Warning: Will eventually contain mature material. Language. Lemons. Some spicy limes. Maybe full-blown things. ~_^
A Salvation Called Love
-Chapter 11-
-BREAKING AWAY AT YOUR WALLS Pt. 3-
[Mr. Gold – Midnight]
Currently I was sitting at my desk staring out the window as the rain continued to fall heavily. It had been about six hours since I'd come to my room. When I'd gotten back from my drive I hadn't been ready to face Annabelle just yet, but there she was, waiting for me on the stairs. I'd acted badly, I know. I'd just left her standing there without an explanation. What I'd found when I got to my room was a pretty good shock. My door had been unlocked when I opened it and the room smelled like orchid perfume. There had been a present for me on the chest at the foot of my bed, a vase of roses. She had been telling me the truth when she said she'd been to the rose garden. At first I'd been angry that she'd come into my room, but then I wasn't. I knew she'd just been trying to make me happy. That's what I was debating about right now, whether or not I should go thank her for the roses and apologize for my rude behavior or just leave it as it is.
I twirled one of my pens around and around in my fingers for a few more minutes until I sighed and pushed my chair back, standing. I'd go apologize. I didn't want her to be angry with me. I knew that one of these days, if I was serious about letting these feelings we were experiencing grow, I'd need to tell her about myself.
Silently making my way down the hallway and stairs I found myself standing in front of Annabelle's room staring at the door. I didn't know if I should knock or just walk in. I pressed my ear against her door and listened for any noises to see if she was awake. All I heard was the faint sound of music. I finally decided to walk in. I very quietly turned the handle and opened the door. It swung open and I stepped in. The room was dark except for the light of Annabelle's computer which was playing music quietly and was sitting on her bed, which was empty. I frowned and looked around the room, searching for the shadow of her body but the room was empty. I left her room, closing the door behind me and made my way slowly downstairs. I had a guess at where she was. As I made my way down the hallway leading to the library I could hear her voice and the piano as she sang.
Don't try to explain your mind.
I know what's happening here.
One minute it's love,
And suddenly it's like a battlefield.
One word turns into a war.
Why is it the smallest things that tear us down?
My world's nothing when you don't.
I'm not here without a shield.
Can't go back now.
Both hands tied behind my back with nothing.
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again.
Why we gotta fall for it now.
I slowly opened the door and just stood there watching her as she sat at the piano. The only light was a tiny candle that she'd lit and sat on top of the piano. The song she was singing was beautiful, though I don't think I'd ever heard it before. I wasn't much for music.
I never meant to start a war.
You know I never wanna hurt you.
Don't even know what we're fighting for.
Why does love always feel like a battlefield?
A battlefield, a battlefield?
The words rocked me back on my heels as I listened. It's like she knew that I was there and was singing it for me. We'd just had a weird, stupid fight for nothing. I closed my eyes and reached up to run my hands against my face. Why was this so frustrating?
Can't swallow our pride.
Neither of us wanna raise that flag.
If we can't surrender then we both gonna lose.
What we had, oh no.
Both hands tied behind my back with nothing.
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again.
I don't wanna fall for it now.
I gave a heavy sigh and started walking across the room to her. She still hadn't seen me yet. I walked up behind her and ever so slowly wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pressing her back against my chest. "I'm sorry, Annabelle."
She startled for a second but when she leaned her head back to see that it was me she relaxed. "Mr. Gold." Her voice sound rough and scratchy, like she'd been singing for a long time.
"It's Dominic, dear-heart." I gave a small smile and leaned down, kissing her soft lips. I pulled back when I tasted the saltiness on them. I frowned down at her. "Have you been crying?"
She nodded slowly and I sighed. It had been my fault. I leaned back down and kissed her again, deeply. I wanted her to feel that I was really sorry, that I hadn't meant to make her cry. She kissed me back gently. I had to pull back for a second as she moved to turn around to face me and then I was kissing her again, running my hands up and down her arms as they grabbed my shirt, fisting tightly as if I would disappear. Her skin was cool and her clothes were damp, like she'd been in the rain for a long while. When I pulled back she rocked back a little, dazed. "Dominic."
