Chapter 23. The Kiss

Just one kiss. Sometimes that's all it takes for a heart to lose it's balance. And sometimes we want nothing more than the chance to fall.

~JM Storm

Ariana's POV

After chatting with the kids, I decided to talk to Elina some more when someone's voice interrupted.

"Expensive clothes does suit you well. You look ravishing," said a familiar masculine voice.

I looked at the person and there he was, dressed in a grey tuxedo standing with a smirk etched on his face--Alpha Anthony Gonzalez, my mate.

"Thank you, Alpha Anthony," his smirk grew wider at my response as he stepped closer.

"I'm glad I accepted the truce now. At least, I'll get something in return," Alpha Anthony's eyes skided over my body and I felt really uncomfortable under his scrutinising gaze.

He's my mate but I don't understand why I never really felt comfortable under his gaze. It was like he was mentally undressing me and the thought itself made me feel disgusted.

I should get away from him the sooner the possible but before I could speak he beat me to it by speaking himself,

"Can I have the honour of dancing with you, love?" He extended his hand while I gently shook my head.

"I don't think it's a good idea. I should take my leave."

I attempted on walking away from him but he caught my wrist, "Where do you think you're going? You're going to be by my side by the end of the week when I accept the truce. All of this is just going to go in vain," Alpha Anthony's grip tightened that became painful for me.

In the next spur of moment, I felt Anthony's hand being pried off mine harshly and someone else held my hand instead.

The tingles that erupted from his touch was enough to tell me who it was.

"You owe me a dance." Daniel started dragging a confused me along with him preventing me from saying anything.

When did I agree for a dance with him?

However, I'm glad he got me out of that Alpha's clutches. Before I knew it, we were on the dance floor.

"I...I don't know to dance," I tried to reason out to him and moved a bit back so that we could have at least little space between us but his firm grip didn't let me move an inch. My brain can't function with him so close.

"Just follow suit. I'll take care of the rest," he assured me as the music started playing in the background.

Steading ourselves, Daniel places one of my hand on his shoulder and interlaces the other with his fingers. Little bolts of electricity bolt through the length of my arm and my waist, where his free hand is placed.

♪ I love it when you call me Senorita.

I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya

But every touch is, Ooh-lA-la-la

It's true, la-la-la

Oh, I should be runnin'

Oh, you keep me coming for ya ♪

As the beginning chords of the song started playing, I found a slow smile forming on my lips.

"This is my favourite song," I lifted my head a bit to look at Daniel. He had a soft smile on his face as well.

"Glad to know that," he whispered moving our bodies along with the song.

♪ Land in Miami

The air was hot from summer rain.

Sweat drippin' of me

Before I even knew her name, la-la-la

It felt like, Ooh-la-la-la, yeah, no ♪

Saphire moonlight

We danced for hours in the sand

Tequila sunshine

Her body fit right in my arms, la-la-la

It felt like, Ooh-la-la-la, yeah ♪

I find myself staring right into those ocean blue eyes of his. Seriously, how can someone's eyes be this blue?

Daniel let's go of my waist and places his hand on my lower back. Interlinking our fingers, he begins lowering me to the ground attempting a dip. He let's me stay that way for a few seconds before pulling me back on my toes and twirling me with his one hand. I am drawn back against his body as his arms wound around my waist making my body flush against his. Unknowingly, even my arms twine around his neck.

♪ I love it when you call me Senorita.

I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya

But every touch is, Ooh-lA-la-la

It's true, la-la-la

Oh, I should be runnin'

Oh, you know I love it when you call me Señorita

I wish it wasn't so damn hard to leave ya'

But every touch ooh-la-la-la

It's true, la-la-la

Ooh, I should be running

Ooh, you keep me coming for ya ♪

The music picks up it's tempo as Daniel lifts me off the ground by the waist and twirls me around taking me by complete surprise.

His eyes doesn't leave mine even for a second as he descends me back to the ground. He places both his hands on my waist as I wound my arms around his neck.

