27. Aurora: Lines are Getting Blurred

Chapter twenty-seven

Aurora – Lines are Getting Blurred

I feel something shift beneath me. It’s probably the earth. Because there is no feeling compared to this. It seems to be out of this world. Or maybe that’s just my sanity fleeing from me. I feel Jake’s warm lips dance intimately with mine, slow and steady. Not in a frenzy move, and not in an exactly gentle move. It’s a perfect blend, and nothing has ever felt so right in my life.

I feel myself getting short of breath, and I regrettably have to break the kiss for air, panting heavily. Jake rests his forehead against mine, his breathing mimicking mine, and I can practically feel his heartbeat running a marathon against mine.

“You look absolutely breathtaking,” he whispers against my lips, giving them another peck.

I open my eyes to see his beautiful dark eyes staring at me with an expression I can’t decipher, and I shiver. Jake misunderstands it as me being cold, and he promptly removes his tux jacket, draping it on my shoulders. I smile up at him appreciatively .

“And you look extremely handsome, Jake,” I whisper back at him, running a hand through his tousled hair.

I have always wanted to do that, and it feels extremely nice. His thick hair is soft and silky to the touch.

It feels as if we’re all alone in the whole world. He is all I see, all I hear, and all I feel.

Flashes of cameras beam at us again, and I plop back into reality. I hide my face in Jake’s shoulder in embarrassment at the sound of Ryan and Brittney’s cackling. Bella keeps ‘awwing’ at us, and I feel myself flush even more bright red than I already am.

Jake’s husky laughter rings out, taking the teasing well. We all go inside, Jake holding me tightly all the way in. We enter the elevator to ride up to the conference room level and I catch Jake’s eyes.

He is definitely thinking about the last time we were here together. It seems so long ago; I think to myself. The atmosphere is definitely in contrast to the previous one, and who would have thought?

Jake has a remorseful expression etched on his face and I shake my head at him, giving him a small smile.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers into my ear.

“It’s okay, Jake,” I whisper back at him.

“If you start mauling each other’s faces again, I’m definitely going to barf.” Ryan looks at us, shaking his head. Britt kicks him in the shin, and he yelps out loud. “I’ll be having a lot of scars on my otherwise flawless body, thanks to you,” he whines, and Brittney rolls her eyes at him .

“Then you should learn to keep your mouth shut,” she replies, nailing him with a nasty look.

“Seriously, you guys should just get married already, you’re so cute together!” Bella gushes at them, and they both yelp, throwing each other appalled looks.

I sigh. I honestly don’t know why I haven’t gotten used to their bickering after all these years.

The elevator dings, and we all step out. Jake links his elbow with mine and turns towards Bella, who is standing right beside Ryan and Brittney.

Bella looks at us and smiles. “You both should have fun on your own. Ethan and I don’t want to tag along all evening,” she says, winking at us. “We are both really good at starting conversations and hopefully making friends. We’ll just mingle!”

“. . . and eat,” adds Ethan, hopefully.

“You’re sure, Bells?” I ask, feeling a twinge of guilt.

“It’s okay, Aurora. We’d be invisible anyway, seeing as you both keep making googly eyes at each other every second.” She laughs, waving her hands at us as if to shoo us away from their presence.

“Oh, yeah! I’m the lucky one tonight. I’ve got two beautiful women on my arms.” Ryan whoops, winking at Bella and Brittney respectively.

Bella blushes adorably, smiling at Ryan’s joke, while Brittney rolls her eyes. He links arms with them both, raising his head high like a proud aristocrat, however Bella soon untangles herself, reminding Ryan of the gorgeous groom-to-be standing aside with his arms folded but a huge smile on his face.

Ethan is obviously used to Bella’s vivacious personality and adores everything about her, so he just waits it out.

Ryan and his ‘ladies’ look quite the picture as he nods and waves at us. Brittney waggles her eyebrows at us while Bella enthusiastically yells at us to have a nice time. They leave us standing in place, while Ryan and Britt circle the room to seek some food, and Bells grabs her man to find the dance floor.

“Shall we?” Jake asks me, and I nod.

We walk towards the double doors, and a man in uniform opens it. I gasp at the sight before me. I remember asking Jake where the party would be taking place, and he’d told me it’d be in the conference hall. Whatever I had imagined, this definitely isn’t it.

