Crossing the Best-Friend Line

"Happy birthday, to you.." they all sang, and I quietly slipped from mom and dad's side, sneaking off from the crowd... Hooting, the clink of glasses, and loud laughter filled the grand hall, and the noise faded as I stepped out to the Vale terrace. I folded my hands around my shoulders, rubbing my upper arms again and again to keep warm. The wind feels chilly. It's fall, and winter is nearly around the corner. I chose to leave everyone because I hated him. Dominic was the most obnoxious, megalomaniac, chauvinist pig of a guy I never wanted around me. And just when I thought I'd gotten away, his voice reached me. "Waiting up for me, my ice princess?" I just rolled my eyes. He was seriously calling me that. I hated it. He'd been throwing that nickname at me ever since we were little, and I absolutely loathed it! My brows drew together in a deep scowl. Taking a deep breath, I counted in my head, trying to cool my temper. I tried to shove aside the irritation building inside my system. I won't let him make me lose my temper and wreck my composure. I'm the daughter born to a duke and his duchess, for goodness' sake. I chose to ignore him and began walking off the Vale terrace toward the garden, hoping he would take the hint and stop trailing me. But naturally, I was wrong. To my dismay, he clamped onto my arm in a hard grip. I flinched as I felt his nails dig into my wrist. And I'm certain those long fingers will leave a mark on my wrist tomorrow. "Why did you tell Sienna she's nothing but one of my toys?" Dominic's grip grew tighter, and even in the dim light from the lamp post, I could tell by his bluish-grayish eyes that he was beyond mad. Sienna is one of my closest friends and very dear to me, and as her good friend, I only wanted to help before she gets hurt in the end. "Isn't she? You've been using her, yet you never gave her any assurance about who she actually is to you?" I replied coldly. "You're nothing but a worthless man-whore, a megalomaniac who does nothing except wound the women who poured out their hearts to satisfy your selfish needs!" I spat furiously. I don't even know why I'm this furious, but heck. It's my bestfriend he's playing with. Dominic let my wrist slip free and cupped my face. Before I could fully process what was happening, his lips slammed onto mine. It was a punishing kiss, yet it stirred something foreign deep within me. A strange sensation I'd never felt before, and suddenly I felt hot. And so damn wet! My body abruptly shuddered with excitement, and my eyelids automatically fluttered shut. Strange electrifying sensations shot through my body, leaving me so tingly and confused. The kiss slowly turned tender, and I felt his hands at my waist pulling me closer to his taut chest, and it felt unreal. It was heaven. I'd been kissed before, only never like this. A knee-melting kiss really does exist. God, why am I feeling like this? When realization hit me, I quickly pulled my hands from his neck and shoved his chest away from me. When we broke apart, I felt disappointed, but I shook off the ridiculous thought. I felt embarrassed. Why had I let him kiss me? "Don't you dare kiss me again. I'm not about to share the same bacteria as your whore!" I shot him a glare while I tried to wave away the blush creeping over my cheeks and through my whole body. I could still feel the taste of his kiss on my lips. "You know you enjoyed it nearly as much as I did, my ice princess.." Dominic smirked wickedly as he shoved both hands into his pockets. After that, I shot him a venomous look before turning on my heel and striding off. His taunting chuckle reached me, but I didn't bother to look back.