The Gifted

Dom

There's only five minutes left on the clock.

But I don't care as my eyes watch Nikki's blue dress disappear around a corner.

Everything has been a blur the moment I saw Nikki walk down those stairs. I've seen so many beautiful girls before, but none are like her. She's put her hair up to where her small pretty curls are only a few inches under her shoulders. She carries this strength and grace that makes her shine brighter than the blue glitter on her dress.

Now, my feet take me away from Mia. I give her a smile and lie to her that I'm going to get a drink. I walk past Sam and Kat. If I weren't so eager to find Nikki, I'd say they're finally gonna kiss. I walk past my parents and Nikki's mother. Surprisingly, I presented myself to her politely and with respect. I said sorry for the last time we met and told her how great Nikki is...as a friend.

But I don't care as I pass them and look through the hallways. I take off my suit jacket and my tie and throw them on a wooden table on the side of a hallway.

I find Nikki there.

She looks at a few paintings on the wall with her bare arms crossed on her chest. She doesn't look at me until she hears my footsteps. For some reason it's dim in here, but it's okay. I can still see that pretty nose and those shining eyes when she smiles at me.

She turns back to the painting and says, "You look lost."

I roll up my sleeves of my black buttoned shirt and shove my hand in the pockets of my suit pants. "Mm. No. I don't think I am. Was the sappiness too boring for you?"

Nikki scoffs and gives me a side look. "Tell me about it. I was never a very good dancer anyways."

"That's too bad," I say now standing next to her. "I'm an excellent dancer." I look up at the painting she's observing.

But Nikki looks away from the painting to give me a surprised look. "I don't know how a hot head like you can carry so much ego."

"You know you like it," I say with a smirk. My eyes still on the painting.

Nikki stays silent and all she does is click her tongue. "Can't deny it, but it's too bad you never showed me those so called 'excellent' dance moves at the Presidential Ball."

"We were on a mission," I say. "I was too concentrated on blending in and keeping my punches from all those rich brats."

Nikki stays silent once again and I know she's remembering that night. Despite our conversation and how we got to know each other, our muscles were tensed the whole time. Fear and sadness reflected in our eyes every time we exchanged smiles. Sometimes those smiles were fake as we nodded at important people and pretended to have enjoyed that party.

But the sound of Mia's excited call for ten seconds left reminds me that tonight is a different story....

"There's ten seconds left until a new year and a new beginning to this rusty life." Nikki looks at me this time with her arms still on her chest. There's something new in her blue eyes. Want. Desire. We walk towards another table by the wall and the paintings as she says, "Our lives might change forever in this new year. What are you gonna do in the first minute of the new year?"

The loud voice of the five second count echoes in the hallway from the living room. I see Nikki's blue eyes shine with...hope as my feet come closer to her. She doesn't step away. Without thinking twice, I say, "Kiss you."

The loud cheering once the last second is announced bounces off the walls and in our ears as Nikki looks at me. But it's enough for us to move towards each other at the same time and let our lips meet.

It's a tender kiss at first, but it turns more and more hungry after each passing second. I nearly bump into the table and she guides me to the wall. Her hands dance along my neck and my face as she falls into my kiss. My hands find her legs as they dance along her curves.

It's incredible. I have never felt this fire with someone. It's not like the fire that comes out of my veins full of rage. It's a cold and soothing fire that makes my muscles relax.

I've never felt complete at just a single kiss... 

I can feel a smile start at her lips as we stop for breath. We pant as if we've been running for years. Only to find out that we have been running to each other.

"You're so beautiful," I whisper to her as my hand slowly goes up her hip. But the sound of footsteps makes us jump and Nikki quickly steps away from me as we recognize Jordyn's voice.

She quickly fixes her hair and pulls down the little bit of dress I raised up to feel her soft skin. She straightens her back as I stand next to her; looking up at the painting of a king and a queen. Just the way we started off.

Jordyn comes in with a wide smile when he finds his sister. "Nikki! There you are! Mom was asking for you!" He comes and gives her a tight hug. She also returns the hug with that smile that makes her cheeks puff up in a blush. I smile at the sight and give Jordyn a pat on the back as he gives Nikki a kiss on her head.

"Happy New Year, big brother," she tenderly says. When they let go, Jordyn returns my smile and walks away, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder for once.

Nikki gives me a quick hug that makes my heart light. Her touch once again making the fire within me fade away, and my muscles finally relax as she lets go and gives me small smile. "Happy New Year, Dom."

And with that she catches up with her brother. She puts her hand in Jordyn's arm and just before they turn the corner, she turns to give me a smirk and they disappear.

I'm left alone. I always am. I always have a crowd of girls around me but I'm still alone.

Yet, as my lips still have the burning feeling of her lips, I let a smile start on my face.

No matter what happens to us, I know that her lips are the only ones I want to kiss from now on. Her skin is the only one I want to feel.

Nikki is the only one I want to hold on to...