It was a world unlike any other. A world where fantasy emerged into reality, and showed those who knew nothing of this internal world what it was like to crave with all of your being. It was a path of lust and love. A hunger for the flesh, and an illusion of love for that which satisfied your hunger, even if just for an hour.
I was nineteen when I first came to know this world. I came upon it with a man by the name of Gabriel Dufoi. He held the essence of this place in the very scent of his cologne, in the suit that covered his body, and the eyes that had the power to look into your very soul, making you feel naked before him. It is the very man any woman would wish for. But one must watch out for what they wish for, because one might just get it.
I had met Gabriel at a gala. It was for the celebration of my current fiancé's birthday. Gabriel was a dear friend of his mothers. He painted her portrait once upon a time in his youth, and since then had been under her wing, entertaining her through the boredom of the life of the rich and famous. One would be mistaken if they believed that this relationship between youth and age was romantic. Their relationship was that of friendship, someone to confide in that understood them on the purest of levels. Yes, they loved one another, but only in the way that mother can love her son.
The gala was in full swing when Sebastian's mother introduced me. My fiancé was off entertaining guests, doing as he had been taught in the schools of manner and charm that his mother had no doubtedly subjected him to in his youth.
Maria had come up to me with this man upon her arm with a smile upon her face that only seemed genuine, one that I had only seen upon her lips before when speaking to the circle she had tea with. I knew from the second he laid his eyes upon me that something was different about this man. And when he took my hand to his lips in greeting, I felt as if he had stripped me bare of the gown I wore. His eyes were an intense, pale green. His pupils were smaller than most, and the flakes of emerald within the sea of pale green, contained my attention to the point where Maria excused herself, and I had not known. "Might I have the honor of twirling you about the dance floor?" His voice was dark, resonating in my ears. My heart was pounding, and I could not stop it. I tried to breathe it away, but it pounded soundly in my chest.
I nodded, and he took my hand, leading me to the floor, making me feel as if I floated upon air. He brought me into his arms, his hand upon my waist, resting low against my hip. His hand took mine, and before I could manage a thought, he had pulled me close, almost to the point of touching. He began to move, and for a moment, it seemed as if it nay mattered whether or not I moved as well. His arms held the strength to drag me along with or without my approval. "Congratulations on your engagement to Sebastian."
I nodded, "Thank you." He twirled me away from him, and when he brought me back in, I noticed the space had closed a little more between us. My eyes went up to his, and he pretended as if nothing in this situation were wrong. Sebastian's mother disapproved of me enough for me to not add to the situation by insulting her dearest friend. I made no comment on the matter. "How long have you been friends with Maria?"
"Longer than you have Sebastian." He always spoke like that, avoiding direct answers. He was a mystery and he intended to keep it that way. Perhaps that was why his dearest friend was an elderly woman who would no doubt pass away within the next twenty years. He ran no risk of having to have his secrets away from him for the rest of his life.
"Do you always dance this close to a woman and avoid answering questions?" He looked down at me with a slightly amused smile. He twirled me out, and pulled me as close as possible without our bodies touching. I had to breathe shallower to keep my breasts from making contact. I guess that was the answer to my question.
"Do you always marry men you hardly know?" I looked up at him with a stunned gaze. Maria had probably put him up to this. She did not like the idea of her son marrying a woman he had known but three months.
"That is none of your business." He twirled me about the room in silence, but he was not insulted. He smirked at me, and as we twirled past Sebastian, he glanced at him with a nod of his head.
"Actually, it is."
"And how is that?"
He leaned forward, whispering to my ear, "Because I find you appealing."
I pushed backward a bit, placing much needed space between us. "I am not interested." But my body told me otherwise.
He smiled knowingly at me, as if he could tell my heart was pounding, and want was settling between my legs. The song finished, and he twirled me out, discarding me in the middle of the floor. I felt the break harshly as if he had taken all that I had, and left me with nothing. I reached up, feeling my flustered cheeks. I looked about embarrassingly, checking to see if anyone was watching. Gabriel had moved back to Maria's side and was whispering something into her ear. She looked delighted.
I took a deep breath, regaining my composure, and moved to Sebastian. He was talking with a few of his schoolmates that I knew well from our evenings out. They still remained close friends, and we dined with them occasionally. I took his arm and smiled at them, "Excuse me boys, but you have stolen my fiancé long enough." They nodded with a smile, as I drew him away, and onto the dance floor.
Sebastian took me into his arms, and I felt the slight distance Gabriel keep from me grow wider with Sebastian. He had a ring on my finger, and that was all he needed. It was a promise, and everyone keeps their promises in Sebastian's world.
As Sebastian moved me about the floor, I felt the eyes upon my back. When he twirled me, I saw the eyes find mine. He haunted me. I pressed myself into my fiancé; I rested my head against his shoulder, and held him as if I were vulnerable. I glanced up at him, and kissed him ever-so-seductively. I had not let Sebastian have me yet. It was the key to my plan. They rushed for the ring faster if they nay had what they wanted. I was growing fond of Sebastian, but deep down I was just marrying him for his money, and his mother saw threw me. If I had not taken after her son, I could no doubtedly been perched at her side as Gabriel was.
Sebastian twirled me out onto the terrace, and walked me down to the gazebo. The moon was shinning brightly over the water. He twirled a lock of hair about my finger, and stroked my arm. "Make love to me." He begged in my ear.
I shook my head, "I want to wait till the wedding. Please darling." I looked up at him with my pleading eyes, and he submitted. I could have anything I wanted with Sebastian. He would never risk losing such a beautiful wife. A man that looked like Sebastian would never land a woman like me.
His mother was calling from the balcony, and Sebastian beckoned. "Are you coming darling?"
"It's a little crowded up there. I think I will enjoy the fresh air for a bit." I smiled up at him, and kissed him softly. "But you go on ahead."
He nodded, and ran up to his mother.
