223 Deep breaths

Jia Li's senses started screaming danger and she moved slightly ahead, creating some space between the bodies. Loathed to let her go, he didn't resist though.

The lead vocalist started to croon One & Only by Adele

You've been on my mind

I grow fonder every day

Lose myself in time

Just thinking of your face

God only knows why it's taken me

So long to let my doubts go

You're the only one that I want

I don't know why I'm scared

I've been here before

Every feeling, every word

I've imagined it all

You'll never know if you never try

To forget your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only

I promise I'm worthy

To hold in your arms

So come on and give me the chance

To prove I am the one who can walk that mile

Until the end starts

Will I ever know how it feels to hold you close

And have you tell me

Whichever road I choose, you'll go?

I know it ain't easy giving up your heart

Nobody's perfect

(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart)

Trust me I've learned it

As the people around, soaked the song's words in, Tang turned her body in the circle of his arms, to face him. He tipped her chin up. In that slightly dark corner, hidden behind the pillar, their eyes met and no words were needed, none were spoken. Slowly but surely, he kept lowering his head till the time there was no space left between her lips and his.

Initially he was content to just touch his lips to hers, reacquainting himself with their shape and texture. But then the breaths started to mingle and heat up the air around the two of them. Before he knew it, his lips had started to pull hers in, sucking the air out of them. It caused a whimper to rise at the back of her throat, as if dissatisfied with the treatment being meted out to her mouth.

She darted out her tongue to flick his lips as a punishment. But his mouth was really quick. He wasn't going to let the opportunity go. Immediately, he coaxed her tongue inside his mouth and entangled it with its mate. His fingers had crept inside her tightly braided hair and now he pulled at them, almost painfully. The exquisite column of her neck was exposed by this gesture of his.

She protested by trying to move her now swollen mouth away from his lips but his hand kept her head pinned against the pillar. His other hand had snaked its way into the crook of her enticing waist. He was crushing her body, grinding into her, not even leaving a millimetre worth of space between them.

Eventually, he had to release her lips for both of them to draw some breaths in their lungs. Dimly, at the back of his head, he realised that the song had changed and a more upbeat tune had started to play. But what was that thing poking him incessantly, annoyingly?

"Tang… Xie Tang, don't tell me that you have fallen asleep in the middle of a song, that too, standing on your feet!!!" Jia Li exclaimed in disbelief.

She was trying to nudge him hard with her elbow. Tang came back to his senses. Much to his consternation, he realised that it had been a dream, a hot one, but just a dream. He immediately moved away from her, lest she realised that his nether regions were standing erect in attention, thanks to his err, wild thoughts.

"Maybe you are fatigued after a long flight," she said, not unkindly.

Embarrassed and still a little disoriented, he replied, "uh, maybe. I am not sure."

"Let's go back then. You should have told me that you were tired. Always trying to play a hero," she chided and started pulling at his arm.

"No, I am fine now. I want to stay back and enjoy the band a bit more," he protested.

Jia Li looked at him in confusion. He was clearly uncomfortable but he wouldn't admit it.

"We'll come here another time. I am also tired and have a really important day at work tomorrow. So, can we call it a night?" she coaxed him.

Upon hearing that, he became alert and immediately agreed. She told him that her house was a five minute walk from the place. So she would speak with him the next evening, post work. He didn't argue nor did he try and convince her to let him drop her home. Jia Li was a little surprised at his behaviour. Usually, he would have not agreed to any such statements from her. He must really be tired tonight, she mused.