Effervescent

Chapter 4

Romeo

Have you ever wished for time to speed by but also to freeze entirely? Mei neither, but I sure am experiencing those feelings right now. On one hand, having Athena this close while I can't really touch her the way I want to is making me lose my fucking mind. So many inappropriate things are running through my mind, and while it makes me feel sleazy, I also can't stop.

God, I was mortified when she made that comment about my "arm" digging into her "hip". I didn't want to make her uncomfortable, especially since Alex's comments, no matter how uncalled for, are likely to have some truth to them. Athena doesn't seem like an overly experienced woman. No shame in that, of course, but it makes me feel like I'm defiling her or some stupid shit like that.

I really am losing my mind.

Hence, I need these seven minutes to be over. Yet, I hate the thought of getting out of here and losing this intimacy with her. I loved feeling her back against my front, no matter how infuriating it was just as I love feeling her soft tits pressed up against my chest right now.

Even more so, I enjoy feeling her face beneath the palm of my hand. It was the only place I allowed myself to actively touch her, but it doesn't feel any more innocent than any other place would have. No, I want this woman and I'm sure I'm making it all too obvious.

The silent tension was heavenly in the beginning, but I find myself enjoying our conversation now impossibly more. Her voice is soft in the utter silence that exists in this shed so far away from the party.  It's intoxicating and I don't want it to end.

She wants to go to the gym. My gym. I wonder if she'd be a matching set of gym shorts and a sports bra kind of gal or if she'd wear a pump cover. Both would be equally enticing. The first option has rather obvious arguments speaking for it, but I like the second idea for one major reason. No one would get to see her. Stare at her. The gym community is usually super cool and most people refrain from leering, but seeing how uncomfortable Alex's attention made her earlier, I think she'd be happier with less attention. Not that she could ever not attract attention... her face is enough to turn heads.

And why do I even care if other men stare at her? She's not mine, and even if she was, I can fight so what difference does it make? My head is spinning.

"Romeo?" her soft voice drags me back to reality, and I look down as if I could meet her eyes that way. I can't because it's so damn dark and even that is driving me crazy at this moment. I still don't know the color of her eyes.

"What color are your eyes?" I find myself asking, changing the topic so suddenly I feel her jerk slightly.

"I- what?" she stutters, and my cheeks hurt from grinning.

"Your eyes, Athena, what color are they?" I repeat, leaning down slowly.

"Grey," she finally replies, her voice husky. As she speaks the single word, her breath fans against my throat and I shudder. Did she lean in as well? I hadn't realized how close our faces were.

God, my dick aches in my pants, straining against the zipper of my jeans so hard I'm sure she can feel it against her stomach. I don't even have it in me to care anymore. I saw the way she shifted in her seat when I looked at her during the game, and I sure as hell felt her trying to cross her legs in here. She's affected, and knowing that is twice the torture.

Why haven't I kissed her yet?

I can't remember, and I don't really care. I want to close the gap between our faces. My grip on her cheek tightens some more, the thumb that had been caressing her all this time coming to a halt. I wish I could see her eyes, her grey eyes, to see if the heat I'm feeling is reflecting in them. Now, the only sign I get is her holding her breath. I can feel her stomach tightening as it quits moving and edge closer to her, pressing into her until her back is against the closet's wall. Her breath hitches then.

"Romeo," she breathes out barely audible, and I nearly snap right there. Damn that breathy voice of hers. I love how my name sounds on her lips... I wonder how else she could say it. Shout it. Scream it. Moan it.

Fuck, I need to kiss her.

I lean down and brush my nose against hers. Something wet brushes against my slightly parted lips, just feather-lightly, and I groan. She licked her lips. Our lips.

The screeching sound of old metal interrupts our moment, and I jerk back as soft moonlight streams into our dark space. I take a hasty step back, bumping into whoever was in the middle of opening the door.

"Oof," a feminine sound comes from behind me, quickly followed by the distinct sound of someone hitting the ground. I turn on my heels, leaning down to help Katherine back to her feet. She's wearing a white dress, so she really shouldn't be on the wet grass. I grip her upper arms on both sides and all but lift her up.

The move brings us closer than anticipated, and it's then when Athena asks her friend whether she's okay. Feeling unreasonably guilty, I drop my hands as if they were burned and take a step back. Athena doesn't meet my eyes as she takes my place close to her friend, but before she passes me, I see the dark red tint of her skin.

The two girls quickly start talking in hushed voices, and I feel torn between leaving them alone for the second time tonight without getting her number or anything of the sort and giving them privacy. After two more minutes of being ignored, I decide to return to the front porch. They'll have to pass it to go home or get inside, so I'll just talk to Athena then.

I take a seat which allows me to keep an eye on the two women near the supply closet when I rejoin the group. The satisfaction of seeing that Alex took my advice and left is just barely enough to overshadow my irritation at the smug smiles two other guys shoot my way. My good mood does a nosedive when I try to glance at Athena again only to see her dragging her friend off in the opposite direction.

What the hell? She'd rather take the long way around the house than walk past me? Did I miss something? Did I read her signs in the closet incorrectly? My stomach cramps at the thought I might've gotten too close to her without her consent.

I slump against the back of my seat when she rounds the corner, vanishing from my view. Yeah, rejection stings.

———
Soo, what's going on?👀 Lmao the plot thickens...

Jk I honestly hate it when books have too much plot, we all know I'm just here for the romance. (Unless it's fantasy, but whatever)

Anyways, have a splendid day, my lovelies <3