A/N: this is a one-shot with Lara and Simon, playing not much after their first adventure. I was curious how the first party scene would look like if they were actually together. You will find many similarities to the first chapter of „New adventure of Lara Croft", but that's not a coincidence. This one is all about romance, don't expect any action. I missed writing some fluffy stuff.
As always let me know what you think, R&R what you think about such one-shots! I am happy to hear any kind of reviews and suggestions!
It was a Saturday evening, and Lara found herself standing helplessly in the middle of her dressing room. Despite the array of clothes hanging in her closet, she felt as though she had nothing to wear—a typical, albeit frustrating, female dilemma. Until now, Lara had never particularly cared about her attire, but this evening was different. For an hour, she had been sifting through her wardrobe, creating two untidy piles of clothes on the floor, yet she was no closer to getting ready than when she had started.
With a sigh, Lara turned away from the closet and ventured into her private living room. There, on her desk, lay the invitation, golden letters on thick paper. Lara wasn't entirely convinced that Lady Paddington's party was the ideal event for them to attend, but Simon had been insistent. He argued that they couldn't confine themselves within the four walls of their home forever. Well, Lara could have argued with that, considering how pleasantly the days had been passing lately.
A faint smile graced her lips at the thought. She had never expected anyone to be missing from her life, but then, a few months ago, this man had appeared and turned her world upside down. With Simon, there were no demands, no restrictions, yet they spent most of their time together. Strangely, Lara had never felt so free. There were no obligations, but with each passing day, everything seemed to become more beautiful.
The memory of that night in Scotland rushed back to her, the first time she had felt this way, and since then, nothing had changed. Lara reached for the other piece of paper lying beside the invitation and quickly scanned the handwritten message once more.
I still have some business to attend to this afternoon. Meet me at the party. I can hardly wait. S.
Lara found herself smiling again, though the reason eluded her. Then, in a sudden realization, she noticed that there was only half an hour left, and she was still pacing around in her lingerie. With a determined expression, she returned to her wardrobe.
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As Lara entered the grand ballroom, she couldn't help but sense the growing number of eyes upon her. For months, this was the first party she had attended, and once again, she was here alone. At least for the moment. She let out a soft sigh and made her way toward the hostess, an encounter that seemed inevitable.
"Good evening, Lady Paddington," Lara greeted the elderly woman with polite warmth. "Thank you for the invitation. This promises to be a most enjoyable evening."
"Good to see you, my dear," Lady Paddington responded with enthusiasm. "I'm delighted you could make it. I must introduce you to some marvelous young gentlemen later, but for now, I must greet my other guests."
"Thank you, but I'm not alone this evening," Lara attempted to excuse herself. "My companion will be joining me a bit later. An unexpected matter came up."
"Ohhh, I understand," the older woman said with a knowing glint in her eyes. Lara could sense Lady Paddington's curiosity, eager to discover who would accompany her. All Lara wanted to do was avoid this meeting with Lady Paddington, foreseeing a barrage of uncomfortable questions. Thankfully, more guests arrived, diverting Lady Paddington's attention.
Lara navigated her way to a secluded corner of the room, her customary spot, and stood there holding a drink. Scarcely fifteen minutes later, she felt someone approaching from behind. She recognized the footsteps, knew that he had come to a stop just inches away, and caught the familiar scent of his aftershave.
"You look stunning," he whispered in her ear, planting a gentle kiss on her shoulder. His touch sent a familiar, tingling sensation coursing through her. "I apologize for my tardiness, but something urgent came up."
"You're fortunate you didn't leave me alone with Lady Paddington for too long," she replied with a smile, though she still hadn't turned to face him. Simon's hand slid down her arm, then he took her hand and stepped in front of Lara.
"Come, dance with me," he said with a mischievous smile, a familiar expression that had often driven Lara to the brink of madness.
"I didn't know you could dance," she replied, returning his smile.
"I'm pleased I can still surprise you sometimes," he quipped, leading Lara toward the dance floor, his grip gentle but firm. She hadn't seen him in a dinner jacket since they first met, and once again, she marveled at how irresistibly charming he looked.
Upon reaching the dance floor, Simon pulled Lara closer than etiquette would have allowed, but surprisingly, she didn't mind. Lara typically avoided displaying her emotions or any sign of intimacy in public, but it was as if the hundreds of people surrounding them didn't exist. There were only the two of them, just like that night in Scotland. It had been years since Lara had danced a waltz, but she remembered every step as if they were etched into her. They moved around, making graceful circles, and she was impressed how effortlessly Simon led her. His hand traced her back, approaching the boundaries of acceptability in this setting, his fingertips a light caress against her skin.
