Chapter 41. Kisses & Mako
Sephiroth's POV
There was something strangely gratifying about pushing Stevens' buttons.
The curiosity I had over her had changed nature with time. I had to admit… something urgent about her made me behave in a very unusual way.
I never had wanted a specific woman, so all this was very new to me. Wanting someone, to a rather intimate level, demanded a careful approach.
And I wasn't used to those complications. I knew of it second-hand, witnessed how several of my men managed to conquer the woman they so desired. It all felt very strange to me - I, who didn't feel attached over anyone, didn't feel the weight of such feeling towards someone.
It was weird, and it distracted me. Her presence was something enticing and soothing at the same time, and I found myself wondering about her throughout the day. Where she was, how she felt… if she missed me.
Trivial emotions like these.
The day Zack had been honored had been filled with strong emotions - at all levels. First, she almost insulted me, then, all the crying… it broke my heart to see her so despaired over something I had done. But it was necessary - I had told her that, I wanted nothing but her safety.
She seemed to understand. Thankfully, Stevens wasn't as stubborn as I was. She listened to me… and her body reacted the strangest way to my touch. It was like an unknown chemical reaction.
Why did her heartbeat peak? Why did she breathe that way when I stared at her in a not-so-innocent way?
Did she feel it? My lust, my control slipping, my desire for answers, my need. I didn't know, wasn't sure of anything. All this uncertainty made me behave erratically.
For instance, the thing at the elevator. Powerful stuff, I had to admit. When pushed to certain limits, Stevens gave me answers. Not directly, not the way I wanted, but… all the unexplained desire of closing contact with her overwhelmed me. Touch her skin, mouth and lips, sense her temperature, her smell, her taste.
My desires over Stevens became physical - all the fascination and interest I might have over her turned dangerously now… transformed into something different.
New.
It was something that took me to a whole new level.
Hence, it had taken me to accept her suggestion. Dinner, at her apartment, something I usually wouldn't accept. It would not even occur to me, to engage in such ordinary thing.
But with Stevens everything changed. It was her, her way of approaching, talking and her teasing shyness. For a woman who claimed to know all about me… she seemed lost, most of the times. And that allowed me to draw my own conclusions.
She looked amazing in that dress. I doubted she knew it had such a provocative effect on me - not only now. That day when she went out with Reno… her weightlessness almost took my coherence away. It was difficult to explain and I couldn't just afford to ask someone about it.
The only person resolving my doubts could never know of this - how I felt, how she made me feel. Hojo was a dangerous man and his interest over Stevens was already wicked enough, I wouldn't want to add another item to his to-do list.
I knew he would use her against me if he knew about my interest over her. So, all my doubts would remain for myself.
I had it difficult to sleep after that dinner with had given me the answers I needed - mingled in between the lines, everything was so obvious now. I rested with my hands behind my pillow. Eyes on the ceiling, feeling utterly alone in this bed. Although, I knew it made no sense to ask for a fix now. It wasn't a regular fix I needed.
It was her. Her body and her soul, her whole.
I sighed, as I tried to get some sleep. Tomorrow I would see her again.
Elie's POV.
I walked towards the Office with the most stupid smile on my face. Reno congratulated me for such mood, but I decided to keep the reason just to myself. I didn't want to spoil things right in the beginning.
Reno was my friend and the person I talked to mostly, but there were limits - for now. My dates with the general would remain secretive, until… until. Well, I wouldn't go that way. Just the thought of this actually going somewhere tickled my guts.
The tension between us was obvious and there was something in the air. I could feel it, his stare, his stance around me. And I couldn't wait to find out what that was!
"Elie!"
I turned to see who was calling me over. Just one of the girls of the office, pointing right back to the coffee machine. I smiled at her.
"I'll be right there." I said, as I walked towards my desk. "Let me start the computer."
I managed to prepare things for my morning archiving marathon - and decided it was time for the morning coffee. After all, caffeine was needed to get the job done.
I walked towards the doors that lead to the hall - but someone interrupted me.
Someone whose mere existence took my breath away.
