Just for Tonight

14.

"Ville, stop! Stop!" shouted Chloe, breathless.

"Honey?" he gasped, taking off his earphones.

Chloe finally joined him. She'd followed him from rehearsal and hadn't noticed he was wearing his ears. And since he had long legs, she had run behind him.

"Need to talk? "he asked.
"If you don't mind..." she hesitated.

He looked at his watch: he had an hour to spare. Then he'd have to go on stage.

"We'll talk, I promise," he said. "But right now, it's complicated".

"And this conversation will be too" she replied.

Ville sighed. He'd been feeling it for a few days, the way you hear the silence before the storm breaks.

Silent, she had been since their last discussion. She was worried about him. He could see her examining everything he ate (or didn't eat) and giving him accusatory looks when he skipped a meal. How to explain ? "Feed on love and fresh water" was a concept she wouldn't agree with. It was also insufficient to explain how he felt.

"Ready for our song ? " he asked with a flirtatious smile, with the hope to change her mood.

"Yeah. Don't forget... You promise..." she whispered before leaving him alone.

The most awaited moment of the gig, their duet, arrived. Once again, it was a success, and they were widely applauded. At times like this, Chloe could see again the sparkle in Ville's eyes. He drew his energy from his audience.

So what was wrong, if it wasn't tour fatigue? She didn't see anything else, except their relationship. The worry didn't leave her until they were alone again, later that night in their hotel room.

"Beautiful" she softly said " now can we take some time to talk ?"

Ville didn't immediatly answer. But putting off this discussion any longer was a risk he didn't want to take.

"Honey. I see your concern in your eyes and I know you are worried."

" I can barely sleep. Why... Why are you losing weight ? Why don't you eat ? Why don't you take care of yourself ? What's eating you ?" she asked, the questions colliding.

" How can I explain it without scaring you", he said tenderly. "See this tattoo on my wrist? When I love, I love. I chose this quote because it represents who I am. When I'm in love - and it doesn't happen that often - I tend to be overwhelmed by the feeling. With you, what's going on in my head and in my heart is still... Greater. Please don't be frightened..."

Chloe had gone pale. He approached her, resting his forehead on hers.

"I'm just trying to make you understand how much I love you. I want," he said, "never to be separated from you. When you're not by my side, I feel incomplete. I need your touch, you in my arms. Every moment". He looked into her eyes to make sure she was still listening to him and that she didn't want to run away.

His little inner voice was telling him to stop there, but he knew he owed her a full explanation.

"You may think I'm a teenager, but this is my way of loving you. I need to feel every inch of your skin against mine. To breathe in your smell. And I'm not just talking about sex, it's almost metaphysical or something.
If I tell you I want you to be mine... That's really what it is: I love you with a fusional love."

He continued. "And that's what's eating me up. To the point where I forget to eat, or don't feel like it. On that point, I can promise you that I'll make an effort".

He stopped and she looked at him.
He read love and fear in her eyes.

"How do you think I love you, beautiful? I love you so much that it takes my breath away every time I see you. I get butterflies in my stomach every time you're near me. When you look at me, I can't think straight. And when I read these press articles.... It made me sick. "

" Did you read that shit ? " he asked raising his eyebrow.

" Unfortunately, yes. And yes, I admit I did wonder".

"What kind of questions?"

"You're going to be angry, but I've been wondering whether .... It wasn't a game for you to get me up on stage." she said, hidding her face into her hands.

" It's a way for me to have you by my side in the place where I'm happiest, and to share that with you." he replied, taking her hands in his to face her. " Do you understand, honey ?".

She nodded.

" Ville, I want to make sure that you understand my point of view. I won't stand that you put your health at risk. I've already lost one love.... "

Ville nooded and put his lips against hers, lightly as they were used to.

" I'm going to kiss you now" he said with his husky voice

" Kiss me, my love" she smiled.

He looked at her, puzzled.
"Do you mean...? Are you ready... To lose control ? Are you sure ?" he asked. He read the answer in her eyes.

They kissed, gently, almost shyly. He pushed her against the wall and pressed his body to hers. Their kiss deepened. They moaned, and he led her slowly to the bed.

" Sure ? " he asked without breaking the kiss.

In response, she ran her fingers through his hair and invited him to lie on top of her.

He felt shivers run through his body. They had been waiting for this moment.