The Tale Of Hearts

Chapter 122

Hazel's POV

It was so warm, like sinking into the safest place in the world. A little hum slipped from my lips as I curled deeper into the comfort surrounding me, too content to even open my eyes. I barely registered the world, half-dreaming, until something brushed against my neck. A ticklish sensation, like the soft graze of someone's beard against my skin. Funny!!!  

I let out a sleepy giggle, wriggling faintly, but the firm grip around me wouldn't let me escape. Then, suddenly, the ticklish brush was gone, replaced by something softer, but far more dangerous, pulling me into my full awareness. A Pair of  warm lips dragged slowly against my skin, lingering before set of heated breaths fanned over the spot. It didn't take me long to know who it was. No one else carried that familiar, intoxicating scent, the kind that pulled me deeper under the spell.  Worse still, his lips trailed lower, from the curve of my neck down toward my collarbone, and each tender press sent sparks dancing through me, scattering what little sleepiness I had left. My breath caught, sharp and unsteady, as I became achingly aware of every little detail, His thick arms caging me in, the heat of his body pressed along mine, and that deliberate, almost reverent touch that left me trembling.

In the very instant, the last memory of last night came crashing into my head,Turning my breath ragged. Oh God!!!. Definitely not good!!!!. The first thing that came to mind was how those wicked friends of mine had forced that ridiculous bridal lingerie on me, so flimsy that it wouldn't even properly cover my butt, and don't get me started on how my chest was practically flashing and as if that weren't enough, they'd actually tied me to the bed, giggling like drunken lunatics, before blindfolding me. The memory alone made me want to sink through the floor.

 And wait... what happened after that? My mind raced, fragments of last night flashing in broken pieces, the burn of tequila as they shoved few shot down my throat, their drunken chants about "bravery" and "strength."  Then them stumbling out, cackling and tossing nasty comments over their shoulders. I remembered struggling against the stupid knots. 

Did Tash actually use the tying tricks she learned back in scouts? Because those knots were impossible. I tugged and pulled until my wrists hurt, before finally collapsing back against the bed, cursing them mentally. Somewhere between my fury and humiliation, I must've dozed off.  Shit... Too embarrassing. He found me like this, tied up?blindfolded? dressed like that? Oh God... on the top of that, Who the hell falls asleep in a situation like that? Apparently you idiot!!!! my subconscious screamed!!!  My brain refused to let me imagine how much he might have enjoyed the absurd little show I'd unintentionally put on. Oh god!!! I didn't even want to think about it...

Oh, I hate Tash I will never forgive her,  I swore mentally, trying to turn my face away, to hide the heat blooming across my cheeks but of course his hand caught my chin effortlessly, holding me in place, forcing me to meet his gaze. I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to give him the satisfaction and yet even with my eyes shut tight, I knew my face was betraying me because I heard it. That low, husky chuckle rumbling right beside my ear, the one that told me he was enjoying my mortification far too much. Then following the sound of his laugh, shattered the fragile wall I'd been trying to build in my head, dragging me back to the reality I wanted to escape.  I wanted to shriek, to run away and hide as I was too coy to even face him. On the top of that i felt week ,My pulse was a frantic drum in my ears, matching the maddening thrum of my thoughts but his solid grasp around me, made it impossible to move. 

"Oh, you think running away would save you now, Mrs. Richardson, hmm?" he whispered, his tone dripping with amusement. The word Mrs. Richardson awake the butterflies  in my stomach. My face burned in the deepest shade of red and my heart thundered in my chest so loud, I was sure even he could hear it. I squeezed my eyes more shut, wishing the floor would swallow me whole.