W i l d f i r e

Perhaps pushing the blonde away was the healthier option, for both of them. But was it? Dorian had once told her that he wasn’t able to be selfish with her, yet all of this had felt that way, even though he endured the pain of seeing her doing her job with his wedding. Life was so much more complicated than it had been the day they had met. When he had simply teased her and managed to snake his way into her life. If only he could turn back time, he’d have made sure they would never have met.

“Technically, I’m not.” He spoke up, though avoided her gaze at all cost. He was simply the one paying for it, but he couldn’t give a damn about the details or what exactly she did, that was all Celene’s doing. He just wanted to live through the wedding as soon as possible and then get his life back on track. Married or not, he’d try to see his wife as little as possible. Long nights at the office, taking trips he normally would have passed on, passing that antique shop during thoughtless walks.. 

The sound of a chair grazing over a tiled floor echoed through the room, his body stretching as he stood up straight, smoothing the wrinkles from his waistcoat before a hand reached for the jacket draped over his chair. The fabric found it’s way on the man’s shoulders, a flick with his fingers causing a single button to keep the fabric in place as he followed her out of the room. 

“Sounds good.” Dorian answered to her suggestion, even if he couldn’t care less about the guest pictures. He wouldn’t flip through the book for his life. “Question.. Just how… extensive will the wedding be?” An odd question for the groom to ask, especially with how near the wedding was. He wasn’t going to ask the bride, whom he had last seen yesterday evening when she had informed him today would be her bachelorette party. Another ridiculous tradition, one he wasn’t having, even at the urgency of his parents.  He was kind of on bad terms with them at the moment, and the fact he saw them now every day only made things worse. 

Part of his question was answered when Nina had led him towards the gazebo. The amount of detail and decoration baffled him and then tightened his jaw. He supposed it was only fair to give the woman the wedding of her dream, whereas he would have done a simple wedding in front of a minister, but alas. Weddings weren’t precisely his favourite events anymore. Not after last time. 

“Since my mother hired me I’ve been told to never use the word extensive. Detailed is preferred.” The words came out of her mouth as if she was a robot. The job itself wasn’t bad. After all, Nina was someone who appreciated little things and believed they were special so to fill someone’s special day with them was joy. However, this particular wedding just didn’t feel magical and working with her mother became a close call to living with her mother - nothing but perfection was expected.

Turning to look at the gazebo, Nina lowered her voice a little bit and it became harder. “And there’s lots of detail. I’m not a professional at this but it almost feels like someone wants to show off their future partner - or at least the marriage.” While speaking, she glanced at him sideways. Her voice was distant and that’s how she felt. Like someone knocked her out of her body and started spitting venom. She hated feeling like that. As if someone flipped the coin inside of her head and she couldn’t flip it back. Almost as if all the joy and pain Dorian brought into her life started to battle and she flipped sides ten times a second.

            Her reply hadn’t been as satisfactory as he’d hoped. Then again, she had replied to the wrong thing he had asked about. Dorian knew better than to correct her, not wishing to stir up things that most likely didn’t even matter – not anymore. So he just kept silent, blue oceanic hues gazing up to meet hers once a secret was being mentioned. He’d wanted to correct her, tell her that she wasn’t his dirty little secret, that he would tell Celene about her – about the woman his heart truly belonged to at least after the wedding, so that his spouse to be wouldn’t ruin her career and fire her from the job. Once again, lips remained sealed, keeping any sound from vibrating vocal cords that, unlike normal, had barely been functioning the last few weeks. He had nothing to say to anyone. 

            Shadows altered on his face as he turned it sideways, watching the skyline that reflected on the large windows, illuminating everything in the room yet still Dorian felt like he was living in darkness. As if the sun was caught in a similar cage as he was, shrouded by treacherous clouds as they roamed freely through the sky, like Celene did in his life. “Good to know.” Dorian eventually spoke, evading the woman’s eyes, his thumb wiping the crease beneath his lower lip, then resting on the centre of his mouth. 

