Chapter 2 Like A Moth To The Flame

Tortured bliss is what I felt as she ran circles through my mind last night as I sought the comfort of my bed. Never has one woman consumed my dreams in total ecstasy. I could feel her delicate fingers running down my sculpted chest as she laid spread over my body. In nothing but red lace, she filled the empty space that is now only meant for her. Even though my hands had the desire, I left her untouched. I want to take my time with her; I want to feel her presence and let her linger until she begs.

Somehow I think that it is me that is going to do the begging. I will count the seconds as I patiently wait to explore her body and soul. I want her to not only be with me; I want us to become as one. She shall be the one that will be Hunter King's undoing.

So with what can only be described as endless hours, I have been counting the seconds as they crawled in anticipation, I find myself waiting for her. I have never felt so much nervousness creep up my spine. My heart will simply fall into an abyss if she refuses me. But even if she does, I will not give up until I have her in my arms. She has become my now, my present; she is the driving force that will determine what I do next.

And next is me that is scanning the floor from one brunette to the other. There is no sight of her, not even a glimpse. Will disappointment be the feeling that shall define my evening? I do not even wish to have any of these other women to look in my direction.

Then as I rise from my seat, it is when I see her. She is between the crowd swaying her body as the music takes her away to a place where there is nothing but the pleasure teasing your senses. It does not seem like she has any intention to come to me even after I pleaded like a hungry man.

So I find myself moving into the crowd. I sneak up from behind and wrap my arms around her waist. In an instant, she spins on her heels and faces me.

"Oh, look, it is Mr. King. Now to what do I owe this displeasure?"

"I came to help you find your way."

"My way? I guess you are referring to me sitting with you in between all of that," she says as she points to the group of women that surrounded me only but a moment ago.

"They mean nothing to me; they are just a solution to a problem. A problem which I do not hold for any of them."

"Well," she cocks her head with a sneaky smile. "You can go surround yourself with them and find a solution."

I grab hold of her waist once again and pull her deep against the tightness of my body. And there it is, that scent that she carries so well. I take a lock of her hair and twirl it around my finger, yet another scent to pleasure all my senses.

I nip at my bottom lip and slowly whisper, "Does your entire body smell so intoxicating?"

"Well, Mr. King, that is something that you will never know."

I love every single rejection that she throws in my path; it only fuels my determination. A determination that gently nudges her chin between my fingers. And if all at once, she stops breathing and the crowd disappears, it is her and me alone.

Slowly with each breath, with each inch of a second, I pull her deep cherry lips closer to mine. She splays her hand against my chest, intending to push me away, but she lets it rest against my pounding heart. As she studies my eyes, I reflect back into hers; there are so many emotions swirling around in them.

Then, I claim her lips in a gentle touch, nothing but my lips resting on hers. Just before I pull away, I nibble at her bottom lip. I feel as her body trembles. I have achieved what I have intended.

"Now, will you come to sit with me?"

She takes a few hesitating moments before she catches her breath, "As I said before, you are not my type."

"Oh, princess, you are; you just don't know it."

"I am not your princess."

"At least give me your name."

She smiles, and the sexiest dimples play at the corner of her mouth. "My name does not deserve to spill from your mouth. I don't know where it has been."

"I know where I would like it to roam."

"The only thing roaming is my body as I walk away from you."

Just then, she steps back and leaves my body cold. I reach out to pull her close; I want to feel the raging fire between us. She is about to make an elegant exit. "Will you be here tomorrow night?"

"Are you going to throw yourself at me again?"

"Princess, you will know if I am throwing myself at you, and this is not it."

"Well, Mr. King, I have absolutely no desire to have yourself thrown at me. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go scrub myself; just being in your company makes me feel dirty."

And then she is gone.

With a disappointed but rather strangely satisfied heart, I make my way back upstairs. There waiting for me is Mason, my second in command. By the stupid smile on his face, I know that he has watched every moment of my encounter.

"Now, take that stupid smirk off your face, or I will gladly do it."

He bursts into a rumble of laughter, "It seems that you have a new obsession. Who is she?"

"That, my dear friend, I do not know. But all I do know is that I am in love."

"Now I will be damned, Hunter King has a heart."

He hands me a whiskey, and I take a seat next to him. It only takes half a minute, and they are flocking. With much irritation, I blonde makes her way to get comfortable on my lap. Not having to think twice, I gently push her to the side. But just as I try to rid myself of her, I see my beauty down in the crowd again. Our eyes lock, she shakes her head. And with that, she is gone again.

I rush after her in absolute haste; once again, she makes her way down the alley. I catch up to her in only a few giant leaps and gently lay my hand on her shoulder. "Please stop running away from me."

"What? You want me to run into your arms. Well, just a moment ago, they were rather busy."

"It is not what you think."

"Then do explain to me, how is it satisfying to have a different woman every night locked into your arms?"

"It is not. It is lonely and fills a gap for only but a few minutes."

"But is that not who Hunter King is. Any woman that finds herself in your presence is bound to have her heartbroken."

"Please," I reach out my arm, trying to pull her back into that moment that we shared on the dance floor. "There is something about you; there is something that draws me, like a moth to a flame. I stand a better chance to get broken."

"You are so full of yourself. Do you for one minute think I believe those sweet words that come from your mouth. You live for danger; you live to conquer. Well, you are not climbing this mountain."

"Then do answer this, why have you not pushed me away. Every time I have come to you, you are just as drawn to this danger that I present."

"Maybe I too like playing games. See, my heart has been scorned far too many times. Men like you are the reason why a woman like me do not want commitment."

Then, for the oddest reason, I feel a sting, a suffocating grip on my heart. It feels as if there is no air flowing to my lungs. Is this what it feels like to get rejected, to be pushed away? Is this what it feels like getting hurt?

Feeling somewhat defeated, I bid her a farewell. I know that only for now, only for this moment, I will back away. Come tomorrow night, I will try again, and if I do not succeed, I shall keep on trying. She has stirred an emotion that feels exhilarating, it is like adrenaline that speeds through my veins. Yes, I am a moth to a flame, a moth that is going to get burned and, by all means, burn me over and over again.

With a last glance, she disappears off into the darkness of the night. As I turn to go out the alley, I hear her call after me. "It is Raven."