I didn't let go of her hand as we climbed the stairs, Maeve following closely behind me as I opened the door, and stepped aside to let her in.

The attic was not quite decorated like the rest of the house. It just had one single bed, a rocking chair beside the window, and a cabinet that held all my books. Simple yet comfortable.

I went ahead and opened the little window. It looked over the valley far ahead that spread as wide as the eye could see, and the sun was still above the range of hills. We were just on time.

As I turned around, Maeve huffed out a breath eyeing the little attic with the same wonder. "Wow."

She set a hand against the attic wall, still looking around, and folded her foot up, reaching for the strap of her heels.

I watched her in a mix of confusion and fascination. "What are you doing?"

The wind from the window blew her hair over her face, and she whipped her head to a side to flip them over her shoulder. "My feet hurt. Need to get these out." She undid the strap, and my brain malfunctioned for a split of second before I stepped forward.

"Let me."

Maeve halted, locking eyes with mine, looking dumbstruck. An unwavering stare urging me to repeat what I'd just said.

I didn't.

Instead, I stooped down, sliding one hand under her thighs, another around her back and gathered her up in my arms. Maeve didn't gasp in surprise, or throw me a look of shock. She simply circled her hands around my neck, as if it was the right thing to do.

It felt like the right thing to do.

Our eyes remain locked on each other as I carried her to the bed, and lowered her on it.

"Let me." I repeated, getting down on one knee before her even before she could respond.

This time, she nodded.

I gently took a hold of her ankle and brought her foot over my knee, taking a moment to marvel at the beige stilettos, my chest brimming with appreciation.

"You have an exquisite collection of these." I traced the strap, which was already undone.

"You haven't seen the best one." Her teasing smile was something I could get used to, as she flashed me one of them.

"Will you be kind enough to show me?" I slowly slid the shoe off her feet, not breaking my eyes away from hers.

"I just might." Her voice wavered when my finger brushed the underside of her feet, and trailed up. "But not today."

"Why not?"

Her eyes twinkled with a glint, as she bit down on her lips, as if forcing herself to remain silent.

We'd see about that.

My eyes fell to her feet again, tracing the path that my fingers just traveled. Pale skin glowing so wonderfully under the influence of the setting sun. Goosebumps erupted across her skin and her calf flexed against my palm. A new warmth surged through my veins, prickling the surface of my skin, sending a shiver running down my spine.

"Do you know what I want to do to you, Maeve?" I didn't recognize my voice as I asked her, and leaned forward to brush my lips across the skin below her knee. Maeve leaned back, setting both her palms down on the bed, watching intently wherever my lips trailed.

"Tell me." I didn't recognize her voice either.

My fingers moved again, this time not stopping at her knees, but trespassing the seam of her dress to slip under it. Maeve sucked in a sharp breath.

"I want to kiss every square inch of this flawless skin." My lips met her knee, as my other hand kneaded her foot and toes. "I want to breathe in the very last lingering whiff of your scent. Kiss and mark every spot that would make you shudder." I felt the last strand of my control fraying, when my mouth lingered over the skin on her thigh, and she slipped her fingers into my hair, running those dangerously sharp nails across my scalp. "I want to feel your body against mine. Every fucking inch of your soft skin under my fingertips." My hand that was under her dress, traveled north, squeezing and kneading my way over her inner thighs.

I groaned when instead of closing her legs, she opened them for my hand. For me.

"I want to push you further. Drive you to the edge. And when you fall-" My fingertips brushed against the seam of her panties. "-when you fall, I want to hold you close and hear my namd rolling off your lips."

I took a hold of her wrist of the hand that was fisting my hair and our eyes met briefly, before I thrusted her toward me. Her hands flew to my shoulders, and my hand under her dress slid deeper. A sound very close to a moan left her lips, making my jaws clench hard. "I want you under me, and on top. Moaning, trembling, gasping, screaming my name when I-"

"Ian," Her voice clung to my name, like she was clinging to my shoulders as my fingers traced circles over the crotch of her panties which were beginning to feel damp. She squirmed, and ever so slightly, her breasts pushed up against my chest.

I put forward my thumb and pressed against where I could feel she needed my help.

She gasped. "Ian, please..."

"Please what?" I trapped the lobe of her ear between my teeth and softly tugged. "Tell me what you want, sweetheart."

"I..." Her fingernails dug into my shoulder through the fabric of my shirt, making me groan against her skin. And I was so close to-

Ring. Ring.

No.

Ring. Ring.

Please, no.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Jesus fucking Christ!

I felt Maeve reach up with her other hand as she ran her fingers through my hair, a soothing gesture which-somewhat-prevented me from spontaneously combusting. When I opened my eyes, she was smiling down at me.

"It's okay. Take it."

My teeth gritted together and I reluctantly withdrew my hand from under her dress, to fish out the bane of my existence.

My phone.

I stood up and spun around to hide my annoyed expression from Maeve.

"What?" I snapped, and Chloe gasped from the other end of the call.

"Hey, don't you dare bark at me like that?" She grumbled, and went silent. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, trying to gain back my cool.

"I'm sorry, I was...in the middle of something. I'm sorry." I said, although I'm pretty sure I was not the one who was supposed to apologize.

She scoffed. "Are you with a girl? If so, don't forget your motto. Sissies before Bitches." She said, reconstructing the 'Bro's before Hoes' slogan, which for the record, didn't make sense to me.

"Chloe," I closed my eyes, and tried to not give away whatever I was feeling right now. "It's high time you realize not every girl is a hoe or a bitch. Call me when you find a new, gender-neutral and less offensive motto." I brought down the phone but her voice fell on my ear again.

"Wait! Wait!"

"What now?" I turned around to see Maeve seated on the floor, near the window, hugging her knees close to her chest.

The scenario resembled my dream but with an exception, that I forgot to mention how much more stunning she would look in real.

"I hope you didn't forget about the ball party tomorrow. Hello? You're supposed to escort Katelyn. She will chew off my ears if you don't show up." Chloe said, grumbling.

"I remember, Chloe. Is that all?" I took off my shoes, and slid them toward a corner of the cabinet. Then picked up Maeve's heels and place them beside my shoes.

"Yes. Next, I need to call Maeve and remind her too. Just making sure everything goes right."

"Maeve?" I asked Chloe, and the beautiful girl sitting at the window looked up at me with a smile. I stared at her for few seconds then returned her smile. "There's no need for that. I'll tell her."

"Uhm, are you sure-"

"Goodnight, Chloe." I hung up and tossed the phone over the bed, before making my way toward the window. Toward Maeve.

The sun had set, but an orange glow shaded a huge part of the sky, reminiscing a star that was sinking beyond the sea.

"We missed it." Maeve turned toward me, as I sat down beside her, pressing my back against the attic wall. A blush had gloriously set color to her skin.

"Well, it was just one out of the many more sunsets you will see through this window. Trust me, you will never get bored here." I said.

Maeve studied my face for a long moment and then scooted closer to my side, pressing her back against the wall like me. "I'm sure it will be boring if I'm watching it alone."

A smile crawled up my face as I traced the hardwood floor with my eyes. My pulse was thumping in my ear when Maeve leaned over me, resting her head on my shoulder, and I heard a little sigh leave her lips.

Her hand crawled its way into the crook of my arm, and mine crawled over hers. I squeeze it, and rested my cheek against the top of her head, feeling the soft brush of her hair.

It felt unreal. To have this pretty girl sitting beside me, leaning on my shoulder, yet somehow I was the one at ease. There was this warmth brewing in my chest which I didn't want to address. At least not yet.

"Guess you won't be alone after all." I said, softly. A clear suggestion, with a silent promise.