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The cool night air found Kate's skin, making her shiver.
She had only arrived in England a few months ago, and, she still had some difficulty in adapting to the new climate.
In fact, that wasn't her only difficulty… She missed her parents, Anya and Mayan, constantly.
They had stayed in India, while she had come to study medicine in England.
Arriving at the rooftop of the building, relieves her, to the same extent that it afflicts her.
The silence found in there calms her down.
But, the solitude found in there troubles her.
Edwina and Thomas were making out somewhere, and, they were the only friends that she had made there.
Speaking of difficulties, one more was coming at her way, right at this moment, in the form of a handsome young man, tall and strong, with sculptured features and chestnut hair.
Anthony Bridgerton.
A true pain at Kate's behind.
Ever since they'd met, at the chess club, he hadn't stopped messing with her.
He was one of those posh boys, who weren't used to losing, and, he kept tormenting her, showing up wherever she was, bickering with her, since she is always beating him at something.
Honestly, at just looking at him, it made her feel something hot and furious awaken inside her, a feeling that was all too consuming.
She sighs, and, turns to look ahead, seeing a good extension of the Oxford campus, its lights and buildings blending into the trees, making a beautiful view.
She is a beautiful sight, and, ever since Anthony had laid eyes on Kathani Sharma, a powerful attraction had awakened within him. An attraction that had only grown, along with the understanding that she could keep up with him.
But, he never resisted a challenge, and, she presented him with a fantabulous one, and, he ended up losing his hand in the matter, he had to confess.
He'd outdone his competitiveness, and, now she thinks he is an asshole, who has no other interest than to trample her underfoot.
But, that could not be further from the truth. Every time she entered a room, he felt something warm run through his veins, and, he wanted to see her, he wanted to be close to her…. All the time.
And, every time she left, something latent inside him ached for her, and, that longing to have her before his eyes, once again, burned deep inside him.
That was what had brought him here.
When she left the party, looking so crestfallen, he had to see if she was alright.
He lifts his hands to the side of his head, as he sees her turn to look ahead, saying. “I came on a mission of peace.”
She just snorts.
He arrives beside her, eyeing her, sharing of her silence.
After a few minutes, she asks, still not looking at him. “Are you going to spend all night staring at me?”
In which he replies. “Do you intend to spend all night here?”
She lets out an irritated sigh, and, turns to leave.
He slides his hand down, through her arm, holding her wrist gently, pleading. “Kate… wait, just… wait.”
Kate feels the warmth of his hand against her skin, and, she glances at it around her wrist, before asking softly. “Why?”
“Because… Kate, I… am sorry.” He says, letting go of her arm, taking a step towards her.
At the same time that she had raised her head to look at him.
They are so close, that they are sharing the same air, their gazes locked, and, for a moment they forgot how to breathe.
Then… She blinks in dismay, looking away.
And, Anthony says. “You're as competitive as I am, certainly, you can understand my… exaltation. That doesn't mean that I…”
He hesitates… he can't go and declare himself now, when they've finally managed to go more than 5 minutes without bickering at each other.
"That you?" Kate asks, curiously.
“I see you as my equal, Kate. I know it doesn't look like it, but, I respect you, Kate. And, I want… I want… I want to be your friend.” He tells, deciding that this was, probably, the best course of action.
“Do you want to be… my friend?” Kate asks slowly, trying to read him.
He nods, eagerly.
She raises her eyebrow, still suspicious, but, tonight, she wasn't in the mood for a fight, so she lets the silence settle between them, as they see the breeze carrying the leaves from the trees.
The wind also ruffles their hairs, the difference being, that Kate's hair is so long, that it ends up flowing at Anthony’s face as well.
He helps her to tuck her hair behind her ear, as they chuckle lightly, and, their gazes lock again, and, something shifts in the air between them.
“May I ask you something?” Anthony inquires, carefully.
Kate nods, hesitantly.
“Why did you come here, to the rooftop?” He asks, letting his curiosity get the best of him.
“Besides not wanting to see Edwina and Thomas making out?” She asks, with mirth.
He laughs, nodding in agreement.
“I just… needed a moment alone.” She says, shrugging, fidgeting with her hands.
So she asks him, still not certain that she wants to tell him the truth, their truce still quite new to her. “Why did you come here… to the rooftop?”
