After leaving Angelo, i go down stairs and join mom again. She has decided to head back home this evening and there is nothing i say to convince her otherwise

After a few minutes of back and forth, i give up and we decide to leave for the bus station as soon as Angelo leaves for his program.

Shortly after our discussion, Angelo comes downstairs into the living room, dressed and ready to go.

He looks dapper in his black tuxedo and bow tie and hair neatly sleeked backwards. He is definitely a vision for sore eyes.

He stands by the door with one hand in his pocket.

I stare, in complete awe of him, as his eyes hold mine for a second.

"I will be going now, you ladies enjoy your evening" he drawls.

"Thank you, you have a good evening aswell, however, i am just leaving too now, i should be getting back home tonight" Mom murmurs.

'Tonight? Isn't it a bit too late to travel now?" Angelo asks, his eyebrows drawing together in disapproving lines.

I thought so too but she refused to stay here and said there was no point in staying at a hotel either.

"Not really, the last bus leaves at 6:30 pm, so i will make it." Mum responds.

"I don't think that's right, there is plenty of room here, but if you prefer, i am sure we can make another suitable arrangement for you for the night" he suggests.

I look between the two of them during this exchange.

"Thank you, but that won't be necesary."

"Well, if you insist on leaving today, then allow us to arrange appropriate transportation for you. We can arrange a flight for you and have someone take you to the airport" he utters.

I like that idea.

I look at mom.

"That's very generous of you, but...."

"I insist" Angelo's voice comes out hard and firm, i can tell he is getting annoyed and losing his patience, but he is trying to keep himself in line.

I bet he is not used to people defying or arguing with him this much, especially in the condenscending way mom is doing it, if she was anyone else, he would be biting their head off right now.

"You really shouldn't........." Mom mutters.

"Mom!...please" I say softly, pleading with my eyes to just drop it and accept.

I see where i get my stubborness from.

I know if i was still in my appartment, she would have spent the night, and left tomorrow, that was her initial intention. But since i am here now, and she won't, i would feel much better atleast, knowing she will get home faster and more comfortable instead of a four to five hour drive at night.

She looks at me and nods in resignation.

"Ok. Thank you very much" she gives Angelo a small smile.

He nods and walks out of the room.

I turn to her and give her a hard glare.

"What? until he cleans up his act, i am not obligated to play nice....besides, i have no problem taking the bus, i have done it all my life" she grumbles, sitting down.

I sigh.

I realise mom keeps finding more and more reasons to dislike Angelo, and that she is trying to hold back from expressing how she really feels about him to him for my sake, however, that resolve keeps cracking the more time they spend around each other and i bet, if i had not stopped her at the end, she would have probably gone off on him somehow.

And Angelo would not have taken it lying down either by the way his own patience was thinning.

He walks back into the room.

"Eli will drive you to the Airport in the next thirty minutes and take care of everything" he announces.

"Thank you" I say to him.

He nods.

"I will take my leave now, Mrs Wright, a safe flight to you and thank you for coming over" he says to her.

"A good evening to you too" she replies.

Angelo looks at me one last time before walking out again.

*

Thirty minutes later, Elijah shows up to pick up mom and i accompany them both to the airport. I stick around until after her flight takes off before heading back home.

I have just been texting Rachel and discovered she is out for some drinks with some friends at a restaurant in town. Upon hearing i am enroute home from the airport, she invites me to stop over for a bit.

Not having anything better to do for the evening, i accept.

I find her with her cousin, who is with her boyfriend and a friend of his. They seem to be on a double date or something.

'Something' is right because she doesn't seem that much into the other guy who seems too reserved for her taste.

After a few minutes, the group decides to leave the restaurant and go somewhere a bit more 'upbeat."

I take that as my cue to leave since i didn't intend to stay long anyway, but they insist i join them even

if it's just for a little while.

"It's a saturday night Mary, you are young and single, live a little." Rachel utters her usual mantra to me,but this time stressing the 'single' part.

