I swear under my breath as the door closes behind him with a loud bang and instinctively look in his direction, but the only thing I see is his gray-blue gaze that's burned into my mind.
I blink often, suddenly realizing what just happened. He turned his back and walked away. He just walked away!
I frown as the door swings open again and I'm ready to meet his face, but that doesn't happen, for a man's body appears in the doorframe, not the frail body I had admired a few dozen seconds before.
I slam myself without much inclination into one of the two armchairs placed in front of the desk, falling for a few moments in thought. I turn the note between my fingers, taking a long look at the lipstick stain in the bottom corner. Damn! I wish his lipstick would stain my neck, not a piece of paper!
— And she was... ? Xander arches his eyebrows quizzically as he retraces his steps to the minibar.
— My future wife, I reply simply, carefully folding the note.
I glance at Xander when he chuckles, and notice that he's about to pour whiskey into his second glass, but I don't stop him.
— The amusement in her voice tells me she doesn't believe me.
— What do you think?
I smile at the corner of my mouth and arch an eyebrow, urging him to voice the thoughts that cross his mind.
He sighs and wrinkles his nose as he hands me one of the glasses, which I take. He sits in the armchair in front of me and I watch him silently as he consumes the contents of the glass in one gulp, realizing that things are worse than I expected.
— You must be fucking lucky because you get to choose who you fuck for the rest of your life! He tries to sound amused by his retort, but his voice gives him away.
He's definitely angry, and frankly, I can't blame him. Even I wouldn't want to be in his situation, and if I could, I wouldn't volunteer.
— She's just a woman! How bad can she be?
— She's Russian!" he huffs angrily, reaching out to take the glass from my hand, which I haven't even touched.
— I take it you're not a Russophile? I act shocked, which makes him even more annoyed.
I start to laugh outright when I see a death wish on his face, a desire to cause suffering, to hurt, and I could swear that I am his target right now, but I can't stop laughing. The expression plastered on his face is worth all the money in the world, and I'll be damned if I wouldn't pay to see it more often.
Anger's an emotion, and when it comes to him, well, it's a bizarre thing to read an emotion on his face, be it negative.
I'm surprised when he abruptly gets up from his chair without responding to my retort.
A devilish grin appears on his face and I know he's about to take revenge for his mean retort.
— Where are you going?" I ask genuinely curious as he walks towards the door.
He pauses for a few moments and gives me a look bathed in fire.
— To meet the future Mrs. Martelli. After all, we have to be careful who comes into the family, dear cousin! Xander's laughter crashes against the cold walls of the office and I don't get a chance to say two, because the door slams shut behind him.
I roll my eyes and collapse into the leather armchair, realizing he's the second person to turn their back on me tonight. What the hell is going on? Is something in the air or what!
I get up from the armchair with the intention of sitting properly at my desk, but my gaze falls on the logo representing a pair of wings, and I stop.
I swear under my beard and walk towards the door, knowing that sooner or later I will regret this decision, but that day will certainly not be today.
It's been a while since I've been to the games, but something tells me that now is the perfect time to get back on track.
Games. The whole world revolves around them. Whether you're angel or demon, rich or poor, your life is just a game. We are pawns on the infinite chess board of destiny. Every thought, every move, every intention, everything is just a game.
My face is marred by a smile of pride as the leather-lined door closes behind me and my gaze falls on the packed pub. The smell of coffee and alcohol caresses my nostrils, causing me to frown and wonder for the thousandth time why the hell I listened to Xander and started dealing alcohol, in industrial quantities I might add.
— The last time I checked it was at the bar, Xander's voice drowns out the music, catching my attention.
I snort in amusement when my gaze falls on the door behind him, a door that hides a compartment only accessible to those in our close circle.
— Did she scare you so much that you preferred to 'meet' her from up here?
She smiles briefly at the corner of her mouth and sighs gravely when she comes to my right, leaning her arms against the railing. He leans forward slightly to scan the pub, as if trying to spot a hint of danger.
— No, but that's a big loss! he huffs displeased, pointing to the engagement ring, then the smile returns to his face. Besides, since when has Dima been a bartender?
— He isn't! I reply instantly, surprised by his question.
I fix my eyes on the bar directly in front of us and look for Dima, spotting him in no time. I sneer when I realize he's behind the bar, making a drink, and the shock that crosses my face the moment I realize who's in front of him is quite obvious, as Xander chuckles almost instantly.
La mariposita
He's standing with his back to me, and that gives me quite a view. I shift my gaze from the long hair that kisses his waist to the purple fabric that hugs his body, emphasizing his every shape.
I swallow dryly as my gaze descends to her thighs that are more bare and giggle softly as she lets her hands fall down her body and readjusts her dress, tugging elegantly at the thin material in an attempt to cover herself. Before continuing my tour over her body she suddenly turns her head to the side, feeling as if she is being watched.
The smile fades from my face as she fixes her gaze on me, and all I can think is that I wish I was closer. I wish I could be close enough to her so that I could admire the gray-blue eyes that stain your soul. Close enough to have her vanilla scent imprinted on my skin.
— Uh, it's a little warm up here. How about some lemonade? I glance briefly at the man next to me, and he leans back, nodding briefly.
— I'm not the most faithful of men, but God, I'd love to see him put you on your ass! he exclaims, laughing outright as he descends two steps.
