The Merry Gathering at Wilford Manor - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Back Under the Mistletoe

The stranger’s dark eyes pulled Sarah ever closer and with every step she felt less and less aware of what her body seemed to be doing. All she could see was those eyes, dark and mystifying, and they were putting her under a trance. One second Sarah was a wallflower and the next she was swaggering toward this man hoping that he would touch her as she’s never been touched before. Swallowing the lump in her throat back she was unsettled at how easily her body obeyed his gaze. She hadn’t kissed a boy, never dated, let alone thought about doing what she was now thinking of doing with this stranger. Sarah had only ever been made fun of. The boys in her class called her a carpenter’s wet dream, flat as a board and just as dull. No one was ever interested in her. Until now.

The few strides it took to cross to him felt like an eternity. Her mind had wandered in a million directions and she had to admit that along with being scared out of her mind she was also curious, exhilarated even. He reached for her hand, his thick yellow hair falling in his face as he brushed his lips across her knuckles and before Sarah could speak those lips were on hers. Warm and fast and breathtaking. Whatever resolve Sarah had left had gone and as he led her away from the party and the din she didn’t fight.

One more kiss that’s all, and I’ll go and find my mom. One more.

The bedroom he took her to on the third floor was dusty and dim, the furniture, what little there was, still covered in dusters and the sconces on the wall fading in and out of life. There was no speaking. He moved her in front of a large mirror and as his black eyes met hers in their reflection his mouth went to her neck and his hand slid down the front of her dress. It was all happening so fast and his touch made her head feel fuzzy. Everything he was doing to her felt good and though she tried to feel something other than excited she couldn’t.

“Hello? Can somebody help me?”

The words were muffled at first but the more they yelled the more she could understand. 

Someone was in need and somewhere nearby. “Don’t you hear that?” she asked.

Her dark stranger didn’t stop. His hands roamed farther, faster while ignoring the cries from the hallway.

Another shout and Sarah recognized the voice. “Gabe?” she yelled back. “Is that you? Gabe?”

 Look for the completion of Wilford Manor next week.