chapter 8

When Vincent spoke, he lowered his voice. "I would sooner die than break your heart, Blue — on that you have my word," and though his voice was rough and careful, his hands remained still and purposeful by her shoulders. She couldn't move, even if she somehow mustered the desire to.

"That's a big promise for a girl you barely know," and so Blue paused and inhaled deeply. Just as she did, the skin between her collar bones dipped and deepened with the hasty gasp for air. Her chest burned and her stomach expanded. It was the most satisfying and calming deep breath she had ever taken — and yet she still felt such a great amount of unrest.

The man smiled just as he took her shoulders in his hands, right where he traced the length of her collarbones with his thumbs. It was a strange thing to do. Suddenly, Blue was on the brink of being convinced they were in love — not complete strangers. "Considering you still have my cüm inside of you, I'd say we know each other quite well,"

And though Blue smiled sweetly and Vincent was sure that that was all of a response he was given, it took little more than a long moment for her to gather few words in a quiet tone... "Tonight at nine-thirty — you, me, a coffee shop... what do you think?"

"A coffee place open at ten? Do you mean to tell me there's an actual place that serves coffee with whiskey?" And so Blue laughed loudly, just as she did, she tilted her head and shifted her eyes to his neck and back to his in a solid sweep before her lips finally fell to a small and distant smile. In that moment, reminded of their shared brew, he realised just how well Blue could hold her liquor. It intrigued him — it offered a small glimpse to a side he had previously brushed away... the side that asked to be fücked on a balcony.

Her voice was raspy and bubbled in the back of her mouth as though she had to clear her throat... but she didn't bow to the urge. She ignored it and instead continued with a rough; "It serves regular coffee — now is that a yes or a no?"

"I'll be parked across the road at quarter past nine," When he spoke, his voice was much the same. Perhaps it was only the effect of the situation — of the fact they were seemingly negotiating a first date as though it was nothing. The girl nodded and offered a final smile before she mustered the courage and the will to break away from the man and to instead turn towards the door. As she did, she made an effort to steer clear of the painting in an effort not to draw attention to it. "Kiss me, Blue,"

Though she didn't drop her hand from the lock of the door, she took his eyes in a challenging stare. "Do I get a please?"

Only when Vincent paced towards the girl with considerably brisk strides and took her face in his hands did she release the lock. Without pause, Vincent took her face between his hands and roughly took her mouth in his without a word. As Blue’s hands instinctively braced the man’s shoulders, his own began to wander and tug at her clothes in a way that made her heart sink. Whether it was due to the way it plastered her flush against him or the fact it almost felt like he was undressing her, she lost all resolve to fight her desire.

And when she shoved the girl against the door, she made no effort to stifle a loud groan — but his lips had left hers, and he had built her up so much she was far too aroused to go back to breakfast like nothing was wrong. “You sure as hell don’t,” Before she could think any better of it, she slipped her fingers beneath the waistband of his pants and tugged her against himself, a hand guiding his mouth to hers and the other slipping deeper and deeper inside of his trousers.

Just as she felt she was about to gain the upper hand, fingertips grazing a certain bulge standing at attention, begging to be taken care of, he took her wrist in his hand, removed her from his slacks and met her kiss with just as much force and eagerness. In just a second, his mouth dropping from hers and trailing wet, hot kisses down the side of her neck, Blue surrendered completely to Vincent. She did little to object as his hands guided hers to his shoulders. Before she could brace herself, he slipped a hand through her hair, held her eyes to his, slipped the other beneath the hem of her sundress and began to stroke her through her underwear. “For what it’s worth, I can’t stop thinking about you,” he hummed the words lowly, watching as her mouth hung open eagerly and her eyebrows furrowed. Before he could think any better of it, he released her and took a long, casual step back, straightening his shirt and tucking what of it had come out back under his belt.

Tiredly, she leant all her weight against the wall, eyes cast to the ceiling, a disbelieving frown plastered where his mouth ought to be. “You’re kidding me,” She mumbled the words, raking a shaking hand through her hair. Reluctantly, she met the man’s eyes, a small frown cemented above the narrow, blue-brown eyes.

“You started it when you put your hands in my pants — I was just returning the favour,” With a small, ever-growing smirk and soft eyes, he approached once more. Gingerly, he leant forwards and placed a rough, slow kiss that instantly melted any frown on Blue’s waiting lips. “I’ll see you at quarter-past nine,”

With a wry smile, Blue crossed her arms as the man drew back. “Have fun waiting, I’m supposed to be having dinner with Richard so I might not get out until quarter to,”

It was a smile Vincent then mirrored; somehow, his voice deepened even further, just as his smile deepened in agreement and it seemed the green of his eyes deepened, also. Though he looked mean and twisted, Blue had never felt more comfortable in someone’s company in her life. "If you're not out by quarter past nine and in my car, your dad's breakfast tomorrow will be a severance package,"

Blue's heart skipped a beat and her smile quirked — "Threatening my father's job now, are you?"

"Yes, yes I am," And in all honesty, she had completely overlooked that detail until then.