The General approached me, his eyes locking on mine in that exact moment. It felt so enthralling to be like this with him, after what had happened last night.
He wore his regular stuff, white shirt and black pants. Lately he didn't use his usual clothing, which made me wonder. Not even his sword was close nearby.
"Morning, Stevens."
His voice took me out of the dreamy state I felt I was in. Staring at him never seemed enough for me. It was addictive, actually.
"Hey." My voice came out weak, that silly embarrassment of always invading me. I gulped dry and smiled weakly at him.
He stopped inches from me. With this obvious incursion on my personal space, it all felt tremendously… unnerving. I wasn't ready for such closeness at this time of the morning. His smell invaded my nostrils and I felt my insides flying. Really.
"I would like to know if you like all types of meat."
His declaration put a grin on my face. The all-mighty Sephiroth concerned about my taste in food!? Outstanding.
"Yeah." I said, and his eyes seemed to burn inside me. So intense. "Why do you ask?"
"Tonight." He stated, and he offered me a soft smirk.
It felt amazing, how a man like him could actually be able of-
"Elie…"
And poof. Out of nowhere, the presence of one of the assistants took all the romanticism from the air.
She eyed me, eyed the General and back to me again, holding the most got-ya smirk on the Planet.
Sephiroth didn't mind her presence and simply left. He didn't say a word and I couldn't even imagine what she would say to me once he was out of range.
So, as expected, once the door of his office closed, I knew I was going to hear it - and that couldn't do.
"Don't." I said, as I walked over the coffee machine.
"I see." She declared, laughing. She made a naughty face and I rolled my eyes.
"He's our Boss, it's only normal he addresses to us, right?"
I was trying very hard to make it sound normal.
"The General never addressed to me like that." She declared, with a smirk. "On second thought, I think he never addressed to me in any way."
"You're overreacting." I declared, as I pushed the selection button on 'Cappuccino' and I pretended not to realize the second intention she was giving to her last sentence.
"I didn't say anything."
My eyes searched hers and I made an effort to remain as unaffected as possible.
"That's because there's nothing to say."
I was being a little dry, but thankfully the conversation ended up right there. Reno barged in, and his amazing grin greeted us.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Ask Elie. She's been having special attention."
I widened my eyes at my co-worker. That was being mean.
"That is so not true." I whispered, as I took a gulp of my Cappuccino. Reno eyed me and his eyebrows went up, but he remained in silence. He went for the machine as well, selecting the 'Expresso' option.
"Is there no sugar?" I heard him ask and made a face.
"No, this one is sugar-free only." I informed.
Reno's eyes traveled to the girl standing with us and he put that joker face. Oh-uh. Something was coming.
"Would you mind to get me some sugar?" He asked. "I know you have your own warehouse in your desk. Your curves don't lie."
And Yikes. What a not-so-nice thing to say to a lady. Her smile vanished and her complexion changed completely. So, she was angry. Waaay angry.
"Jerk." She groaned, leaving the hall in an instant.
My eyes met Reno's and he raised an eyebrow at me - as if completely clueless of what had happened.
"What did I say?"
I laughed genuinely.
"You're cruel." I said, in between laughs.
"Come on, now that she's gone tell me, what was she bugging you about?"
I took a deep breath, as I recalled Sephiroth's closeness. So tempting.
"The General was talking to me and she figured it all wrong." I informed. "You know."
Reno made a face.
"I imagine, actually."
His face made me turn serious at once.
"Don't start, you too?"
Reno laughed and he gulped down his Expresso in a sudden move. That had to burn his throat, for sure.
"Gotta run." He blinked at me. "See you at lunch."
"Bye." I said, shaking my head as Reno got inside the elevator and off that place he went.
Damn. Rough morning, I thought, as I walked towards my desk.
-/-
I felt too conscious of myself tonight. Thing was, I had never dressed up for a guy in life and I felt a little artificial just by considering carefully my outfit for tonight. I ended up by putting a white shirt with black pants and high heels on. It provided me with an extra 10 cm height, and as I scanned my form at the mirror, I wondered if he would like it.
