She felt his eyes on her as she moved to stand in the center of the room, her feet crossed, her hands extended from her body like a pair of wings. As she rose on her tiptoes, the dress she had been wearing slid upwards, a little above her knee.
She took a deep breath, before the first note of the song began. Luckily, she’d danced to it so many times now, that her body seemed to know the moves without much contribution from her mind. Her feet followed the rhythm of the song, the tragic story of the first act playing in the back of her mind. As she floated to the rhythm of the story, she thought of love, and what it truly meant. She imagined the intense feelings of betrayal and love, and how they mixed into a poisonous substance that was lethal to almost any being.
Her hands followed an imaginary pattern, they wrapped around her body before spreading once more, as her legs readied for a twirl. She danced for hundreds of people, both as leading role and corp, and yet, she’d never felt so bare, so naked and stripped. She felt his eyes on her like fire, his gaze burnt through her. She was with her back to him now, her eyes closed, the intensity of the moment heavy on her heart.
She was about to twirl, her leg bent, but before she managed to, a pair of hands snaked around her waist making her freeze. His fingers brushed the curves of her abdomen, as she sucked in a breath. He was so close to her, the heat of his body radiating onto her back.
Having him stand behind her was toxic, it made her gulp, made her forget the involuntary action of breathing. Through her lashes, she finally noticed something in his right hand, a black velvet box extended in front of her. Without moving or turning, with the fingers of his left hand still tightly wrapped around her, she reached for it.
“Happy birthday!” he’d whispered, his breath fanning her neck.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it, revealing the most beautiful necklace. Her heart melted as she traced the outlines of the piece of jewelry, her teeth digging into her lower lip.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered as she took it out.
“Indeed,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. He reached for the necklace, guiding the chain around her neck as she held her hair high. The feeling of his fingertips against her skin made her shiver.
She turned, meaning to ask how he found out, but the minute her eyes met his, silence dominated once more. His hands were still on her throat, his thumb drawing random patterns on one of the sides. His gaze traveled slowly to her lips and his finger moved to brush their outline. Their breaths became shallower, time stopped and suddenly, there was no one but them in the world.
Suddenly, they were kissing, their lips molding onto one another. The kiss had been slow, gentle and filled with passion. She took her time, enjoying the sweet taste of wine on his lips. She pulled him closer by the collar, her tongue brushing over his lower lip, inviting his to an exotic dance.
As they kissed, they seemed to have moved to the bedroom, which was luckily not too far away. Her back somehow got pinned between his body and the wall, one of her legs straddling his hip, his own leg between her thighs, brushing over the thin material of her panties. She gasped as he moved to kiss her neck, his tongue licking her earlobe before he nibbled at it gently. His hand somewhere on her shoulder, hooked in the strap of her dress.
Her fingers hastily undid the buttons of his shirt, eager to feel the hardness of his muscles. She wasn’t sure, but she might have torn a few of the buttons in the intensity of the moment. But who cared? What was important, was that now she could feel his skin beneath her fingertips, her nails gripping onto it.
She gaped as he raised her dress, his palm now resting on her lace bra. Even through it, her nipples reacted to him, a wave of pleasure spreading through her body as he pinched them. She shivered, her waist slowly moving against him, her lower half rubbing on him, needing to feel him, even though it was through layers of clothes and material.
She had no idea where she found the strength, but she pulled away, her hands pushing him to the place where she’d been pinned moments ago. Taken aback, Jonathan watched as she kneeled in front of him, her hands shakily undoing the button of his pants, before sliding them off along with his boxers.
She’d seen him before, but she still widened her eyes at his length. Jonathan groaned as she wrapped her hand around him, her fingers slowly moving up and down his length. She didn’t know what she was doing. She was simply following her instincts. But judging by the way he threw his head back, she guessed she was doing it right.
Eventually, she wrapped her lips around him, her tongue licking his tip. She felt him tremble in pleasure, right before his hips started moving, matching the pattern of her hand. Jonathan moaned in pleasure, his hands grabbed her hair, tugging gently at her curled strands. Meanwhile, Sophie was burning too. She was hot and bothered, her insides churning with desire and lust. By the time he pulled her to her feet, she’d been gasping, her fingers touching her core to release some of the tension.
Jonathan groaned at the sight, and he used little to no force in order to throw her on the bed, her dress being discarded somewhere along the way. Her legs were spread apart by now, his body positioned between them, while his fingers tore the thin material of her laced panties apart.
She gasped at the feeling of his fingers against her inner thigh, her back arching as he came to undo her bra, his lips taking over her breasts. As he kissed and sucked on her nipples and swollen breasts, his fingers massaged her core. She didn’t know what to focus on, there was pleasure coming from so many places, all at once.
Eventually, he thrust his fingers into her, her body trembling under the feeling. Her nails dug into his back as she moved her hips to him. She gasped for air, the intensity of the piled up tension in her belly was like acid, burning her apart. Weirdly, she loved the feeling. Her knees went weak as he added another feeling, the sound of their shallow breaths a song to her ears. Eventually she pulled away, gasping for air, her eyes pleading with him to end her suffering. She needed him, there and then. There was no more escaping from the need.
