Beyond the Black Curtain

Chapter 8 - Not Too Late To Apologize

Sebastian

"For the love of god, don't muck this up, Stan," Josh told me just before he went out the door. I just nodded and mumbled a small thanks. I quickly scan the area and found her in a corner table, her back to me. Her inky midnight hair fell in loose waves behind her and I had to fight the urge to run my fingers through them.

I finally reach her table, thankful she didn't hear me arrive. I took a deep breath and let out the first words that came to mind.

"That's a gorgeous overlooking view, but the one I'm looking at right now is just downright stunning." She turned to face me and instead of coming up to her and kissing her senseless, I death gripped the back rest of the chair Josh just left to keep me rooted where I was standing.

Rae was just as beautiful as I'd seen her yesterday, if not more. The muted floor lights somehow seemed to illuminate her features and I'm positive she looked like an angel despite her dark jacket and hair.

She's the angel and I'm the devil who stabbed her with a pitchfork straight through her heart, I thought bitterly to myself.

"Sebastian."

Again, I had to get a grip on myself before I did anything stupid. The earth could swallow me whole right there and then and I'd be alright if the sound of my name on her lips would be the last thing I hear before I disappear. Before that happened though, I had to tell her I'm sorry.

"Rae," it felt good to say her name with her there. "I'm sorry to spring on you like this..but um.." I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and fought through my nervousness. "Can we talk? Somewhere a little more private?" I turn my head a little sideways, noticing a small number of people were already beginning to recognize me. Some have even begun whipping out their mobiles, presumably to take pictures or record videos. I instinctively close the distance between Rae and I to shield her from the unnecessary attention.

She looked up at me with those deep, round pools of brown, allowing me to offer her my hand. "Please?" She nodded and I let out a small breath of relief as she took my hand wordlessly. I lead her back inside towards the private room Josh had reserved for us.

Rae let go of my hand as I closed the door behind me. She stood, her back to me, close to the window on the other end of the room and I can feel the tension rising again, much like how it was yesterday on our way back to the hotel. I mentally kicked myself how I let things get this bad. I haven't even known her for two days and yet I've managed to hurt her like we've known each other two years.

"I only want to know why, Sebastian," she turned around and spoke, her voice cutting through the tension like sharp pricks of ice. "I've never felt so insulted in my life, and you don't even know anything about me. Make me understand."

I wanted to close the gap between us so I can look into those big, beautiful, hypnotic eyes of hers while I explain myself. But the way she folded her arms across her chest told me I had to be satisfied to talk to her where I'm currently standing for the meantime.

I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

"You have to know first that I did not want to hurt you at all, intentionally or otherwise. If it's any consolation, Chris gave me absolute hell because of it," I tried to gauge her reaction but she wasn't giving anything away so I continue.

"I'm sorry for saying those horrible things to you yesterday. Sometimes, I tend to say things that I really don't mean just so I can...protect myself."

"From what?"

"From being hurt," I respond quietly. Rae's eyes widened as she fixed me her gaze.

"You..," she nearly choked. "Jesus, Sebastian, we just met yesterday! I..you're making a great job of me hating you and I don't even know jack shit about you. And to think I lost sleep trying to figure out if.."

"If what, Rae?" I ask after she let her sentence hang. "What were you trying to figure out?"

Rae let her head down, and I couldn't see her face as her hair framed it. She glances up back at me only to avoid my gaze immediately after. She bit her quivering lip as if she was trying to fight whatever it was she wanted to say. I don't say anything yet, and when she spoke, nearly every coherent thought I had got thrown out the window.

"Kiss me," she said, her voice low and hoarse. Now it was my turn to widen my eyes at her. "Don't make me ask twice, please."

She looks at me expectantly, her shoulders heaving as her breaths became shallower and shallower every passing second she waited for me to come to her. The room suddenly felt like it was caving in around us. I squeeze my eyes shut for a couple of seconds and take a deep breath as I opened them again.

I thought I had imagined it when she asked me to kiss her, but the way she looked at me confirmed she did. Rae was there, all I had to do was reach her.

My throat suddenly felt parched and I'm like a lost traveller in the desert, thirsty beyond belief and Rae was the oasis to quench my needs. I let out a strangled groan and closed the gap between us in a few strides. Within seconds, I had her pulled flush against me and crushed my lips to her inviting ones for a searing kiss that sent shivers all over my body. I could taste the last cocktail she drank--a margarita, and something else I couldn't place that tasted just like Rae--sweet, with a little hint of mischief.

Her hands immediately grabbed the back of my jacket as we became immediately consumed by each other's desires. My hands became beings of their own, finding their way under Rae's clothing, resting in the small of her back, my fingers running little circles over her smooth skin. She moaned and suddenly my semi-skinny jeans felt five sizes smaller.

I slowly back her up until I have her flush against the wall. We somehow have managed to push each other's jackets off of each other without breaking the kiss. She bites my lower lip and low growl escapes my throat, causing me to probe my tongue inside her mouth. She tilts her head to the side and it was all the invitation I need to further deepen the kiss. My hands roam her lower back, finally settling on her waist, gently massaging them while keeping her close to me. I gasp as she slid both her hands upward under my shirt, caressing the tense muscles of my back and stomach. I felt a painful twitch in my pants and if she didn't stop, I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself to go any further.

"Oh god, Rae," I murmur against her mouth. Rae moans again and I lightly suck on her lower lip. She breaks it off, but her body is still connected to mine. She snakes her fingers around my neck, pulling me so our foreheads were touching. Our breaths were coming in shallow bursts as if we just finished a marathon. I smile and touch my lips to her forehead.

She finally looks up to me, her eyes a pair of blazing embers.

"Stay with me tonight," I finally managed to say, my voice thick with emotion.