I looked like a female Turk - for a change. But the options weren't much. The green Mako dress was not an option today, since I had worn it yesterday.
Oh, the thought of yesterday… so weird and strange and amazing at the same time. I had to admit I thought it had been a disaster, but since he had been the one suggesting another date… oh well, how could I resist? The prospect of spending time with Sephiroth outside the company environment was simply great. It was difficult to get him to relax, but anyway, I believed time would get us somewhere. He tried to improve his social techniques and talking with him about trivial matters was - slowly - getting a little less heart-constricting. I never thought people could be brought up without any social skill, but yep, it was possible. Sephiroth was the live proof of that.
Stupid, cruel Hojo.
"Hi."
His voice and form interrupted my thinking. The moment our stares locked, there was something in his eyes that made me smile at once. Damn, he was so beautiful, in all his unnatural glory.
"Hi."
I smiled at him as walked inside his apartment. The place smelled wonderfully and the table was already set, prepared for dinner. It was all black, grey and white but I had to admit the décor was simply amazing. The man was talented - in every aspect of life. It was fact.
"The table setting is amazing."
"Thank you." He answered me, and I sensed his hand on my left arm - where I held my purse. And since I had the sleeves of my shirt up, the tips of his fingers caressed my skin absentmindedly. So. He wanted me to get rid of the purse. The thought itself amused me.
"Here," He said, urging me to give him my pending accessory. But as my purse flew off my sight, his hand lingered on mine… and the strange, heart-skipping touch gave me chills. And those were not of fear.
It was obvious things were developing. I didn't know in which direction exactly, but things walked along a thin line of tolerance - a line I walked along as well, blind.
He was a sweet mystery to me.
And I felt I was getting wrapped in the maze his feelings, emotions and personality were. Finding, discovering the man behind Sephiroth was strangely inciting… and even if I had a childish fear of getting hurt - yes, because he did that all the time, most of the times unwillingly -, the adrenaline of finding something tender and soft inside him, inside his heart… overwhelmed me.
Because I sensed the reward would be the best.
I blinked, as our fingers lingered absentmindedly, in the silence that surrounded us. I only heard my heartbeat. Aching, beating, for him.
Sadly for me, it was dangerously obvious I was completely in love with the man standing exactly by my left side. And I didn't know if I should. But, then again, the matters of the heart were just like that: unpredictable.
"Shall we sit?"
I smiled at him, as I nodded.
Yes, I would sit, do as he told. I just wanted more of this normal routine around him. Spending time with him was something that felt strangely natural. He urged me to the table and we sat.
"Do you want any help?"
"No."
"I feel useless sitting here."
"Later." He smiled. "Okay?"
"Okay."
The food was on the table and he sat exactly in front of me. I took my time scanning the table. There were candles, small ones, scattered along the table, and the thought of a man like Sephiroth pimping up a date with this kind of details actually made me wary.
"I hope you like deer." He declared, with his contained self. Our eyes met again and I shivered at the intensity he broadcasted. Geez, if things went on like this… uh, I actually didn't want to consider the consequences.
"Of course I do." I smiled back. "Can I-"
"You're invited. You don't get to do a thing."
"It almost sounds like an order, General." I laughed, nervously.
He offered me the most outstanding smile on the Planet.
"It's that exactly."
I took a deep breath and tried to gather control. How naughty I felt tonight. I was so aware of him, his handsomeness and the way he treated me, so… coolly.
I decided to get up and serve myself, taking my time sitting back again. The heels sure made me feel extremely feminine and the white shirt, adjusted to my form, added some sexiness as well.
"It suits you." He said, now a little more serious.
"What suits me?" I asked, a little in the dark about his declaration.
"Black and white." He clarified, and I blushed, wondering when he had been scrutinizing me and I didn't notice it.
"Thank you." I whispered. I was not used to such open compliments. "So, did you do this yourself?"
"Yes."
"Are you serious?"
His stare now turned a little hard and I regretted using that joker tone. I only hoped that wouldn't ruin the environment.
"I am."
"You're an excellent cooker." I smiled, hoping that would soften the mood. "But then, I shouldn't be surprised that you would excel at everything you commit to."
