An Invitation

"It did drive you crazy, didn't it? Well, I felt the same way. And I didn't eavesdrop. Your answering machine picked it up." She looked up with vehemence. "When I found out that what I had thought to be the most incredible night of my life was with a guy who was already promised to another woman." Her voice trembled slightly under the strain, but she refused to back down. "How could you do that?"

The angry look disappeared from his face and in one swift motion he was beside her, holding her hand and trying to draw her to him in a hug. But she wouldn't let him. She wouldn't let herself become weak and make a fool of herself once more. Because she knew. She knew that she was powerless against him against his charm and persuasive power.

So, she pushed him away and continued sitting there like an icy sculptor with a volcano buried inside. He didn't try to hold her again but sat at the foot of her chair, close but not touching. He spoke in a quiet voice, "I am sorry I upset you. But you have to understand that what you heard was all a mistake."

"Oh, mistake, was it?" she flared. "Now you are going to say that that girl was lying and she made a call to you that early in the morning inviting for a couple dance class because she was mistaken?"

"No, that's not what I am saying." He replied, "I said that it was you who was mistaken."

"Yeah, you are right. I was mistaken. I shouldn't have been there in the first place. Then I wouldn't have heard your fiancée's personal message to you. " She countered, feeling angry that instead of saying sorry he was foisting the blame on her.

He was becoming impatient and a little angry as well, she could see. He ran his hands through his hair, tousling it even more.

"Do you think you can hold your guns for a while? Let me speak." He commanded her in an exasperated voice, to which she took exception and opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she thought of his high- handiness. But seeing her about to speak, he swooped in and placed his lips on her. Then he kissed her thoroughly, ignoring her unresponsiveness and invading her mouth firmly, setting every atom of her being on fire. She tried and failed miserably to resist him. Her arms went up and fastened themselves in his hair. At that, he groaned and pressed her even closer, arms tight around him.

She completely lost the sense of time. She didn't know how long they stayed locked together like that but it seemed too soon that he was setting her away gently from him. Breathing hard, he pushed her face on his shoulder and held her tightly to him. His ragged voice he murmured, "Now that never fails to shut you up." Kissing the tips of her nose, he continued," Idril, can't you see how good we are together? This is so rare. Don't throw it away on stupid arguments."

That reminded her that they were fighting. Angrily she pushed him away once more. He sighed and sat back on his chair.

"Okay, about Amanda. She is not my fiancée."

She raised her eyebrows at him, her look disbelieving.

"She is not my fiancée." He repeated irritatingly. "She is engaged to my brother, Peter. Surely in all you stalking you have found out that I do have a younger brother?" He waited while she nodded grudgingly. "Their wedding is next month."

"Why is she calling you rather than him?" she asked suspiciously.

"Because he is a wildlife photographer. He goes on these long tours to various corners of the world which are pretty much away from civilization. There is no mobile connectivity. There are long periods of time when he is completely unreachable."

She looked at him skeptically, eyebrows raised. He saw the look and said irritatingly, "And because he is weird. He sees these trips as opportunities of soul searching and apparently that can't be done with the trappings of modern civilization. It's as if he isn't tagging along a bunch of television crew with him every single day." He added mockingly, looking at her he said offhandedly, "You'll understand when you see him."

"Anyways, it has not been an issue till now, but with his wedding to be arranged, and since he couldn't get out of his assignment, he diverted all his calls to my number so that I can take messages for him and help him out till he returns. He was supposed to be back two days ago but he is not." Seeing her look he added hastily, "There is no reason to worry though, it has happened before. But that's why I am still getting all his calls, including Amanda's."

She didn't know if she was convinced but it did make sense. His brother was indeed called Peter and nobody knew what he did. It seemed possible if he was away for most of the time and that he was the one engaged to be married to Amanda. And of course, if Feanor was getting married, surely it would have been news? Oh, no. Maybe she should have thought of it before jumping to conclusions. But listening to that phone call and keeping a straight head was difficult.

But, what if he was having a secret wedding? Loads of celebrities did it now-a-days, to keep the paparazzi away. Looking at his limpid blue gaze, she wanted to dismiss that idea. Maybe he was telling the truth. But still… she had faced too many betrayals earlier in her relationships to give Feanor totally the benefit of doubt. Or maybe she was being paranoid. Oh, but she wanted to believe him so very much.

Seeing her struggling with it, he stood up and sighed again. "Listen, you have no reason to distrust my words. But as you still are clearly unconvinced", he took a deep breath," I am inviting you. Will you please be my date and accompany me to my brother's wedding next month?" he finished formally.