People were watching them, whispering words of surprise to each other, and she could read the faces so well, all of them asking who this stranger was who swept her off her feet. All those faces of men leering, of women wishing to be in her place. Why didn't she dance more often, Lara wondered, a thought that brought a smile to her lips.
"I love it when you smile," Simon whispered in her ear, his lips tracing along her neck. Lara closed her eyes, losing herself in the moment. Everything else faded as Simon kissed her. She couldn't even be certain if they were still dancing. All she felt were his lips as they claimed hers, in a slow, almost lazy, but devastating touch.
When Lara finally opened her eyes, she was almost surprised to find themselves still surrounded by people. Lara caught a glimpse of Lady Paddington, seemingly waiting for the music to end to seize an opportunity to catch them together. This was the last thing Lara wanted at the moment. She grabbed Simon's hand and began moving in the opposite direction, skillfully navigating through the crowd until the hostess lost sight of them.
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Lara stepped onto the terrace, then glanced back to find Simon lingering at the door. Memories of their initial meeting flooded her mind—how he had stood by a similar French door, wearing that same pleased expression. She leaned her hips against the banister, locking eyes with him. Back then, she had found his gaze amusing, but now it sent a fiery wave of excitement coursing through her. His eyes paused at her bare shoulders, then traveled down her body, following the curve of her sleek dress and tracing the slit at her left leg.
"Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight?" Simon said as his gaze returned to meet hers.
"I believe so, but by all means, don't hold back," she quipped. Simon moved closer, slowly closing the distance between them. The soft glow from inside illuminated Lara's face. Simon's eyes roamed over her once more, lingering on her lips. Lara instinctively moistened her lips, acutely aware of the desire reflected in his eyes. Now she knew that leaving the bedroom had been a mistake, but the different setting and the unusual circumstances held a certain allure.
Simon jammed his hands into his pockets, a gesture that elicited yet another smile from Lara..
"What's wrong?" she teased. "You used to be more flirtatious last time.
"Last time was different," he replied in a low voice
"Different in what sense?" She drew in a deep breath, sensing his tension.
"That time, I didn't know how dangerous it is for me to touch you."
"What if I touch you?" Lara took the final step, gliding her hand over his chest. Simon's breath caught as he pressed his hand against hers, halting her movement. Lara looked up at him, and she knew that touching him had been a mistake. His jaw tensed as he seized her hand and guided her back into the building. Oblivious to their surroundings, Simon headed for the stairs leading upstairs. Along the way, they bumped into several people, and Lara quickly apologized as Simon continued to stride forward determinedly. The second floor was nearly vacant, and Simon entered the first room that they came across. He swiftly surveyed the room with his eyes, ensuring that they were alone.
"What are you doing?" Lara wondered as the door closed behind her, and Simon turned the key.
"What do you think I'm doing?" He spun her around, much like on the dance floor, and her back met the door.
"This is a party. Are you crazy?"
"Crazy for you." His lips came to hers, and even if it was madness to hide in an empty room at a crowded party, she couldn't resist the temptation. She felt like a schoolgirl, hiding in a closet, but the thought were swept out of her head when Simon pressed against her. Jacket, tie and shirt dropped to the floor, and then he grabbed her thighs to lift her up. With her legs around his waist, she dropped her head back as his mouth roamed on her neck. Her breath caught when, with one fluid move, he plunged into her, and then she matched his rhythm, lost in the wild sensation. Over her head, their fingers entwined, tightening as the emotion built. After a last strong push, the delicious tremor of an orgasm ran through her, leaving her body pliant and so alive at the same time.
Sliding down against the door, they landed on the floor, sprawled all over each other. Both of them gasping for air, Lara just lay there, enjoying the silence and the crazy satisfaction she felt. Simon's heartbeat raced beneath her ear as she nestled her head on his chest. She couldn't contain her laughter.
"What will Lady Paddington say if we make our grand entrance downstairs like this?"
Simon smiled. "I'm sure she'd enjoy this story very much, but perhaps we shouldn't tell her every little detail."
"Well, I don't know why I come to parties so rarely. They are really fun."
Simon propped himself up on his elbows, a furrow in his brows. "I sincerely hope this isn't how you've been spending your time at parties in the past."
"Don't be jealous, darling." She drew closer and planted a kiss on his lips. "I prefer to have fun with you."
Lady Paddington was left speechless as Lara and Simon approached her hand in hand to bid farewell. Her countenance displayed a blend of astonishment and curiosity, which made Lara giggle playfully at Simon.
"Thank you for the invitation; we had a truly delightful time," Lara expressed her gratitude. The old lady might eventually realize that Lara had arrive with a different hairstyle, but it didn't concern her in the least. With a shared smile and a world of secrets between them, Lara and Simon departed the party, ready to continue their own private adventure.