The huge room is beautifully decorated with dim lighting and flickering candles. Elegant Halloween-themed decorations are strategically placed, giving it a very light, spooky ambience. A fog machine slowly fills the floor along the outer edges of the entryway, adding a sense of mystery to the space. The music is enchanting, and it matches the theme well.

Guests, mostly employees, with different costumes and attires, have already entered and are milling around, walking, and chatting. I see some with goblets in their hands. Waiters and waitresses circle, carrying trays of drinks and Halloween-themed snacks.

I sight the refreshment table and pull Jake towards it, wanting a drink and some snacks. I greet the young guy manning the bar, and he responds politely.

“What would you like to drink?” he asks, and I turn to Jake to ask him what he’d like to have .

“I’ll take whatever you’re having, babe.”

I don’t know if it is a slip up or not. Bella isn’t here to witness the nickname and I don’t mind. Neither of us are talking about the kiss, and I try not to overthink it. Jake doesn’t look bothered a bit, and I feel as if I’m the only one fretting over it.

But something has definitely changed since then. Jake hasn’t let go of my hand since we’ve been here. We’ve held hands before, but right now it seems weirdly . . . intimate?

“Aurora, do you want that?”

Jake’s voice snaps me back into focus, and I clear my throat delicately.

“What’s that?” I ask him and he leans closer towards me, his intoxicating cologne teasing my senses.

“He asked if you’d be interested in the ‘Witch’s Brew,’ he whispers close to my ear, and I feel a school of fish swim violently in my stomach, definitely not butterflies because they would be gentler.

I laugh at the funny name given to the drink. “That’s so cliché. Witch’s Brew? Really?”

I shake my head, finding the name funnier than I should. Jake grins at me in return, and he leans close to me again, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

“What about the ‘Vampire’s Kiss?’ he murmurs huskily, catching me off guard.

I feel my heart stop for a nanosecond, then it begins to beat faster than any normal human heart should.

“What? That’s a thing?” I try to laugh, playing cool about Jake’s obvious but subtle flirting.

“Yes. It’s part of tonight’s special,” the waiter replies, politely.

“Okay, I’d love that,” I tell the waiter, who immediately gets to work.

“I want that too,” Jake says, and under his stare I feel myself shiver. “I want the Vampire’s Kiss too.”

He stares straight at my neck then to my lips. He definitely isn’t talking about the corny drink.

I lick my lips absentmindedly while staring at him in return, not able to pull my gaze away from his. He leans closer to me, and I feel myself doing the same. His lips brush mine, and we hear someone clear their throat awkwardly.

“Your drinks are ready,” he says, looking anywhere but at us.

“Thank you,” Jake says smoothly, appearing not in the least to be ruffled about the whole situation.

He hands my drink over, and I mutter my thanks to him. He nods and gets his drink off the countertop, leading me away from the bar.

Since Jake is the host of this fabulous soiree, he makes the rounds of the room and then the dance floor, taking me with him as the unofficial hostess, I guess. After what seems like dozens of handshakes and even some hugs from grateful workers and their guests, I get to see yet another side of this man.

He is just as kind and generous in the work setting as out. His family must be so very proud of him. Wait a minute, so am I!

We find a place to sit, and almost immediately a waiter approaches us, asking if we’d be interested in some ‘Witch’s Fingers.’ I cringe at the very corny names given to the refreshments. Jake laughs and nods.

Two plates of scones are placed on the table and I laugh out loud. “Witch’s Fingers? Really? ”

Jake laughs too, picking up one from the plate and taking a bite out of it.

He groans appreciatively. “This is really good. You should try one,” he says, and I am about to pick a scone from the plate when he places his half-bitten one right in my mouth.

I take a bite out of it, my tongue accidentally brushing his finger. I feel him tense up, and I look at him to see his reaction. His eyes are considerably darker and more intense. I gulp and lick my lips, staring right into his eyes.

“Tasty. Real tasty,” I whisper, taking another small bite, this time, my tongue brushing his finger on purpose.

He narrows his eyes at me, and I smile innocently, raising my hand in mock-surrender. He throws the rest of the tiny pastry into his mouth and reaches for another, feeding it to me first.

We talk, goof, dance, and laugh into the night, neither of us questioning the blurred lines.

And honestly, I don’t want to. Not now.