Title: Beyond His Reach: Unwanted Encounters
Author: Svelte Rose
Pairing: Ryou & Téa
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh
30 Kisses Theme: No. 24- Good night
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO.
The night had hardly begun and already, it was pretty sour from the look of things. While Mai did give her a chance to escape, Téa had to resort to ducking behind large plants to avoid people emerging from the bathrooms or stragglers.
It wasn't in her nature to even remotely have to snoop; she imagined the servants standing guard at the entrance of the ballroom probably believed she was off on some clandestine liaison like a few of these attendees. After all, why else would someone leave a perfectly good party just to wander around?
For her, it wasn't just wandering around, it was a way to get a breath of fresh air, avoid the throngs of pressing people and the conversations of matters she cared naught for. Mai was always the better actress than her- to handle those people, you had to be.
As soft strands of Chopin's Ballade In G Minor wafted out of the ballroom like a small wave, Téa's right hand pushed down on a door handle and the room opened with click. First pop and now classical? What an eclectic music taste Anne had.
Hurrying in, she gently shut the door behind her. Téa's eyes did a quick scan of the room for any other occupants and she sighed in relief when she came up with none. Save for the moonlight shining through the large windows, the fireplace was the only other source of light. That was alright, she rather liked the dimmed settings of the room.
Looking around, she noted all the books that lay upon the shelves with a happy smile- what great luck to have stumbled across an empty library on her first try! Making out a couple of "hello's?" and "is anybody in here?", she scanned the room once more. Finally, satisfied with her search results, she moved towards the shelves closest to the fireplace and started to scan the shelves, looking for any favorites. Having come across a familiar title, she reached up and her fingertips grazed gently across the spine of the book. Even on her tippy toes, she couldn't reach it.
Téa did a quick assessment of the bottom shelf, wondering if the wood could handle her weight. Sighing, she realized that her added weight on the thin shelf with books already pushing on it wouldn't bode well. The risk of damaging property outweighed her desire for easy access to the book.
So she did the next best thing. Bending down, she did a nimble leap and was able to pull the book out a few centimeters. Just enough for her to reach up and firmly grip the book.
And just as she reached up, she heard a gentle movement behind her before a broad body pressed her against the bookshelves and a bare hand with an opened cuff-link reached up and brought the book down for her.
"I believe this is what you are looking for?" It spoke as she was still pressed up against the bookshelves.
Heart beating wildly, she pushed herself closer against the body, gaining space between her and the shelves and ducked under the arm, eyes staring almost indicting the newcomer as an intruder.
She hadn't heard the door open and she knew she was sure to have seen the rays of light coming in from the hallways had it been opened. Which meant…
"Have you been here the entire time?" She asked, reaching for the book from his proffered arm.
"What? No greetings? Have your manners forsaken you, Miss Gardner?" He smirked, pulling his hand just as her hand brushed up against the book.
She narrowed her eyes. He was taunting her both verbally and with her item of want, "I hadn't thought there would be need for introductions as it seems you already know my name. Though I can't believe I caught yours?" She reached again for the book but was embarrassed to find her fingers meeting empty space.
He closed the space between them, "We've never met," He arched his eyebrow, book held high out of her reach.
"I know," She quipped, stepping back to figure out who this…this…arrogant ass was! Brown eyes fringed with long lashes and shockingly white hair pulled back in a neat pony tail, he was dressed to the tip of perfection. She had worked with many models in her time but the way the suit fit his body was-
And suddenly she was very, very wary of this man. While she took her assessment of him, he had taken a couple steps closer, making the space between them the bare minimum without stepping on each others' toes. She tried to back up but was frustrated to realize that she'd been trapped up against the wall. So she breathed deeply to calm her nerves, only to pick up his musky cologne.
"Hehe," She chuckled nervously, "Is that Armani?"
Her attempt at a civil conversation.
His hand came down and rested beside her head. He blinked at her, all the more unsettling and clearly enjoying her distress, "Very good. I believe you're wearing Chanteusse?" His voice had deepened considerably with the last word almost rolling off his tongue. Almost to prove a point, he dipped his head near her neck and inhaled, his nose brushing against the pulse on her neck.
It quickened with the contact.
"I apologize if I've intruded," She blabbered trying to side-step the man but was dismayed to find his other arm had come up, successfully trapping her.
His head dipped down and he laughed- a deep, hearty laugh, "Yes, you have," He finally spoke after his shoulders had stopped shaking with mirth.
"Still, this isn't very proper of you, if you would just…," Téa pushed a hand against each of his arms but they didn't budge. Even with her gloves on and his layers of clothing, she could still feel the contours of his muscles through them. With a grimace, she yanked her hands back as though they'd been scalded. "This is very presumptuous of you," She growled, staring fiercely at him, her fighting spirit back.
He shook his head with a bemused grin and stepped back, one hand falling to his side and the other held out with her wanted book, "I believe you wanted this?"
Good. Took him long enough.
"So why are you here?" He asked, hands in pocket and a safe distance away from her.
"Do you have a name?" She countered, knowing her abrupt change in subject was barely a smooth transition.
"My question first," He demanded softly, brown eyes steadfast upon hers.
"Headache," She submitted, and then chastised herself for answering so quickly. This was unlike her- she hardly ever conformed to anyone's demands- least of all, a nameless prick.
"Bull," He snipped, arching one of his eyebrows.
"I don't care," She bit right back while stepping around to get past him.
Quickly, his hand shot out and snatched onto her right wrist, stopping her from any further movement.
"What are you doing?" Her resentment flaring up again. She knew she didn't possess the strength to pull away so she opted for a cold stare. The book had dropped from her arms and was long forgotten.
He slowly pulled off her velvet gloves, eyes never once leaving her face.
Tugging her arm back only hardened his grip.
"I'm making my introduction Miss Gardner," He pulled at the last finger before pocketing the glove and turning her palm upside.
"Uh…" She gazed, confused.
"Téa?" Came the hushed tone from outside. "Where are you?"
"Maybe next time," He grinned before pressing a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist, eyelashes brushing up against the sensitive skin.
Téa shivered before yanking her hand back and all but ran to the door. Yanking it open, lips set in a firm line, she practically whined, "Can we please go?"
"Heh…I don't think so…" Mai looked around the brunette's figure having spotted another person who winked at her. Blushing, she tugged on Téa's arm and motioned her head towards him. "First, tell me who's the hunk?"
Growling, Téa shut the door behind her but not before she heard a bemused chuckle and a sing-song 'good night for now'. "I honestly have no idea," She started towards the direction of the ballroom.
Mai hurried to catch up and out of the corner of her eye, she snuck a peek at the blushing brunette. With a face set in stone, Téa looked ready to bite the head of anyone that dared to be the next to annoy her. Sighing, she shook her head and hooked an arm through her companion's elbow, "I'll make our apologies and meet you at the car, then you can tell me all about it…"
"Fat chance," Téa snarked, mood sour.
But, both knew otherwise.
End Notes: I luffles reviews.