AFTER MY HONEYMOON

chapter 41

Richard panicked scared that she would pass out any moment if he didn't act fast and instinctively, he pulls her into himself.

Hugging her tightly and running his hands down her bare back. The skin felt so soft but he didn't pay any attention to that. His mind on overdrive hoping she regains her regular breathing pace quickly and it works.

He notices her calming down her breathing gradually returning to normal and eventually, it does but neither of them pulls away.

Mia in a little shock at how much she misses being in his arms and selfishly wanting to stay even for a minute longer and Richard on the other hand marveled at how perfect she felt in his arms hesitated to let go of the moment.

Richard slowly pulled away from her but did not step away from her. They both looked at each other silently and Richard lifted his hands slowly pulling Mia's hair from her face and tucking it gently behind her ears.

His fingers moved slowly caressing her cheeks as if afraid she would disappear.

Mia froze looking into his stormy eyes her heart pounding loudly in her chest she could not move even if she wanted to and in that moment, it felt like the only right thing for Richard to do and so, he did it.

He kissed Mia.

Her lips felt as soft as he imagined countless times that they would be. With shaky hands he pulled her in much closer to deepen the kiss but the trance
Mia was in shattered like a fragile glass and she pushed him away with such force that they were both shocked.

"Mia....i... I'm...." Richard said running his fingers through his hair and before he could properly apologize she walked away.

Since the event was held in the hotel, Mia simply forgot that she had come from an event and walked straight up to the elevator and up to her room . She was shocked and angry....angry at herself for the feelings that the simple kiss they just shared evoked in her.

She was over him right? It's been seven years already so why...and why did he have to kiss her like that he could have done anything else... anything other than kissing her.

Richard stood there for a few more minutes after she left still trying to calm himself and tell himself that he only kissed her to help her calm down. When he saw her in that state, struggling to breathe, he was afraid and scared that she would eventually pass out from not being able to take in enough air. He kept asking himself what was I thinking?.

He walked further into the parking lot and asked the valet who he  saw standing and smiling to his phone which he held against his ear, for his car keys... He had completely forgotten that he had left a party in search of Mia.

After collecting the keys he quickly entered and since no one was parked behind him, he reversed with such speed and turning on his GPS, he followed the direction to the nearest bar.

While driving, and occasionally looking at the GPS, he kept thinking back to what happened just few moments ago..and he suddenly remembered Lillian and suddenly felt ashamed of himself...yes he did what he did to try and save a life or so he thought but he had kissed another woman and he was even more angry at himself to admit that he wanted to do that and more again.

Now he understood why he was scared of Mia from the very first day he met her or even touched her....she evoked feelings in him that he had not experienced since the death of Lillian.

It had been seven years since he had slept with a woman or even kissed one......other than handshakes and hugs. And even those that wanted something more from him, he was always clear in telling them that he wasn't interested and was content with how he lived. That is until Mia.