Counterpoints Page 12

  “Can I have another Mojito please?” she shouted to the barman, who nodded and then gave her a glass after a couple of minutes.

  While waiting, she looked to the side to see what was going on back at the table. The woman had stood up, had fetched a piece of paper from her bag and was now handing Christopher what Isabella guessed was a phone number. He took it and waved goodbye and then he immediately looked towards the bar, where Isabella stood.

  Taken by surprise, she smiled briefly at him and turned to look at the bar again, secretly hoping she had been too fast for him to even notice her looking.

  Her mind was blank. She didn’t want to think about anything that night. All she wanted to do was have fun and maybe dance a little.

  Yes maybe she would dance a little. You knew what he was like, why are you being so dramatic? You two just went to dinner as friends, just like you told him yourself. END OF STORY.

  There was nothing to be surprised about, Christopher was actually doing her a favor, letting her now that she had been right about them from the beginning. It couldn’t work, period. Hadn’t she gone to the dinner wanting to be his friend? Just his friend?

  “Hey, how are you?” she heard a voice over her shoulder. She jumped, not expecting anyone to come up to her.

  It was Noah, drink in hand, his short hair was styled with gel and his black shirt was a little unbuttoned at the top.

  “Good, good. You?” she shouted over the loud music.

  “Great. I read the article you wrote about the tests on the track. It’s good. It feels like a diary, like a report.”

  “That’s the point yeah, my reports of the day” she nodded. Did she just hear a compliment there?

  “It’s good. I also like the pictures, especially the ones you took at the curves, when we were driving.”

  Then the most weird thing happened. He smiled at her. He knows how to smile? Incredible.

  Isabella smiled back, happy that her hard work was being rewarded somehow. Phil, the photographer, and her had taken all the equipment on the track to take the best shots possible. She had taken several ones herself and the final result had been amazing. Isabella had caught the moment Noah had turned at the curve, and you could see his hands on the wheel and his helmet reflected the sunlight. The car had tilted a little, the tires a few millimeters off the track.

  She had posted that picture as soon as she had wired the camera to her laptop. The rest were Phil’s photos.

  “You know…” he began, resting his back on the bar. A shiver ran down Isabella’s spine, she suddenly felt cold.

  Maybe it was all that ice in the cocktail, but she didn’t like the edge in Noah’s voice as he spoke just then. “I was at the hotel restaurant, too.”

  It was a good thing she hadn’t been sipping her cocktail while he had said that, otherwise knowing herself, she would have chocked.

  She managed to control her expression, also thanks to the poor lighting in the room and said:

  “Oh really? When? Because I went there for an early dinner”

  Noah smiled and didn’t say anything. Maybe he would have said something more but Hillary arrived, actually more like leaped in Isabella’s direction. She pulled herself up the bar with her elbows and asked the cute barman for two bottles of champagne.

  “Put it on the tab, please!!!” she shouted again.

  Then she turned to Isabella, who had nearly –and nervously- almost finished her second mojito and pulled her by the hand, apologizing to Noah.

  “Let’s go dance!!!” her eyes were wide open with excitement.

  Dance, yes, Isabella thought. That would help take her mind off things. All she needed now was to have anything but complicated relations in her life.

  Hillary seemed uncomplicated enough, just as dancing in the club was.

  “Let’s go downstairs though, I hate to dance in the VIP. Let’s go on the real dance floor” And with that they passed in front of Christopher, who was now speaking to Simon and two girls, went down the two steps and started dancing their way through the crowd.

  Isabella’s felt lightheaded. She pushed her bangs out of her face a few times as she let Hillary lead her in the middle of the room.

  As she danced, she had a feeling her top was moving around a lot and all night she kept putting it back up again, but it didn’t matter. What truly mattered was that she had a huge smile stamped on her face. Isabella didn’t remember laughing and moving her body like that in ages.

  It had actually been ages. She hadn’t been in a club since she had met Salvo.

  Ironically they had met in a club by the beach, went dancing a few times when they first started seeing each other as friends and then, when they got together, it turned out that Salvo was jealous of the other guys dancing around her.

  So she hadn’t been in a club for three years. The thought of him casted a shadow on her face then, like when a cloud covers the sun. The smile was gone.

  It wasn’t that she missed him as a boyfriend, she missed him as a friend and couldn’t help but think that things could have ended on better terms between them. If only he hadn’t resented her so much for taking the job.

  Hillary took her hand and got closer, their bodies were swaying to the music. As the lights in the room went from dim to a little brighter, Isabella looked up and saw a set of eyes watching over her.

  Christopher couldn’t stop looking at her. He watched her hips and her hair sway to the rhythm and wanted to go down himself and dance with her.

  Of course that was impossible.

  Isabella had made it clear to him during the car ride to the club, that she didn’t want anyone to think something was up between them, when obviously nothing was going on. But it was, he thought. He felt it and she had felt it, too.

  Seeing guys around her, talking and trying to dance with her, made Christopher feel uncomfortable, even though she was kindly telling people off. She seemed to be enjoying her girl time with Hillary and didn’t want any interruptions.