            Soft spoken words dragged him out of the pit again, catching the attention of blue orbs and hoisted eyebrows. He hadn’t meant to keep her standing there with the papers in her hands and realised he had come across as rude and therefor forced the best smile he could as a silent apology. Her invitation was kind, and perhaps taking a walk would do wonders, but the mention of the vows brought his attention back to the empty sheet in front of him, which clearly showed his progress and therefor Dorian once again did not reply, leaving her to catch her own conclusions. He would most likely pull something from the internet.

            “I don’t know.” His answer sounded, not having had much interest in fitting his tuxedo. He was praying for the fact his tuxedo wouldn’t fit on the day, and they could trade this entire charade into a simple meeting at the courthouse. “I’ll have my assistant take care of it.” A final answer, which was a suitable replacement for ‘I couldn’t be arsed to time on it myself.’ 

             “I would still like that walk.. though.” 

He turned away to glance outside and something about this moment was unbearable. There was nothing left to focus on other than him. Everything was down to a dot, sealed and signed with a few exceptions that didn’t have the power to change anything. And change wasn’t neccessary. That’s how things turned out and Nina never expected to be significant in his future ever again after they parted ways. It would’ve been bittersweet to become a memory and the fact that memories of them haunted her was somehow ironic. Because she couldn’t erase them, neither did she want to. Everything had a place in her mind and all of it kept replaying over and over again. Truth being, it was easier to focus on what has been rather than imagine what is ahead.

But Dorian wasn’t a memory just yet. He was painfully present even when he was absent minded. However, nothing felt like it used to. Because as hurt as she was, she knew something has changed. He stood there right in front of her but something was missing. As if someone stole that spark she saw back when they chased each other around the hotel room. And right then, Nina truly hoped Celene was the one to bring it back. Because losing that would truly be a tragedy.

Once he turned back around to look at her, her expression became cool once again and her smile mirrored his. She was expecting some kind of reply but nothing came and eventually she just gave up. She wanted to be professional but she wasn’t desperate enough to beg for information that would probably hit her right in the guts anyway. So instead she just let it be. “You’re the boss. Like I said, at this point everything that needs to be done are minor details so there’s not rush.”

The clipboard landed with a hollow thud on an empty chair while Nina let out a sigh. Running her fingers through her hair, she considered just leaving but then he accepted her suggestion of a walk and she blinked a few times before slowly nodding her head.

As if this wedding hadn’t been an awful idea to him, it had been made worse by the presence of his ex every step along the way. She had most likely recognised the ring he had given Celene as the one from the auction the night they had spent together. He had been long surprised she hadn’t slapped him in the face right there. Suppose that was one more thing he admired about her – her resilience and her professionalism. 

Though that hadn’t stopped him from retreating, leaving the wedding planning to his soon to be wife and his mother. It had been the perfect opportunity for his fiancee to keep her secret from him under wraps. He was only present when he needed to be, which was hard enough as he had to pretend to be happy in order to please his parents. He sometimes managed in keeping a distance between him and Celene, though she easily clung to his arm whenever she wished to. 

This very morning, Dorian had been woken early by a call from his firm, only to try and concentrate on the vows he still had to write. Thing was, he had no good thing to say. He almost decided to give up and simply rip one off from the internet when the door opened, revealing the only person he could stand to be with, and couldn’t at the same time. He could only imagine what a sick joke this must be for her, being forced to handle his wedding. Each time he saw her was one more time he had to suppress the urge to tell her everything. To suppress the idea of asking her to run away with him, escape from the gilded cage he was trapped in.

Blue hues stared at the papers in front of him, yet his hands were immobilised. Signing the last documents would make everything official. If he did, the only way for him to call the wedding quits would be in the next two days until he would say those two dreaded words. “Thank you.” Dorian forced out words, just about having kept him from giving her an angry glare when she made that last sentence. If only she understood the irony. “You think that’s what they’ll do?”

She lightly nodded her head, a professional smile on her lips. “My pleasure.” Still holding out the papers, he didn’t seem to make a move for them and for a second Nina studied his face. Funny how it didn’t seem familiar and yet she knew it by heart. In this setting, with everything happening so fast around them, she didn’t feel like the same person who used to be by his side either. 

