Chapter 20: Chapter 20

- Ex

Deila's pov

The ground suddenly became unsteady. Dance with him? After his hands on me had caused me havoc, still was, there was no way I was going to dance with me.

I was going to give James an answer when Lari interrupted. "Uhm, Dei? Be polite and introduce us to this handsome gentleman in a greek god body here." She gave a teasing look that I was sure would have followed with a wink if Eva hadn't been giving her a behave-yourself' glare.

"Oh, forgive my manners," I mumbled and rolled my eyes inwardly. "Not that I've any." It was out of my mouth before I could stop it, hopefully, none of them geared.

I gestured towards James. "James? meet Eva and Lari, my best friends. Babes meet James my-"

"Her ex," James said cutting me off.

The manner, the diction... everything about the way he answered left me stunned, not just at what he'd said but also at his interruption. It was at the tip of my tongue to ask, "What the fuck," but I held back.

Why in the hell had he intruded on my introduction? I was going to introduce him as my brother's best friend, which he was. What was the need of introducing himself as my ex?

Even when we were dating we agreed to not go loud about it, and here he was declaring he was my ex when it wasn't needed. Not that I wouldn't have chipped it in, but not in his presence. Besides, Eva and Lari saw a pic of him and knew who he was already.

I gave a look that said I wasn't cool with his interruption and looked away when I saw regret written all over his face.

Well good, it was my introduction, he shouldn't butt in, I thought.

"No," Lari drawled feigning an awestruck look. "You're the infamous one then." She smiled knowingly. And for the umpteenth time, I wished I wished I could vanish into thin air.

"Ex? Deila? Your ex?" Sia asked surprised, palming her mouth with both her hands. Trust Sia to exaggerate the whole surprise ish.

James muttered an "excuse me" and then he was gone, leaving me to face the wrath of questions from the girls....alone. As if on cue, they immediately started bashing me with teases and questions, especially Sia. I just stood there waiting for their chattering to end, even though it seemed it was never going to.

I heard someone clear their throat, looking to see Dawn. I thought I saw him wince when he saw the situation I was in, but I wasn't sure.

"Wow, guys. What's this? Kindly stop bombarding my favorite sis with questions," he told them then took my hand, leading me outside the hall far away from the questioning circle.

Phew! Dawn to the rescue! My subconscious did a victory fist show.

I felt relieved. The wince had been there. Who would have thought my tormentor would be my savior?

"You okay?" Dawn asked once we were outside.

"I don't know, Dawn. The way James introduced himself wasn't even called for," I rushed out.

"I wouldn't blame him though," he said dryly and shrugged.

I was going to tell him how James had introduced himself, but with his reaction, I knew it wasn't needed. He probably was an earshot away from us the whole time because I didn't see James go to him, plus he was there just in time to save me from the questioning circle.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, curious to know what the excuse for his best friend was this time.

" I don't know what you are bothered about, Dei. It's bygones between you two. Why're you concerned about people learning history?"

''Because..." I trailed not knowing what to say. I took a deep breath. "There you said it, it's history and it's not important, Dawn."

"Oh?" I heard a voice say from behind. I didn't need to look to know who it James.

"Not important huh? So that's it? I was never important? What we had wasn't important? You are ashamed you share history with me? Is that it?" All his questions had a bitter hysteric amusement lacing then. I cringed on hearing him

Turning to face him, I ransacked my brain for what to say. "James. What are you doing out here?" I asked as it was the only thing I could come up with.

"I didn't know I needed your permission to come out here," he spitted, crossing his arms in front of him... a very sarcastic gesture.

I look away from him... confused? Afraid of what I'd say? Afraid of a scene? I didn't even know what to tell him or why he was acting the way he was.

"Aren't you going to answer my questions?" I heard footsteps from behind and knew he was coming closer.

My entire body stiffened. Don't come closer.

"I'll leave you two alone now," Dawn imputed and immediately did.

I rolled my eyes inwardly. There was no need for you to leave.

"Well?" he asked again, this time I felt him closer. Too close.

