Gradence | White Lilies

"The Dance" | Chapter 9

"Would you give me the honour and share a dance with me?"

Credence's eyes widened, his heart skipped a beat and blush broke through, scattering redness all over his pale cheeks. He was frozen in place and could barely breathe, he didn't expect that at all.

"Ah..", Percival sighed sadly and nervosness rekindled inside him, "I-I'm very sorry.. that was quite inappropriate of me..."

Credence looked up at the older man, his eyes still slightly wide from surprise.

"Forgive me Credence, that was-", Percival started but was cut off by Credence's hand being placed on his, grabbing it gently.

"Yes!", Credence spoke confidently although his cheeks got darker by each second that passed by, "Just.. not here!"

Credence gently pulled Percival by his hand and led him into the mansion, letting go off his hand as soon as they got closer to people.

Percival was surprised by this sudden confidence that rose out of Credence and a warm smile quickly spread across his face and his heart fluttered as he watched that soft and gentle hand hold onto his.

Credence slipped into an rather large room where none of the guests were, making sure noone saw them and after Percival got in, he closed the doors.

Percival smiled warmly at the younger male and he approached him, extending his hand towards him and gently bowing, asking for a dance as a slow, more of a romantic song came on.

Credence placed his hand in Percival's and the older man pulled him closer, placing his other hand around Credence's waist.

Credence's heart was pounding like crazy but his mind was blank, thinking only of the man with whom he was dancing.

Their bodies soon started moving with the sound of music, illuminated only by the firelight and their eyes found each other, connecting once again.

Percival's hand wrapped around Credence more, pulling him closer, leaving barely an inch of space between their chests.

As they danced, Credence couldn't keep the eye contact for longer than a second; for him it was impossible. Because each time they locked eyes, Credence's whole being shuddered and warmth spread throughout his whole body, and it felt like thousands of butterflies suddenly decided to flutter their fragile wings within Credence's stomach, spreading further into his body and settling into far away corners that Credence didn't even knew existed.

Percival gently spun Credence around, and than pulled him close, his arm wrapping around Credence's waist again, this time bringing him even closer. So close that their chest met, and stayed like that.

As the song was coming to an end, they danced slower and their eyes met more often.

"Credence..", Percival's gentle but deep voice whispered close to the younger male's ear sending goosebumps down his body.

Credence looked up to find the older man already looking back at him.

"…Yes?..", Credence asked , his voice slightly breaking in the middle of the sentence.

Percival stayed silent as his hand made it's way to Credence's cheek, placing itself there and gently stroking the younger male's reddened skin. Their faces were inches away.

They stared at each other for a few long moments, their gazes melting on each other's faces. And soon enough those inches that were separating them started to close in, it was as if something magnetic was pulling them closer and closer and closer together and- The door creaked open.

"Credence I-", Modesty peeked through the barely open doors and started to speak but froze in place when she saw them standing so close to one another.

Both of the men quickly stepped away from each other, Credence bit faster.

"Modesty..I-It's not what it looks like..I-I...- P-Please don't tell Ma..", Credence panicked, breaking into cold sweat.

He quickly walked towards his sister to try and explain but her lips just spreaded into a big smile and she slipped out of the room, closing the doors behind herself quietly.

Credence looked over at Percival with a nervous and sad eyes before leaving the room as well to look for Modesty. But when he looked around, she was nowhere to be found.

He went through the whole house, searching for her, but he could not find her.

.
.

After a while of searching he gave up and sat on a bench in the garden. Nervousness was eating him alive but he held it back as much as he possibly could.

He took a deep breath, and looking around he realized that there were less and less guests in the house and around it as well. It seemed to be getting quite late.

.
.

Few moments later, after Credence went back inside, his eyes fell onto the entrance door of the mansion. There stood his father and his mother, and they were talking to Percival, who seemed to be leaving.

Behind his parents' back their eyes met, both hope and fear filling their hearts. And just before he left, a warm smile spread across Percival's lips and so did across Credence's.