 “Do what? Cover any damage? Yeah, it’s a contract. Once signed they are usually hard to break without any lawyers. So if a relative gets on your last nerve and you want to smash a vase, well, just say it was an accident. It’ll be our secret. We’re good at keeping those.” The words slipped out and she regretted them instantly. Maybe she was just selfish and foolish. Maybe he was never as comitted to whatever was going on between as she was. To this so-called relationship.. Somehow Nina hoped that once she convinced herself of this version of the truth, it’d be easier to let go. Because no matter at how upset she was over how things turned out, the idea of him finding the happiness they wanted for each other comforted her.

“Anyway,” she dropped her hand with the papers and clicked on the back of her pen. “it’s not urgend so you can sign it whenever or we can send it to your office. Whatever you prefer.” Hooking the pen onto the clipboard, she took a step backwards. "Walk with me? You can check on the progress and maybe confirm you have the vows finished? Do you?” Being frank, Nina didn’t even want to hear them. Her mother was the issue who cornered her to check off every annoyingly perfect detail. “We’re also missing a date for the final suit fitting. Is that still on?”

And while people walked in and out of the building, carrying things inside and putting them into position, she felt as if her mind was stuck in a haze. Ever since the reality of Dorian getting married smacked her across the face, she held on to the hope that it was just a nightmore. A bubble that would burst and she’d realize it was all just a mistake. They promised each other to part ways. Live seperate lives because it would be for the better. And while Nina still tried to puzzle herself back together, the man had already carried an engagement ring inside his pocket. A ring that has been present even during the last night they had spent together.

So instead of moving on, she got dragged to plan the man’s introduction to his future and saw everything she’d never get. She met his bride-to-be, his family and had to ask him to write his vows while planning his honeymoon. All of this could’ve easily broken her and it almost did an uncountable amount of times. But at some time, she removed herself and became a robot who only focused on her job. It made things easier but sometimes she cracked. There were moments when the waves hit her and she struggled to comprehend the full extent of her own emotions.

This was one of the moments. When she crossed the room to go talk to him with her heart slipping to her throat. “Good morning.” She handed him a clipboard with a piece of paper on it. “Good news, last signature I need from you. Celene signed it yesterday in the meeting with my mo - with Mrs Belair. It’s the insurance agreement on this location. The company will come up for any damage that might come up but that’s already been discussed. Right now all that’s left are details. So if there’s anything you want, well, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

         Her words were were like those of poems, speaking certain truths that he couldn’t fathom unless he read the page multiple times. The irony was that she didn’t know what tomorrow held for him and he hoped that she would never find out until she found someone else to be happy with, as happy as she had made him. If only he had been right for her, then everything could have been much easier and so much better. “I don’t know how.” he breathed, softly running his fingertips over the back of her hand, for as much as he could anyway. 

        “I found myself able to not be selfish only around you.” Dorian admitted, a truth that had been his for a long while. He hadn’t treated women right, not after Camille. Truth was, he had planned the same for Nina as he had the countless of others. To never meet her after that night and go on his merry way. Having had his fun and then focus on life again. But fate had it that they kept on walking into each other and he became intrigued, he became interested. Such was the effect she had on him and one part of him hated her for it, and the other one, the biggest part, had fallen in love with her because of it. 

         Yet now here they were, in a hotel room living their final moments together until she would continue his life, and he would end his. As his hand slipped from her grasp, seating himself on the edge of the bed, gathering his clothing that was close-by, he listened to her words, all of them feeling like daggers that pierced his back and scraped his cold heart. In silence, he stood up, getting himself dressed as he contemplated what to say or what to do. He knew that leaving would hurt the both of them, so all kind of ideas popped in his head of them running away. To simply appear in front of her house and tell her to pack her things, but he knew he couldn’t. He cared little about Celene, but he did care about his unborn child, how strange that may sound. 

        “Will you still work in your shop?” He asked, as he rejoined her in the living section of the hotel room, tying his tie as he took his steps. He would do what he could to avoid her in the future, as it’d be easier for the both of them, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t drive by and watch her through the window once in a while, just to see if she indeed found happiness.