"Fine but only for a while." I respond with a chuckle.

I didn't expect to socialize much this evening and so i wore black leggings and a string loose silk top, with a comfy oversize sweater over it and threw on some comfy flat boots on our way to the airport.

Now the place these guys have taken us to, is quite warm inside, infact, after a few minutes, it becomes really hot for me with this sweater on and i try to fan myself with my hand.

"Why don't you take that off, you look uncomfortable" Rachel's supposed 'date' whose name I can't remember after the initial introductions suggests after noticing my dilemma.

I probably look ridiculous with it still on and so i give him a small smile and pull the sweater of. If this goes on any longer, sweat will be dripping down my back and between my boobs.

He looks me over a bit, his eyes traveling the length of me, or whatever part is visible from the waist up and then goes completely red on the face when i catch him looking, he literally chokes on his beer.

Everyone suddenly pays attention to us.

"Ohh, much better, i was going to ask you to take it off, but i figured you would probably say no and prefer to burn in that thing" Rachel snickers, I frown.

"Nice top, your boobs look great by the way" she adds.

I look down and flush with embarrassment at the sight.

I do not have a bra on and my boobs are poking out against the soft silky material of the top suggestively.

That must be what he was staring at.

I grab my sweater to try to put it on again but Rachel stops me.

"I look inappropriate" I sneer.

"You look sexy. You are hot, for once can you just show off that sexy body of yours, besides the lighting is a little dull in here so relax, don't be a prude." She whispers in my ear.

I scoff but relent.

I down at myself again, feeling really exposed and then all of a sudden, i think of Angelo and recollect moments when his big hands cover my soft mounds completely. He touches my body like it is more his than mine, very possessive and dominating but truth is, i like it, he always knows what i want, what i need......

I shake my head to snap out of my thoughts.

Why am i even thinking of him right now, it's so inappropriate.

I focus on my surroundings, the music is loud but nice. The place itself is not so much of a club, it has a restaurant setup in terms of the tables, but with a bar area, a band playing on the left side and a dance floor further back.

Rachel's cousin and her boyfriend are already on the dance floor and Rachel turns to me.

"I want to dance too, but i don't want to leave you alone." She murmurs.

"I will stay with her" her date offers.

She looks at me.

"Is that ok?" She asks.

"Sure" I reply and she grins in gratitude and dashes over to the dance floor immediately.

We sit in silence for a while and watch them dance.

After which we engage in light conversation.

My companion, who i now rediscover to be Greg, is quite nice actually and i learn that he works in marketing at an advertising firm.

Then out of the blue Rachel comes back and grabs my hand.

"C'mon, come dance with me" she demands suddenly.

She doesn't give me a chance to respond, as she pulls me out of my seat.

I turn to Greg for support before being dragged off to the dance floor, but he just laughs and shakes his head as if in total agreement with her actions.

The last time i danced was in college, so i feel totally self conscious right now that i fail to relax and get into a reasonable rhythm.

I turn to Greg back at the table and mouth 'Help Me'.

He laughs again but stands up this time, coming to join us.

I look around and realise no one is really paying attention to us, and they are busy either having their meal at their tables, watching the band perform or dancing to the music.

I relax and just let myself go, bouncing up and down to the rhythm of the beat, and try to ignore the fact that my boobs are bouncing along with me due to their lack of proper restraint.

*

It's past 9pm when i finally get home, after a few other friends of Rachels joined the group and they decided to take the 'party" to an actual club.

I smile to myself.

I actually had a great time. I am so glad i accepted Rachel's invitation to join them after all.

The last time i went out with her, it didn't go so well, ergo, she left me stranded alone outside, but i ended up meeting Angelo that night, and somehow, i feel like that night was really significant in our story. We had already met each other before, but that night, we both actually saw each other differently.

Our connection to each other was born.

As i walk up the stairs with my phone, i see mom's missed call and read her text saying she landed just fine and that there was even someone to pick her up and drop her home from the airport.

