Chapter 51

**James POV**

James raised his left hand and snapped his fingers giving the signal to play the music all the while holding his red closely.

"What-" Bella tried to question his intentions. But he silenced her with a twirl just as the music began.
He needs to savor this moment with her. He wouldn't have attended this ball at all if not for Tank informing him about Bella's whereabouts and about the guy who was seen escorting her.

It lit a fire inside him that his Bella came to an event with another male. He set the record by reaching here within 20 minutes.

The crowd dispersed giving him room to dance with his red. People stared and gossiped about them. He didn't give a fuck. Let them stare. It's been years since he danced with a woman.

The last time was...NO! He wouldn't think about the past. Instead, he concentrated on Bella. He gave her another twirl and brought her back eating the space between them.

He could feel her shivers under his hands. His Bella...she is all he hoped to be and more. Her eyes...James can swim in those caramel orbs.

She is delectable; with breasts that can fill his hands and a dip at her waist that flares to the curvy hips which he couldn't stop but fantasize of holding onto them as he fills her.

She is all female and soon...very soon will be his. Just a little bit more time. And then, she will be in his arms like this forever.

As the slow tune music progressed, he asked Bella, "who was the guy you came here with?"

"Seriously? This is the first time we are meeting in person and you are asking about some other guy?"
Bella gave a cute scoff as she questioned him with a fire she is known for in her emails.

"Not some guy. A guy you met before coming here", James said sternly, not liking the fact that she let another guy the privilege he was denied.

"He's just some guy Amanda tried to set me up with", she said offhandedly.

"I'm not liking Amanda more and more. You should have said no", James said as he tried to control his dissatisfaction from showing on his face.

"No one can say no to Amanda", Bella rolled her eyes at his epic failure of nonchalance.

"Bella, what did I tell you about practicing saying no?" James asked with a grim expression.

"Fine. No, James. I don't want to talk about it", James hardened his hold at her blatant snark.

People cower in front of him and this little beauty is mocking him to his face?

Before he can reprimand her in his fashion, the song ended. James, not giving a second thought about his staff, took hold of her hand and walked towards the staircase.

"James, what are you doing? Where are you taking me?" Bella questioned as she tried to un-hand his hold.

He in turn strengthened it. He brought her into one of the empty rooms that are booked under the company's name and closed the door.

"James, you are scaring me. Open the door"

He cornered her at the door, her back touching it as he caged her in with his hands on either side of her. He slowly covered the distance between them until only a few inches remained between them.

Bella's breath came fast and shallow. With each breath, her chest rose almost touching his suit. James could feel the quickening of her pulse.

James with deliberate slowness started to undo her mask. Bella squeezed her eyes shut in tension.

"Look at me", James commanded her, wanting to swim in her gaze as he laid on her face for the first time.

"Jam... James...I... I can't", Bella stuttered, feeling new sensations that are coursing through her veins.

"You can and you will", James demanded her complete control. Bella tentatively opened her eyes but stopped at his shoes, unable to meet his stare when he will lay eyes upon her. Her eyelashes hiding the turmoil she is going through.

She fears his rejection. Looking at the beauties that were wandering the down floor, Bella felt insignificant. How can James like her when he is an option of a room full of beauties? Will he be disappointed? How should she react if he is in fact disappointed?

Will he break his ties with her after realizing that she is no prize? Bella couldn't fathom her life if he does that. She doesn't know when her life has tangled with his or how it happened.

But she has to be brave. She must hide her heartbreak and have to pretend like it's no big deal. The next few seconds will decide what her future will be.

"Look into my eyes, Bella moi", James asked softly.

"I'm scared, James. Talking to you in emails was easy. But this...this is hard. I cannot do it", Bella pleaded, hiding her inner dilemma.

"I will never hurt you, red. I want you to look into my eyes and register my expression when I finally get to see you", James whispered in her ear.

A frown appeared in between her eyebrows as she thought about his logic. Yes, she will know how he will react. She then gradually raised her head as each part of him got into focus. She can clearly see the outline of his hardness through his pants that he is shamelessly parading. Her blush intensified at his readiness.

When she reached his gaze once again, James smirked at the obvious blush that crawled up her neck.

"Happy?" Bella mocked as she tried to hide her red cheeks.

"Not yet", James said as he reached once again to untie the mask.

He was finally able to slip the mask from her face that fell down on the ground, grazing her breasts in the process.

He sucked his breath at the beauty before him. So innocent. His gaze took each of her features in minute detail starting with her sparkle in her eyes to her nose that has a cute tilt to it, and her red-hued cheeks that accentuate her grace, and lastly her lips.

A perfect kissable bow-shaped lips that are tempting James to do sinful things to them. Her lower lip is fuller as if she has been unintentionally pouting.

Their upper bodies came into full contact as James bent his head. He deliberately covered the distance between them little by little until only an inch of a gap left between their lips.

If she moves a tiny inch or him, their lips will collide. James' breath tingled Bella as he stood still as a statue a mere inch from her.

Bella's reasoning went out of the window. She craved that slight contact. She internally urged James to cover the distance as she stood with her breath coming in gasps.

A few seconds may have passed or a few minutes, they didn't care. They both were locked in their own bubble savoring the moment uncaring of the outside world.

What is he waiting for? Come on James, don't leave me hanging. Maybe he is waiting for her consent or for her to take the first step? Well, she can do this. How hard can it be? Bella thought as she mentally prepared herself.

Just as Bella gathered the strength to cover the distance between them and finally learn about his lips, James pulled back.

Not much but a couple of inches to let Bella know-not yet. What is he waiting for, Apocalypse?

Bella's confidence took a nosedive. Her face crumbled understanding the meaning of his rejection. No!! All her fears have taken the center stage. He really doesn't like what he saw! Bella thought.

No little red, take away that frown. It's not what you think" James cajoled her.

"But you pulled back James", Bella mumbled once again looking at her shoes.

"Look at me, Bella. I want your eyes on me", James commanded her.

"No. First, tell me why?" Bella asked, feeling ashamed that she dared to think he would like her.

"I will when the time is right. Not now. Trust me red", James said with charm.

"How can I? You have so many layers that even an onion can feel jealous of. Every time I try to peel one, you wrap yourself in more layers. Anyways, I don't want to dig the old ones, just tell me why? Were you disappointed? You don't like what you saw, is that it?" Bella voiced her doubts.

James closed the distance between their lower halves and asked, "does this look like I'm not interested? I want to do things to you, Bella moi, that may be illegal in many countries. I'm trying to be a gentleman who doesn't ravish his woman on their first meeting. I don't want to scare you, Red, I want to savor you."

"You won't scare me, James. I may not know who you are but I sincerely lo-" Bella's confession was cut short when someone pounded on the door.

James quickly pulled Bella behind him, hiding her from the view as he unlocked the door and opened it. Anger mounted inside him for interrupting his moment. Whoever it is will see his true wrath.

He scanned the hallway but couldn't find anyone. His expression thunderous he turned to Bella. Bella lost her color for what she almost said. How can she be so clumsy to almost blurt out her feelings?

Unable to meet James' eyes, Bella picked up her dress and ran from the room.

"Bella, wait", James shouted as she ran. James was about to dial Tank's number to stop her from leaving when he got a call that left him shaking.

"I'm coming", James said unemotionally as he cut the call.

Unbeknownst to either of them, Anna lingered on the side of the hallway as she smirked and thought, "looks like stepbrother has finally got an Achilles heel. It will be fun breaking it."