Wynter, Ch. 17.
Chapter 17.
Wynter would have gasped if Orlando’s lips hadn’t been placed so securely on hers, blocking out any way of escape. She blinked, trying to come to terms with what was going on and why Orlando was suddenly kissing her, but as soon as his lips moved slowly over hers, Wynter lost all contact with reality. The loud cheers and the music around them was soon deafened as all her senses focused on the man casting a spell on hers with his kiss.
Orlando was slow, undemanding; gently coaxing her until she made her move and only then, did he take the kiss to the next level. Not that Wynter could have stopped him if she wanted to. It had been years since she had been kissed and in fact, she couldn’t remember a single time when she had been in the receiving end of so much care and attention.
Sighing in delight, Wynter leant against Orlando and he grunted lowly, tightening the grip on her waist, and trapping one of Wynter’s hands between their bodies. The other one travelled from its place near Orlando’s stomach upwards and to where she could feel his heartbeat, grasping the soft fabric of his shirt and throwing all caution to the wind. She offered herself to him.
This time, his groan was louder. Orlando was sure that his heart had stopped beating in reaction to her innocent offer, not sure if he was strong enough to hold back from doing all the things that had crossed his mind when he had seen her in that sexy dress. With expert, masterly movements, Orlando took everything Wynter offered him, shredding her last bits of resistance to pieces.
Wynter could barely breathe and a crazy thought crossed her mind. If her fate were to die there in Orlando’s arms, she would gladly welcome it! Her hand alternatively grasped and released his shirt in the search of some much-needed balance. Orlando, being the gentleman he was, swiftly slid both his arms around Wynter’s waist and pulled her close to him; so close, that they could clearly feel the crazy thumping of each other’s hearts.
Still, that proximity wasn’t enough for Orlando; he suddenly needed more, so much more, that he forgot the many people in the ballroom. Then, as delicately as he could, Orlando parted his lips and let his tongue slide between them. Lightly tracing Wynter’s full mouth, his tongue came to a halt on the sensitive line that divided them, gently yet insistently probing, begging for her to let him in.
Wynter didn’t know what to do. So many different feelings rampaged through her body that she moaned loudly when Orlando broke the kiss. He heard that little cry and it sent electricity up and down his spine. Pulling back just a few millimetres, Orlando nibbled Wynter’s lower lip for a second before he murmured, his voice raspy with passion.
“Open your mouth for me, love… Let me taste you.”
A wave of white hot heat burnt in Wynter’s body at his words, spreading in her blood like fire and making her tingle from head to toe. She knew she didn’t stand a chance with him… Hell, she didn’t want to either! Surrendering to him with a low, purring sound, Wynter parted her lips, offering herself to Orlando and allowing him in.
Nothing Wynter had ever heard, read, seen or even the little experience she had had, could have prepared her for what Orlando stirred then in her. Her lower tummy throbbed steadily and her breasts, tightly pressed against Orlando’s chest, felt heavier. Her legs, on the other hand, felt like jelly.
The shy, insecure touch of Wynter’s tongue was driving Orlando insane. She was completely unaware that her innocence was making it too damn hard for him to control himself. She tasted just as sweet as he had imagined, the faint hint of champagne making the kiss even more intoxicating.
Everything in Wynter was so unassumingly enticing that it took every little bit of will Orlando possessed to end the kiss, but not without placing a soft, chaste parting kiss on her mouth first.
“Wynter, I…” Orlando began to say, but his words died in his throat when he looked at the woman in his arms.
Wynter’s eyes were still closed and her lips, parted with her bated breath, were swollen and moist; a sight that made his groin suddenly stir to life. His eyes then were dragged to her heaving chest, his gaze lingering on the delectable curves there.
When Wynter opened her eyes, the sight that met her was enough to make her knees buckle. If Orlando hadn’t had such a strong grip on her, she was sure she would have collapsed. His brown eyes were hungry on her, something Wynter had never seen in a man before.
Orlando read the mix of confusion and delight in her eyes and he instinctively knew, without words, that he had to say something before she began to think that everything had been a mistake.
“I don’t regret it.” Orlando blurted out, afraid that Wynter would be angry with him. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since you first came into this room. I know I pushed you and that I’m probably the biggest bast-“
Orlando was cut off mid-sentence by the finger Wynter placed on his lips.
“I know… It’s all right.” Wynter said lowly, a light blush covering her cheeks at her revelation. “I… I wanted it too.”
At first, Orlando stared at her. The longer he did it, the redder her blush became, until she lowered her head, hiding her expression from him. There were so many things he wanted to tell her, battling for a way out…
Not knowing where to begin, Orlando pulled Wynter close for a tight hug, hiding her face in his neck. She felt so good there that Orlando kept her there for a long while, refusing to let her go; until someone called his name. Looking around, Orlando saw Liv and Roy smiling at him with knowing expressions.
“We wanted to come and do the customary stuff, but we noticed you were a bit busy, so… Happy New Year!!” Liv exclaimed happily with a broad grin.
Orlando cringed, not knowing how Wynter would react to that teasing, but he had a nice surprise when she raised her face from his shoulder and smiled reassuringly at him before turning to Liv.
