Heated Hearts

Kissed & Almost Kissed~

||Aster's POV||

I stared at his back furiously, as his striding stopped abruptly, and he halted in his tracks. I was still fuming inside but for some reason the moment his feet stopped moving nervousness engulfed me with its heavy rug.

Within seconds, he turned around and strode back towards me until we stood so close that his breath fanned on my face...

Subconsciously I tried to move away, my eyes not leaving his ones even for a split second. But before I could move even an inch I was captured between two arms that he placed on each side of my face, captivating me between him and the shelf.

The strands at the back of my neck rose immediately, as my heart drummed frantically because of his sudden closeness.

I breathed in a good amount of air, trying to ease my hammering heart only to get welcomed by his intoxicating cologne. He had a faint musky scent mixed with the scent of wet soil and a bit of uniqueness added to it, what I assumed was his own scent.

God... He smelled so nice!... Heavenly!

“What were you saying Ms. Clingy little girl? If I'm the stalker, then why is your heart drumming like it's going to jump out of that big mouth any moment?” Rayven whispered, fanning his breath against my ear.

Blood rushed throughout my body and ended up where his breath touched, my skin tingling under his breath as he spoke.

Oh, no! Concentrate, Aster! Hold your ground! Don't you dare fan girl him after what he just said!

“As if you can hear my heartbeat! Huh. “ I rolled my eyes at him, and folded my hands over my chest trying to create room between us. So, I don't faint because of all these shocking waves that his closeness was sending inside my body.

Rayven gave me a pointed look before his cocky took over his face, and his pupils danced playfully.

The next moment, his eyes moved to my lips and stopped there and mine did the same, as if I was mirroring him.

What the hell!

Why is he looking at me like that?

Why am I looking staring at his lips?

Then he started moving closer, his eyes fixated on my lips... slowly and slowly... the distance between us were decreasing...

I froze there as I saw his face coming more close and abruptly closed my eyes as I parted my lips a little. I was acting on impulse, and my mind didn’t have any control over my actions anymore.

Not only that, but I waited and kept waiting for the magical touch, but nothing happened.

Frowning, I opened my eyes slowly and that was when I realized I was alone among the shelves.

The frown on my face darkened as my eyes scanned around, as far as they could see, there was only empty space and rows after rows of books.

Rayven was nowhere to be found, it was as if he vanished into thin air.

But was he even here a minute ago? Or was he just a delusional being in my mind?

I couldn’t distinguish, because he moved away without even any sound. Like he came out of nowhere and then jumped into shadow, vanishing instantaneously!

Placing my right hand above the left side of my rib cage, I tried to understand the gratuitous feeling that still lingered there.

All the way back to the café, I strolled absent-mindedly on the sidewalk. At the gate, I sighed and tried to smile a few times before pushing through the door and entering.

My eyes scanned over the tables trying to find my peers. I moved towards them as I found them all.

“There she is! We thought you got lost into the library,” Louis stood up, giving me space to slide beside him.

I tried to laugh off his statement as a flash of Rayven's face shoot across my mind.

“So, did you guys order?” I asked once settled down.

“Yeah, we did and also Louis ordered on your behalf. He didn’t want you to feel left out when you come and place order late.” Chandler told me with a wicked smile plastered on her face.

“Really? What did you order?” My head moved towards his direction as I asked him.

Scratching the back of his neck, Louis nervously replied, “Uh... I wasn’t sure what you liked, but I thought of ordering my favorites for you! “

“They didn’t tell you what I like?” I asked confused.

“Nope, we wanted to see what he thought would be up to your liking. Compatibility test, you know.” Jenna spoke, chewing her lips.

“Uh… I see. So what did you order?” I asked Louis, looking at him excitedly, curious.

“Umm... Blueberry cheesecake pastries and strawberry shake.” He replied looking at me, as if to figure me out through my response.

Blueberry cheesecake was undoubtedly my favorite, while I hated strawberry milkshake, but I couldn’t say that to him.

I saw three of my friends trying to suppress their laughter as the mention of Strawberry Shake slipped through his mouth.

“That's great, blueberry cheesecake is actually my favorite. Thanks, Louis.” I tried to sound jolly as I replied.

He sighed, relived perhaps.

We chatted happily until our food arrived then dug in. I was trying to sip the strawberry shake, struggling to gulp it down.

“Aster, would you like to share my drink? I feel like having strawberry shake today.” Eva asked, offering me her vanilla milkshake and I immediately took it, giving her a thankful smile.

I saw Louis staring at us, but he didn’t say anything.

Before leaving the café, I ordered some of their fluffy Japanese pancakes for takeaway. I wasn’t feeling like cooking tonight, those pancakes should do it for supper.

While we were saying goodbye to each other, Louis whispered in my ears, “I'll make sure to not order Strawberry for you the next time and as a compensation....”

Before I could reply, he bowed down and pressed a quick soft kiss on my left cheek. My eyes opened wide as his soft lips grazed on my skin, and I looked at him to find him smirking.

“See you, Aster.” He said, placing a strand of my hair behind my ear before turning around and walking away.

I stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds before my eyes moved from his back towards my friends' faces, and they all smirked in unison.

“See you guys,” I muttered as I quickly turned away and started walking, trying my best to avoid the embarrassed conversation I knew they would start if I stood there.

I heard them giggle in chorus behind me as I walked a few steps. Shaking my head side to side, I strolled forward, smiling.

As I strode forward, I couldn’t help thinking about how Rayven's lips might've felt on my skin...

I didn't realize when, my feet suddenly halted at the entrance of the Library. It was on my way, but I had no intention of stopping by. When I was passing it, I stopped without even trying to do it. It was as if my body was on “Auto-pilot” mood.

Frowning, I bit my lips, I didn't know why, but I wanted to go in and check if he was there or not one more time, before heading back home.

Stupid!

My subconsciousness mocked at me as I stood there, fighting an inner battle on if I should go in or not!