The man who seemed to have appeared from the shaddows stepped into the moonlight, he moved with the kind of confidence that didn't need to announce itself. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his presence pressing against the quiet air. The faint light caught in his hair, dark as spilled ink and glinted off the silver watch clasped around one wrist.
"It seems I'm not the only one displeased by this wedding," he said.
The voice was low, even, yet there was a weight behind it that made my stomach tighten. When he stopped a few paces away, despite the shadows hiding the planes of his face, i could see his eyes gray, almost metallic, piercing, and too calm.
"I… I'm sorry," I stammered automatically, even though I didnt know what i was apologizing for. "I shouldn't be here. I just needed some air."
He studied me for a long moment, saying nothing. The silence stretched until i began to fidget, the shame of the evening creeping back into my throat. Then he spoke again.
"You served drinks inside."
"Huh?" I asked, a little offended that he thought i was only good to serve, what if i was a guest just like him?
"Your uniform." He gestured at my uniform.
Ah yes, the ridiculously short french maid uniform that looked like it belonged in the adult rated category, not to actually serve was definately a pointer. "Yes, sir."
"And before that?"
"I was…" I caught myself. What could i say? It was supposed to be me dancing in my beautiful white dress, I was supposed to be the bride but i got dumped out of the blues by my boyfriend who went on to marry the daughter of the biggest mafia boss?
I mean, what did i even expect? The son of a mafia family to actually marry the help instead of his peer. The thought was bitter. How pathetic and whinny would i be to confide in a stranger about my woes. "It doesn't matter."
He tilted his head slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting. "It seems to matter to you, you're out here crying."
Something in his tone, matter-of-fact, almost detached made me want to bolt, everything about him just screamed danger yet i just stood there transfixed. I bowed my head instead. "I really should get going."
Unfortunately, just as i turned to make my grand exit, my foot chose that very moment to get stuck in some vines, turning an already embarrasing moment even worse. I was already having the worst day of my life, why not also add a clumsy fall in front of some mysterious stranger to the mix. Perfect!
As the world lurched sideways. i gasped and braced for the impact of cold leaf strewn floor, against my body but strong hands caught me, steadying me before i could hit the ground.
My breath caught in my throat.
He had caught me effortlessly, one arm around my waist, the other supporting my shoulder. For a second the only sound was the wind stirring the leaves. Then i looked up and got a proper look at his features.
Up close, he was almost too sharply handsome: the severe line of his jaw, the faint scar near his temple, the calm focus in his eyes. Power clung to him like a scent.. expensive, intoxicating.
"Careful," he said quietly. "I might start to believe you are falling for me so quickly."
I realized then that i was gripping his sleeve tightly and i snatched my hand back. "I… erm, I thank you, you can let me go now."
He didn't let go then, his gaze holding mine for a fraction longer than comfort allowed. There was no warmth there, but there was interest, the kind of sharp curiosity that made my skin prickle and made butterflies dance drunkenly in my belly, all thoughts of Alassandro's betrayal banished temporarily.
As if in a trance, i watched him lower his head and felt the fullness of his lips against mine. Without thinking i responded to his soft coaxing, my lips parting to let his tongue gain entrance between my lips and i tasted expensive whiskey which had now mixed with the flavour of him.
I was lost for a long moment until i realized what i was doing. Kissing a strange man after i had run away from the party celebrating my ex-boyfriend and his new bride. I quickly stepped back, trying to gather myself. "I really should—"
"You don't like my kiss?" he asked huskily and pulled me back into his embrace and tried to kiss me again. This time i put my hands on his very solid chest to stop him.
"I really have to go." I said, trying my best to sound convincing.
The man stared at me, studing me. "You seemed to enjoy my kiss, or was i mistaken?"
I gulped and closed my eyes, trying my hardest to remain immune to my very obvious attraction to this man.
"I really need to leave." i said, refusing to answer his question.
"I am a very wealthy man, i can make it worth your while." he muttered as he buried his face in my neck.
I stiffened as his words poured over me, making me feel like i had been doused with a bucket of ice cold water and any hint of attraction i felt for him disappeared. Without thinking, i slapped the man and gasped at the flames in his eyes.
For a moment i feared that he would strike me back or even choke me. But he pulled me upright and stepped away from me like i had the plague.
He didn't try to stop me this time. And as i stepped past, i half feared that he would reach for me and when he didnt i found myself feeling relief and under all of that a sense of disappointment that had me questioning myself.
after i had gotten some distance away, i could not stop myself from turning slightly to take one last look at the stranger, but he was already moving back toward the shadows, the line of his shoulders cutting a dark silhouette against the pale stone of the marble water fountain.
I stood there for a long moment, the night pressing close around her. The humiliation of the evening still burned, but beneath it was something else, a flicker of awareness, sharp and unnerving.
When i finally walked away, my hands were still trembling, not from fear but from a strange feeling after encountering the stranger.