By the moon, I swear

CHAPTER 6

Amber clenched her eyes shut trying to push down the tears that threatened to spill out to no avail. She felt a strange hole inside her but on top of that she was happy. Happy that it all worked out for the better. Tristan was next to her in a jiffy pulling her into a tight embraced whispering sweet nothings in her ear trying to get her to calm down. Without holding back Amber pulled him closer clinging onto him tightly. Her hear full of admiration and gratitude towards him. She didn’t even care the limousine driver could see them from the mirror. She was happy extremely happy and it was because of Tristan. God knows she didn’t deserve a man like him in her life. He was just too good. She didn’t know what he saw in her but she was grateful and for the first time in a long while saw men in a whole new perspective. Well not all men but at least in her heart she had already alienated Tristan from that list.

They were just heading home from the new school where Tristan had enrolled her sisters. It wasn’t just any school it was the best there was in the country and he was catering for everything. From their school fee, to pocket money to their boarding facilities. He even went an extra mile and paid a lecturer to watch over them and help them catch up what they had missed over time.

Getting herself under control, she pulled back and her gaze was instantly held by his. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe her rosy cheeks already dimming with color. Tristan’s eyes were clouded with burning flames of raw desire that made an unspoken promise to take her to heights of need which so far she’d deemed unimaginable. They glimmered with such heat that they scorched every inch of her they covered.

‘Tristan,’ breath whooshed out of her as inch by inch they got closer their breath mingling. Ravenous to get his touch, she got drunk on his musky scent already imagining what the taste of his lips on her would be like. She bit her lip trying to tame down her nervousness. His strong arm slid around her waist pulling her body flush against his such that they were plastered against each other. His other hand went on her neck just as he ducked his head ready to cover her lips with his. Ready to stake his claim.

Neither of them had noticed when the car came to a halt or when the driver opened the door and slowly closed it not wanting to interrupt. Tristan’s lips had just feathery brushed on Amber nudging her lips to open and grant him entry when Gabriel’s voice brought them back to reality. ‘There you are guys. Took you long enough. Come in.’

The two of them couldn’t get away from each other fast enough. Gabriel took her hand helping her out of the car. She was still frizzled with emotions not to notice her surroundings. When she came to, she noticed that they were heading to Gabriel’s restaurant. ‘Why are we here?’ she asked Tristan puzzled. She expected they would head straight home. She needed to drop her head on the pillows and contemplate how her special day had turned out so far. Truthfully she wouldn’t have wished for anything more.

‘Well, I asked Tristan to bring you here so that we can all have a meal first before you head home,’ Gabriel answered, ‘ and I also wanted to talk to you about something very important. Shall we?’ he nudged her on when they got to the door. It was already at seven in the evening and darkness had taken toll of the continent. When she used to work here, at this time of the night the restaurant was usually packed but surprisingly then it was empty and pitch dark. Amber was tempted to ask why but then kept her lips sealed. Whatever he had to tell her must have been pretty important for him to clear the restaurant just for them. She couldn’t help tremble from the snaky fear that crawled on her spine suddenly rendering her cold.

Opening the door, the lights went on suddenly rendering her blind for a few seconds as shouts of happy birthday echoed everywhere. The floor was covered in balloons as ten cocktail tables had bowls with Crips and nuts. The mini bar was even open just for her.  Tristan uncorked the Champagne pouring her the first glass before pouring the liquid into dozen other glasses. Everyone took a glass while coming to hug her and wish her a happy birthday.

Amber couldn’t remember what she had done right for the sky to smile at her so widely. She had known no true love while growing up and now she felt it among the people whom until recently she hadn’t known existed. The party only composed of people she knew. Tristan, Gabriel, William, Amos and the help from Tristan’s house. Wiping the tears of joy off her face she turned towards Tristan and mouthed a ‘thank you’ the day had been complete. Her sisters were happy and so was she. It was like everything was coming to its exact angle as it should have been. Life would have been so easier if this was her daily life. But anyways she didn’t regret any step that she took in her life because they all led to this moment.

For the opening dance, Tristan drew her into his arms holding her close. Raw hunger coursed through her. A hunger full of need that needed to be tamed. Damn she wanted him so bloody much. She had never been tempted so much by a man before. No, she had never liked a man before as she liked him. Just being in his arms made her feel like she belonged. Like she was home. Her raging pulse and drenched cunt couldn’t be put under control no matter how much she tried. She looked at the only other man whom she felt safe with to regain her composure. Lucky her though, the torture was short-lived as Gabriel cut in and took the dance from Tristan. She had never been so relieved. Maybe now she could get her feelings under control. Weak – kneed, she clung onto Gabriel afraid she might fall down.

Amber dance with different people over a while before the music came to a stop as the cake was brought in. it was a huge cake with the shape of a heart and in the middle a photo of her and her sisters. Fresh tears coursed down her cheeks at the lovely gesture. Everyone sang happy birthday as she bent over to blow the candles. Closing her eyes for a second, she looked up trapping Tristan’s gaze as she blew the candles off. Everyone cheered and she went on ahead cutting it into pieces and feeding everyone from her hand. Lots of pictures were taken but the one she cherished the most was the one she had the two men in her life whom she cherished the most. Tristan on her left while Gabriel on her right.

She closed her eyes for a moment to savor the moment when he pulled her and slammed his lips on hers in front of everyone. She stiffened at the contact at first but then felt his warm lips melding over hers and she was lost. Her hands trembled as on their own accord slid into his hair pulling him closer her resolve snapping when his taste flooded her. Cheers morphed around them but she didn’t want to let go. She had wanted his sole attention focused on her for a while now. And now that she had him where she wanted him she wasn’t ready to let go. Not just yet. Lengthening the kiss just for a few more seconds, she heard someone call her name in a whisper and immediately her eyes snapped open.

Right in front of her was Gabriel whose eyes screamed with a gleam of possessiveness shouting mine- mine and at her back was Tristan whose expression was stark and jaw rigid. Betrayal written all over his eyes. Amber’s eyes pleaded with his but he just put the two flutes of glass on the table and walked out. She couldn’t even defend herself. Where would she begin? Tristan must have moved to get her a drink when she had closed her eyes and Gabriel shifted position to stand on her left. But still it was no excuse. She should have noticed but she was so consumed in calming down her cravings that she ignored all the warning signals. She was just about to follow him out, when the crowd closed in on them congratulating them unaware of what had just occurred.