Every single word he had said echoed in her mind. She let them run on repeat, memorizing them like the lyrics of a song. For all she knew, this was their very last goodbye and she knew she’d go back to this night, to their final moments - she needed to remember every detail.

Tip-toeing out of the bedroom, she stopped for a second in the living room, running her feet through the soft carpet. Just a few hours ago they’ve been chasing each other around like kids and the world had felt as light as a feather. The irony was obvious because right now she felt like the weight of the world was pushing her down into a dark pit. With a sigh, she headed for the bathroom where she had left her clothing the night before to dry. Absentmindely Nina got dressed, her focus on every little sound that she could make out through the open doors. 

There wasn’t much space between the two rooms where the two of them were. She could run over and be with him in a matter of three seconds. But with every damn second that passed it felt as if oceans started the form between them. So even if she crossed the living room to be reunited, he’d already be much more distant than the second before. And she hated that feeling. There he was, the man she wanted the most - the man she’d forever want - the man who would walk out of her life and there was nothing she could do about it. It was a goddamn torture - one she had so willingly signed up for and she’d do it again in a blink.

Unable to zip up her dress completely, she left it open a few inches, hoping her hair would cover it up. Once quick glance in the mirror told her that the make up artist from last night had done a good job, the eyeshadow had faded but there wasn’t an obvious case of racoon eyes. Running her fingers through her hair, she put it in place as best as she could but no matter how hard she tried, it would be obvious she’d be doing a walk of shame. Evening gowns in the morning made that obvious.

Stepping out of the bathroom, she found Dorian in the living room, fixing his tie. And there it was, that little jump her heart did. So casually, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. As if it was a natural reaction when he entered a space. But Nina had to ignore that, just like she ignored the pull towards him that made her want to run into his arms and just be held. Never in her life had she wished someone would tell her everything would be alright as much as she did just then.

“Yes. Wouldn’t stop even if they told me to.” A smile lifted the corners of her lips but it didn’t really reach her eyes. Turning around, she walked to the wall where she left her shoes and started putting them on, though she kept glancing up to look at him. 

Dorian had been awake for a while, but kept his eyes closed because he refused to find out it was morning and he had to leave. His breathing was as calm as before, hearing to the ticking of the clock and the breathing of the woman besides him. He had heard the change in her breathing, indicating she was awake but still pretended to be asleep himself, allowing her to live in the illusion that she was the only one conscious. 

With a touch of gentle fingers through his now messy hair, he felt his heart beating faster, but kept as still as he could, especially when he heard a disruption in her breathing. He knew not what it was and so he was ignorant to the fact she allowed herself to cry silently. Only later, he felt her touch again: with her arm curling around his waist and her lips leaving a gentle mark on his shoulder, followed by her body shifting onto her side. 

It was for a moment that Dorian believed she was going to get up and leave, but instead felt the bed shake as she moved to an upward position, sitting against the headboard of the bed, drawing on his skin, drawings he recognised as hearts – why the hell did she have to be so damned romantic? God knew it only made it harder for him to leave later on, to a future that he was certain of he’d be unhappy in. He would have given everything if he could abandon ship and make a run for it with Nina instead. Yes they had been toxic together in the past, but he knew that if they gave it their everything they could actually be happy. But he knew that was just idle thinking. 

Slowly, he allowed his eyelids to flutter open, getting himself used to the daylight, his blurry sight rested on the blonde, his back and shoulder muscles tensing visibly to her eyes as he kept himself positioned on his stomach, but his arm moving over to brush over her leg towards her foot. “Bonjour, princesse.” He spoke, his voice low but gentle before he moved his head a little more up towards the side, revealing more of the covered part of his face. “I forgot how beautiful you look in the morning.”

Nina noticed him shift and turned her gaze towards him, a little smile showing on her lips. She let every little movement of his sink in. It almost seemed as if he was cut from marble and came to life and it was something she’d never get used to. Studying him carefully, her smile didn’t leave its place. The soft pressure of his fingers against her skin sent little shivers down her spine, something so simple and yet overwhelming just because it came from him.

