The lights had been dimmed to a low, dull intensity as the music from the concealed speakers blared and echoed around the large hall. There were over thirty couple on the dance floor, some dancing in complete sync while others appeared to be slightly ill at ease in the each others' company. They must not have been together for long, mused Laila to herself as she observed the party going on in full swing. She was lounging against the bar in a highly exclusive hotel in the city while she waited for her date to show up. Her patience was running dangerously low because Vir was not only forty minutes late, but also because she had to wear a heavy, stupid mask all through the party. And not to forget, the dress that was two sizes too small for her.
It was Vir's Valentine's Day gift to her. The deep red silk dress was too tight across her chest and she feared that if she moved the wrong way, her breasts might just spill out. Also, the slit at the top of her left thigh was oddly uncomfortable, making her feel out of place in the ankle length attire with the long stretch of visible skin. And just like the dress, it was his grand idea to get passes to the ultra exclusive party that the hotel threw every year. He had always wanted to go but had never found the time to attend one of those. This year he had gotten the passes even before he had started dating her, a fact that she found amusing as well as slightly irritating. But since he had had his heart set on it, Laila couldn't possibly have refused, despite having misgivings about this masquerade party. After all, they had been going out for only a month.
She looked around the room, and then at her phone, muttering slightly under her breathe at Vir's delay. She was having trouble taking deep breathes because of the tightness of the bodice of her dress. The theme for the party was Red and Black and it was to be adhered to strictly. The patrons were to hand in their individually embossed invites at the entrance to the bulky and scary looking bouncer who would then give a red mask to the women and a black one to the men. Laila's red mask was settled uneasily on the bridge of her nose as she sipped a Bloody Mary and unsuccessfully tried to hold her dress together at her thigh.
Having turned to keep the empty glass behind her, she felt a hand land heavily on her shoulder. Alarmed, she turned back towards the party and was met with the sight of a starched white shirt peeking out from beneath a black tuxedo. The man stood very close to Laila, so close that she could smell a wonderful, musky fragrance and something deeper, darker as well. As she moved her gaze upwards, she was met with a full, smiling mouth and high cheekbones which were partially hidden by a black mask resting on the man's nose. Dark eyes looked back at her and the smile widened as the man realised the impact her was having on her. "May I have this dance, please?"
Laila slipped her hand into the stretched hand of Vir as she forgot all about the dress, the mask, or the party. It was only Vir and his presence that now held her attention. His warm hand at the small of her back, his towering height making her feel petite, and most of all, his smile making her slightly dizzy with anticipation; it all made her quicken her steps towards the dance floor.
"What took you so long?" she asked him as he started to sway her to the tune of the music. He couldn't hear her over the loud music, so he leaned forward until her lips were within touching distance of his ear. Laila repeated her question softly and moved back, waiting for his reply. However, his hand, which had now moved to her back, didn't allow her to pull back too far and he moved his mouth towards her ear and said, "Let's forget about it and just concentrate on what's happening right now, okay?"
Saying this, he turned his head slightly, and with one hand lifting her chin and the other still at her back, he gently grazed his lips with hers. Stunned by this sudden and peculiar show of affection, Laila couldn't respond to this very public display of affection and stood motionless. Taking advantage of her momentary imbalance, Vir touched the bow of her upper lip with his tongue and leaned in closer as he kissed her more fully. Laila arched against him slightly, moaning softly at the gentle onslaught of Vir's lips as she forgot all sense of time and space and only felt his lips mate with hers. And just as suddenly as it had started, Vir pulled back. Laila looked up at him with a dazed look in her eyes and had to shake her hear imperceptibly to get out of the trance that the kiss had affected.
Vir pulled Laila by the hand and walked swiftly across the crowded hall towards an exit which was partially hidden behind a heavy, damask curtain. He swept the curtain aside and then pulled her close to himself. Finding herself smashed up against his chest, Laila's breathing became laboured and her arms crept up around his shoulders. Vir kissed the edge of her lips lightly and then, without warning, took off her mask and his, and threw them away. He then pulled her flush against his length and deepened the kiss. Laila opened her mouth under this warm assault and couldn't help but sigh.
As their mouths explored one another's, their hands had a mind of their own. Laila couldn't stop pulling at his hair and pulling him closer to herself while Vir stroked her hips and bare back. Finally, taking a breather, Vir said, "Let's go upstairs. I've booked a suite for the night." Laila could only stare at him with wonder because this was not like the man that she had been dating for the past month. This is was so unlike the calm and collected Vir that she knew that she was momentarily taken aback. He was proposing that they spend the night together when they hadn't even had sex yet.
But under his lust laden gaze, Laila found herself nodding at his suggestion. Taking her by the hand, Vir led her to the elevators and as luck would have it, they didn't have to wait for long. A liveried guard stood aside to let them enter and pressed the button for the floor that Vir told him. A few seconds ticked by in complete silence, only broken by the heavy breathing and thumping hearts of the couple. Hand in hand they stood, having eyes only for each other, oblivious to the guard or to the elevator festooned with red and black balloons.