I shiver with a mix of cold and excitement and feel his huge warm hands run down my shoulders as I look up at him again.
“It is you, isn’t it Krystal?” he jokes, and I punch him softly in the chest before lifting up my mask for him to see.
“It’s me,” I tell him, trying not to cry as I give a little laugh, so happy and full of so many other emotions all at once I don’t know how I feel, except I love it.
I love him, and I want to tell him.
Maybe too soon for that Krystal, don’t scare him off for God’s sake!
“Do you wanna get out of here?” James asks, putting both his hands over mine and leaning down to kiss them gently.
“No,” I hear myself tell him, “Let’s go to the ball, and have some fun.”
Chapter Fourteen
James
Just when I think she’s a no show, when my mind almost convinces me her old man has something more sinister going on than just giving me a crummy table, I see her.
Or rather, I feel her first.
The weird thing with Krystal, I’m thinking about her non-stop but whenever she’s close by… It’s kinda hard to explain, but I can just feel her.
Like I can feel my hands or feet if I really try. I can feel her just the same way.
Sense her.
Although this time I almost laugh out loud, she’s in a bush outside with her face damn near pressed right up against the glass.
I know who she’s looking for too, and I feel my heart go because of it.
Because of her.
While everyone else is making their way to either change into their masked ball costume or to just grab another drink from the pop-up bar, I make my way past the crowd and head outside.
Looks like security has beaten me to her, but once I get the vibe from the guy I feel my back going up and I step in, taking over.
Taking charge of her, protecting her like I’ve sworn to.
And I will continue to do from this day forward.
She’s okay, a little shaken but okay.
I don’t feel any hesitation anymore and I do what I should have done the minute I first laid eyes on her in person.
I kiss her.
It’s a tender, passionate kiss that I hope tells her how I feel about her.
If her kissing me back is anything to go by, I think we’re both safely home now.
We’ve found each other for good and I don’t want her apart from me for another moment in this life from now on.
I’m all for getting out of here, heading back to my place, and doing what we both feel should come naturally, but she wants to stay.
So we’ll stay.
I’d recognize her anywhere, but seeing her in the outfit I had made, with her mask and those sexy gloves once she stretches them over her arms and hands, it’s like see-through gift wrap I just wanna tear off her.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her, stopping before we head inside and take another opportunity to kiss her again.
I can feel my own arousal taking over, and her chest against my body tells me she’s getting just as worked up as I am.
“Do you think anyone will recognize me?” she asks, shuddering as she claws lightly at my jacket, straightening up my bowtie as I wipe a smudge of lipstick from her mouth.
“Only one way to find out,” I tell her but those words have the opposite effect.
She recoils from the door, looking like she’s suddenly changed her mind.
“When I look at you, Krystal, all I see is you. Not what’s on the outside, not what you’re wearing,” I confess.
“I see something so beautiful all I want to do is…” My hands give her the idea as they grip her fine ass and pull her front right up against me, my hard on pressing into her belly and making us both groan softly.
I know she’s worried about being spotted by her dad, or by anyone who might give her up, but I need her to know that no matter what happens, I’m here for her now.
“You belong to me now, Krystal. Nothing bad’s ever gonna happen to you. Not tonight and not ever, understand?” I ask her, relieved when she nods and smiles.
“Mine,” I whisper softly in her ear before I kiss it gently, and taking her hand in mine I walk us both up to the main entrance, my eyes adjusting to the brightness of the lights compared to the darkness of the grounds around the side of the Town Hall.
There are a lot of people mingling around the bar, with only a few making their way into the ballroom.
No sign of Mayor Newland yet, but as we make our way into the Ballroom, I shield Krystal with my body a little when someone lurches in front of us.