Claire's POV;
Claire was staring at the mirror, her hands clenched to fist as she studied her image. The perfectly curled hair resting on her shoulders stood out compared to her black dinner dress. Each golden strand was styled in a way to doll up her features.
But the face staring right back at her was the look reserved behind a closed door, where no eyes could see. This was a short moment she stole for herself to catch her breath and hold on tight whenever she was on the edge.
She could feel the resolve she had gathered crumbling. She had been waiting the whole week for Theo to be back and so she could set things straight with him but that cowering feeling was back, restraining her from taking that first step.
I don't want to be the only one trying. I can't look desperate before him.
Her eyes were clouded as waves of bottled emotions passed through them. Her fist tightened, digging her nails deeper into her palms. The pain from her palm was like ropes, noting her emotions from seeping through.
Her lips slowly moved, ''This is not how I want things to be. Not this, I want more.'' Her teeth gritting, ''This is not enough. I... I need every part of him!''
She didn't realise she was holding her breath until she was short of it. Looking in the mirror she took deep breaths. Her inside felt cold and heavy with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Theo was everything she could ever want from a man. But she needed a lot morethan what he had dished out so far.
She cupped her face tightly. ''I thought being his girlfriend was all it could take.But I was a fool.'' A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
Life is unfair. It never gives you what you want and when you actually reach out forit, it provides you with nothing but eye candy.
What difference does it make if you leave first? This is fun but it's not leading anywhere so why wait till we're cast aside? No matter how nerve-wracking it is, it's the best choice for us to take. It doesn't matter how tight you hang on, he will eventually leave us. Now stop cowering in here. We must go back now and get the night over with.Claire, don't tell me you're in love already. You're not that stupid, aren't you?
Her lips twitched with a grim smile. She gently swept her hair back, exposing her collarbone, leaving behind a chilling feeling on her skin.She refused to read too much into her hesitation.
Her eyes have been studying her face as if searching for any kind of flaw that might have developed overnight.
In a trance her fingertips raised to her cheek and traced it like fragile fabric.
We have to cut down on our fatty intake for the whole month.
Her fingertips trailed down and stopped at her lips, her brows drawing in together as she examined the heavy shade of lipstick.
What she believed looked good just before she stepped out suddenly looked hideous.
''How did I not notice this earlier?'' She grumbled as she dug into her mini purse for her emergency kit. She used her wet cotton pad to wipe her lips clean. The dark brown colour faded to reveal her pinkish plump lips. Her pinky fingers deepened into her lip balm and applied it in a circular motion. She checked her profile from side to side to see if her hair needed adjustment. It must've looked fine to her so she moved to wash her hands.
''You good?'' A deep muscular voice came from behind her.
Her hand was stilled and her breath hung. Her brain cells jumped in recognition of that voice. She slowly looked up in the mirror and there was him, leaning over the door.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
She looked away and took some paper towels to dry her hands. 'Yeah, just don't scare me like that. I almost wet my outfit.''
There was a pause before he spoke. ''That sentence can give one the wrong idea.''
She gave a loud sigh. ''What are you doing here, Theo?'' She asked not paying attention to what was being said.
''You looked bothered the whole time and with the amount of time you were taking here, so I had to check...''
''...ran here to my rescue?'' She turned to face him, tilting her head sideways. ''I'm fine. I don't need to be monitored.''
Her voice was a bit cold, totaly lacking emotions. He frowned. ''Don't expect me to buy that. I know when something is wrong with my girlfriend.'' He approached her. Her body wanted to instintly back away but that would only confirm his suspicion.
She fisted her palm with a deviant look on her face. ''Oh really? Cause I've had the impressionlately that I hardly worth your attention.''
''Not this again! Claire, I have no idea how you came about that but I assure you that you're all I have in mind... But if you still think otherwise I will readily make up for it.'' He held both her shoulders and gave her a soft shake.
She looked up at him with a plain expression as he softly brushed the side of her hair behind her ear. Even though he left a step distance between them, her senses still felt overwhelmed.
He took hold of her hand. ''I will clear every doubt you have but you need to be more open and not deal with it yourself. What am I here for if you can't rely on me?'' His tone was low and breathy almost like a whisper It was obvious he was trying to soothe her nerves.
She looked away, refusing to have him crumble her resolve. ''No amount of sweet talk will make up for it.'' With clouded eyes she looked up at him. Her eyes reflect something that wasn't there before.
He frowned, and his lips tightened. The next thing he could think of was wrapping his arms around her. ''Let me make this right. I'll take responsibility for your feelings. I pledge with my AWWWW!''
A stinging pain stung his chest. He pulled her back, creating a distance between them and staring at the woman in front of him. She had her deadly glare on.
''What was that for?'' Theo asked. ''Are you a cat? Puppy? Dog? Which one?''
