#Chapter6

PARIS: THAT AWKWARD MOMENT-02

JOY

The next thing I knew, I was the one who pulled Vince by the lapel of his jacket into a rough kiss, my hands cupping his cheeks. He let out a soft groan and lips tangled to mine.

He pushed me to lie on my back over the sofa and hovered on top of me, with her legs straddling him. He deepened the kiss while caressing my cheeks with his warm fingers. With him, I failed to remember why I’d feared men touching me in the first place. The sensations were terrific, sublime.

Maybe it was the wine and all the margaritas. Whatever it was, I didn't want my fear to ruin this moment.

I complied with each of his movements. His tongue evaded my mouth and chafed mine so softly, it was heart-breaking. He trailed his kisses down to my throat. He licked and grazed his teeth right over the pulse point, making a soft moan leap out of my lips. One of his hands rested over my belly, heating my skin over the fabric of my dress and the other pressed down my neck.

But then, his hands moved down my neck and that was when...I messed up.

***

VINCE

I wanted to beat the shit out of the bartender for staring at Joy that way. That filthy asshole! Because not even my cold glare could do the trick. But the waiter wasn't the only thing bothering me.

I couldn't stop myself from inching toward her to move the strands of hair falling by the side of her face. I wanted to graze his hands on her smooth cheeks down her sharp jawline. God, I wanted to do things that would make her run for the hills.

And when I finally gathered the courage, I pushed myself to kiss her. But what upset me was that she didn't kiss me back. I tried to force my mind to believe that my move was too sudden for her to react to. Then again, a part of me could see her fidgeting and the thousand emotions whirling in her eyes.

She was scared. Whether from me or something else, I couldn’t tell.

I was about to move away when with a sudden grasp on my cheeks, she pushed her lips back on mine. Her lips had instantly parted for me and I tasted the champagne smeared in her mouth with a hint of strawberry. The boundary between me and my control shattered and the next thing I knew, I was already on top of her, fondling her tongue with my own while my hands slowly motioned down her cheeks to her neck breast. She shuddered under me when I pulled my lips to her throat and sucked on her skin. Even her skin was fucking delicious.

Just as my hands moved down to her firm breasts, a sharp sensation pierced my lips and I quickly sprang up. Joy had bitten me.

I watched her sit up with a horrified expression on her face. The metallic taste of blood escaped into my mouth as I sucked onto my bottom lip. What the hell? Generally, when I made a move on a girl, they cooperated. They willingly gave themselves to me but seeing Joy react in a way I hadn't expected, made me angry.

"What was that for?" I groaned.

She looked at me, her eyes almost tearing up. I turned away, afraid of watching her cry. I felt betrayed. My mind tried pointing out the reasons why she was so uncomfortable around me. She had said she wasn't committed yet it seemed to him like she was.

I got up from the couch. I’d always gotten everything I wanted and right at this moment, it was her. I craved her. She was different and every nerve in my body was warming me of how dick-ish I was being.

My moves were unnecessary and very immature, I knew. But as the saying goes—habit is the second nature that kills the first—this was that exact situation I was in.

"It's getting late. I should drop you home" was the only thing I said.

I understood by the look on her face that she was either embarrassed or sad...or both. She sat in silence and got up when the waiter handed my card back. I’d even tried to make eye contact after that but failed as she successfully avoided my narrowed gaze.

I am sorry—I was mentally screaming.

The ride to her hotel was full of awkwardness and sexual tension. I realized by her expression how regretful she was and when I parked the car in front of her hotel she didn't utter a word for a while and neither did I.

I was playing different sceneries in my mind of how to start a conversation before she got down. I wanted to end our meeting on peaceful terms, without having to hold grudges against each other. I didn't want her to go back to her hotel room and feel it was her fault I’d left.

"I-I am sorry for that," mumbled Joy, clearing her throat to break the silence.

She looked at me, her brows curving into a frown. But the next moment, I witnessed a smile appear on her lips, a smile so genuine that a fluttery feeling spread across my chest, making my heart drum with a rhythmic beat. There it was—the very smile that made him walk up to her.

"Well, goodnight. It was nice knowing you, Vince."

I opened his mouth to speak but before I could manage any word, she stepped out of the car. I wanted to pull her back in and kiss the heck out of her. Take her right here in the car. Kiss every square inch of her body. What the fuck is she doing to me? I had no idea.

"Fuck it!" I growled loudly before walking out of the car and closing the door with a loud thud.