  Moments later, Christopher and the rest of the guys –with the exception of John, who was making out with a girl on the couch, and Noah, who was drinking the night away with two brunettes- went down to the dance floor and started dancing near a group of girls.

  In the crowd, Christopher could feel bodies brushing against his, but his eyes were still on Isabella.

  After an hour or so, when the music changed, Hillary got closer to her and told her she was thirsty. Isabella nodded, she needed something to drink too.

  “I’ll meet you upstairs okay? Pour me a glass of champagne. I’m going to the bathroom”

  Chapter 10

  Going to the bathroom might have been the hardest part of the night. First of all it was hard to even get off the dance floor. Once she had managed that -after a cute tanned Spanish guy took her hand and made her twirl- she stumbled in her heels when she missed two stairs that led to a narrow corridor with a sign that indicated a toilette.

  Just as she was rounding the corner that would take her to the bathroom, she felt a hand take hers and another one on her hip. Isabella turned around, terrified, her movements still a little sloppy from the alcohol, until she saw a familiar set of penetrating eyes. Christopher’s.

  “Are you okay?” he said searching her face. She smiled and tilted her head back, resting her head on the wall for a moment.

  Isabella didn’t answer. She was so relieved it was him.

  “Are you okay?” he shouted over the music, a little worried this time.

  She opened her eyes and straightened herself.

  “Of course, why wouldn’t I?” she asked, doing her best to sound cool.

  “I thought I’d have the chance to dance with you” he moved her bangs from her eyes and then touched her cheek.

  He ignored her question completely. His hand felt so warm on her. Her face was on fire. It was starting to feel very hot in that small corridor, too hot.

  “You already danced with me tonight, remember?” she said, as a matter o
f fact.

  “I want more” he whispered getting closer.

  They looked into each other’s eyes, without saying a word until Isabella found the courage to speak.

  “What is it exactly that you want, Christopher?” she whispered back, never looking away from him.

  Isabella wanted to know, she wanted to cut to the chase. It was better that way, to know exactly what he expected from her. Sex? What else?

  Christopher’s placed a hand on her hip and another in her hair as Isabella breathed hard. He smiled to the side and said:

  “I want you”

  They were just inches away from one another, but Christopher didn’t move any closer. He kept looking at her, waiting for something, Isabella wasn’t sure what.

  All she knew was that she could feel his breathing, his heart beating fast and Isabella could feel the excitement she always felt when Christopher was near her.

  “Kiss me” she murmured, her voice had been so low, that for an instant she thought he hadn’t heard her, but then Christopher brushed his lips against hers.

  Slowly the kiss deepened, as his hand reached her back and then all the way up to her neck.

  Isabella tilted her head back and welcomed him, as his body got closer to hers.

  The kiss was cautious, but hot and passionate ever the same. Christopher stopped to search her eyes only to start kissing her again an instant later, seeing pleasure written all over her face.

  “You are so beautiful” he said, his lips still on hers, stopping to kiss her only to speak the words. He moaned against her lips, making Isabella squeak with pleasure as his body pushed her gently against the wall.

  Her hands were all over the place- in his hair, then on his back and on his chest. She could feel his fit body under her hands and her mind was going wild.

  Christopher’s touch was so passionate, she never thought she would be the kind of girl to kiss like that in public, but the moment was so perfect she couldn’t care less of who went by. Had anyone gone by? She couldn’t tell.

  He backed away a little and rested his forehead on hers, like he was thinking it through, trying to reason with himself.

  Isabella bit her lip, desperate to taste the sweetness of his mouth again. She had never been kissed like that before, never. What was she doing? What the hell are you doing?

  “If I don’t stop kissing you, we’ll end up in jail tonight for public indecency” he smiled to the side.

  Christopher touched her hair again. Isabella’s lips parted, like she wanted to tell him something and she arched her back a little, to rest her head on the wall behind her. What was it that she wanted? She didn’t know.

  “And you are drunk. We should stop” he said, while he touched Isabella’s parted lips. She looked at him intensely.

  “I’m not drunk. I am just a little tipsy. It’s so hot in here” suddenly Isabella felt the urge to escape the room. They were standing in that narrow corridor and the music was too loud, she felt her head explode.

  When she put her hands over her face, Christopher touched her shoulder and said:

  “This way” he took her hand and they were back in the club, the music even louder in her ears, but this time with Christopher leading her through the crowd, she felt like she was floating in the room.

  He grabbed their coats at the cloakroom and pushed a side door open.

  The cold wind hit her face like a slap. Isabella buttoned her coat over her chest and breathed.

  In and out, in and out. Her head began to feel better almost instantly, the throbbing was still there though. It was going to be one of those days tomorrow. Hung over on a plane, fantastic!

  Luckily, her flight left in the afternoon.

  “Better?” Christopher asked after a while, rubbing his hands on her shoulders, to keep her from freezing. She nodded and smiled at him.

  They looked at each other then, for what seemed like an innumerous amount of time, until Christopher took her face into his hands and started stroking her cheeks.