He took a deep breath and his face turned grimmer. Oh-uh.
"You sound like Hojo."
I gulped down the piece of meat I had been chewing and felt extremely stupid. Shit, how should I know Hojo said things like that? And besides, it was true. He did excel at everything he committed to.
"Sorry." I whispered, feeling a little constricted.
Man, wasn't this going too well?
"No, I mean-"
"My apologies for saying such thing." I interrupted him, not bothering to stare back at him. I sensed the weight of his stare on me, but didn't want to give him the gratification of showing my hurt to him that openly. Damn, I knew it must be visible all over me. "It was a compliment; I didn't mean to quote the man."
I gulped down a glass of red wine and back to cutting a piece of meat I went.
"Elie."
His tone made my skin tingle. So sweet and sexy and raw at the same time.
"It's okay." I said, glancing up for a second.
"No, it's not okay." He declared, and I felt a little lost of what to do. Really, how was this possible, come to this in a freaking second? "Just look at me. I don't want this ruined even before we-"
Listening to him saying those words really made me snap.
"It's called a date. Stop naming it "this" like some undefined, shameless thing."
My tone had been harsh, and I almost broke by the end of the sentence. The hurt I felt inside was so deep I was afraid I'd lose it. Damn, I didn't want to cry.
"Very well."
His tone had been resolute, and I considered giving this another chance. Truth was, I was willing to try the amount of times needed for us to… Hell, was that even possible? Maybe I had to grow used to these sudden altercations. After all, it was Sephiroth, everything but the ordinary.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, I decided I would change subject. It was the least I could do, since he insisted in keeping his mouth shut.
I paused from my meal and looked back at him. His look was stoic and neutral, and I bit the inside of mouth, considering my next words. Hell, I had to say something or the silence would crush us.
"About this morning, I have to apologize for my colleague's manners." I tried very hard to smile. "She's a little, uh…"
"Hormonal." His tone was filled with boredom.
"You could say that, yes." I said cheerfully, completely ignoring his tone.
He smirked, that cruel smirk of his.
"It's nothing. I am used to deal with females of her kind."
His declaration removed the sample of smile I had on my face. Really, that had been a nasty thing to say. Unnecessary and cruel, considering I was standing right in front of him and obviously cared for him in every possible way. It had not been the words, it had been the tone. So dirty and presumptuous.
"Oh."
My eyes focused on the meat, and I felt nausea invading me. And all I could think was on how I got into something like this. Dealing with Sephiroth was proving to be very, very difficult and deep inside my mind, I questioned myself. Would I stand it? Would I be capable of finding something good and decent in him when he was the one that kept insisting in destroying the fragile connection we were building?
"You know what I meant, Elie." His duh tone almost made me get up and leave, and if it wasn't for my good manners, I would have left.
"I don't think I want to, actually." I declared, as I managed to play with the rice on my plate. I took my time eating bits by bits, my eyes purposely on the food.
"Listen-" I didn't know what he was going to say, and I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it. Thankfully, a sounded interrupted him and, as I took a deep breath and locked my jaw, I sensed him take his mobile phone out and stare at the screen. A couple of seconds passed by and I wondered what he would do. Answer it or leave it. By now I didn't know what would suit me best, but I could use a time out. "I have to answer this."
When I heard the words, I felt relief all over me. Really, I did. My mind answered back to him, rudely. Yeah, maybe it's some hormonal bitch you fuck occasionally.
Sephiroth got up and stood, leaving towards someplace behind me. I heard a door open, then close, and allowed myself to breathe out in relief - again. A couple of stubborn tears fell, my heart beating like crazy, and I felt so, so sad.
I hated to cry, namely when I had make up on. I cleaned the tears, my hands dotted with mascara. Shit, I thought. Not this, not leaving marks that I've been crying. The tension I felt inside softened a little once the tears were out and I took my time gathering strength to do something.
I considered leaving silently. And, as seconds went by, all I thought about was the silly expectation I had built over this date, and how disastrous it had turned out to be. Hesitation roamed inside me, and there was little I could hold on to.