I knelt down in front of her, wrapping my arms around her waist and burying my head against her tummy. "It was cowardly of me to run like that, Annabelle. I didn't intentionally hurt you."
Her hands gently ran themselves through my hair over and over. Her words were soft, just a little louder than a whisper. "I forgive you, just this once."
I smiled and pulled away from her until I could look up at her. Behind her the candlelight flickered, creating a small halo above her head and reflecting off of her dark auburn hair. I reached out and gently picked up one of her curls where it sat on the piano bench. It was always so soft. I laid a gentle kiss on it before looking back up at her, watching her watch me. My heart started to flutter in my chest as she very slowly lowered her face towards mine but she didn't kiss my lips. Instead she laid a gentle kiss on the bridge of my nose and her voice whispered against my skin. "Do you know that I love your nose?"
I pulled back and arched a brow. "My nose, dear-heart?"
She smiled and traced her fingers along the top of it. "It shows how strong you are." She moved her fingers upwards to trace along the edge of my eyes. I closed them for her and she traced lightly against them, slowly moving up to brush against my eyebrows. "And your eyes."
I slowly opened them only to see her face mere inches away so that I could see just how beautifully blue they were. I spoke in a whisper. "What about them?"
"If I could drown in their dark honey depths I would. They show your wisdom and show your true self. They're beautiful."
Her hands sank back into my hair and pulled tight making my heart jump and my body tingle as she pulled me forward. She laid gentle kisses against my lips, never lingering for more than a second. I growled at her and reached up to wrap a handful of her curls around my hand, pressing her lips roughly against mine. She moved forward, sliding off of the bench and knocking it backwards in order to sit on my lap. I leaned back to take her weight and to allow her more room to sit. I broke this kiss first and buried my face against the hollow of her neck as I forced myself to stop and calm down. I had to keep control. I kissed along her skin and felt her shiver as she held on to me. "Tha thu bóidheach, dear-heart." This was the first time I'd spoken to her in my native tongue and it slipped free easily, my brogue thickening with the words.
When she pushed me backwards in order to look at me I didn't hide what I wanted her to see. I had growing feelings for her and even though I was afraid, I was willing to try. "What does that mean?"
I smiled and gave a small shrug. "I said that you're beautiful."
She blushed in the candlelight and hid her face behind her hair. "Do you always complement the pretty girls like that?"
I chuckled and with a sigh I slowly stood up, pulling her with me until we were both standing pressed against each other. "You're the first in a very long time that I've spoken my native tongue to."
"I feel honoured then, for such a complement."
With another chuckle I slowly moved around her and picked up the piano bench. When it was upright I reached out and picked up the candle-holder. I turned and offered Annabelle my arm. "Shall I walk you to your room?"
She gave me a small pouty face but took my arm. "I suppose we've done enough tonight. And I did get an apology in the end."
I gave a sharp laugh and pulled her along with me as we left the library and headed towards our rooms. When we stopped outside of Annabelle's room I let her arm go and slowly pushed her up against her door, dipping down to kiss her goodnight. Her hands fisted in my shirt again and pulled me up against her as she kissed me back. I loved the eagerness of her kisses, they were so addicting. Finally with a growl I pulled away and stepped back, putting a little distance between us. "Goodnight, Annabelle. I hope you have a better night and I will see you in the morning." It was getting harder and harder to think and control myself around her anymore. I had to be careful.
She watched me silently as I walked backwards down the hallway away from her. She gave me a tiny smile and waved before opening her door. "Goodnight… Dominic." I watched her disappear behind her door before turning and walking up the stairs to my floor. I was glad that I'd apologized to her and set things right. When I got to my room I quickly changed into my pajama bottoms and slid in beneath my heavy covers, shoving around my massive amount of pillows until I was either half buried under them or cushioned by them. I smiled and remembered her beautiful smile as sleep stole over me. It was a good night.
A.N. - The song she was singing is called Battlefield by Jordan Sparks. Love that song *^_^*