  He didn’t care if someone saw them, she looked so sweet and sexy then, her hair was coming out of her ponytail and it was loose on her shoulders. Her lips were ruby red from the heat, and from that distance he could smell her scent.

  A shiver ran down her spine as he held her tight, a sweet, sweet shiver of pleasure. It felt so comforting to be in his arms, to feel his touch and melt under his stare. And another one bites the dust, she thought. Another woman falls for Christopher Taylor. She pushed the thought away instantly, blocking her mind from ruining everything.

  She touched his hand, the one that was stroking her cheek and tilted her head to the side. Isabella was feeling much better, so much better now.

  “Do you want to eat something?” he asked looking for an answer in her eyes.

  She shook her head and leaned on him a little. He smoothly placed a hand around her shoulders and embraced her, he let Isabella slide in his arms and rest her head on his chest.

  They stood in the cold, uncaring, feeling nothing but their warm bodies pressed against each other, making fun of drunken, happy people coming out of the club and laughing for what seemed hours.

  When Isabella felt better, her hangover had started to wear off sipping water that he had bought for her, they decided to head back inside, to avoid problems with the others. Both wishing they could stand there longer.

  Isabella opened her eyes with caution, the same way you touch a hot boiling pan on a stove. The light shining through the bedroom window was murdering her.

  She stumbled up and closed the curtain. Better, so much better.

  The second she placed her foot down she felt a jab in her skull and the room started spinning. Jesus! She sat back on the bed and then went down on her pillow.

  Isabella shut her eyes closed and took a few deep breaths before trying to sit up again, slowly this time and with more care.

  When her head stopped spinning, she scanned the room frowning. Her shoes were on the floor, her bag and coat had fallen off the chair. The only things that were in place were her suitcases, which she had packed before dinner and were still open for the last few things she had left out. It reminded her that she would be going home for a few days, after a week of travelling.

  Her head started aching again, followed by a pain in her stomach. Surely it was all about the alcohol, but she couldn’t help but wonder if it was also because she didn’t look forward in going back home and bump into situations she wasn’t sure how to handle. Salvo and Angela, to be more precise.

  Her eyes went to the mirror and she saw her reflection: her hair was down, no sign of her hairband. She hadn’t removed her makeup and overall she looked the same way as she smelled. Disgusting.

  With the little strength she could manage, she struggled up and walked to the bathroom, but just as she was entering the room, her eyes caught something unfamiliar on the table in front of the wall mirror. It was a note.

  She picked it up and rubbed her left eye, smudging her eye shadow that now resembled a painting of modern art. It was from Christopher.

  Her heart was racing, as she read the words he had left for her.

  “You are even sexier when you sleep”

  She froze into place. Think fast girl, do you recall getting home last night? She thought about it hard and yes she did. Drinks were still going when they went back –separately- to the table in the VIP area. They had all danced together until maybe four am and then shared a cab to the hotel.

  She remembered still feeling a little tipsy when she was in the car and Hillary. Oh Hillary was totally wasted. Luckily John, who Isabela discovered had been her friend for years, said would help her to her room.

  Then nothing else, nothing more about the car journey. Nothing about getting inside the room. She covered her face in shame. She didn’t want to know the stupid things she had said to Christopher, nor how awful she must have looked.

  She looked back at the note. Then again he did write “you are even sexier when you sleep”. W
hich doesn’t mean that you are beautiful when your drunk!

  She buried her face in her hands again, feeling as tiny as an ant. I wish I was!

  Isabella had to see him and make amends. She had a feeling that the things she might have said or did would haunt her for many, many months to come.

  A burning feeling in her stomach reminded her of what else had happened last night.

  The kiss. No, the kisses. How Christopher had kissed her, like she was the most beautiful, desirable, sexiest women he had ever set eyes on.

  How come nobody had ever given her those feelings before?

  That sense of yearning and complete abandon at the same time. Isabella touched her lips, like she was searching for traces of him, just to make sure she hadn’t imagined it. He had bitten her lip gently and she had let out a moan, letting him know just how much it turned her on.

  She checked the time. Twelve o’clock.

  While she reached for the shower switch in the bathroom , she decided she would go and look for him before her flight left in the afternoon.

  Isabella walked to the table and sat right in front of him, keeping her eyes on Christopher as much as possible, pushing away the shame. Well, at least she was trying hard to. Christopher was sitting in the restaurant alone, enjoying a glass of what looked like orange juice.

  He looked at her surprised and amused, but before he could speak she said:

  “I’m so sorry for last night. I can’t believe I got drunk and you had to help me. I mean, you were trying to have fun with your friends and colleagues and girls were trying to get a hold of you… I screwed up, I’m sorry.”

  “Isabella…” he began with that deadly smile of his.

  “No” she held out a hand. The waitress brought them menus then and Isabella waited for her to leave before continuing. “I owe you. I am not the kind of person that needs to be babysat. Usually”

  “Yesterday was great” Christopher smiled at her reassuringly.

  Isabella looked gorgeous as always. That morning she was wearing a baby blue silk blouse with stars on it, a pair of skinny blue jeans and brown boots.