Chapter 22 - The dance floor on fire.

As the evening progressed, they moved to the aquarium. The blue feeling of the deeps along with the soothing sound of some of the sea creatures seemed to have aroused a surging feeling of wanting to accept, confess, and hold each other in their embrace.

They enjoyed their company to the fullest and posted their photos online. As they were returning to the resort, they looked forward to an evening, to open their hearts to each other.

It is rightly said, that in his own sweet time God makes all things beautiful. Man can only spoil it by trying to rush things before time.

They returned to the comfort of the suite, and had a nice fresh bath, and got some rest before the evening dinner.

Liqin was the first to wake up. For a while he deeply lay there, caressing her hair, and face lovingly with his hands thinking about the way he should lay his feelings, bare before her.

The sun was about to set, and the bearer came with the coffee and snacks. Liqin thanked him, poured out a cup of coffee, and sat in the open balcony of his suite enjoying the sunset, and the warmth of his coffee.

As the sunset brushed upon the vast horizon, its rich hues of deep red blended with fiery orange and gold, it set his heart ablaze, and his resolve to cherish, nurture, and build a citadel with Jia as his princess became an unquenchable inferno.

He walked up to her, sat down beside her, and kept his hand on her head, and tried to wake her up, and said, "Can the sleeping beauty wake up to this prince, without a peck?"

She opened her eyes smiled, and said, "What's the time?"

He looked down lovingly and replied, "Get dressed; they have a wonderful, classic, dance floor down there. We can have a candle-lit dinner tonight."

She got up with her twinkling bright eyes speaking in acknowledgment. Sometimes silence speaks a million words.

He poured a coffee for her, and they sat together and enjoyed the sepia tones paving a way for the midnight blue sky, laid with a million stars, as the moon beamed its silver milky overtones, across the darkness of the night.

She changed into an aqua satin-laced knee-length dress, with an illusion neckline of lace, pearls, and Swarovski. It matched with her long coffee brown hair.

She looked as if she had dressed to set the floor ablaze, with her presence tonight. He felt insecure at the thought of prying eyes.

Finding his eyes set on her, she asked, "Does it look pretty?"

He turned his gaze away and answered, "Do I need to answer? I am worried about competition down there for me."

She was waiting for such a conversation to start, "What kind of competition?"

He eluded her prying deep eyes, and said, "I don't want to lose my precious dance partner for the evening. Let me match myself to you."

Liqin dressed resplendently in a black tuxedo with a white shirt, black studs, a black bowtie with a pocket square, and a white rose boutonniere on the left.

His coffee-brown hair descending on his forehead paved the way to his twinkling deep black eyes, and his pinkish fair demeanor gloried in the dimpled smile. These together always made him stand out in the crowd.

She smiled as Liqin, with a twinkle in his eyes, and his billion-dollar smile, held out his arms for her to hold, and said, "Let's set ablaze the floor tonight."

She put her hand around his arms, accepting his smiling invitation, and they cheerfully made their way to the dance hall.

At the entrance, they were greeted by the two bodyguards, that Li Bao arranged for them.

They entered the hall along with them. Once in the hall, the two guards positioned themselves at a place, which was distant, yet in full view of their movements.

The dance hall-cum-diner was on the twenty-second floor. It also housed parties at times and had an elevated stage which was used by the musicians, and other artisans.

As they entered Liqin said, "The ambiance is very lovely. They have a huge round dance floor surrounded by tables for the guests. The lighting is perfect for a romantic evening."

Jia shook her head and replied, "Yes. Their walls with huge French-style windows all around, provide for a stunning night view of the bay, from above."

As they were guided to a corner table by the window Jia said, "The view from above, combined with the dim candlelight ambiance is stunning, like a fairyland."

Liqin smiled and replied, "Yes, and you are the fairy princess."

Jia took the opportunity, and asked, "Then where's my prince?"

Liqin smiled and pointed his thumb to himself and said, "Here, I am your prince tonight."

As they spoke the music, that was playing stopped, and a fresh one played. Jia looked around the place as was her habit, to observe all the people who were a part of this evening.

A group of youngsters caught her attention. They seemed to belong to elite homes, on a partying spree. Due to her career in jewelry designing, she always had an eye for detailing. As she pried them, one of the girls looked like an outspoken, adventurous, and extrovert lady, who seemed to be the crowd puller. There was a gentleman by her side who seemed mature, and of calm composure.

The chain of her thoughts was broken when Liqin interrupted, and asked, "What would you like to have?"

She looked at the cuisine available and placed the order. As they were awaiting their order, they enjoyed the aesthetic beauty of the salsa, that took the floor by the fire.

They saw the girl from the earlier group, take to the dance floor with the gentleman, who sat next to her, and they clearly were a winning couple, or maybe it seemed so.

As dinner was served, they sipped a cup of wine, with the delicacies, and then sat there enjoying the night view.

Liqin held out his hands and interrupted, and asked, "Can I have the honor of the dance?"

Jia reached for his hands with a bow and replied, "Sure."

As they took to the floor, they played the song, "Love like ours."

With every step, that they took their eyes drank into each other's, with a deep yearning for love and companionship.

With every twirl and swing, the salsa seemed to intertwine their souls and hearts forever.

With every embrace, they felt a passion arousing for each other, that could not be left unquenched anymore.

To everyone who saw, they were clearly, and deeply in love.

She was more graceful as a deer, with every step, that they took. Their world of dance had none, apart from them tonight.

Unknown to them, the group of youngsters were pointing to them, and discussing them, as the gentleman walked out to answer a call.

As he held her in his arms, at the close of the dance, they for a brief second totally forgot about the dance and sunk into the deep eyes of each other. Their sense of their surroundings was awakened by the huge applause of the crowd.

As they were about the trace their way back to the table, the young girl walked up to Liqin, and requested, "May I have the honor of a dance please."

Liqin looked at Jia, who gestured, and he complied with her request.

As Jia was about to move back, the gentleman from the same group came back from his earlier conversation over the phone and requested a dance. She accepted the request, and they moved to the dance floor.

As they danced, with every change of direction, and swing Jia was all attentive to Liqin on the floor, and the gentleman was all attentive to the young girl.

"It seems, that this dance, is a formality for both of us, to be close to our partner's dancing with each other's."

The gentleman smiled and replied, "I am responsible for her tonight. My name is Zhao Qiang. May I have the honor to be introduced to you, Miss."

"My name is Huang Jia."

"Is that your boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"You both look lovely together."

As Jia was looking at them, her prying eyes found the girl gesturing to the group with whom she had come.

After a moment, it seemed like the girl had hurt her legs, and as a result, they retired to a nearby table.

Jia was all attentive to Liqin enquiring the girl about her well-being. As he was inquiring, a waiter walked up to them for a drink.

The girl picked up a glass for herself and offered another to Liqin.

She gestured to Liqin that she was fine, and picked up the glass, and had her drink. Liqin followed suit.

Jia had all the while being attentive, and as he finished his drink, suddenly his composure seemed to have been affected.

This caught the attention of Jia, and she gestured to Jack, one of the bodyguards who also had been attentive all the while.

The girl asked Liqin, "Are you okay?"

To which he responded looking at her in a daze, "Jia, I am feeling drowsy, I need to go back to the suite."

He had started to become restless, and said, "Jia, I need to confess something to you."

"I don't think that the time is appropriate. You have mistaken me for someone."

He then got up and walked out of the dance hall, and the girl followed suit.

She walked up to him, and said, "Let me help you to your suite."

Liqin had started to lose his balance, and said, "No I need to confess something to you first, Jia."

She tried holding his hands and replied, "You surely can. Let us first get you to your suite."