He wanted to be sure that was his girlfriend and not some reincarnated wild animal. He couldn't believe she would pull up a thing in a romantic moment such as this one.
''Suits you right. What do you mean take responsibility for my feelings? To hell with that. For cheese's sake, what do you take me for, Theo? A doll? A puppet maybe? This is not what we agreed on when this all started.'' He looked at her with surprise in his eyes.
She sighed, willing herself to get hold of her emotions but it was hard at that point. Not with him right in front of her. The words she had pysched herself to tell him tonight were stuck in her tongue. ''I don't know how long I can hold on to this.''
Is what I'm holding on to even real?
Don't question it, it doesn't really matter now. Just break up with him already. It's not too late to pull out.
Tears struck down her cheeks. Her throat felt hot and crying out loud seemed like the only relief that would soothe her ache. She clenched her inner cheeks.
I can't let him see me weak.
That's right! You'll feel better in a matter of days. Nothing clubbing and getting high can't fix.
With a deep breath and a new resolve she faced him.''I'm done. What we have is good but it's not working for me any longer. Let's ... let's call it a break.''
...but why does it sting?
Her hand clenched her purse as she dragged her now heavy feet out of the bathroom to the hallway. Her focus was gone and she had that deserted look in her eyes.
A hand caught her arms, stopping her in her tracks and backing her to a wall. He leaned down and gave her a purnishing bite on her lower lips that made her flinch but she didn't struggle, only squinting as she endured the sting. She was willing to take the pain. That was the least she could do. Her body suddenly felt heavy and numb as fatigue weighed on her.
''You're not seriously thinking I would let you walk away from me?'' She felt his fingers brushing her cheek but she refused to look him in the eyes, only staring at his chest. His eyes were one of the features that fascinated her. Everything from his structure to his manners was intimidating, but those eyes always held warmth in them.
But at that moment they were intense. Even the way he held her felt commanding and her swollen lips were a proof of that.
She tried to push him off her. ''It's not like this is a breakup. I'm only asking for a break.'' She mumbled.
He leaned in closer. ''They sound the same thing to me.'' He observed how she responded to his touch. One thing was for sure, he didn't like where the conversation was heading.
Of all the romantic movies she watched, she recalled always screaming out for the lady to push the MC off and storm out but now faced with the same situation her body wasn't responding to her brain.
Being backed to the wall and his body shielding her this close, all strength had srained from her arms. A frown was etched on her eyebrows.
Why is he making things difficult?
''No they're not the same, Theo. This break is a Break. It's important for both of us to take a breather and organi....''
''You say it like we're an old couple.'' He cut her off, tracing the back of his fingers softly over her skin from her cheeks to her neck then to her collar bone, barely stopping at the midpoint between her two melons. Her dark outfit made her skin appear fairer than it really was. They appeared soft and squeezeable, which he knew they were.
''Mind you we are only just starting'' As much as he would've liked to give them a good squeeze, he refrained from doing so.
Her chest was already beating fast. He feared she might lose consciousness if he kept going.
By the way her chest was rising and falling it was difficult for him to neglect them. The lewd motion of her melons was to the rhythm of her breathing was inviting. He traced his fingers softly over them instead of squeezing.
His trail was in a curve sliding pattern, making goosebumps form on her skin. Apart from that there were no signs she was enjoying it whatsoever.
His eyebrows drew together. ''Stop this sturbborneness! Will you please stop making things difficult? You're mine now.''
It was as if a fuss broke in her head as her face turned red and her nose flared in anger. He knew he was going to face a tongue lashing at any moment.
She wriggled in his arms in an attempt to free herself but THAT attempt was in fact a very weak one.
He went for her lips again in a firm suction, then pulled back for her to catch her breath, his eyes fixed on her hazy watery eyes, her lips glittering from the silver. His soft red tongue gently touched the cut she inflicted. Tickling the area. Claire gasped in surprise and that gave him an opening to pry her lips open. He wasn't being forceful rather he explored her mouth in a slow sensual motion. His hands slid from her waist to cup her round ass. By the way she jumped he knew he had an effect on her, more than she let on.
He withdrew and went for her lips nibbling them and that made Claire who had been holding a moan whimper with a muffled sound. Her eyes widened in realisation.
''Fuck! We're in public!'' She forcefully shook him off and this time he freed her.
She was out of breath from the assault and was visibly gasping for air. She must not have noticed she had just used the F word.
He responded with a knowing smirk on his lips as he swiped the wetness off his lips with his thumb then sucked it in.
She gasped out of surprise but the next seconds her frown returned. Looking pissed than ever, she returned the curtesy by forcefully wiping her lips with the back of her hand.
Her eyes had that glint that basked in accomplishment at his mug smile that had turned to a grim smile.