I didn't know what to say to him. I didn't know if I should be sincere enough to tell him how important what we had was to me, and that it still was. I hated feeling unsure. I hated being in the spot. Before I could come up with something to say, he turned me around so I was facing him.

"Did I ever mean anything to you?" He implored holding my eyes.

Once again I was lost in his dark gaze.

I swallowed hard. "Yes," a voice I didn't recognize as mine whispered.

We stayed like that for what felt like forever. Our eyes glued and our breaths fanning our faces. He closed his eyes, letting out a ragged breath, the roughness of it making me clench my thighs as unnoticeable as I could.

"God, Dei. The things you do to me," he grunted.

He lowered his head making me suck in a deep breath as our noses brushed. My breath fell in heavily. My eyes shuttered close. My lips parted, waiting for the feel of his.

Slowly, he placed his lips on mine, his hands going around me. Deepening the kiss, he pressed his hard front to my softer one. The intensity of it slammed me when his tongue darted out, trailing my bottom, and then my upper lips. I couldn't stop my lips from falling open. With any other person or to any other person the act might've been primal, but with James and to me, the rawness of it was intense and the jolt of electricity to my center that was causing my dam to break loose was evidence.

I kissed him back with a passion that matched his, our tongues dancing together. His tongue in my mouth was deliciously warm. I placed my hands at the back of his head, wishing him closer which was impossible as our front were already plastered together.

I moaned shamelessly when he sucked my tongue into his mouth, it felt so damn good. I started grinding my front on him, gasping when I felt his hardness. Knowing I had the same effect on him as he had on me led me on to continue grinding my front to his.

The disappointment that washed through me when he broke the kiss could've brought me out of the trance I was in, but I was taking into another by his groaning. He fanned my neck with his hot breath before his lips came down. I tilted my head sideways, giving him more access. He licked, nibbled when he bit down a bit harder, my legs shook. I held unto him with what little strength I'd.

He continued his assault on my neck and then went up to nibble on my earlobe. I stopped breathing then, it felt so good. At this point my moans were uncontrollable.

He reclaimed my lips, this time with a force I could have mistaken for possessiveness. It was hungry, passionate. I broke away this time, needing to catch my breath.

He started trailing kisses on my cheeks to my ears and down to my neck.

"Dei." His voice was hoarse.

I hummed breathlessly.

"Do I still?" He asked nibbling my ears.

"Still what?" I didn't know how I could form a word, but I did two.

Basking in cloud-9, enjoying the sensation only him could bring me, I didn't need him talking or asking questions because I feared it would break the spell.

When he stopped his assault, I was forced to open my eyes, instantly meeting his dilated orbs.

Looking me deep in the eyes, he asked, "Do I still mean anything to you?"

I was dumbfounded, lost in his gaze. I only heard his question, I didn't comprehend it.

I was jerked back into reality from the sound of a person clearing their throat, the startle causing me to almost fall on my butt. I steadied myself, moving away from him.

"We're sorry, Dei." I heard Lari say from behind me, amusement lacing her tone.

"Just wanted to tell you the driver arrived with the limo to convey those who are ready to go home." It came from Eva this time.

It was very obvious I wasn't sitting eagerly waiting for a vehicle to convey me home, but I didn't point that out, my embarrassed side surpassed my sarcastic side.

Deciding to grab the opportunity was best because if I stayed in the same space with James a moment longer, I might go crazy with want. No, I didn't trust myself around him.

"Alright, thanks. I'll be coming along." I cleared my throat realizing my voice was hoarse.

I turned on my heels and was going to Eva and Lari when a hand shot out to tug me back into a wall-like chest. I gasped, not because of what he did, but because he did it with Eva and Lari watching. And there was the shock on how aroused I was from James being all possessive and touchy with people around. Before now I never fancied the idea of public display of affection, but the idea started to appeal to me.

Was there any affection to be displayed? We weren't together. We kissed fine. It wasn't happening again.

Yeah, you said that the last time. There goes my subconscious mocking me on how I couldn't keep my word when it came to the wall chested man whose arms I was in.

