Chapter 7 Among Wines

• "As always, very quiet... at least when you're talking to other people, of course. You have words for everyone except for me. Or at least very few words for me. Just the bare minimum... you could say, right?" he says, I don't know if he's talking to me or to himself. What's wrong with him?
• He's without his jacket, his shirt is untucked, and the top buttons are unbuttoned. I have no way of leaving without being so obvious. Maybe... maybe I should confront this, talk, listen to what he has to say once and for all. Maybe get out of this and close the subject as soon as possible. Handle the situation so that he stops insisting. It's not the option I like the most, I keep thinking, maybe he'll get bored of chasing me, although it doesn't seem to be the case.
• "What are you doing here, Brandon?" he puts his hands in his pockets and keeps approaching me, staying a few steps away and starts looking around the place.
• "I... wanted to congratulate you. The client is very happy with what you've shown. You have a lot of potential, Ady. You've always been brilliant, it's something I've thought my whole life, since I've known you. You've always been a very special girl, from your games, your drawings... it seemed like you've always been very creative," he says sincerely, looking into my eyes.
• I observe his eyes, that color that has always enchanted me, and suddenly I fondly remember the little Brandon, the one who always smiled with me, the one who helped me paint, the one who didn't laugh at my drawings, but ran to his mom to show them and would say things like, "Look at what Ady drew. Isn't it beautiful?"
• "Thank you," I simply say. Maybe if I stay quiet, I'll accept the hint. He looks at me for a while and it seems like we enter into a staring competition.
• "What's wrong, Ady? Why do you always distance yourself from me? You don't accept my help, my invitation to have a drink... you avoid me. I don't understand... I really don't understand. It seems like you don't want to see me," he says, taking a few steps towards me. And here we go again with this topic.
• Suddenly, I'm aware of how close he is and everything about him, the warmth of his body, his perfume, it's fabulous. I observe his face, his attractive and harmonious features, yes, he has become more attractive, it seems like a joke. I also know that we are here alone and I take a couple of steps back, but I'm against a wall. Damn it! He doesn't take long to approach me again. I should have run away when I had the chance.
• "Why are you distancing yourself?" he whispers, and I see his lips close, a gentle smell of wine makes me realize that he must have had more than a couple of drinks, he must not be in his right mind.
• I must be blushing like a tomato, my breathing quickens and I start to sweat when he raises his hand and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, taking the opportunity to caress my cheekbone, my cheek, and my chin with his fingers. It's a gentle, delicate caress, as if he can't believe he's touching me, and neither can I! But the reality is that it's not just a casual caress, it's filled with... a magnetism that I can't describe.
• It feels incredibly amazing, his hands are soft and the touch of his fingertips does things to my body that I dare not even think about. I remain silent and he just watches me, his gaze moving from my eyes to my cheeks, my neck, my lips. He places a hand beside me on the wall and I feel him leaning a little closer to me. I've never been this close to him before and I don't know what to say to make him back away. His other hand moves down towards my neck and seems to want to go to my neckline, but ends up staying on my shoulder. Feeling him touch me is an experience I never thought I would have, especially not today, not like this.
• "Ady... Ady... Are you going to tell me what's going on?" he whispers again, this man is seductive even without trying. Someone help me.
• But before I can say anything, he moves closer and leans in, placing his lips on mine. He captures my lower lip between his and I feel like I can't breathe. Brandon is kissing me. Brandon Clark is kissing me. He is, despite my regrets, the only guy I've ever really liked in my life, the one I dreamed of kissing since I was a silly, young girl, and here we are in a restaurant storeroom, he has me against the wall and we're kissing. Well, more accurately, he's kissing me.
• I'm so surprised that I don't even dare to return the kiss, I just stand there with my eyes wide open, a mix of fear, shock, and infatuation. I spent years dreaming of a kiss like this... and it happens now? Like this? A very cruel joke. I can think of a thousand better scenarios for a first kiss with my lifelong crush.
• But even with all that... it feels... explosive. I can slightly feel his chest against mine and my heart beats wildly, I can't help it, the damn organ betrays me. His hand goes from my shoulder to my neck to hold me and prevent me from pulling away, forcing the kiss, trapping me, once again with no way out. Brandon continues with the movement of his lips, it's soft, rhythmic, and tender, gradually becoming more urgent. His nose lightly brushes against mine and I can feel strands of his hair caressing my forehead.
• His eyes are closed and he looks very focused, as if he's putting a lot of effort into this kiss. Also, the smell of alcohol, my god, he must be very, very drunk, that's it. I still don't understand why I don't react, it's as if I'm hypnotized. Maybe my brain realizes that this might be a lie. I haven't completely ruled it out yet. Although it feels... like a dream.
• Everything about Brandon sets my senses on fire, I may not react, but it's inevitable that my body is affected by him, even without me wanting it. I see his closed eyelids, concentrating, kissing me, I feel his hands on my skin, the tips of his fingers caressing me, not just touching me, but really seeking to caress me, feel my skin, be in contact with me, as if he's scratching the surface, my barriers, my disguises, my masks, and searching inside for the real Adelaida, one that hasn't emerged in years.
• He lightly plays with my hair and his large hand takes the base of my neck, delicately, with pressure, with enthusiasm, seeking to bring me closer to him, perhaps he has realized that he is the only one kissing me, I still haven't done anything. His lips take my lower lip, play with the corners of my mouth, his tongue brushes my lips in a dance as terrible as it is fantastic.
• I am scared, surprised, delighted, frightened, all at once. I want him to stop, but I also want to continue feeling his lips, his soft lips playing with mine. My skin doesn't want to separate from his hands, to stop feeling them.
• My body is another entity that is enjoying while my head is going crazy, sounding alarms as if a great and terrible virus had entered the system. At one point, he pulls away, I feel his accelerated breathing, his incredible warmth, his perfume, the taste of wine from his lips now on mine and I keep my eyes wide open. I don't think I've been this close to a man in a long time. I don't even remember what it was like. Don't ask me how long ago it was. Don't judge me.
• When I saw him, he was smiling and suddenly his face fell. He was as surprised as I was. He must have realized the mistake he made, my face must have been full of fear. He takes a step back and looks at me, cornered against the wall as I was, with my hands at my sides, not making a single move to return his caresses or his kiss, his expression is one of confusion, and there is some sadness in his eyes.
• "Ady... I... I wanted... I thought..." he says, trying to apologize, running his hands through his hair and sighing while he keeps his gaze on me, an expression of concern and regret drawn on his face. But the damage has already been done. My instinct tells me it's time to escape, I take advantage of his confusion and mutter like a child.
• "Uhh Ahhh... I think Mike and Katie must be waiting for me at the table, oh, it must be dessert time," I say and he looks at me as I leave.
• "Ady! Ady! Wait! Come back! Please come back!" I hear him call me from afar and then curse, but I'm already quickly leaving the cellar to not give him a chance to get closer to me. Even if I have to take off my shoes and run, I would do it. I ran from there as if the devil was chasing me.
• Can someone explain to me what the hell happened?
• Hello everyone!
• What do you think is happening with Brandon?
• I invite you to follow me by searching my name on F B and I G Federica Kika Navarro.
• I'll be reading your comments!
• Kika