a conspiratorial look with her friend that smiled. "Because now, he cannot even stand nearby a computer!" she ended smiling.
Stan gestured his head "hi" and raised his bottle of beer in greeting.
"And here to my right, please meet Gregoire De Fronzac. French impoverished noble in forced holidays here in US," she ended with an amused smile. He chuckled at her presentation and tightened his hold on her waist.
"Hello," he said in an unmistakable French accent, smiling politely.
Dom decided he didn't like them, especially the French one. "C'mon. Let's dance," he suddenly ordered her sharply.
"Oh! Oh, man? What's wrong with you?" Greg said losing his smile at Dom's words. "She's with us," Stanley added approaching Annie protectively.
Dom darted a grim glance at both of them. "You, why don't you go back to your computer?" Dom started acidly to Stan. "And you, go back cooking your crepes, 'Gregoire'!" Dom ended, provocative.
Annie's eyes widened and her mouth opened speechless.
"Looking for troubles?" Greg said standing up menacingly, ready for everything.
Annie looked at her friend, astonished: he wasn't scared at all by Dom.
"You know, I wouldn't recommend you to do that," Dom suggested in a low, warning tone. His eyes flashing of fury. This scared Anastasia more than anything.
"Oh, yeah? Why?" Greg replied toughly.
"Greg! Please!" Annie intervened by placing her hand on his forearm, but he seemed not to hear her: "I know him, s'il te plaît!" she insisted. He finally looked at her. There was a plea in her eyes. She was seriously scared for him. "S'il te plaît," she repeated softly tightening her hold on his arm. He glanced at Dom, then back at her and finally nodded silently, calming down.
"Yeah, Greg! 'S'il te plait'!" Dom echoed ironically, not upset at all by the guy. Greg shot an evil eye at him ready to reply but again Annie tightened her hold. He looked at her and stopped.
"If you need me, I'm here," Greg only said quietly. "She won't need you," Dom stated in a low determined tone and without waiting grabbed Annie's wrist and dragged her to the dance floor.
The music changed in the exact moment they reached the dance floor. A soft, strange, oriental music filled the air.
"Who do you think you are, to come here and talk like this to my friends?" protested Annie angrily once she was in his arms dancing. "Never knew the meaning of the word -manners-?" she insisted vehemently.
"Who are they?" Dom asked her motioning with his head to the two men.
She shook her head: "Why do you never listen to me?" she answered irritated: "They are -friends of mine-," she underlined her words.
"Yeah, whatever," Dom surly replied: "You shouldn't go out with people like that."
"Why? They are very good friends. They accepted me the way I am," she defended herself.
He silently stared at her.
Then she glanced at them and couldn't restrain a smile: "What a colorful group we are," she admitted thoughtfully, mostly to herself. "We're all running away from something," she ended lightly.
He raised an eyebrow. "And you? What are you running away from?" he quietly asked her.
She looked at him and for a moment was lost in the depths of his caramel eyes. She would have wanted to say -you- . She took her eyes away from him: "My past," she whispered.
"You've changed," he noticed after a long silent moment still observing her. The small tattoo, her tanned firm body . . . she'd lost weight. But this didn't matter since he'd liked her even when she was more . . . soft.
"I'm grown. I'm more mature," she promptly replied.
"You're sexy."
"I've always been," she smiled provokingly, raising an eyebrow.
"Arrogant," he smirked.
"Yes, besides that's the way you like it," she teased him.
"So you're doing this for me," he smartly underlined.
"The same arrogant, egocentric, megalomaniac, male chauvinist!" she replied resentful, but not too much, there was something true in what he'd said.
He openly smiled. "I take it as a yes," tightening his hold.
She shook her head resigned and continued to dance. Without even noticing, little by little she started to softly sing the theme.
"You know this song?" he asked surprised.
She looked at him and slowly smiled: "It's an old French song called 'Aicha'," she explained. "It talks about an unrequited love." She stopped listening to the words. "He says that he would give his life for her. She's the most beautiful thing in the world . . . .," she ended in a whisper, her gaze lost in space, her eyes glittering. "Must be beautiful to be loved in such a way . . .," she murmured, lost in her thoughts.
He thoughtfully observed her and frowned. That song was talking about him and her. Because she was the most beautiful thing in the world. Suddenly, he couldn't stop himself from raising his hand and delicately brush her cheek with the back of his hand. She stared at him lost in his eyes holding her breath.