Smiling, he kissed her again, as the tip of his manhood pressed against her entrance. She gasped against his lips as he entered, her body shaking as it got used to his size.
Sophie could safely say that up until that moment, she never knew the true meaning of a happy birthday.
Chapter 7
Jonathan stood in the doorway, his shoulder leaning over the door frame. His shirt was still unbuttoned, the tie he’d chosen for the day loosely hanging from his arm. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, his head a buzz from the lack of rest. But, tired as he was, Jonathan felt at peace. The morning sun rays slipped through the curtains, their warm colors painting every surface of the room. Sophie was tangled in his bedsheets, her chocolate skin glistering beneath the light. Jonathan rarely felt blessed about anything. He never came to care about something enough to feel thankful. But, looking at Sophie, the feeling of appreciation was unmistakable.
Yes, he was still trying to figure out what he felt. He knew the emotions were strong, but he feared they were nothing more than an illusion. They had both met at the worst time of their life, and they played their roles almost to perfection. Jonathan simply feared they were mistaking their roles for real life. What if everything disappeared the moment they sorted things? What if the entire thing was nothing more than their mind seeking refuge?
Indeed, thoughts like that kept Jonathan from confessing to her. They sealed his lips and made him hurt. It was awful when one was oblivious to another’s feelings, but it felt even worse not to know how you felt yourself.
Time. He just needed some time to sort things out. Unfortunately, they didn’t have too much of that. With each passing day they got closer to their breakup. Their days as a married couple were numbered. He knew, deep in his heart, that the longer the confusion lasted, the further away they’d get from actually being something more.
It wasn’t safe for him to think that way. It distracted him far too much. He needed to find some balance betw
een his personal life and work. Although, until not long ago, the two were pretty much only one.
Sighing, Jonathan was about to leave, but he stopped in his tracks as something else caught his attention. Sophie’s feet. They peeked from beneath the sheets, the bruises and cuts along her toes making his stomach churn. He knew better than anyone else how much she worked. Living with her gave him the opportunity to have a front-row seat to her determination and hard work. The long hours in the studio and practicing around the house were showing on her very skin. He wished he could do something to help her, but he was useless when it came to that. His powers were limited and it hurt him more than it should have.
While he had been caught up in his thoughts, Sophie seemed to have woken up. She was seated now, her weight resting on her hand. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders chaotically. How could he find her beautiful even in such a mess? He didn’t know.
“Is it morning already?” Her voice was hoarse, her other hand creating shade over her partially opened eyes. Jonathan chuckled and nodded.
Sophie looked at the clock and groaned, running a hand through her hair.
“Do you have rehearsals?” he asked, earning a tired and disappointed nod. “If you want, I can drop you off.”
“But it’s in the opposite direction. You’ll be late.”
Sometimes he wondered if all women had the same principle of always objecting. To him, they all had pleasure in refusing and commenting on whatever decision men did make. Annoying as it was, he found it cute on her.
“Then I will personally apologize to myself and hope that I don’t get fired,” he said sarcastically, earning an eye roll from Sophie.
“Can you go out? I have to change.” Jonathan couldn’t believe his ears. It wasn’t until then that he noticed how she was clutching to the sheets, covering her body with them.
“You do realize I’ve seen everything.” He arched a brow, a smirk playing on his lips. “Twice.”
Sophie groaned in exasperation, making him chuckle. Of course, that was until she threw a pillow his way.
“Okay, okay–I’ll make you some coffee.”
It didn’t take her long to get ready. In fact, she was done in about fifteen minutes. She’d showered and thrown on a dress, her legs were covered by the long and loose material. He could see no trace of her beautiful curves through it, and he wasn’t sure if he was happy or sad about it.
“Here,” he said as he handed her a cup of coffee, his fingers burning from the effect of the radiating heat. “Thanks.”
If there was one thing Jonathan was glad about, it was that Sophie wasn’t pushing him for answers. Just like him, she’d let things rest. He only wished he knew her reasons. He wondered if she was only quite because of him, or because she regretted her decisions in the first place. Of course, had talked about it, he wouldn’t have been facing such demons.
“How about we have dinner tonight? Like at a restaurant. Something else, aside from pizza and takeout.”
Sophie looked at him with wide eyes, unsure if she’d heard right. Although her lips parted almost immediately, she remained silent. Dread piled up in his stomach, negative thoughts rushing through his mind as he began to wonder if he should have just waited a bit more.
“Sure. You want to meet there? Or–”
“How about we meet there? I doubt I’ll have enough time to come pick you up. Sorry.”
“Okay then.” Her smile was intoxicating, it made his entire body burn. “Shall we leave?”
*****
Sophie leaned her head against the back seat of the taxi. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart, the cold nerves driving her crazy. She could hear her pulse in her ears, a soft buzzing sound that drove her insane. Her hair flew around her, like snakes lounging into the open space, under the effect of the violent breeze that came through the open window. She knew she was messing her hair up, after dedicating a good hour to curling and styling it, but she couldn’t just close it. No, she was suffocating, the open window was the only thing standing between her and sudden combustion.