My heart warms at Angelo's thoughtfulness.

Now that the two of us have spoken, i don't feel quite so heavy hearted anymore and after tonight with Rachel, I feel even better. In the bedroom, i decide to take a bubble bath and relax myself after all that activity.

After a long time, i finally take myself out and put on some pajamas before settling back in bed with my laptop.

Sometime, later, Angelo arrives back home. He knocks twice on the door then walks in.

"Hai" I murmur looking up.

"Hai yourself" he responds, his hands in his pockets.

His bow tie is hanging loose around his neck, his hair tousled and the first three buttons of his shirt have now been unbuttoned.

"I thought you would be asleep by now" he adds, walking slowly towards me.

"I just wanted to finish up on this, but i am just about done now......how was it?" I ask.

He shrugs. "Ok"

"Just ok? So what do people do at a charity ball anyway?" I ask.

He smiles and looks idly into space as if replaying the activities.

"Well, there is a master of ceremonies that runs the program. People sit at their tables, there is musical entertainment, a couple of speeches, a talk about our cause and activities for that year, and ofcourse my favorite part, the pledge and donation time....or, and dancing." He murmurs.

"That's alot of activities for one night" i scowler.

"The programme follows a logical sequence, it's well managed" he explains.

"Sounds boring" I taunt.

He laughs, ignoring my bait.

"I enjoy it." He murmurs.

"I bet you do......so did you dance too?" I find myself asking and wonder what kind of dance it was, and who he danced with, and if it was anything like the dance i myself had to tonight.

"Indeed i did" he says slowly, standing by his side of the bed.

I nod, biting the inside of my cheek and fighting off the urge to ask who with.

"Come here" he says, watching me.

"Why?"

"Just come" he insists, holding out his hand to me.

I chuckle as i close my laptop and get up off the bed.

His hand is still stretched out, so i put mine in it.

"I saved the last dance for you" he murmurs.

I laugh.

"I can't dance, not this kind anyway" I shake my head and attempt to get back on the bed.

"Yes you can, besides, it won't be your first dance of the night." He mutters, turning me around again, his face serious.

Ofcourse he knows.

I frown.

"Elijah couldn't wait one night to report back to you." I ask.

"It wasn't Eli" he says casually.

I look at him perplexed.

"More spies??" I complain.

He smiles then, "They are not spies and it's temporal" he replies like it's the most natural thing in the world.

I take a deep breath and exhale.

"There isn't even any music" I remind him.

"We don't need it" he murmurs.

I give up.

He places my hands on his shoulder, then puts his on my waist, the heat from his hands sipping through to my skin.

We move around slowly and i relax, following his lead.

My head is close to the exposed skin of his collar bone and neck where his buttons are open and i can smell his skin, his cologne mixed with a bit of perspiration from a busy night spent indoors in a warm room.

I close my eyes briefly and inhale, relaxing even more.

He notices and smiles.

"There we go" he murmurs, his eyes finally catching mine.

The intensity of his gaze becomes too much to bare, and so i move closer, my hands now crossing over each at the back of his neck and my head laid against his shoulder and neck so that we don't have to look at each other.

He follows my actions too, his arms wrapping fully and more tightly around my waist, his palms spreading out on my back so that i am pressed more firmly into his body, the hard planes of his body pressing against my breasts.

This was supposed to make things better, but it's made it worse. All this body contact is sending the wrong signal to every part of my body, making me feel like every part of me has just been connected to an electrical source.

We move slowly, to an imaginary tune in our heads, but somehow still insync with each other.

I can tell my breath is fanning the skin on his collar bone because he swallows hard, his grip tightening, which makes me aware of the increasing intimacy of our embrace.

And if the growing hardness now pressing into my stomach is any indication, this dance is fast turning into something more erotic as i feel the apex of my thighs start to pulse and tingle in anticipation.

Our dance unconsciously comes to a stop, and i only become aware my fingers are sensually running through the hair at the back of his head as i feel his lips brush just below my ear.