I have to do something.
So, I got up the table.
Sephiroth's POV.
Catastrophic.
It was the only word I had available to classify this date. I didn't know how things had run down that hill so quickly. One second, everything was fine. A second after, words killed everything.
My sincerity wasn't doing wonders, and I sensed her impending leave. She couldn't stand me, and to make it all worse, someone called me right in the middle of the dinner.
Hojo.
What could he possibly want with me right this very moment? So I, knowing I couldn't ignore him, under penalty of the man coming by and visit me, decided it was better to answer the damn phone call.
What could he possibly want?
I exited the living room, the environment combusting with tension. Stevens was sad and annoyed, and she avoided my stare with all her heart. I had to make it up to her - later.
Now I would have to get rid of Hojo as soon as possible. So I went to my bedroom to answer the phone call.
"What the fuck do you want?"
My harsh and impatient tone seemed to annoy Hojo.
"Watch those manners boy, I did not raise you to use those terms."
I sighed, with no patience to bear with the man. Not today, not tonight.
"What is it?" I asked, my fingers massaging my forehead.
"Are you busy?"
His tone was naughty.
"Yes." I admitted.
"With what?"
"None of your business."
I heard him snort on the other side of the line.
"I know you're with her." He declared, and I gulped dry. But of course he knew, he knew it all. "Do you think I play around in here?"
"And what's the problem?"
"You are not supposed to-"
Oh, not that speech again!
"You don't own me, Hojo." I declared, angry. "Mind your own business."
"What, does she satisfy your darkness needs? What will she do when she finds out what you truly enjoy, boy? Do you think she'll accept you the way you are?" He was being so mean. "You are a freak, and you belong here, alone and unspoiled."
I pretended to pay no interest to his words but truth was, he knew how to affect me.
"Are you finished?"
"Yes."
"Then this conversation is over."
And, in a sudden move, I ended the call, closing the phone and leaving it somewhere by the bed.
Shit, he was actually right. The things he said about me… strangely matched what had happened during the whole dinner and I couldn't feel more frustrated. Really, was I that disgusting? Did she hate me for making her living existence a nightmare, and spoil our occasional encounters with inadequate words?
For the Planet sake's, I had to do something about it. If I cared for her, no matter the way, I had to make an effort.
So I just left the bedroom as swiftly as I could.
When I reached the living room, I just stopped. My eyes scanned the area, the table - empty.
She left - was all I could think about, and wondered if she had gone home, but after careful examination, I realized… there were no plates. I blinked, and walked towards the table. Noise coming out from the kitchen was all I needed to hear to know she hadn't left after all.
Relief was all I could feel, and I decided I should go and meet her there, and solve this mess once and for all. Stevens stood, with her back to the me, her hands and arms entertained with something inside the dishwasher.
"What are you doing?"
I had to ask.
"The dishes."
Her answer had been so faint, that in that moment I knew… she resented me. Terribly. It was a caustic feeling that rooted uncertainty between us.
"Elie…"
I dared to approach her, my hand touching her left arm. She recoiled reflexively - and her action innerved me. Really, since when was she so squeamish about me touching her?
"No, don't…" She said the words, but I didn't care. I insisted again. "…don't-" And I went on, until she turned to face me. "…let me-"
"I didn't mean-"
"I understand, really. I'm not stupid."
She seemed emotionally destroyed and I saw how her eyes were a little stained with black. She wore make-up, and I didn't notice it until now.
"I know you aren't."
She remained standing there, in silence, with her face down, her frown one of sadness and hurt that made me feel uncomfortable. So, I would try again.
"We can get back to-Elie."
I urged her to look at me, which she did.
"What?" Her tone was so acid. "Aren't you done with comparing me with brainless women and sadistic scientists? Do you happen to think how much it hurts to hear that from you, considering…" She paused, and a lot of things were left standing, right there in the silence that plagued us. And what else could I do but to be honest with her?
"It wasn't my intention to offend you."
I saw her take a deep breath, as if considering my words.