“You’ll forget again.” Her voice was a mere whisper and even though there was something sad in her tone, she meant it as a comfort for the both of them. Eventually the thought of the two of them together would fade and so would the memories. Their time together would became distant and blurry and face the same fate everything else in life did. The less sharp a memory, the less it hurts. That was the thought that would keep her going. That eventually Dorian would get dusted over and she would be hurting anymore and be happy with someone taking his place. However, while her brain was trying to make sense of the situation it was almost impossible to imagine having someone take his spot and Nina adjusted to the idea that maybe she’ll have to walk through life with the second-best.

Her hand reached down to take a hold of his hand and her fingers curled around it, softly squeezing it before she gently pulled it to her lips to place a kiss on his knuckles. “Good morning.” She was still whispering, too afraid to break the moment with her words. It was still peaceful, they were still together and seperated from the world. Letting go of his hand she then brushed his hair to the side, her fingertips tugging them back so that she could see him better. 

With one gently stroke she ran her fingers through his soft hair and sighed. There were tears pooling in her eyes and this time she let them run across her face until they dripped onto the pillow. Just a moment of weakness, that’s all she needed. Then she’d raise her head again and be strong. Nina counted down from ten and then closed her eyes, waiting for a few more seconds before she moved closer towards him. 

Her arm curled around his waist and she left a peck on his shoulder before Nina rolled to the side. She could just get up and leave. Not say goodbye, disappear and make it easier for the two of them. But she knew she couldn’t. Not after last night, not after all they’ve been through. There had to be some kind of closure, not an open ending.

“Those two sound like complete dorks.” He smirked, running his fingertips over her arm at his turn, after she followed the sharp hook of his jaw. His eyes burned into hers the entire time she spoke, burning with adoration and wanting, only momentarily closing at the touch of her lips against his. It was insane just how easily she could spin him around her finger. 

“I don’t see the crime.” Dorian hummed, speaking in a soft matter so that their lips wouldn’t touch as he moved them to form the words so carefully chosen. He knew just as well as she did that she was teasing him, and he tried hard not to show that it was working, despite the fact he had just done that to her himself. “Do you know? Should it be all on me, then?” Blue hues followed hers as she switched positions, making her way half onto his lap, with her knee dangerously close to a more sensitive area. 

His lips curled upwards only on his right mouth corner, eyes narrowing for a split second. “It’s a complicated decision.” the man spoke, moving his hands to her knees, slowly moving it to her waist and with that, he came closer and closer himself. “I think I would say that I require the right amount of space to discover what is between the present and the future.”

Arms quickly wrapped around her, holding her against him as he pushed himself up onto his feet. Lips locked passionately with her, hungrily requesting kisses to soothe his needs while he carried her to the bedroom, his heel applying pressure to the door that would lock them into their own world for the rest of the night. 

“Really? You can say anything and you go with something I already know?” 

A chuckle rolled from his lips, a moment to lighten to mood even though he knew something was bothering her. It had been indicated so when her smile faded and fear had took over command of her expressions. A change he was certain she hadn’t thought he would notice. This wasn’t how he wanted to spend their night together. The prospect of the idea that by the morning they’d both go their separate ways, and that she would hate him when she would discover the truth were ever so vigilant in the back of his head, nevertheless he worked against it. Intending to make this a night to remember, for better or worse.

“Hey.” reaching down, he pressed the side of his index finger against her chin, making her look up at him instead. “Keep your thoughts in this room, Angel. Don’t think of what was, or what will be.” his fingertip lingered against her chin for a fraction of time before it moved up to her cheek, adoration radiating from his eyes as he admired her skin with looking and touching. “Unless you want me to discover myself.”

Room was made for another mischievous grin. HIs fingertips roamed from her cheek to her forehead, to the other cheek in a slow movement, followed closely by his eyes. “I can explore the past.” soft words spoke from his lips, only for his fingers to travel down to her chest. Hovering on top of the soft fabric of the bathrobe. “– The future.” and further down, ending at her legs. At this moment his eyes diverted back to look into hers again, the tip of his tongue running smoothly over his bottom lip. “Or the present. Your call.”