He tsked. "Always running away after huh?"

He growled. "Not this time."

"I- I'm just very tired."

He tilted my chin so I was looking up at him. "It didn't seem so earlier." He smirked knowingly. Cocky bastard.

I succeeded in detaching myself from him after some failed trials, he was too strong for me, but instead of basking in that, I wanted out. I wasn't going to give him reasons to feed on his ego, I had done that enough.

Arching my brows, I shrugged. "It is so now. I'm tired, and want to rest." I gestured to Eva and Lari. "They're here, waiting for me."

"Okay. Okay." He held up his hands. "But," he paused. I waited impatiently for what he was going to say. "Only if you'll agree to my condition."

"What's that?"

He closed his hand on my wrist and held my eyes, once again trapping me in his dark gaze.

"Dinner, launch, or breakfast with me. You pick the date, time, and place. Good?'' He pouted as his brow quirked in question. It made him so cute when he pouted and dangerously handsome when he quirks his brows, doing both made him look a bit of the two.

I bit my lips, humming as I looked down at my feet, something I did when I was unsure of what to say or do. I nodded yes. "Alright dinner," I muttered for emphasis in case my nod wasn't enough.

When I didn't get a response from him, I looked up to see him staring down at my lips.

Shit. If he kept looking at my lips that way, I'll kiss him, I thought then cleared my throat to get his attention.

"Hey! We're still here. Waiting," I heard Lari's impatient voice. I ignored her.

It was a screeching noise to my ears, maybe because it rose an octave or because I was simply angry at myself for been rooted on the spot even though I had said I wanted to go minutes ago. And no, not because James held me back, if I wanted to I would've started on my feet, but I didn't want to.

"While you were dreamily looking at my lips," I started with a chuckle. "I gave you an answer already."

He grinned and looked away shyly. Of course, he would.

"What was your answer?"

"I said dinner will be fine. I'll get back to you on the date and place," I told him.

His face beamed with a smile. He turned to leave but stopped again. He turned around so he was facing me again. "After what we just shared? We sure have a lot to clear up."

Just when I thought he was going to finally leave, he tugged me to him, seizing my lips in an entrapping kiss. He broke away, resting his forehead on mine as he grazed my lips with his thumb then he grunted. With that, he strode away.

"Oh damn! That was hot!" Lari exclaimed and Eva smirked.

"Shut up," I told her dismissively, walking ahead of them.

"Don't you go all 'shut up' on us now? You didn't chicken out this time uh?" Eva asked, nudging me as she walked up to me.

I had told them about the few heated encounters we had had since I came. Or should I say they had forced it out of me?

"I went all 'shut up' on you. You were the one talking, Lari." I pointed at her.

"I'm talking now. You sure have a lot to fill us in on," Eva said falling in step with me and Lari.

"Oh no. Not you too," I groaned.

They both came to a stop in front of me, arching their brows up, and no doubt waiting for me to give away something. I rolled my eyes, walking around them, and almost laughed when I heard Lari's defeated sigh.

When the Limo came in sight, I saw Mr. Tony waiting beside it. I ran to him as his hands were already open for a hug. I'd become so fond of him and missed him so dearly for the three weeks he had gone on a vacation. I kept it at the back to my mind to talk to my friends about calling him a driver, as no one in my house called him that. He was family to us. I'd rather they call him by his name.

"You took your time," My parents said in unison, the moment I entered the car.

"Hmm?" I asked, unsure of what they meant.

''Dei, just so you know, we'll do everything to see you crazily happy," my mum said.

I frowned not understanding where they were coming from. What was up with these two now? Or had they forgotten it wasn't I who had just gotten married?

Okay, maybe the absence of their eldest daughter, Mari, was affecting them already?

Or I could just ask. "Mum what d-"

"I think we should rest our heads now. It's been a long day," Dawn said, interrupting me.

I shoot him a glare, but let it go anyways.

I didn't stop wondering what had gotten into my parents. Where did doing anything to make me crazily happy come in?