"I know." She whispered, and she avoided my eyes once again. "I know you didn't mean to." Stevens felt fragile, and I sensed an impending breakdown. "I need to-, uh…"
Her tone was pained, and before she could say or do something, I took her in my arms. The action seemed to take her by surprise, as I heard her gasp.
"Forgive my insensitivity."
I was being so sincere - more than ever, with someone but Hojo, who didn't allow any lie or half-truth to get by.
"It's okay." She whispered, her face resting right below my chin line. Her breathing was even and warm against the skin of my neck and I sensed her tense beneath my hold.
"You always say everything is okay, Elie… even when the contrary is so obvious."
She didn't say a word against, and I considered what to say to her after what had happened tonight. This dinner had been a bad idea - and that's what I got for trying to play normal. As if I was like any regular man. All I did was hurt, over and over again, it was in my nature. And coming to terms with my mind, I eventually decided I should free her, from me.
"You may leave if you want to."
It had cost me to say that, but I guess it was only fair.
"If I wanted to leave I would have already." Her declaration rendered me speechless. "If I wanted to leave I wouldn't be here soaking your shirt with my monthly touchiness."
Stevens's insistence and, dared I to say, faith in me, was something I couldn't understand. How could she be this way, decide to stay after all this?
Maybe she likes me after all.
My mind tried to come up with justifications for her to remain there, under my hold, so quiet and soft.
Maybe she wants to accept me the way I am.
It had to be. All I ever known in life had been violence, loneliness and authority, punishment. There was never wishful thinking, positive reinforcement over nothing I did. All I knew was I couldn't make mistakes, and that it was my duty to make things right.
Rewards were for sentimental fools.
But strangely, all about Stevens felt so rewarding. Like a forbidden fruit, she was a gathering of prohibited feelings right within my grasp. Tempting, fragile and longing for my touch. No one had ever felt comfortable underneath my hold. She changed all that.
I closed my eyes, wishing I could turn back time and re-start this dinner all over again. Was there any hope for me, for us, tonight? Any chance of saving this - no matter what this was or what would become.
I angled my face down, and rested my mouth and nose on her hair. I took a couple of deep breaths, taking in her essence, the way her hair smelled like peach.
"Dessert?" I said, my voice resonating on her frame.
I sensed her relax a little, and her smiley tone made me feel hopeful.
"Yes, please."
I nodded, and I broke the contact. I went straight to the fridge and removed the huge bowl of chocolate mousse I had found available to order. I knew she loved it.
"Oh, God!"
Elie smiled genuinely, and even through her saddened complexion, there was something there giving me strength to go on. I smiled back at her.
"You're going to give me a chocolate hangover."
"Hopefully."
The mood had softened, thankfully. We walked towards the table again, the candle light faint, mixed with the luminous mood all around us. The faint smell of melted aromatic wax permeated the air, and thankfully Stevens seemed at ease, her usual self gradually returning.
I went for the spoons, then the mini bowls, and the attack began. Elie ate chocolate, voracious as a predator, and I couldn't help but to stare at her.
"I take it's to your taste."
"Amazing." She said, "One of the best I've tried."
I smiled at her, glad the dinner had been, to some extent, saved. She talked to me casually, as if nothing had happened, as if I hadn't hurt her terribly and made her cry moments ago. I had that innate capacity, Hojo once told me.
I shook my head softly, shoving those thought away. Hojo wasn't worthy of my preoccupation, much less my doings. I had to pay less attention to what he told me, to his occasional brainwashing. Manipulative as the sucker was, I had to be extra careful and get her out of his range of action.
My eyes found hers again and I couldn't help but to think she was really something.
Stevens.
The one that knew all about me, my darkest side and yet… longed for me.
"Well, I should be going."
Her sudden interruption made me refocus on her. I rested the spoon on the table, and nodded. I couldn't hold her here against her will, even if I wanted to stay as long as possible.
"It's running late and tomorrow… it's a working day."
"It is."
I didn't want to go against her wish, but I sensed in her something that made me make the move. We both stood, and we took a good look at each other before she talked again.
"Thank you, General. Everything was wonderful."
I smirked.
