Familiar Stranger

Wait! Let me accompany-”

Before Juliet could finish her sentence, I ran through the crowd in the opposite direction of Sasha. 

‘No! No! How can she be here? She was occupied on the other side of the party! I can never meet her.;’

‘H-How will she react if just for once I talk with- What am I even thinking!’ 

Thousands of conflicting thoughts were in my head when I barged into the washroom. Without realising it, my vision blurred by tears. The tears I always tried to hide from everyone, began to run down from my eyes. Biting my lips, I tried to control the sobs as I kept on murmuring, “Calm down! Calm down! I have an important mission to handle. I must not get distracted.”

Taking deep breaths, I calmed myself down and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. But the memories that I was trying to suppress were constantly tormenting me within. 

After waiting a while, I decided to go back to the party, suppressing my emotions. Obviously, that mission was more important than my silly emotions.

However, I suddenly noticed that my body started to feel light-headed with a faint dizziness. A sweet smell! The sweet smell of that perfume was still lingering around me, getting stronger with every passing minute. 

I drank some cold water and then left the washroom. I didn’t have time at all to waste. 

“Hey! Are you ok, Lily?,” Juliet’s voice startled me the moment I opened the door. She was approaching me along with Mr. Hogg. 

I curled my lips with my professional, enchanting smile as I answered, “Yes. I was just feeling slightly light-headed.” Tucking a strand of my hair, I added while walking towards them, “Sorry for making you worried.”

Juliet’s eyes scanned my expression for a moment. Then returning my smile, she responded gently, “Oh dear! You are looking exhausted. Why don’t you just take some rest?”

“No! No!”

I hastily denied, “I am fine. I don’t need-”

Mr. Hogg suddenly leaned closer and tilted my face, touching my chin softly, “Don’t be shy. I can see that you need some rest.”

“I am fine. You must not-”

I couldn’t finish my sentence as my body began to feel heavy and warm. A quiver surged through my veins and that dizziness was only intensifying. My breathing became faster as I tried to calm down my rapid heartbeat. 

A weird sensation was rushing through my blood. I couldn’t really concentrate on what Mr Hogg and Juliet were talking about. I realised that something was wrong with my body. Staggering, I took a few steps backwards as I mumbled in a faint and breathy voice, “I- I am not feeling well. I think that I should leave-”

“Oh dear! Come with me. I will take care of you,” Juliet wrapped one of her hands around my shoulder and led me to the opposite sides of the corridor. 

My head was feeling so messy that I couldn’t even understand what she was talking about. Staggering my burning body, I just followed her. Within a few minutes, I found myself in front of an empty and dark bedroom.

With her mysterious smile, Juliet pushed me inside that vast, deluxe bedroom as she murmured in a low tone, “Rest for a while, dear. I will see you soon.”

Before I could protest, she left, closing the door.

“Aggh! What is this burning sensation? I am feeling so hot.”

I dragged my heavy body towards the bed while unzipping my dress with trembling fingers. Fire spread all over my body and a spurt of hungry desire spiralled through me. My heart was hammering as I was craving for something sinful, something forbidden while tossing and turning on that king-sized bed.

Suddenly, a familiar and manly scent hit my nostrils with a familiar shiver of awareness.

I somehow managed to open my eyes and found a pair of emerald green eyes, strong and unwavering, staring at me. He had an achingly tender expression. His presence was magnetic and intoxicating. I swallowed hard, trying not to lose myself in his predatory gaze. 

His face came a little closer and…

My heart skipped a beat. I could not maintain eye contact with him anymore. 

‘Yes! Hallucination! It must be my hallucination. He can’t be here. No, it’s just-’

His husky whisper broke the silence, “Are you trying to seduce me, Woman?”

My eyes opened wide instantly as I observed his strong and perfect profile. No, it wasn’t my hallucination. He was really in front of me, staring at me. 

“Keir!”

I couldn’t help but mumble in a low and puzzled tone.

I raised my trembling hand and touched his cheek in utter disbelief as I asked in my puzzled tone, “Keir? Is that you, Keir?”

His musky scent and intense gaze skyrocketed my heartbeat. Drops of water were dripping from his wet hair on my face, making a brief shiver ripple through me. His lips were so close to mine. 

I couldn’t hold back anymore. 

The guy from whom I was running away for all those years was the same guy I always desired the most. I wanted him, wanted him to be mine only.

I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him closer. He looked confused but he didn’t try to stop me. His midnight-black hair gleamed in the light and his emerald eyes were studying me with a curious intensity.

Suddenly, I pressed my lips to his, drawing him into a renewed embrace and savouring every moment. He tasted like expensive wine and his warm breath made me quiver for more. 

It was a kiss as tender and light as a summer breeze but very brief.

I sharply pulled myself back, realising my mistake. However, I had a burning desire, an aching need, for another kiss. My eyes were still fixed on his compelling eyes that turned darker and wild.

The world seemed to stop as I was caught up in the everlasting moment. He furrowed his brows like he was conflicted, unsure what to do. His inner conflict was visible on his dazzling handsome face. 

I bit my trembling lower lip to calm me down and in an instant, pinning me on the bed, he crushed his lips on mine, wrapping his strong fingers around my neck. It was neither sweet nor tender, he was claiming my lips, owning every inch of them.

I opened my mouth willingly, losing myself to his demanding and urgent kiss. His tongue was claiming mine, seductively, fiercely. I was quivering under his touch, letting myself be consumed by him.

His slender fingers pressed against my neck firmly, almost choking me as he intensified the kiss while untying the fancy laces of my dress. His hand slipped under my dress, wandering recklessly while burning my skin for more of his touch.

A tiny moan of ecstasy slipped through my lips. We both were craving for each other and kisses were not enough. Parting our lips, he started planting hungry kisses and tiny bites on my neck, leaving red marks on my skin.

“Damn Woman!”

He stopped abruptly and pulled himself back in an instant. Almost jumping down from the bed, he grabbed his phone from the bedside table as he grumbled in his breathy voice, “You are drugged! You are not even in your right senses!”

I tried to mumble in protest, “Don’t leave! I need you, Keir. I- I am burning, craving f-for you. T-touch me more.”

Keir talked with someone on call but I couldn’t understand anything as my head was feeling so dizzy. I was repeating those same few words in a breathy and low whisper, “M-My body is burning. M-My head is-”

“Shh! Shh!”

His comforting voice whispered into my ears suddenly as his intoxicated scent wrapped me into a warm blanket once again, “It’s ok. You will be all right. The antidote will be here soon.”

He was sitting close to me, talking so softly with me.

I felt at ease. I couldn’t stay awake anymore. My heavy eyes gradually closed and calm darkness prevailed everywhere.

I could still hear his distant voice.

‘Who are you? Why do you feel so familiar yet a stranger!’

‘Have we met before!’