Then he starts giving me light kisses against my ear and neck.

"Angelo" I whisper, trying to break the embrace.

"Mhhmm?" The sound vibrates against my skin, eliciting a sensual shiver.

"We have to stop!" I say more firmly.

"Why?"

"You know why" I whisper.

His respond is his tongue replacing his lips on my skin and i push at him more firmly before i lose all sense of restraint and surrender to my own increasing need.

He stops and raises his head to look at him, his hands still holding me.

"Marianne, there is nobody else here, we are all alone and want each other. Should anything else matter right now?" He asks softly, his hand rubbing my neck as he lowers his head to kiss me, but i turn my head before he does.

He steps back, his jaw visibly clenching.

"As you wish.......Thank you for the dance" he whispers before disappearing into the bathroom.

I stare at the closed door, feeling horrible at rejecting him, especially when I want him too.

Eventually, i climb back into bed, pulling the covers over me and soon he walks out of the bathroom and into the closet.

He is in there for a while too before reappearing in loose shorts and a tshirt.

"Goodnight" he whispers, coming to kiss my forehead but avoiding my eye.

"Goodnight" I murmur.

He walks to the door and i fight the urge to ask him where he is going to sleep. He glaces at me finally before walking out completely and shutting the door softly.

I take a deep breath, as i stare at the ceiling.

*

I wasn't in bed for long when Angelo returned, entering the room after a brief knock on the door. I raise myself up on my elbows to look at him.

"Sorry, i forgot my phone in there when changing" he explains, pointing and already walking to the closet.

I nod and lie back down.

"Goodnight" he says again as he walks towards the door.

"If you want, you can sleep here, i mean, there is enough room.....If you want" I offer.

He looks at me unable to hide his surprise, then he looks at the bed as if to acertain whether it can accommodate us both.

"Are you sure, i don't mind sleeping where i am" he responds thoughtfully.

"No" I say honestly.

"Ok"

He approaches the bed and i move further to my side and face the bathroom.

I hear him fidgit and toss around before finding a comfortable position.

Then there is silence.

The bed is enormous and I'ld bet he is lying on the far side just like i am doing, which means, we have plenty of space between us, but that does not prevent the electric tension from spreading between us, almost as if they are being transmitted from our bodies to the bed, then between us and back.

I lie completely still and close my eyes and the memory of our dance comes to mind. If i had not stopped him, no doubt we would be making love right now in this very bed.

That would feel so good.

I open my eyes and decide to think about something else if i am to get any sleep tonight. I try to think about mom and Jaden.....then work. I have some english papers to grade, i will do that tomorrow. Infact, i can also prepare th.......

Angelo shifts on the bed, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I can swear he is facing me now and i feel the heat of his gaze on my back.

Can't he sleep too?

What is he thinking about?

He is mad are me for before?

Maybe he has finally fallen asleep now, because it is way too quiet i can barely hear him breath. Wait, what if something is wrong and he is not breathing?

I turn around in panick.

His eyes are wide open and a small smirk forms on his face when our eyes meet.

I stare back, like a deer caught in headlights.

This was a bad idea.

Or a good one.

I know what he is doing, waiting for me to act first.

But i won't, i can't.... i do.

I move closer to him, his hand immediately wrapping around my waist to hold me to him, his other hand twisting my hair around his hand to keep it out of the way as our lips finally unite in that old age dance of lovers.

We make out and touch passionately, each giving in to the hunger we have been restraining.

Soon my pajamas land on the floor, his clothes following soon after. My back is pressed on the bed, as his arm wraps around my waist so that my hips are raised off the bed, then our bodies join, so that we are no longer two, but one.

I arch my back further and moan lowly at the sensation.

My eyes open as i sit up suddenly and i look into the deemly lit room, panting and breathing heavily.

It's so damn quiet in here and i look around me, then down at the bed besides me.

No one is there.

I am all alone in bed.