♪ Locked in the hotel

There's just some things that never change

You say we're just friends

But friends don't know the way you taste, la la la

'Cause you know it's been a long time coming

Don't you let me fall

Ooh, when your lips undress me

Hooked on your tongue

Ooh love, your kiss is deadly

Don't stop!

I love it when you call me Senorita....♪♪♪

By now, I don't know what the hell is happening.

Yes, we're dancing but all I can focus is his eyes and the way he's looking at me as if...as if I truly meant something to him. Daniel's eyes zero in on my lips and he's looking at them like...like he'd been aching to touch them with his.

Oh my God, Am I thinking it all wrong?

I cannot even make sense of anything as my heart threatens to burst out of my chest. Every nerve within me was aware of the fact how close he is.

"Ari..." he whispers leaning into me. I don't know what takes over me but I find myself inching my face closer and closer to his.

The loud cheering and clapping sound sets me out of whatever trance I was in as I abruptly push Daniel away.

Tears threaten to fall out of my eyes as I rush away from the crowd, out of the ballroom. I could hear Daniel calling out for me but I didn't care, I just kept running until I was in the isolated hallway of the mansion.

Oh, no. I covered my face with my hands as tears spilled out of my eyes uncontrollably. This is not right!

I thought that all these mixed feelings I had for Daniel were temporary and would vanish with time. But at that moment, when we were dancing and he was about to kiss me did I realise what these feelings were.

No! It can't be. I can't possibly....

"Why did you run off like that?" Daniel's voice next to my ears made me almost jump, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

I quickly turned my head the other side and wiped any traces of tears from my face. The lighting here is dim so he possibly wouldn't have noticed the tears earlier.

I turned back to look at him once I was satisfied that I didn't look like I've cried, "I was overwhelmed with so many people around-"

Daniel gripped my shoulder all of a sudden, "Ari, were you crying?" Concern was written all over his face which made me almost loose my resolute again but I stayed my ground.

"No."

He didn't seem to be convinced as he spoke further, "Is it because of what happened back there-"

"Nothing happened back there. What are you speaking about?" I replied sternly looking straight into his blue eyes.

"Don't pretend like you don't know that we were about to..." Daniel's voice trailed off as I gave him a disapproving look.

I don't want to bring that up again. Why is he being so stubborn?

"About to what, Daniel? You don't understand. We...we have been forced to live together due to the circumstances. We don't have anything except friendship between us. We're friends. Just friends. And eventually, we're going to leave each other soon. Alpha Anthony told me about the truce," I averted my eyes away from him as my voice quivered in the end.

I don't know why this hurts so much. I was never truly meant to be his. Then why do I feel so bothered and hurt at the possibility of us leaving each other. Kiana is Daniel's mate and now she's back. The woman Daniel loved so much can be back with him if I leave. What right do I have to be here and become a thorn in the middle?

Daniel's warm hand holding my face got me back on alert as he made me look at him. A dark expression crossed his face,

"So this is about that damn Alpha, huh? You're saying we're friends? But friends don't know the way you taste," his voice was like a hidden thunder but I didn't understand what he meant.

"What-"

The next thing I knew, he had backed me against the wall and slammed his lips to mine.

It took me a few seconds to register that Daniel was kissing me before my face felt like it was set aflame. Embarrassed, I tried pushing him away which resulted in him to pull me closer to his body as he circled one of his arms around my waist while his other hand traveled from the nape of my neck to across my cheek.

My feeble attempt of trying to escape stopped when I felt his tongue lick the seam of my lips. Shocked by the action, a gasp escaped my mouth giving him the much needed opportunity to delve his hot and soft tongue into my mouth. His tongue rubbed against my tongue erotically.

The kiss was far from innocent, it was like a tease but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. I want to pull away before I lose myself but I can't seem to...In this minty moment, my senses have been seduced and I can no longer think straight.

I have lost all reasons of sensibility and now without a doubt, I know one thing for sure.

I'm in love with Daniel Rodriguez.

__________

So....how's the chapter? ;)

My fingers are literally hurting after typing so much. By the way, the next chapter will be updated on Wednesday or earlier if possible^_^