PART OF HER FANTASIZED DREAMS

"She's mine," growled Astrel, encircling his hand around her waist before Gary could lay a hand on her.

Hearing the deep voice behind her, Vilian turned behind to meet the man's eyes that now looked at her. There was something very intimidating, the way he looked down at her with his hands encircled possessively around her, a darkness that lingered in those blue eyes of his.

Wishing not to get involved in the issues that might cost his head, Maximus bowed his head and left immediately.

Thankful that Astrel was beside her, she breathed in relief. He felt her stiff body relax in his arms. He glanced down and got a glimpse of her little frown vanishing and knew she felt safe in him, knowingly or unknowingly.

Gary chuckled and left, fisting his palms but not before giving a daring glance at Vilian. She stiffened once again.

"Man up, Gary. Keep your rivalry with the right person and just fuck off motherfucker," Gary grunted and gritted his teeth as he glanced at Vilian's brown eyes. Vilian winced at his curses while her little heart fluttered seeing Astrel all possessive. Her eyes which followed the man's departure anxiously returned to the godly sculptured man who stood behind her and had his hands wrapped around her waist so possessively causing her lips to curl up slightly and she gazed back at Gary who was out of her sight.

A little squeeze on her waist pulled her attention away from the departure of the pervert to her savior of the moment. Thankful that he had noticed it and come to her aid, she offered a smile to him, "Thank you," she whispered.

The words of gratitude came out barely but were enough to reach his ears. And for some reason, those simple words of gratitude, had him breathing in her words that sounded sweet in his ears, catching him by surprise.

He twirled her in his arms and turned her to face him, "What was that again?" he whispered back, leaning closer, a little smile pulled from the corner of his lips. He heard a surprise low squeak from her as he did so.

Vilian glanced at his gaze but soon averted. She found it hard to hold his gaze for any longer than that. A small smile formed on his lips as he pulled her closer to him, and the music out of the blue changed to a slower and gentle one in a split second that had Vilian's eyes turn in the direction where the music played. Her eyes caught the existence of the musicians for the first time in the hall, dressed ever so stylishly.

Having her in his arms, he placed his hand on her waist, and the other held her hand, pulling more closer than they already were. Vilian felt the little gap that was earlier was no more now, with the only thing that separated them being their dresses sticking onto their body.

Music continued to play, but there was no sign of him making any move. Feeling confused as to why weren't they dancing, Vilian cleared her throat and spoke, in an effort to drive away the silence that grew between them, "Ast-" As if reading her mind, he moved when there was a little beat played on the music suddenly.

"You were to say?" he questioned, looking at her.

"Thank you," the same words left breathily.

Astrel smiled at her words.

She frowned, "What?"

"Don't thank me too quickly," he let go of her waist, just so he could push her away from him only to pull her closer to him. A low gasp left her lips at the unexpected collision taking her by surprise. Compared to the dance steps she knew, he played differently. She followed his steps carefully. Fearing she might step on his shoe, her eyes trailed his steps every now, and then.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember you owe me something?"

Her eyes traveled from his shoes to his eyes at a lightning speed, "What's with it now?"

"I need your presence in my office next week," he said, continuing to look at her without blinking.

"You gotta be kidding me," she waited for him to chuckle, "Wasn't that a play to kick the woman out?" she questioned, staring into his eyes she realized he wasn't beating around the bush. Which only means...

No. No fucking way!

"You're my new model," he said simply, when he pulled her up, his breath fanning her neck.

The blue eyes looked right into her eyes, shivering her at his words. He pulled away from her neck, their face closer enough to kiss if wish to. Her brown eyes darted from one another, staring back at him with so many questions back to his smirking lips.

"This isn't right," she gritted her teeth with a glare and heard him speak,

"Then what is right, my dear?" Astrel noticed how she pursed her lips at his question, wetting her lips subtly. He pushed her away again, following the music playing in the corner, and pulled back, twirling her all the way. Her blue dress spun along with her, and she ended up back in his arms. He had her arms locked as her back fronted the front of his body.

"Listen, I owe you... that's right, but not in such a way," she glanced forward at the people who were staring at them away from the dance floor as they moved their lips, speaking of something with their eyes still on her.

"Now, that's where you're wrong, kitty," she heard him click his tongue before he whispered next to her ear as if to express his little disappointment.

He let go from his grasp, dancing with her while she moved with him, "You owe me, and I decide what you owe me," His low and thick voice vibrated all over her body. She felt his cold hands move around her waist as she turned to be caught by him once again.

Thinking for a while, "Fine," she shrugged her bare shoulders that had him glance at the slender and delicate part of her body that looked soft and smooth to his eyes. A wonder of how might it feel to bite into that skin and savor crossed his mind with a shiver, darkening his blue orbs. The very thought had his grip around her tightened as he pulled her close but yanked him out of his startling fantasy fast.

What the fuck was wrong with him, thought Astrel as he glanced back at her innocent doe-like-eyes that were set on his.

Vilian agreed helplessly, but fear crept through her at the thought of her father coming to know of it. Given that her engagement day was left to her arm's length and her getting involved in such a thing roused questions internally.

With conflicting thoughts, she questioned, "But... I don't think my fa-"

"Worry not, your father would be the first to agree to it," he said and finally let go of his hand that was on her waist when the song came to an end.

She wondered how did he know that was what she was worried about. Was she that much of an open book to read so easily? She knew she should distance herself away from him. He wasn't some ordinary person to hang out with in the first place, let alone work. But what could she do when she was destined to walk on the path that was already meant for her?

Her little strange identity was one of the reasons why she was with him. She had to find out what was going on. And there were things to get rid of, things like her engagement, things like her being her father's punchbag.

"Thank you for the dance, kitty," he thanked like a proper gentleman, and she bowed lightly. An etiquette she remembered like the back of her hand along with all the memories that had been haunting her till now and there was no doubt they would haunt her forever.

One step followed two, she saw the blue predatory eyes looking at her every move and actions as she stepped back and turned around to leave the dance floor. Walking a few steps before turning around to take a look at him, whom she had danced with last for the night. But was disappeared like a part of her fantasized dreams.

Yes.

Every moment she spent with him felt somewhat fictional. More like a book life.

Was it too soon to feel this way? Or was it wrong to feel this way toward the man who bugs her the most?