Get a grip

Celine’s POV

I stepped out of the bedroom, my hair wrapped in a towel and my nightdress hanging comfortably around me. Dave was seated in the sitting room with his phone to his ear.

I paused, staring to admire him for a moment. Then I heard him.

“Take care of her”

I cleared my throat to draw his attention to me. He lifted his eyes and it rested on me for a moment. A naughty smile hid behind my lips as I watched him stared.

His eyes trail from my face down to my neck and I watched his throat bobbed before he turned away.

Progress. I told myself.

I walked over and dropped onto the sofa beside him, deliberately sitting close. I held my phone between us, my eyes held his.

“Help me choose my birthday dress”

He glanced at the screen.

“What do you think of this one?” I asked, and watching his gaze fixed on it.

“No” he looked away.

“You didn’t even imagine me in the dress, how do you think I’d look?” I asked, watching his expression closely.

He turned to me with a glare and I backed down a bit. I quickly swiped to another.

“And this?”

Dave stared at the dress for a few seconds before his brows furrowed. “They are too exposed” he said with irritation.

I pulled the phone away from him and frowned too. “Why not? They are beautiful” I said.

“Pick another dress” he said instead.

I tried to hid my smirk. All the dresses I had just shown him were high slit cut, either they show my cleavage or reveals my thighs.

“And the reason?” I asked like I didn’t know it.

Dave looked at me, struggling with his words.

I want him to say it. That the dresses are too sexy. Instead, he said this.

“They are inappropriate for girls your age” he stated.

My countenance shifted quickly. Dave Montessori, you idiot. I bit my lip, irritation bubbling inside me. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

“Girls my age wear something worst. And it’s not inappropriate but sexy” I said as I eyed him.

He looked at me, I could tell he wanted to scold me, maybe snap his fingers against my forehead but he didn’t.

“You’re still a child. You need to look adorable not sexy. Pick another dress” he said again and tried to leave.

I grabbed his sleeve, standing on my knees on the sofa my face twisted in an angry frown. “I’m already an adult, Dave. Stop treating me like a little girl” I told him seriously.

Why can’t he just get it?

He sighed before turning back to me. “Go to bed, Celine” he said and stroke my cheek with his thumb before trying to walk away again.

This time, I refused to let him escape. I jumped at him, my hands grabbed his neck and my legs clawed against his body.

He looked startled by my action, even I was. But I couldn’t back down now. I stared into his eyes trying to ascertain the best next move to make.

“What are you doing?!” Dave’s voice with a little stutter.

I held tightly onto him, afraid he might throw me down. “Trying to make you see me” I let out slowly.

His eyes widened slightly. He tried to push me off but I resisted.

“Celine” he called my name with a warning.

“I’m a woman, Dave” I let out in a hurry. “I’m no longer a baby and I know what I want” my breath hitched a little.

Dave’s face darkened, it terrifies me to continue. I couldn’t help but fear that he might actually hate me for this.

“I want you. And I want you to want me” I confessed, my voice lowered as each word I just said.

The heaviness of the words made my heart pound too fast staring at him. He looked shocked, not in a good way. Almost like he was going to…

He moved instead, giving me a little swing. I shut my eyes a little scared, my back hit the sofa gently but firm. When I opened my eyes again, Dave’s face was just an inch away.

My stomach churned, I tried to hid my nervousness as my hands clasped behind his back. I didn’t dare look into his eyes but somehow, his gaze forced him to stay still.

“You’re playing a dangerous game with me, Celine.” He breathed. “One that might get you hurt”

I paused, my lips pressed together. “I’m not playing games. I’m serious” I told him.

He gave a little chuckle. Then his face turned cold, his finger moved slowly against my cheek and my body trembles. The hard I tried not to show it, the harder I bit my lips.

“See, you can’t handle the consequences.” Dave let out and stopped.

I was breathing a little too heavy now. I had no idea what he was doing, but whatever it is, I hated it.

Was this his way of pushing me away?

He unclenched my hands from his neck and pulled away. I laid on the sofa, trying to take it all in, Dave did not glance back at me as he walked inside and shut the door.

Dave’s POV

I walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

For several seconds, I simply stood there, trying to steady my breathing. I dragged a hand through my hair and forced myself to keep walking. My thoughts were a mess as I tried to gather myself together.

I finally reached the wall and gripped the edge of a nearby table, I lowered my head as I took a deep breath. What the hell was happening to me?

My mind immediately went back to Celine, the moment she jumped on me, how her legs had clawed against my body refusing to let go.

The feel of her chest against mine.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the table until my knuckles turned pale. “What the fuck, Dave?” I muttered under my breath.

“Get yourself together. It’s fucking Celine”

She’s just a little, stubborn girl who had no idea what she doing. I told myself.

That warning should have been enough to clear my head, yet somehow it only made recall again, like my mind was fighting against me.

I remembered the intrigued feel as I caress her face just then, how I almost couldn’t resist the urge to grab her lips.

I shut my eyes and shook my head.

“No” I mumbled like it was a warning.

I ruffled my hair roughly, frustrated I reached my pocket for a cigarette and took a long drag as soon as I lit it. slowly, I calmed down, holding the smoke for a moment.

My breathing finally began to settle as I tried to shut out the thoughts of her.