Just a number

Chapter 8: Claudine

"The park's closed."

"No. No no no no no. This can't be I have to get home. Father will kill me if I don't get back on time."

"Here, give me my phone, I think I can call someone to get us out."

I reluctantly hand it over to him. He's a higher. Of course, someone would try to get him out. He's important enough for someone to come and get him.

I see him walk around with the phone pressed to his ear, talking calmly to whoever is on the receiving end.

"Me and this girl...park...locked in...need help..."

I only got snippets of his words since he kept walking around in an oval circuit.

My gaze snaps up as I hear his tone change.

"What do you mean... can't spend the night... tomorrow morning... do you know who I am... well then, I'll have you know I'll press charges!" He hangs up aggressively and throws his phone to the ground.

"We're stuck here. Until morning."

"No! But I have to go home. Let me try it!" I attempt to get up struggling to remain balanced and keep the pain from showing on my face.

"Sit back down. You're only going to hurt yourself. The lock, even if you pick it, also needs a thumbprint."

"The park opens at 8:30 tomorrow morning."

"But my job starts at 6:00. I-I can't stay here." Despite wearing his jacket I shiver. The winter, night air penetrates my defences and still chills me.

"Why don't we go to the playground they have a small cabin there for the kids we can stay there tonight."

"Okay." I agree holding on to him to get up surprised when he swoops me into his arms. I like the feeling because I'm well aware that he can hurt me but he's chosen not to. I'm specifically vulnerable at the moment because of my knee but he hasn't taken advantage of me.

 At least...not yet. Father would've taken the first chance he'd get to punish me. Niko also looks bigger than Father so I could tell he would be able to do a lot more damage than a bruised rib seeing what he did to Jackson and Arthur or whatever their names were.

He carried me like I weighed nothing being surprisingly gentle with my knee. I know it should feel awkward but...it just doesn't. It feels...somewhat right like I'm at home. So, I lean into his arms a little more enjoying the view of his chiseled jawline.

He finally stops and I don't even realise till I feel a cold, hard surface beneath me, which I'm disappointed to say is not his biceps.

I use my good leg to push myself back into the small hut as he follows. It hardly fits us as we lie down looking at the ceiling. I ignore the warmth that kisses my skin where my hand touches his arm although I wonder if he's feeling too...

I turn my head in his direction to see him already staring at me. I feel a brush creep onto my face but luckily it's mostly hidden by the darkness. The only light source is a small window on his side, reflecting the light of a supposed nearby street light.

I liked being this close to his face able to see his strong cheekbones, deep blue eyes and big lips. Damn, those lips. I just want a taste...No. Snap out of it Claudine. You've only met this man today plus he's a higher class there's no way he'd be interested in you.

Shit. I've been staring at his lips. I look back at him embarrassed but see him smirk and look at my lips for a second before looking back up at me. Wait. What does that mean? Our faces are only about 3 inches apart from each other so I can feel a hint of his warm breath teasing me. What would it feel like if that same breath was blowing on my ear whilst he asked me who he belonged to... WHOA. What the hell was that? Since when do I think like that?

I wonder what he's thinking of. Maybe he wants me to kiss him. I mean I think that was suggestive. We're strangers it's fine if he doesn't return the kiss, we'll be awkward for the night but then we'll go our separate ways. I don't think he'll come back to the bar anyway after that incident.

Okay. I can do this. He likes me too. Probably. I lean forward slowly and look down at his lips before looking up at him. He doesn't move so I take that as my cue to kiss him.

I feel his warm lips on mine and after a second, in which I started doubting myself and thinking it was a stupid idea, he plunges his tongue into my mouth. He takes me into a hard kiss practically eating me alive like there is no tomorrow. I try to kiss him back with as much fervour as he has. It wasn't a sweet kiss, nor a romantic one but, I wouldn't want anything else instead. 

I let out a moan as we pull back to catch our breaths. We lay there panting heavily our eyes locked together. As soon as our breath slows, he wraps a hand in my hair and pulls me towards me, this time he initiates the kiss and I swear a fire ignites in my core. He tastes like...I don't know how to describe it...masculinity and pure dominance? Completely contrasting me. His hand is now fully wrapped in my hair and I grip the base of his neck needing an even closer proximity. Needing to be closer to his body. Just...needing him.

My worries about my father and needing to get home wash away with the taste of him. Finally, we break apart again and I shiver not only from the cold but he must think that's the reason so he lifts his left arm, silently inviting me to snuggle into him. I smile and take up on his offer sliding closer to him warming myself up with his body and leaning my head against his chest where I can hear his heartbeat race but gradually slow down as the minutes pass.

We lie there together, not caring about the cold only paying attention to one another.

"Good night, Claudine," he said as I felt his chest rumbling beneath me.

"Good night, Niko," I replied and had the best night's sleep I'd had in well...years.