Because You're Mine (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic) #Wattys2016 #pfcc2k16

Chapter Nine: Someday.

... check this hand 'cause I'm marvelous.

*****

My mind is literally a battle field right now. Thoughts are rushing aimlessly through the air like bullets and I am caught in the crossfire, crouching in a fetal position so I won't get shot in any vital organs.

How I am still driving without crushing the car, is completely beyond me.

I am truly considering my options and I would be lying if I said that the thought of leaving him in the middle of the road hasn't crossed my mind.

"So, what's it going to be?" Tom pushes, and I grumble. "You think I'm bluffing?"

I don't say a word but I look at him with a challenging stare. I know there is no way he is being serious about getting out of the car. We are more than an hour and a half away from London and he could get arrested if the police catch him walking on the side of the highway, not to mention he could actually get killed.

"Go ahead, Clementine. Call my bluff and see what happens..."

"Fine!" I say with a heavy sigh of sheer exasperation.

Thereupon, I take a quick look at the side mirror and I pull over.

"Oh, my god!" He gasps when we stop moving, covering his face with both hands. "What are you doing?"

"Calling your bluff, Tom. If you want to keep going with this, be my guest." I lean over to his side and open the door for him. I can hear his heavy breathing, charged with frustration and a little hint of fear. "But I am not playing this game with you. Especially not with my father sleeping on the back seat. Is that understood?"

I go back to sitting straight in my place, both hands firmly clutching on the wheel and eyes fixated on the empty road in front of me.

When I hear the door closing shut and the seatbelt clicking back on I slowly start the engine and resume our drive. A little smile begins to curl up in my lips but I hide it quickly. I sense a growing feeling of empowerment within me, but there is no reason to rub it in his face. Not yet.

"You have to be the most stubborn person I have ever met." He finally says. He is considerably mad now but I can easily tell that he is starting to see how ridiculous this whole scene was and he's even a little amused by it.

"I prefer the term strong minded" I snort with a chuckle. I wink at him to finish lightening the mood and it rapidly does the trick. "And I really hate it when my mind strength gets tested. Mostly because is not pretty for the other person."

"Yeah... No, stubborn it is!" He burst into a laugh and I go along with him. "Were you honestly going to let me get down of the car?"

He looks at me with his blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. And the truth is that I don't know what I would have done if he had get off the car instead of backing down on his threat. I would love to say that I would have driven away, leaving him to fend for his own; but I'm pretty sure that I'd be panicking over it and begging him to get back inside. Which I assume was his plan all along.

Either we talk or I walk.

"I don't know. I just called your bluff with another one. I guess I got lucky." I answer with complete honesty. "Isn't that what Poker is all about?"

He gives me a crooked smile as his hands get together for a slow clap of recognition. He tilts his head in a nod, and taking off an invisible hat he says: "Chapeau, Miss Spader. Well done."