"You don't have to lie."
"I'm not." She said, genuinely. "You should know me better by now."
Stevens turned around and prepared to leave, grabbing her purse on her way out.
"I'll walk you out."
"It's okay, I-"
"I insist."
And once we reached the door, awkwardness returned and stood implacable in between us. Stevens bright, brown eyes met mine and she smiled faintly at me.
"So… see you tomorrow."
I gulped dry, and her figure, so tender and fragile beneath my stare, didn't dare to say or do anything else. It was like she hoped for me to act - to make the final, decisive move. I had it all in my hands, the decision would be mine now - it felt obvious, even now after the disastrous date, that she was giving me a chance. A chance at normality, I reasoned.
And that, eventually, decided for me.
My left hand grabbed her by the waist and my face rested upon hers, cheek meeting cheek.
"Likewise."
As I whispered against her skin, her slight trembling teased me, her breathing heavy against my ear. She smelled nice, tempting. Her skin, soft and warm, took me to unimaginable places, and the expectation of intimate contact made me feel strange things. I wasn't very skilled with kissing - I always considered it unnecessary, even disgusting to a point -, but I had to admit that now, it changed.
Now I understood how feelings changed the nature of such actions. I wanted to kiss her. I really wanted to.
My right hand traveled to her face, neck. And with the right amount of patience, I dared to search for her mouth. Her breathing peaked as I moved. Before I could think, our lips made contact and mouths sealed. Teasingly, in the right angle, I felt how a ripping wave went all over me. From her lips, to mine, then my whole body seemed alive with desire.
Kissing was mainly reflexive. Just like fighting, it was enthralling and enticing. Before I knew it her hands found my face and she kissed me back with a fervor I didn't know women could have. It was levitating and intense, very much addictive.
Gradually it slowed down, her mouth close to mine, the kiss ending blissfully. With half lidded eyes, we stared at each other. Elie bit her lower lip, clearly wanting more. Her breathing hitting my mouth was proof enough of that.
But I had to end it up, or my control would slip. This kind of contact wasn't only gratifying - it built a tension inside me that could endanger everything. Her integrity, the fragile foundations in which we built our…
Relation-ship? Was this it?
Was I really able of having it?
She made me believe so. And as she softly smiled at me, she pecked me goodnight again and left. And I just stood there for a while, feeling the residual touch of her lips on mine for what it seemed like hours.
Elie's POV
I could barely walk and reach home.
The kiss had been amazing, at all levels. Tender and filled with desire, the right amount of teasing. Good God, he was absolutely dreamy.
Long gone were the tears and the less adequate words at the dinner. I couldn't care less about it, all I cared about was him… and the way he had made the move, grabbed me and kissed me like that.
I took a deep breath once I got inside my apartment. I had the hugest smile planted on my face and I could only sense him, the way he felt against me, his taste.
I bit my lip at the naughty thought. Good grief, he was going to be the death of me. All I could think about was him and… hell, I wanted more.
So much more.
Calm down, girl. My mind tried to ease up my hormones. Talking about being hormonal, it was pretty impossible not to feel turned on after being kissed by… him, of all persons. The anxiousness I felt inside didn't let me fall asleep. My mind only thought about him, and I even got up for a calming tea around 1 a.m.
After that, thankfully, sleep won over.
-/-
I woke up with an almost painful gasp, my right hand on my abdomen.
"Uh…" I felt terribly sleepy, and tired, but an acute, burning discomfort bothered me to a point of waking me up. I turned with my belly up, hoping the position shift would allow me some relief.
It didn't, and I turned my face towards the alarm clock. It was 4.13. am, and I had barely slept three hours or so. Slowly, with a pained face, I made some consistent effort to sit on the bed.
Christ, what was this? Deep down inside my mind I wondered if the deer I had eaten was playing games on me but it really didn't feel like a regular indigestion. This was something totally different, a feeling I had never experienced before.
It was a dull ache, and it breathed in and out with me. It felt so weird. I got up with a slow, deliberate move, and went towards the bathroom. The tiles were cold beneath my feet, and I took my time staring the mirror right in front of me.