Why was she so nervous? Oh, how she wished she knew. She’d been that way since morning. In fact, she’d spent the entire day thinking about what to wear, and whether or not she had enough time to get ready. She had acted like a teenage girl going on her first date. Sophie was no longer a teenager and this was most definitely not a date. She kept reminding herself of that, hoping that she would understand it eventually and stop being so anxious.
“Miss–” the voice of the driver came. “We’re here.”
Sophie opened her eyes and thanked the man. She hadn’t noticed that they’d stopped before then. She’d been so caught up in her internal conversation that even her senses had betrayed her. Taking in a deep breath she opened the door and got off, the warm night breeze hitting her almost immediately. It was colder at night and she wished she’d worn something else aside from the shawl that she’d draped over her shoulders.
It was all in the name of fashion. She would survive. Sophie had been living there for years now, and yet, she could never get used to the beauty of the city at night. The different people that roamed the streets and the overall happiness and joy the city radiated. Sinful as it was, it seemed to give its visitors a taste of happiness.
The restaurant Jonathan had picked was one of the best in the city. She had heard about it before, apparently reservations were sometimes made months prior. Of course, that wouldn’t apply when you were Jonathan Hunter.
The restaurant's facade was a mix of brick and windows, with small twinkling lights draping around the corners. The tables seemed to be filled, people dressed in fancy dresses and with gleaming jewelry dined there. She wondered if someone could ever get used to that life. A life full of glamour, filled with opportunities. Yet, a life where you don’t truly belong to yourself. She didn’t know whether to envy or pity the rich. Jonathan had taught her to do both. Living with him made her realize that no one’s life was as perfect as it seemed.
“Do you have a reservation?” the receptionist inquired once she’d stepped foot inside.
“Jonathan Hunter.” Although Sophie had been busy scanning the tables, she didn’t fail to miss the look the waitress gave her. Shock, envy, maybe a bit of judgment too. Sophie learned to ignore it, she wouldn't be the first one to eye her that way. She’d learned already that according to the world, she did not deserve Jonathan. She was neither rich nor beautiful enough for the Hunter bachelor.
“This way.”
From outside, the restaurant seemed big. But once inside, the place was huge. As huge as it was, there weren’t many tables. There was a good amount of space between each table, a large chandelier above them, it’s light cascading upon the dining people in brilliant rays. Teardrop-shaped diamonds dangled from the sophisticated piece.
The receptionist came to stand in front of a door Sophie hadn’t noticed before. With a puzzled look she raised a brow.
“Mr. Hunter asked for the garden table. He is outside.” The woman faked a smile before she left Sophie there.
The door was glass, but she couldn’t see anything past them. Taking in a deep breath, she opened the door. The garden was small, separated from the street by tall bushes and roses. There were lanterns hanging from ropes above the table, a stone path leading to it. Jonathan had been sitting there, his eyes set on his phone, but the minute she entered, he abandoned everything and stood up.
It was at moments like that, when he looked at her like that, with so many mixed emotions and thoughts, that she realized she wasn’t only imagining their bizarre relationship. There was something between them, something more than a contract and an unfortunate wedding. She just didn’t know what.
“You look beautiful,” he breathed out and from the way his eyes widened soon after, she could tell he hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
“Thanks.” The cold she’d felt before was gone. There was only heat surging through her body at this point, he
r senses tingling under his gaze. “This place is amazing!” she said, her eyes wandering over the details she’d missed at first glance.
“I know. I never came here before but I heard about it.” He handed her one of the menus, before he went on to pour her some wine.
“I’ll just get whatever you’re getting. You have more experience with fancy menus.” She chuckled as she closed the booklet.
As if on cue, the waitress appeared shortly. Taking both their orders before disappearing once again. Unlike the receptionist, this girl had been nice, a genuine smile on her lips as she listened to them.
“My cousin will be coming next week. My uncle too.”
“Really? That’s amazing.”
“Yea, I told them we’re having our wedding in a month. They decided to come here earlier and with the preparations.”
“Do they know? That the marriage is fake, I mean?” She surprised herself with the question.
“They do. I can never lie to them. They see right through me. Not even my own mom knows me like they do.” He smiled.
“Sebastian, my cousin, he fell in love with his girlfriend under weird circumstances too. So, they would never judge our choices.”
Fell in love. She wondered if he realized what he was implying. She doubted he did. He spoke the words with so much ease, not giving them a second thought. Meanwhile, she pondered on them, maybe longer than she should have. Then, she realized something else, the wedding was so close. It shouldn’t have made her nervous, but it did. Every little game they played in the name of their fake marriage made her even more confused.
“I also talked to Marcus, our wedding planner, he’ll meet with you tomorrow. You should really go pick a dress and have a talk about wedding details. He will take care of everything else, so you don’t have to worry about it.” Sophie nodded, her gaze a bit distant. “You’re cold.”
Sophie hadn’t noticed, but she indeed was. Before she realized, Jonathan had stood up, his blazer in hand. Slowly, he placed it on her shoulders, his hands smoothing the edges over her shoulders.
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