Page 78 of Until You Came Along

“No, you may not,” boomed “his” voice, silencing even the music.

We both turned to find Hermes standing next to me, looking at James with his characteristic seriousness and “unfriendly” face.

“Excuse me?” James asked, looking at him with surprise.

“I don't have to excuse you. My woman made it clear she doesn't want to dance.”

His woman? That sounded very possessive. I stood up from the couch and positioned myself next to him, looking at him without hiding my surprise. James was watching us, trying to understand the situation.

“I'll leave you then. Nice meeting you, Delfina,” he said. I nodded and he got up and left.

“Why did you speak to him like that? He was just inviting me to dance.”

“And finding out all about your life, besides devouring you with his eyes,” he stated, while looking at me without abandoning his seriousness.

“Hermes, what are you doing here?” I asked, giving up, as from his comment it was obvious he had heard the entire conversation and had been watching us. “We agreed that I would let you know when I was leaving.”

“You weren't answering my messages or calls, I was worried.”

I looked at him and did what I felt in that moment. I took his face in my hands and kissed him sweetly. He was surprised by my reaction.

“I'm sorry, you're right. My battery died when I was sending you a message.”

He sat down in the spot where I had been sitting minutes before and pulled me onto his lap. Then he buried his face in my neck and hugged me tightly.

“I was really very worried,” he repeated, and at that moment I noticed something I hadn't seen in him before—he seemed terrified by the thought that something might happen to me.

“I should have let you know from Serafina's phone. I didn't think you would worry so much. I'm really sorry.”

He pulled away slowly and looked into my eyes.

“I worry about everything related to your safety.”

“Why?” I asked, wanting to know more about what he felt for me.

“I don't want anything to happen to you.”

“Why?” I insisted, caressing his face delicately and gently pressing my lips to his again.

“Because you're important to me,” he answered, looking into my eyes.

And I couldn't resist anymore and lowered to his lips to claim his mouth as mine. I kissed him with all the love and passion that invaded me in that moment. I kissed him to make clear what I felt for him. I kissed him to delight in those sensual lips and that playful tongue that made me delirious. When we broke the kiss to breathe, we were both panting and looking into each other's eyes with the distinctive gleam of desire.

“Let's get out of here or I won't be responsible for my actions,” he asserted.

“I need to let Serafina know. Besides, I promised I'd take her home.”

“Can't she go by herself?”

“She can, but she's my friend and I promised to take her,” I stated, standing up to go where she was.

“I'll go with you.”

“Hermes, I'm just going to the dance floor and I'll be right back.”

“If you take too long, I'm coming after you.”

I turned and started walking. I could understand that he had been worried before, but this was too much. I spotted Seri right away; she was still dancing with Pedro.