She tilted her head up once she felt his fingertips against her cheek as his gentle invite to look at him. “Trust me, everything that’s on my mind is inside this room.” She offered him half of a smile that only curled up the right corner of her mouth. She felt like a kid that got caught with their hand in the cookie jar but as always he managed to untie the knot in her stomach.

In the blink of an eye he managed to shift the mood and a stone feel off her heart. Her skin tingled wherever he touched her and her eyes flew shut, her head lightly falling to the side. Her whole body was constantly changing between relaxed and on edge which send shivers down her spine. His voice was soothing and even though she couldn’t see it, she knew exactly they way his lips moved as he talked and how intesne those eyes could be. A picture of him was forever burnt in her mind and she was thankful for it, that way she’d always carry him with her.

 Nina’s eyes flew open again, meeting his gaze for only a second before she saw his tongue smoothing his lips and the mirror imagine of his grin brightened her face.  “My call.” She repeated his words as if they were a fact.

“I can tell you something about the past, actually. About a man who is wonderful and a girl who admired him in the most personal way a woman could admire - with her heart.” She took his hand that rested on her leg and locked their fingers. “But they were disfunctional.” She placed a kiss on their interlocked hands and then pulled his arm firmly so she’d be able to use him as support to turn herself to the side. Once she could face him she grabbed his arm with her other hand and tucked it around her waist, cheating her way into his embrace. “Boy, were they disfunctional.” Nina rolled her eyes as a dramatic part of the story, then she ran her fingers through her hair which left drops of water on her fingertips. “So they parted ways but some time later they were reunited and that’s when the present time began.” 

With a gentle touch she followed the structure of his jaw, up this temple and then ran her fingers through his hair. Her wet fingers left a trail on his skin and she watched a drop slowly follow it down before her own eyes fixated on his again. “A gentle but bittersweet present that could’ve lasted a lifetime.” Nina lightly pursed her lips before placing a quick kiss on his lips.

“But the present was only limited to the future. And the future? The future was limited to the dawn. But in the present they were delirious which isn’t a crime, is it?” Her lips were hovering in front of his as she tugged on the knot that held his robe in place. “You see, I know the course of the story and so do you. Considering that, I’d much rather have you discover what’s in between present times and the future." 

Once she was seated upon his lap, Dorian reached up to kiss her. His hands holding hers tightly. His mind was occupied by her lips that he hadn’t even realised she twisted their hands so that she eventually held his wrists, holding it against the sides of the jacuzzi. Her words echoed through his head, his lip captured by hers. He felt his heart bounce violently against his ribcage the moment she whispered in his ear. 

His eyes fluttered closed, lips parting as he breathed out in frustration he couldn’t channel. The move her lips moved over his skin, the more his heart started to hammer, his head feeling like it was spinning right round. Once he felt her weight shift did his eyes reopen, looking right into hers as she just about made it to eye height. He hummed into the kiss, hands grasping on the edge of the jacuzzi as his tongue tasted the sweetness of her lips. 

Only to release with a huff. Every breath felt hot, like it was scorching his trachea and his lungs as it passed. Her words rang a clear message, but there were alarm bells going off that what he was doing was wrong. Not for his own intends and purposes, but for hers. They could have the night of their life but there was no denying that he would hurt her at the first ray of sun that would shine through into the hotel room. If she was lucky, he’d have left before she would even wake up. That way there was no time for chatter, for the ‘I wish we could stay here forever.’ for they couldn’t. He couldn’t. 

“I’ll believe everything you say.” He breathed, body lifting up to get closer to her. Once his wrists were released, his hands placed themselves on the small curve of her back, sliding up towards her shoulder blades while he closed in the last distance between them and press his lips against hers. But instead was interrupted by the sudden stop of the jacuzzi, the time limit already having coursed it’s end. The bubbles stopped, and it would only be a matter of time for the water to cool down immeasurably. 

“How about–” He clacked his tongue, brushing his lips over her chin. “We move this to somewhere dry. “ 

The kiss was welcomed, Nina wrapped her arms around his shoulders and felt his chest against hers. For all she knew, she could’ve spent the whole night like that but then a silence filled the room as the water stopped bubbling and heating up. She blinked a few times before she realized that they hit the time limit. Another cruel reminder that eventually they’d have to say goodbye and once again her stomach felt heavy.

