Vixen - a dark romance story

Chapter 35

Christopher Bang/ Bang Chan

Christopher observed from a short distance as Ray glided across the dance floor, gracefully swaying to the rhythm. He remained a silent spectator as she accepted offers to dance.

One. Two. Three too much.

Fury boiled inside him, seething jealousy igniting like wildfire as she danced with other men, regardless of their familiarity with her.

A primal instinct clawed at his insides, animalistic violence — the urge to crush their throats, to unleash gang wars, chaos, and bloodshed. But that would be too merciful. No, he craved torture for those who dared to lay their filthy hands on what belonged to him.

He'd handle it later. He wasn't sure she'd like that through.

Christopher inhaled deeply, attempting to tamper down the tidal wave of anger surging through his veins. He knew he couldn't make a scene at his Gala, but he also knew that he couldn't just stand by and watch her in another man's arms all night long. He couldn't just keep watching her from afar like a jealous fool.

Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night" filled the air, and there she was, walking back to the bar.

He took a deep breath, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him as he strode toward her, determined to make his move.
With each step, he drank in the way the light glinted off her smooth skin, accentuating the curves of her figure. His heart thundered in his chest, palms slick with anticipation, visions of pulling her into a tight embrace flooding his thoughts.

He steeled himself, forcing a nonchalant demeanor as he slid into the space next to her at the bar.

She didn't seem to notice him at first, lost in thought. But then, as if sensing his gaze on her, she turned her head and their eyes met. It was like a delightful rush through his body, a tingling of his whole being. He felt his heart skip a beat as he looked into her eyes: Ray, his beautiful Ray.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, lost in each other. He saw a flicker of something in her eyes - surprise, turmoil, maybe even a hint of warmth. But it was quickly replaced by her usual neutrality.

He tried to keep himself in check, but it was hard. Seeing her again after days, feeling the pull of her presence, was a powerful thing. It was taking all his willpower not just to grab her and kiss her senseless.

Christopher cleared his throat, trying to find his voice. "Quite a party."

He forced himself to sound casual as if her presence didn't affect him in the slightest. But he knew he couldn't fool her. She had always been able to see right through him.

Ray gave a small nod, "Yeah. You outdid yourself."

She took a sip of her drink, her gaze fixed on his face. He could see her studying him as if trying to figure him out. It was both thrilling and torturous to be the subject of her attention.

His heart soared at her praise. He had worked hard to put this Gala together, to make it a success. And to hear her recognize his effort...it was like a balm to his soul.

Christopher reached down and drew her seat nearer to his, unable to keep distance between them.
He could feel the heat radiating off her body, and smell the subtle cherry scent of her perfume that made his senses come alive. It was intoxicating, and it was taking all his self-control to keep from touching her.

He cleared his throat again, trying to find something to say. But his mind was blank. His focus was on her, her nearness, the way she looked in the dim light of the bar, the way she made him feel. He didn't think he'd ever get tired of watching her, of being near her.

Christopher wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and make her forget everything. But he also knew that it was too soon, that she wasn't ready to let her guard down completely again. He had to tread carefully, to earn back her trust.

He turned to face her, praying that he had concealed the desire written on his face fast enough. He could see the individual eyelashes framing her eyes and could count the freckles on her cheeks if he didn't already know their exact number.

He was struck, for a moment, by how gorgeous she was. This woman, the one he had pushed away, the one he had hurt. He felt a pang of regret, but he couldn't dwell on that now.

Instead, he forced himself to speak, and instantly regretted the words that left his lips.

"Can I buy you a drink ?"

He had meant to say something else, some witty remark that would make her smile if he was lucky, put her at ease. But instead, he had blurted out the most cliché line in the book.

He mentally cursed himself, waiting for her reaction.

Christopher froze, caught off guard by her sudden laugh. It was small, almost reluctant, but it was there just the same.

He couldn't help but stare at her, mesmerized by the sound of her laughter and the way it lit up her whole face. He hadn't heard her laugh in what felt like forever, and he had missed the sound of it more than he cared to admit.

He just stared at her for a moment, captivated by the sight. Then, he managed to find his voice again.

"You're laughing," he said, the statement hanging in the air like a gentle breeze, barely escaping his lips.

Ray took a sip of her drink, trying to hide the small smile on her lips. He could still see it though, in the subtle curving of the corners of her mouth.

"Because that was such a stupid thing to say."

God, it was, given that it was an open bar. He smiled, feeling some of the tension between them ease.

"I'm out of practice, okay? I haven't had to use my cheesy pickup lines in a while."

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips. Her eyes were locked on his, and there was a spark in them that he hadn't seen in years. "I can tell."

Christopher felt a surge of hope at her response. He couldn't believe it. She was bantering with him, teasing him. This was familiar territory, and it was a good sign. A small step in the right direction.

With newfound confidence, he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone. "So you've heard better lines ?"

She swirled her drink, "Oh, I've heard plenty of lines. But yours was particularly bad." She stated, feigning indifference, but he heard the tinge of provocation in her voice.

He couldn't help but grin.