There was something so familiar. This was not the first time she had looked into the intensity of those ice grey eyes, Asia was certain of it. Who could forget such a hauntingly unique color, the distinct clarity, the way they seemed to bore through her and create a rush that could only be compared to actual physical intimacy. The fact that he was a stranger and on the opposite end of the room only left Asia in a confused state of uneasiness. His eyes almost seemed to glow in the low lighting of the celebration and even though she wanted to, she could not look away.
This was a celebration of passion, music and dance. The music was loud, not blaring, but had enough force that it could be felt in the chest. A steady erotic, rhythmic play of the percussion was a back drop to the give and take of the music. To say that it was romantic was an understatement. It dripped sex. The dancers, a male and a female, glided so sensually in and out of each other's grasp. The stopping and the starting was so well coordinated that their lack of movement was as important as movement. Pauses doubled the effect of swiftness. It was the Rumba in a way Asia had never seen it performed before. The female dancer kicked up her leg and then raised it even higher before gracefully lowering it-torturously slow. The man eased his hand up her thigh, demanding that your eye follow in expectation. Then, he quickly shifted their bodies in one flowing movement. It blocked her vision for just a moment and when she looked again, her mystery man was gone.
She felt relieved by visual absence of his presence. Still, she could feel the effect of his eyes. It was as if they were an extension of his body, touching her where ever they lay. Her eyes darted around the room. She saw nothing, not one sign of him. He was not one likely to be looked over, even in this crowd of the beautiful and exquisitely adorned. Asia gulped down her flute of champagne and grabbed another as the waiter went by. Why did she feel so nervous? Something was getting ready to happen. Her body felt it. Each part of her grew more alert and oh so sensitive. Even her pussy wept in anticipation. She had abandoned her panties earlier, slipping them in the waste basket of the lady's room.
"Are you okay?"
Asia turned, slightly startled, remembering for the first time since she saw those eyes that she was with someone else. She bit her lip. The urge to say "no" was at the tip of her tongue.
"I'm fine," she sighed nervously. "I'm just a little warm."
"It's the dancers," Paul said, looking over the rim of his glass and winking mischievously. She looked so erotic biting that full lip. He couldn't wait to partake. To him, tonight, she looked so exotic. There was barely a trace of the studious academic. "They're sexy. Look at the other couple over there."
Asia followed his eyes to another dancing couple. Another crowd had separated and the couple almost slithered in unison to the music. The dancers were amazing and just seemed to emerge from nowhere at various intervals. Who ever had thought of this concept was a genius. Asia gulped down the rest of her champagne. She could not continue to watch them. With her mystery man on her mind, it was too much.
As she quickly looked back up at her date, he mouthed the word for emphasis with a little too much drama for her taste. "Sexy."
For the first time since they had started dating, Asia felt irritated. She rolled her eyes at him, which was something she rarely did. As a woman of color, it always seemed like a stereotype she did not want to contribute to. And, it was a juvenile way of communicating. It was effective though. She could see an apology wash over him as did the realization of how stupid he looked.
Paul tried to recover, drinking once more from his glass. However, he could not help letting his eyes roam her body. Asia had chosen a sleeveless black dress with a simple form fitting cut that fell across her toned thighs. What made the dress so remarkably her was the delicate black lace. What seemed to show through the lace was her luscious caramel colored skin. To watch her move was to wonder if you could possibly see a hint of something forbidden. It was an illusion though. Well, at least some of it was.
"You are wearing the hell out of that dress," her date whispered in her ear.
Tonight was going to be the night that Paul and Asia took the relationship a bit further. For him this was foreplay. They were ready. Paul's intentions were obvious. However, Asia's sudden shift only led to another cautionary look and the roll of her eyes.
She slightly turned away in an attempt to fight her sudden, unexplainable aversion to Paul. And, there he was, her man with those eyes. He was still watching her, but this time he watched as he moved calmly through the crowd. Asia felt like prey, under the careful watch of this... Man? His expression wore a warning. Her date, still whispering something in her ear had placed his hand on the small of her back and gently pulled her closer to him. At the same moment the music seemed to shoot like a current through her. It was deafening. She heard the word "no", as if a low rumbling voice had spoken into her other ear. Her body responded immediately, without thought, shocking Paul as she pulled away.
Was it her imagination? Had her mystery man slightly raised an eyebrow and nodded his head in approval? Had he actually said "good girl"? Had she actually heard it? Was that his voice echoing in her mind?
Asia placed her own hand at her throat and gasped. Paul reached out for her but she stepped back.
"Asia?" He was concerned now, not out of a hurt sense of pride but actual fear. She looked as if she was going to be ill.
"Asia."
The voice said her name in such a way that Asia actually closed her eyes to feel it resonate inside her. When she opened them, the look on Paul's face filled her with guilt.
"Asia, darling, are you okay?"
"I need..." Her mind raced. "I think I'm going to go to the ladies' room."
"Come on, I'll take you," Paul said, clasping her hand with his.
There was a growl.
"No," Asia snapped, pulling back her hand. She forced a sweet smile. "I'll be okay. You wait here."
She turned around and made her way through the crowd quickly. It seemed to take forever to get to the huge, opened double doors that led to the house gardens. Asia immediately removed her shoes as she approached the end of the intricately laid stone patio. The coolness of damp grass beneath her feat seemed to help as she began to run. She could even feel a breeze swoop down from the distant tree line, carrying such an intoxicating scent. It was his scent, she knew this. It tickled her flushed skin.
There was a huge, ancient stone fountain in the distance. The sound of the water drew her. She sat down on its edge to catch her breath.