The Free Fall

Scarlett

My mother's idea of meeting my new wingman was throwing a gala. Maybe she did this so I couldn't cause a scene, seeing as all my superiors are attending.

I wore one of my 'trashy' dresses anyway. I wasn't about to buy a new dress just for meeting my new wingman. It was a black dress that had a slit up the leg and a square neckline. It wasn't flashy nor did it show too much, despite what my mother would say. I sat at the bar, despite another of my mother's wishes. I was on my third large drink when I noticed someone sit a few seats down from me. It was unusual for someone to be sitting at the bar instead of mingling. Coming to stand at the bar was allowed, but only to return to the hall floor that was littered with small crowds of people.

The hall never went above a murmuring hum. No one raised their voices, nor did they laugh loudly. Everything was poised and kept within control. The lights were dimmed with yellow hue, casting a comfortable aura over the banquet hall, but I felt anything but.

The man ordered a drink, and his low timber of a voice was what caused me to look over at him. He was wearing a white button down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Tattoos raced up his right arm, which was unusual. Tattoos were not commonplace around here, they were deemed too 'human'. His hair was blonde and fell slightly in front of his eyes as he stared down at his fingers, knitted on the glossed black bar top.

Sensing eyes on him, he lazily flicked his eyes toward me. He cocked an eyebrow while looking back at me, challenging my stare. Against better judgment, I kept staring. His eyes were icy blue, almost glowing in the darkly lit atmosphere. "What?" He drawled, drawing me back to reality.

"Sorry." I said calmly, swinging my head to look back ahead of me. "I was just looking at your tattoos." I really liked them, but my mother would come over with a potato peeler if she ever suspected I had one. He made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded like displeasure.

And for some reason, I kept talking. The alcohol had loosened my lips, for sure. Looking back at him, I continued. "I've always wanted one, but I never-"

"Is there something you needed?" He interrupted me with a voice that broke the equilibrium of the murmuring hall. The hall quieted for a half of a moment, then quickly picked back up.

I snapped back, "Just trying to make a conversation."

He leaned his elbows on the bar, lifting his drink to his lips. "If I wanted to talk to you, I would've sat next to you." He took a sip, not bothering to look at me.

Wow, what an asshole. I scoffed. "No need to be a dick about it."

He laughed sardonically. "Ooh. Good one. I've been called worse, sweetheart." He winked then finished the last few sips of his drink with a knock back of his head. He set it down, making eye contact with the bartender and pitching his chin up, wordlessly asking for a refill.

I swiveled my seat to look right at him. "Don't call me sweetheart." His eyes lazily found mine, then dramatically rolled them away. "Look, buddy, I was just trying to be nice. I don't know why you're going out of your way to be a prick about it."

He gave me a dangerous smirk. I hated how it sent a spark of adrenaline through my body. "Sweetheart," he paused, overly enunciating, "I didn't ask for this verbal assault from you."

I scoffed, rearing back. "Assault? Who even are you? Why are you here?" Wow, well spoken.

"I could be asking you the same thing. " He said, sounding like he was only entertaining me. The bartender walked over to refill his drink, cautiously looking between the two of us.

I stood and approached him. The minute I walked over to him on my heels, I felt the dizzying effects of the alcohol. I hoped he hadn't noticed how I'd basically sashayed to him. He turned in his chair to face me as I approached. His eyes traveled down my body, over my dress before flicking back to my eyes. "Bite me." I seethed.

His eyes electrified, and he stood up to tower over me. I refused to let him intimidate me, so I stood up as far as my spine would handle. I kept my shoulders squared and my chin tilted up as he tilted his head to smirk down to at me.

"Where?" He murmured and stepped closer, officially in my personal space. He placed a finger on my jawline, tilting it up. My facade started to slip. His touch was sending tingles across my face due to the sensitive skin he was touching. While I was able to keep my face stoic, my eyes surely gave me away. No one had ever touched me like this before, and it felt strange, good. His finger finished its trek by hooking under my chin and my eyelashes fluttered.

The stranger smirked, letting his hand return to his side, but not before pushing my head up with a jerk. It immediately brought me back to reality.

What the hell was that?

He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to, we both knew that I talked a mean game but apparently couldn't back it up. He turned, grabbed his refilled drink and walked away from me. My cheeks were blazing, and I was completely humiliated. What kind of a woman was I, melting from a single touch? I gripped the countertop and snatched my drink. I gulped the liquid down in one fluid motion and focused on the burn that it sent down my throat into my body.

I needed air. I know my mother was going to call me up eventually and I did not want to go up flushed. I stormed down a hallway to where a door led to the outside back alley. I smashed into the door, sending it flying open, and as soon as I stepped out into the cool air of the alley, I screamed. I flexed my fists open and closed, working them and eventually settled on squeezing them as tight as I could. I felt the sting of my fingernails in my palms and I breathed heavily. I closed my eyes, focused on my breaths, and calmed myself.

Chances are, I'll never have to see that guy ever again. He was probably just the son of some rich elf that bought his way into the Queen's cabinet. Why are the handsome men always complete jerks?

I started to feel satisfied with my face cooling down, and my breathing coming to a slow. As I turned to go back inside, I heard a deep timbre voice from behind me.

"You done?"