His lips slowly bent in a gentle grin. She smiled and blushed lowering her eyes. This was the Anastasia he loved the most. So tender and defenseless.
She moved her face and cleared her throat to regain her self control. He let his hand fall down to hold her again in his arms.
"Why did you do that today. Why did you help me?" Dom suddenly asked.
Annie shrugged: "It felt good," she admitted. She paused and stared at him with hooded eyes. "And you . . . .why did you trust me?"
He looked at her and shrugged: "Don't know, I felt - I could do it," Dom answered directly. Then he shook his head thinking back at that morning: "Is it possible that you know everything about everybody?" he couldn't stop himself to ask her sincerely curious, following the line of his thoughts.
"Well, this should be my work" she replied enigmatically with a half smile.
"How many languages you speak?"
"Five fluently, plus some sentences of Russian, Greek and Turkish and some words in Arabian," she ended in a shrug as if it was normal: "I could say 'Good morning' in five languages," she added smiling lightly.
"Or 'I love you' in five languages," he whispered in a breath staring her deeply. He was mesmerizing, she felt her mouth become dry, she was speechless, she was - breathless.
"Y-yes . . .," she babbled lowering her eyes blushing. He smiled, not arrogant anymore but sincere, and softly caressed her back continuing to dance.
"Why did you run away that night? Because of me?" he asked her serious after a while.
She looked at him. After all it was the truth, oh! She would have liked to say yes, but she couldn't. She had to keep him far away from her. "No, it's because of me," she whispered, her eyes downcast, not having the courage to meet his eyes. It would be better if he thought that it was her fault, she sadly considered.
"Who are they?" Dom asked quietly hinting to Stan and Greg.
"They are good friends, nice people, you don't have to worry about them," she sincerely admitted absent-mindedly. Immediately afterwards she paused and frowned: "But, then -why should you be worried?" she remarked. "I'm nothing for you, there's nothing between us, I'm not yours," she ended toughly. These were harsh words, she knew, but it was the truth. They both knew it.
It was like a slap in the face for him. He half closed his eyes and pushed her more against him so strongly that it almost hurt her.
"Can't - can't breath!" she whispered trying to free herself.
"Shut up!" he ordered furiously through his teeth.
She raised her eyes to meet his gaze and felt her knees bending at this. She melted. Speechless. Notwithstanding his tone, his eyes were darkened by desire. Everything seemed to disappear around them. There was no more music, or dance floor, or anything else except for them. "Stay with me, tonight," he suddenly whispered on her lips.
She swallowed: "Why?" she asked in a breath, lost in his eyes. "Because - " he hesitated.
She could read in his eyes, his inner struggle, but she wanted him to tell her. She needed to know and she would have given herself to him completely, she only needed three words. Not necessarily The Three Magic Words, but maybe that he needed her. Wanted her.
"Because . . . "
"Dom? Dom!" a female voice was calling him: "Dom!" Letty insisted peremptorily reaching the dance floor.
Annie blinked and Dom took a deep breath, the spell of the moment broken. They looked around realizing only in that moment that the music had ended. They untied from their embrace but still held hands.
"Dom!" Letty said through her teeth angrily: "Mia is looking for you!" she said putting her hands on her waist.
Annie gave him a bitter look: 'See? I was right'. "Go, now. She's calling you," she gently muttered. There was no irony or anger in her words, just an ascertainment. Only the unvarnished reality.
He was dumbfounded, uncertain, did not know what to do. He didn't want to let her go, he wouldn't go.
"Dom!" Letty repeated to receive his attention. He turned to look at her without even truly seeing her. "It's urgent!" Letty insisted giving with her eyes sign to go.
He turned to look at Annie. "Gotta go," he whispered near her ear.
She shivered closing her eyes, then opened them and looked at him, "I know," but her eyes showed sadness, bitterness. He left her slowly, tarrying sweetly to stare at her for a few more seconds, then moved away fast.
Annie turned to look around breathing deeply to regain her control but it was useless. She loved him, She still loved him. How could she have only imagined that she could forget him? Being in his arms, his look had been enough to reawake those sensations she had thought had died. She only hoped he hadn't noticed it. Funny. She should have thanked Letty for this. A few seconds longer and it would have been too late. She looked for Greg and Stan, but they were gone: "Good friends!" she grunted.
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