“Happy New Year, guys.” Wynter said cheerfully, leaving his arms to go to Liv.
Orlando was shocked by Wynter’s behaviour. He surely missed having her in his arms, but when seeing how she interacted so comfortably with him and the others around him, he was suddenly very happy, and proud.
The rest of the night went just as smoothly. Everyone danced to old and new tunes, singing along most of the time. It had been then that Orlando had discovered that singing was one of the many things that Wynter couldn’t do. But Wynter had smiled widely when he commented on her dubious singing abilities, refraining from telling him that her father had probably kept all the talented genes for himself.
By 4 AM the party was still in full swing, but Wynter felt herself grow sleepy as time went by. She’d got up very early that morning, thanks to a highly excited Starr who had dragged her out of the bed, making Wynter even more anxious than she already had been. The preparations for the party had taken, thanks to her sister, most of the day. Now that she had been up for about twenty hours, sleep was finally gaining on her.
Sitting right beside her, Orlando was very aware of every movement Wynter made. When she tried to stifle a yawn behind her hand, he smiled widely and his hand went to hers, squeezing it softly.
“Tired?” Orlando asked, his thumb stroking her skin. Wynter nodded, unable to hide another yawn. Glancing sheepishly at him, she murmured apologetically.
“Sorry.”
Orlando smiled in amusement at her need to apologise for something as natural as yawning.
“Do you want me to take you home?” Wynter shook her head.
“Oh, no. You don’t have to leave the party for me. I’m sure I can find a taxi…” Wynter’s voice trailed off before she finished the sentence, knowing how improbable that was. Turning to Orlando, Wynter saw that, by the expression in his face, he too knew how ridiculous her idea was.
“Come on, let’s go.” Orlando said, quickly before she could find an excuse. “I’ll take you home.”
Orlando stood up. When he noticed that Wynter hadn’t imitated him, he turned around on his heels and looked down at her. She had her eyes fixed on him with an unreadable expression. He offered her his hand, but she merely stared at it.
What Orlando didn’t know, was that Wynter struggled with herself on whether she should accept his offer or not. They had already overstepped some of the boundaries a normal friendship implied, but she was still the same introverted person that had entered in the ballroom just few hours ago.
It didn’t take much for Orlando to interpret Wynt’er look as it was. Squatting down before her, he placed his hands over hers, squeezing them reassuringly.
“Please tell me I didn’t ruin everything between us, Wynter.”
Wynter’s heart ached at the pained hint in his voice. Orlando looked so worried, so authentically concerned that Wynter did something she wouldn’t have dared to do before. Disengaging one of her hands from his, she moved it to Orlando’s face, cupping his cheek tenderly in her palm.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Orlando. I’m not mad at you.” Wynter said softly, but Orlando could still hear her troubled tone above the loud music. Still, he wasn’t as surprised by her words as he was by her touch. Orlando couldn’t remember a single time when Wynter had touched him in any way, and his heart suddenly sang in his chest. She was finally opening up, and the fact that she had chosen him to help her in that process flattered him immensely.
Orlando smiled brightly at Wynter and then, surprising her, took her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm lovingly. He didn’t give her enough time to react, and gently pulled at her hand, helping her to her feet. He handed her the red purse and after saying their goodbyes to the other guests, Orlando led her out of the ballroom. Only when Wynter sat in his car did he voice the thoughts that had come to his mind as they exited the hotel.
“Can I ask you something, Wynter?” Orlando said and Wynter nodded, snuggling in her black coat. Taking a deep breath, Orlando added. “Is someone waiting for you at home?”
Wynter remained silent for a few seconds. Her initial plan had been staying at home watching old movies with Starr, but once Liv had convinced her to attend to the party, the plans had been changed drastically. The last Wynter had seen of her apartment the previous day made her think that, at this hour of the night, it was certainly cold, not to mention lonely and certainly, not what she’d like to see after such a special night.
“No, I’m alone.”
Orlando studied Wynter intently. A side of him was about to blurt out a proposal, but his rational side kept trying to stop him. How was he supposed to take Wynter back to her apartment and leave her alone there when Orlando himself was alone too? It didn’t make any sense, and anyway, what harm could it do taking her home with him? It was a simple invitation after all! Breathing deeply, he finally gathered the courage to make the next move.
“Why don’t you come home with me? I’m alone as well. We can stop at your apartment and pick anything you might need.”
Orlando gulped for air. He had made his offer in one long, single breath and now his heart hammered against his ribs, both due to the slight lack of breath and the apprehension of her answer. Wynter could easily turn around and leave without a word and he would be the only one to blame.
Wynter saw the mixed emotions in his chocolate eyes as she considered his offer. Things were moving too fast, but a small voice within her told her that she better take the opportunities as they came. She was still a bit apprehensive but what the hell! She had already taken a big step out of her shell when she accepted going to the party. Was she brave enough to take the next step, one that might bring her closer to Orlando?
“I’ll understand if you don’t-“ Orlando began to say, but found himself cut off mid-sentence by Wynter’s determined words.
“I’ll go with you.”