“Mhm” She murmured in agreement but didn’t move just yet. Her eyes were closed again and her chin was slightly raised, a reaction to the feeling of his lips on her. Her heart was beating so fast, she could feel it up in her throat  “Mhm.” She repeated. With a sigh she stole another kiss from his lips before sliding her hands down his arms and getting off his lap. 

This could easily be the definition of a moment in paradise. This was the happiest she had been in a while. It’s not like she was sad all the time, that wasn’t the truth. Everything just seemed so passive and Dorian somehow always managed to put her feelings into focus. He was her call back to a happy reality and that’s why he always made her heart skip beats. Being with him made her feel things she never felt before.

The smile was instantly cast back onto his face the moment she laughed. It had been adorable, if not hilarious when she had made that interpretation back then and it was sheer coincidence when they both ended up at that restaurant. Ironically enough, thanks to his mother cancelling, they had started what tonight would be the end of. 

“Or maybe you’re just too adorable and naive. My little Nina.” He grinned, turning his head away to avoid the splash of water. They toasted then, taking a sip from the champagne that soothed his trachea as the liquid went down. Absentmindedly, he brushed his fingertips over the dry part of her body, left above the surface of the water, watching how the drops from his fingertips raced down her skin. 

It was hard to stay in thought, especially when she brushed her fingers over  his hand, from his wrist to his knuckles and even at that remote part of his body did it send alarm bells to his mind. It was horrible how easily he could fall for this woman despite the reputation he had held as a bachelor over the last few years. He didn’t get crazy over girls, he was never serious. But in came Nina Belair and she had changed everything. It made it so tempting for him to take her by the hand and run. Leave France and never look back. He had never once listened to his better conscience, then why was it so hard for him now?

Taking another sip from his glass, he set it aside hers before he took both her wrists, pulling her towards him as she slowly moved back to another seating place of the Jacuzzi. “Come here.” he breathed– a clear invitation for her to join him. 

As Dorian pulled her towards him she followed, always happy to get a chance to be even closer to him. Her stomach reminded her constantly how excited and happy he made. As soon as they both reached the seating place Nina swung a leg around his lap, her bend knees tight on the sides of his hip.

Being with him was so much different than anything else she had ever experienced. She remembered her relationships when she was young. They were quick and bittersweet, just like any teenage romance in this world. Then she met Vincent and back then she was so sure he was the one. Nina couldn’t imagine how else love could feel. They split and things fell back into place. She just waited for another Vincent. In hindsight she knew that everything that has happened before was nothing, meant almost nothing. Dorian was the one who made her feel like she finally discovered what it felt like to be with the right person.

Nina turned her wrists until she was the one holding his and she pinned his arms on the edge of the jacuzzi, moving forward until her chest was pressed against his. “Adorable. Naive. Little.” She repeated his words with a chuckle. “And yet you said I was a bad girl. How unusual.” She teased before pressing her lips against his, tugging on his lower lip before her head moved back. Her eyes were following his features, memorizing his face like he was a rare work of art. “I’ll tell you a secret, Ace.” With a small smirk she leaned closer to him, turning her head to the right to reach his ear.

“I like you.” She whispered right into his ear and then kissed him under his earlobe, moving down along his jawline while softly pressing her lips against his skin. “I like you here...” She paused right under his chin but moved down to his collarbone a few seconds later, her lips always brushing his skin. “...and here.” From his right side she moved across to the left side and slowly back up until she was looking into his eyes. “Especially here.” With a smile she kissed him. Longer and more passionate than before. Eventually she turned away from his mouth and wandered up his jawline again, this time to the other ear. Her words were a mere whisper. “If I could I would kiss everything about you which is beyond physical but I can’t so you’ll just have to believe me, yeah?” 

“No I’m not. But it feels nice to hear you say it.” Dorian breathed, closing his eyes for the short moment he pressed his lips against hers. It was almost miraculous how she managed to make his world stand still even for just a moment. It really did make him believe that there were things in this world worth living for.