There was something different about me but I couldn't just get what it was exactly. I narrowed my eyes and looked closer, my face a little paler than the usual. My right hand, still on my abdomen, suddenly caught my attention. Namely because there seemed to be something beneath it.
I raised my pajama shirt, only to feel panic invade me.
There were three stings on my belly, and two irregular, dark green marks decorating my skin. I touched it, and it burned on the inside, but didn't disappear. Those looked like some random tattoos, painted as delicate, intricate spider webs designed inside me.
What is this?
"Oh, God." I couldn't think straight, and I wondered what I could do about it and, above all, how on Earth could something like this happen to me!? I was inside my apartment, asleep, no one entered but me. Sephiroth had made sure of that.
Speaking of which, I had no one else to recur to but him. And this was strange and serious enough for me to wait for morning. So, I didn't think twice. With my bare feet and my cotton, white pajama, I left my apartment and didn't spare efforts in trying to be discreet, considering the hour.
I was in panic, so frightened that I couldn't think straight.
"Sephiroth!" My voice came out strangled, and I couldn't wait to see him. He would have an answer, right? He always had.
Thankfully, a couple of seconds was the time necessary for him to open the door. His face remained all the same of before after the dinner, and I wondered if he had had any sleep tonight. Probably not. But as he saw my face, something about his complexion changed and he grabbed my left arm. And inside his apartment I went.
Sephiroth scanned my form with the calm and steadiness of a military man and I wondered what was going through his mind. Did he sense something was wrong with me?
In silence we remained for what it seemed like forever - he, with his naked chest and nothing but black slacks on, bare huge feet. I could see the way his muscles moved as he breathed in and out, and when his stare finally met mine, his eyes were hard.
Good grief.
"What happened?"
"I don't know." I whispered, about to break. My right hand went towards my sleeping shirt and I raised it, showing him the reason of my worry. I didn't say a word, tears merely fell and I sensed his silence couldn't be a good thing. Sephiroth stared at the marks and the stings I had in my abdomen with the thoroughness of someone who knew what was doing.
He dared to come close to me, his left hand touching the sensitive skin, hurt and… green. I made a face as his fingers probed the area.
"It hurts."
He stopped and took my hand, and we both walked towards his bedroom. Once I got inside, the smell and sight of recognition overwhelmed me. The bed was unmade, and it was obvious now I had waked him up.
"Lie down."
He ordered, and I stared at the bed for a moment. I didn't know which side to take. Could I just lie there, where he had been minutes ago? I didn't say a word, but the feeling of his bed sheets felt soothing. It was still warm, the whole bedroom felt cozy, as I recalled.
He waited for me to just be still. My eyes searched for his and I sensed him approach me, sitting right next to me, the mattress shifting a little. He raised his arm and his fingers pulled the edge of my shirt up again. He stopped right below my breast line and took his time staring at my abdomen. His look was methodical, and his touch - clinical and soft. I gulped dry as seconds passed by and Sephiroth remained staring, not offering me an answer. His face was serious and adamant.
"What is it?" I whispered, and I searched for his eyes.
"Mako." He said, finally meeting my stare. "You were injected with Mako."
And the shock of this revelation almost made my heart stop. My eyes were wide, and I just couldn't believe what he had said.
"What?"
I sensed Sephiroth getting up and standing, as his eyes clearly searched for something - his phone.
"We need Medina here, and I meant it now."
I sat, tried to think of something, but all I could do was breathe like a fish outside the water. And as Sephiroth made the phone call, I didn't even have the coherence to say a word more. He was the one talking.
"Lie still." His tone was soft and a little authoritarian. "Depending on the dose, Mako often induces collapse, and I don't know how much you had inside."
I blinked at him, and as he walked around the bedroom, whispering to the constant beeping on the other side for Medina to pick up, I took my time staring back at my new abdominal designs. I dared to touch them again, that discomforting sensation back again. And despite everything around me, all I could think was…
How could this have happened to me?
A/N. I honestly hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had a great time writing it and well, you know the drill. I can't wait to read your reviews :)