Fragrances.

8: Invictus - Paco Rabanne.

Fragrance: Invictus - Paco Rabanne

Notes: Salt Water, Musk, Violet

Effects: Jealousy, Protectiveness, Aggression

Lilith

I was sitting in the front row at Fashion Week, my foot tapping as I tried to calm myself down. Benito and I had quickly talked, before the runway show had started. I don't know what it was but for some reason, I felt incredibly irritated afterwards. He was seated directly across from me on the other side of the runway, a woman next to him. They seemed to get along, actually, they seemed to know each other well and it was driving me into madness. The way she was leaning towards him, her cleavage on display, the way she was talking to him in Spanish and the way she  was constantly looking at his lips made me want to get up and show her that he was mine. Hold up, mine? When did I claim him? 

My friend noticed my tension and so he told me who she was. A jewellery designer from Puerto Rico and coincidentally his ex-girlfriend. I googled him right after that and there were hundreds of articles popping up. Not only did I not want her near him, it also made me mad that he had very clearly told me that he didn't want me to talk to other men and now he was sitting there, chatting away with his ex-girlfriend like it was nothing. I was chewing on the inside of my cheek to not lose my cool. During the whole runway show, I kept glancing over to them. What bothered me the most was not how pretty she was or how they very obviously had chemistry, it was the fact that she probably knew him better than anyone else. As the guests started to get up and the waiters came in with champagne and little snacks, they continued to talk to each other. He didn't even glance my way, it was like I didn't exist. I could hear them talk and laugh, only making me angrier with every second that went by. For around 15 minutes, I watched, then I couldn't take it anymore, I had to do something. Slowly, I got up and walked over to them, puffing my chest. 

"Can I steal him for a second?" I asked. I was trying to be polite since I didn't want to be a total bitch. The woman looked up at me, then she eyed me. Benito on the other hand smiled at me, obviously happy that I was there.

"Oh, that's the people you're hanging out with now?" she asked him. There was venom in her voice and it cut right through me. What was that supposed to mean? His smile faded at her words. I guess my reputation had made it all the way to Puerto Rico because it didn't take long until I realised what she meant. 

"Gabriela, this is Lilith, Lilith this is Gabriela." Benito introduced us, trying to ease the tension between us. 

"I know who she is." Gabriela gave back, still looking at me like she wanted to tear my head off. The feeling was mutual. 

"Oh, do you?" I challenged her confidently. This was going to be interesting. "And who am I?" I added, wanting her to say it.

"You're a deeply insecure woman who needs to play men to feel validated, that's who you are." she gave back, getting up from her chair. She was provoking me and for a split second, I let my intrusive thoughts get to me. Benito looked between us, probably trying to figure out how to solve this. 

"Tell me more about myself, please." I countered unimpressed. I knew who I was and there was one thing I would've never considered myself: insecure. Just like I had done to countless people before, I had triggered something inside of her, I could see it in her brown eyes. 

"You think that everyone will love you but the truth is they don't. They just want to brag about having had you and that's sad. I feel sorry for you." she said, challenging me even more. This was nothing new, I had heard this countless times, so I started smiling. Exactly where I wanted her. 

"Damn, you looked right through me." I responded, acting all hurt. Gabriela was taken aback by it. She had probably expected me to get offended and when I didn't, she didn't know what to say anymore. It triggered her to the point where she was not passive aggressive anymore, she was very visibly aggravated with me. Before she could say anything else, Benito jumped up and got in between us. 

"Okay, Gabriela, it was nice talking to you but Lilith wanted to show me something. I'll text you later." he quickly said, softly grabbing my upper arm. He started pulling me away from her and I followed without protest. I had not only stopped him from talking to her, I had also gotten under her skin and I was living for it. 

"What the hell was that?!" Benito asked once we were alone in the hallway to the bathrooms.

"I protected what's mine." I gave back innocently. He stopped in his tracks. 

"I'm not your property, besides we were just catching up." he defended himself, looking at me with a furious expression on his face. 

"I'm sure you don't mind me talking to other men then?" I asked, knowing exactly that it would make him even more mad. 

"No, I thought I made that clear." he gave back through gritted teeth. I raised an eyebrow. 

"Oh, so you can talk to your ex but I can't? That's not how this works Benito." I said and crossed my arms over my chest. He stared at me, his expression slowly softening. He knew that it wasn't fair. 

"Let me make this as clear as I can." I started, mimicking him. "As long as you sleep with me..." I continued, leaning towards him. "Nobody else gets to touch you..." I whispered, once I was close enough to his ear. "Nobody else gets to see you naked..." I added, using his own words against him. "And nobody else gets to talk to you." I finished, leaning back. I was studying his face. He was breathing in heavily. 

"Is that clear?" I asked, turning away from him. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back into him. I barely had time to react that's how fast he slammed his lips into mine. This was the answer that I had wanted. What followed was rough and hard, it was like we were battling each other over dominance and I loved it. Benito made me feel alive in that bathroom.