Filling the glasses with the champagne once he uncorked the bottle, he smiled at her once she agreed with what he had to say. He hadn’t expected her to disagree with him and have a bad time, not when this could possibly be the last time they would ever see each other. The thought alone was banished the second after he thought of it. It was something he couldn’t imagine but he knew that he couldn’t contact her. Not with what he had to go through. 

What? He wanted to say, when she already continued talking. He remained silent, watching her cautiously, awaiting what she would lead on to say but the topic made him smile. A genuine one once more, curling up the corner of his lips and creating light dimples in his cheeks. 

“I was a pain in the ass back then, wasn’t I?” He smiled, leaning in to press a tender kiss upon her lips before leaning back again. “I’m really glad you told me your name instead of the one from the restaurant, Miss Belair.” He continued, placing the bottle back on the side of the jacuzzi, raising his glass for a toast. “To have a night we’ll never forget, until the day we die.”

The second she saw his smile, a copy of it appeared on her face. “You still are.” She said right before he kissed her. Dorian leaned back and Nina followed, placing another soft kiss on his lips. “I’ve grown to like it.” The smile turned into more of a simple grin before she returned to her old position. 

“Oh no!” She covered her face with the hand that was free before her head dropped and she started to laugh quietly, her shoulders lightly shaking. With a sharp inhale she looked back up and the smile was replaced with a pout. “That was so bad! I didn’t even know how nervous you made me until that happened. I cursed myself afterwards. That’s how dazzling you are, Ace!” She chuckled and kicked one foot, sending a few drops of warm water his way. 

Nina watched him put the bottle away and raised her glass once he did. She gently clinked her glass with his, looking into his beautiful eyes. “To just us.”

 She could a sip of the champagne and could taste the expensive and Nina suddenly felt bad for making him pay for all of that. Most of the time it was easy for her to forget that Dorian wasn’t just the man of her dreams but also rich and influential. Which was ironic since she spent half her life getting away from that by putting distance between her and her parents’ impact. Now she was running back into the life with her arms wide open, even if it was just for one night. However, for all she cared he could be with nothing and she’d still want him all the same. Someone who only cared about the material bonus that came with Dorian Dupont would be the most ignorant and blind person on the planet. 

“You can do that later. I can be a patient man every once in a while.” he cooed her before he moved closer. Upon feeling her arm snaking around him, he moved his arms so that he held her, pressing her chest against his. His eyes closed upon the touch of her hand against his cheek, leaning into it. 

Half a smile grew on his lips, but one that reached his eyes nevertheless. The gnawing feeling inside of him told him to reply to her words but something was holding him back – an indescribable feeling that told him to keep his feelings to himself, so that the hurt in the morning would be less for her. It was surreal to know that the following afternoon they’d be in separate ways, separate worlds and they would most likely never see each other again. His lifestyle would be completely different as the changes in his life would be inevitable. But he wasn’t going to let that cast a shadow upon their night. She was all the light and bliss he needed to survive the rest of his life. it was selfish, but they had already established that they both chose to be thus. 

Which was supposed to make it feel all right. 

“Now you ruined it. No one is that perfect. “ He laughed, leaning in to press his lips against hers for a passionate long lasting kiss. At least until he moved backwards to the other side of the jacuzzi, taking the champagne and the glasses, the glasses which he held out towards her so that he could open the bottle. “Let us just.. Enjoy the night, stay up until dawn and allow nothing but happiness, passion and joy. Okay?” 

“You are.” She whispered right before he kissed her once again, this time in a way that made her eyes fly shut and the room around her stopped existing. Then he pulled away and the spell broke but it didn’t matter, there was a small happy smile on her face. He was still there. Still close enough. Pulling her legs towards her until they touched her chest, Nina watched Dorian grab the glasses and the bottle, reminding her that they had ordered room service which she had already forgotten about.

Taking the glasses he handed to her, she held them out a little bit so he had easier access and wouldn’t have to reach as far. While he was opening the bottle Nina watched every move of his. The way his muscles moved under his skin and the way his chested moved up and down, so steady. It was calming. Looking at him, thinking of him as just a living human was so strange. To her he was so much more. Funny how someone could walk into your life and then could easily become your life if you let them.