Chapter 67
Afraid
Holly's POV:
I'm sure that I was dreaming. This had to be some sort of sick figment of my imagination. How else could I explain my current predicament? Right now, I was standing in the Cavern of Lovers in nothing but my black bra and panty set. Just like this morning… And there was Arty standing right in front of me in his black Armani boxers. Just like this morning.
I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to look into his just in case I might feel that sweeping feeling come over me again. "What are we doing here?" I asked.
"I'd think that it were obvious." He shook his head in mock disappointment as though he knew everything that there was to know. "There are many unresolved issues between the two of us. I have feelings for you. You have feelings for me. We can't leave until we're finally honest with each other."
He had to be kidding. There was no way that he was serious. As an elf, I would have known if that was true, right? I would have been able to tell if we really couldn't leave this place? Yes, he's a genius, but he couldn't know any more than I do. "You're lying."
"I am not," he said.
"Ugh, I hate this place," I groaned.
"Only because you don't understand it," he smirked. "Look me in the eye." He gently took my chin and lifted it so that I was staring into those mismatched eyes. The ones that drove me crazy in ways that I just couldn't describe.
"Leave me alone." My lip poked out and my eyes burned with determination. To anyone else, I probably seemed serious. And as far as I was concerned, I really was.
"You're afraid," he said. "You're afraid that if you look me in the eye, then you'll kiss me. You're afraid that you actually do love me. You're afraid that I'll break your heart."
Afraid? Like any person, I have my fears. The fear of being in enclosed spaces. The fear of dying on the job. But I am not afraid of Artemis Fowl. In that one regard, I have no feelings of fear. "I'm not afraid." I forced myself to look into his eyes, so that he knew that I was telling the truth. "I'm not afraid."
"Prove it," he challenged. "If you feel nothing for me, then prove it."
"Fine. How should I 'prove' it to you?" Though some part of me already knew the answer.
He smirked down at me, wrapping an arm around my waist. He leaned down, stopping just millimeters away from my lips. Apparently, this was him giving me a chance to make a move, but I refused to play his game. I refused to participate by either pulling away or getting closer. He held me for a few more seconds, and when I wouldn't kiss him, he leaned in and kissed me.
Sparks of pleasure erupted from my lips. The world turned a bright and brilliant gold, and I was hit with a powerful urge. I needed him now and right now. I needed to touch him and be touched by those strong hands. I needed to get so much closer.
My hands found their way into his hair on their own accord.
Soon enough, his hands were in my hair and ran up my smooth body. And all of a sudden, I needed to touch him even more. His muscular arms and shoulders. I could feel his muscles flex with each of his movements. It was driving me crazy in so many ways.
He pulled his lips from mine just long enough to nip at my collar bone. "Ungh," I moaned, my back arching against his body. "More…"
His grin widened as he nipped at me again. Then, he pulled on my ear. The forceful tug sent me screaming loudly in pleasure. The sound echoed off of the walls, and I didn't even care if anyone heard me. At the moment, I only needed one thing… "More…"
This time he backed away instead of complying, leaving me panting and hot to stand beside him. "You just proved my point, Holly," he smirked. "You'd never let someone you didn't care kiss you like that. You'd never trust him to touch you like that. He could never affect you like that."
I stared up at him, hoping that he could not tell that I was weak in the knees. "You caught me by surprise," I shrugged. "Besides, the ears is a physiological response. There's nothing that I can do about it."
"You could have punched or kicked me afterwards," he reminded me. Some part of me really wanted to, but all of a sudden I just didn't have the energy for it.
"Since when are you a masochist?"
"I suppose you've changed me," he chuckled.
By this point, I was annoyed. "What will it take to get you to leave me alone?"
"I want you to look me in my eyes and honestly tell me that you have no feelings for me whatsoever."
I tried to concentrate on those eyes and what I wanted to say, but the words refused to come out. I couldn't say it. "I can't," I muttered.
He lifted my chin gently. "That's fine. You don't have to say anything to me."
This didn't make any sense. He had just confessed his feelings to me, but I didn't have to talk to him? That was so… backwards. "Why?" After all, wasn't that all that he had wanted just a moment ago?
"I won't pressure you. I love you too much, Holly Short."
Surely, I must have misheard him. He had not just told me that he loved me. "What?"
"You're my best friend and I really do care for you. No, it's more than that. I love you."
"And if I don't love you?"
He smirked at me in a way that sent shivers down my very spine. "Well then, we'll just have to change that, won't we?"
I rolled my eyes. Arrogance always comes before the fall. "Incorrigible."
"You're incredible," he shot back.
I smirked back at him. "I'm well aware…"
A/N:
One more chapter down. I know the length is annoying for some people, and I totally get that but I'm asking that you just stick with it. The end is really not that far from here. Well…. Not relatively far. (I mean who can really quantify time?)
So, I also just want to tell you guys how much I appreciate the reviews and favorites that you've added. I love you guys so much. Thanks again. The next chapter should be coming up soon. In the mean time, you guys should check out my other stories.
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Einstinette