I roll my eyes and follow in his footsteps, my eyes on the bar again. I don't know what the connection is between Dima and La Mariposita, but he's not the one I'm worried about. The asshole on her right is the one who really gets on my nerves, and I honestly don't know if the anger directed at him stems from his mere presence here or from the fact that he steals her smiles, but one thing is certain. I can't say I appreciate the earlier show.
Xander beats me to the front of the bar and clears two chairs with a single glance at the poor people occupying those seats ten seconds ago. He walks past the vacated chairs, pausing next to La Mariposita, a relatively short distance away as he greets the man next to her. Darius stops talking abruptly when he notices the almost minuscule distance between him and the gray-eyed quatena, whose face is pierced with astonishment when Xander leans down and kisses the bridge of her palm, most likely introducing himself, then steps to the side, giving her more room, and she looks grateful.
Dima is the first to notice my presence and hurries in my direction, leaning over the bar.
— I swear I'll explain everything to you in detail later, but right now I have to get her out of here as soon as possible! He looks tense as he makes a subtle gesture towards the one next to Xander.
— Why? She seems quite comfortable here, I wave my hand in slight disinterest.
I don't want him out of here, not yet.
— If he realizes that... he stops abruptly, and when I look to the right I realize why.
At Mariposita he's turned away from Xander and Darius, and now he's standing beside us, watching us in turn. Eventually his gaze falls on me and he smiles weakly, with a tinge of shyness, which surprises me somewhat.
— Have you made a hobby of harassing people? She turns her eyes to mine, looking amused by my presence.
I frown for a few moments, and glance briefly at Dima who rolls his eyes, clearly annoyed by the little lady in front of us, then swallows dryly. He fixes his gaze on me, at which point I chuckle, genuinely amused by the audacity of the young woman who still has her eyes fixed on me.
Only you... I would like to say, but I don't, keeping my pagan thoughts to myself.
— It seems so, I reply after a few seconds, smiling briefly at the corner of my mouth. You can go, it's fine. Someone else will cover your shift, I inform Dima, giving him a knowing look.
— If you keep this up, I'm sure you'll get the award for best boss of the year! Dima chuckles and winks at me as he positions his palms on the wooden countertop and leaps over the bar, reaching in front of me in seconds.
I lock my gaze on the woman next to him and I can easily realize that this information takes her completely unprepared, as she doesn't have time to mask the shock crossing her face. She purses her lips, wanting to say something, but doesn't. Dima drapes an arm around her shoulders, and she makes no gesture, a clear sign that she's not in the least bothered by their closeness or the spontaneous gesture.
— Everything okay? Xander appears beside us, greeting Dima with a brief smile.
The two of them exchange a few words, but I don't hear a word, my attention entirely captured by the sharp-eyed woman in front of me. Though I know I shouldn't be looking in her direction, I can't help it. I shift my gaze from the chestnut brown hair touching her body in waves to her slightly furrowed eyebrows and irises sheltered by thick lashes, involuntarily moistening my lips as my gaze falls on her lipstick-stained lips.
Our eyes meet and it's impossible for me not to sketch even a shadow of a smile. Like the voice of a siren, his gaze calls out to me, shackling my soul without warning. The smile suddenly vanishes from my face as a strange chill wracks my body, and time stands still, giving me an eternity to stare at her. I frown and blink often as I realize the woman before me is no stranger.
I lower my voice and shift my gaze suddenly when I feel a touch on my left shoulder. I follow the hand as it touches me and come across Dima's face looking slightly confused.
— Do you need me to stay? He arches his eyebrows questioningly, searching my face for a few moments.
I crack a vague smile when I realize that this is his way of asking if I'm okay, and I shake my head in denial, shoving my hands in my pants pockets in search of the snuff box.
— Keep that up and you'll be employee of the year! I say after a while, linking myself to the line he had given me earlier. Enjoy tonight! I complete, hastily taking out a cigarette, which I twirl for a few moments between my fingers.
She gives me one last glance and walks away without thinking too long, snatching the gray-eyed girl away from me. I can't help it and turn my head to the side to look at her one last time and swallow dryly as my gaze falls on the arm guiding her through the crowd.
— What the hell was that? Xander's voice barely reaches me, causing me to jerk my head in his direction.
— Nothing, I reply dryly, then take it in my stride, directing my steps towards the side door leading to the back of the pub.
The cool night air fills my lungs as the music fades to a whisper. The grandstands of the sports field appear in front of me a few minutes later, and a huge smile comes across my face at the sight of the bikes lined up at the starting line.
— Martelli! Are you in? a voice comes out of the darkness, catching my attention.
I open my lips, about to offer a negative answer, given that I'm wearing totally inappropriate clothing, but the words roll off my tongue as the gray-eyed woman's face appears in my mind.
I drop my gaze for a few seconds and swear under my beard, shaking my head affirmatively as I direct my steps toward the last bike at the starting line, glancing briefly at the boy who's getting off, letting me take his place.
I climb onto the bike and put my helmet on, already feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins and my body trembling with desire. I moisten my lips and close my eyes for a moment, laughing at the thought that his mere presence, his mere glance was enough to unleash a sea of sensations in me, thousands of times stronger than the ones I'm feeling now, which is really bizarre, too bizarre.