He watches her for a moment, seeing the stars and his dreams reflected in her eyes, losing himself in the moment. He supposes that this is what makes him confess. “You… I saw you leaving the party and I was worried.”
Kate feels her cheeks heat up, and, she doesn't understand why he has flustered her. Maybe that's what makes her tell. “I missed my parents' call earlier… Now, due to the different time zone, I won't be able to talk to them until tomorrow.”
“Do you miss them a lot?” He asks, softly.
Kate hates feeling her eyes water. She turns her face, looking forward again, trying to contain everything she felt.
“I can't imagine what it feels like… We're ten at home.” He starts to say, lightly, sensing her affliction.
She turns to look at him, with wide eyes.
He goes on to say then, amused. “I rarely get a moment alone… If you want, I can lend you some of my siblings.”
She lets out a small laugh, and, he smiles at her, making her fidget with a lock of her hair, getting flustered again… Why was she reacting like this to Anthony Bridgerton?
“Do any of them dance? My Appa... my dad, every time that he saw me getting upset, would start dancing with me, no matter where we were.. It was so ridiculous and endearing, that I always ended up laughing.” She shares, smiling, starting to open up.
He makes a face of fake sadness, shaking his head. “They all dance terribly, but, some of them are still kids.. maybe they'll prove to be good dancers eventually.. Until then…”
He then offers her, his hand.
Kate feels even more flustered, she returns to fidget with her hands and says. “I did not tell… You do not need…"
“No… but, I want to….” He says, in a heartfelt manner.
His eyes were filled with a sweetness, a tenderness, that Kate couldn't resist placing her hand over his.
They had already touched before, moments previous actually, but, at this moment, something changed between them, it was as if an electric current ran through all of what they were.
Maybe it was this October night, whose full moon shinned upon them, inciting romance.
Maybe, it was just them.
She goes into his arms and they dance to their own rhythm, under the moonlight.
With her ear over his heartbeats.
They didn't know it, yet, but, they would find themselves, being lost in a world of their own, dancing together, found in each other's arms, throughout their whole lives.
Anthony couldn't believe his luck, not only had they spent the entire night without a fight, but now, she was in his arms, dancing with him.
His heart is pulsing with joy, at finally being able to have her so close to him, at being able to engulf himself in her wonderful scent of lilies.
He whispers in her ear. “I know it's not easy for you, Kate, but, you're not alone. I'm here for whatever you need, whether it's just for dancing or...”
But, he stops talking, because Kate pulls back, and, looks at him, and, what he sees in her gaze, makes his heart race.
Kate doesn't quite know how they've got into this point, not so long ago, she and Anthony didn't get along, but now, she finds herself dancing in his arms, forgetting of the whole world, of her loneliness, of herself.
Suddenly, that fire, that flared up inside her in his presence, was burning again, stronger than ever, but, it didn't fill her with anger, but rather... with passion.
That heat intensifies inside Anthony and the desire burns within him irresistibly.
In that instant, they could no longer disguise the avid want within them, and, they went for each other, at the same time.
The kiss is... indescribable, it goes beyond the meeting of their bodies, of their lips, of them enjoying each other's taste.
There's something right about the way they fit together, the way their mouths move, the way their tongues enter into a harmonious dance.
They revel in the sparks that exist between them, and, that course through their spines, making them shiver, as the heat of their entwined mouths spread, throughout their bodies.
They pull themselves closer to the other.
She entwines her hands in his hair, and, he uses his to pull her by the waist.
Their faces move in sync, as they deepen the kiss, thirsting for what they're finding on each other's lips, only stopping when they're out of breath.
Anthony laces his hands in hers, while panting, staring into her eyes, then, her lips.
Kate was in a similar state, feeling her blood racing through her veins, in a rush of adrenaline and something more, that she still does not know how to name yet.
This between them was pure madness.
But, she finds herself wanting more than just being his friend, than just one kiss, and, something in his eyes tells her that he does wants more also.
But, he finds himself wanting so much more than just a kiss, he finds himself wanting everything with her, and, something in her gaze tells him that maybe his heart won't have to wait too long for it.
The night seemed to be touched by magic from then on, as it unfolded, touching them with it, making it feel like a dream come true.
Awakening within them all sort of feelings…
Making them wonder, as the night ended, if maybe … they could have indeed far more than that, if.... they could live a life together.
And… they lived.
💞