I'm doing another dedication today! This one is dedicated to my bestie @munisa90 to thank you for your support and sweetness! I know you love bad boys and Blade, so I hope you'll enjoy this chapter full of him 😘😈 Love you! 💕

'And I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"

It was the best night, never would forget how we moved

The whole place

Was dressed to the nines

And we were dancing, dancing

Like we're made of starlight, starlight.'

"I think we can make your celebration even better and find you a real birthday dessert."

My head snapped towards Blade at the sound of this thought out loud.

I'd never met someone who sounded so much like this devilish little voice inside, even more devious actually, and he was saying it with no shame.

It called for trouble, especially when he was wearing that Cheshire cat's smile.

"It's a private party. I don't think they'll let us in without invitation, and even less in those outfits."

I knew exactly what to reply as I'd just reasoned myself with those arguments.

"Who said we would ask them?" I barely had time to catch the flash of his eyebrows and his dimple popping up before he started heading towards the park, not near the sign and the gate though, because there was no doubt the invitation check was behind that tall white gate, along with maybe security guards and balloons.

"We can't do that, it's..." The word got lost as I counted all the times it had come to my mind today.

"It wouldn't be 'polite' to not wish the happy couple, don't you think?" He threw me a wink over his shoulder, enough for me to see the mischievous sparkle in his eyes and at the corner of his smug smile.

It wasn't really different from what I'd seen of him so far, yet I hated that I was close enough to see every nuance because I was following him, and I hated that my gaze was already searching along the white fence for a way in.

"It's impossible. We won't find a way," I continued, my eyes traveling from the tall barrier to Blade's back like wondering which one could give in more easily. "There's probably guards, and it's surely just a boring party."

I was more trying to convince myself than him as he was too busy tapping along the wooden planks of the fence.

"Maybe they don't even have cak—" The next turn proved me wrong before I even finished as a van came into view, with on the body car, the large inscription 'Sweetie Bakery' and the giant design of a... cake.

Why was I even trying? It was clear the universe was against me today when we arrived near an ajar back gate, letting glimpse a path that led the way almost too perfectly between two borders of thujas, and Blade's smirk widened.

"It's almost too easy! Okay, there's guards, but we can hide in one of the bakery trolleys. I see staff going around," he explained what he was peeking farther along the way with his chin lifted, while from my 5'1, I stared at his broad shoulders, my arms crossed, waiting for him to look back at me.

"Or we can take this passage?" I nodded to the narrow opening between the wooden planks of the fence and a sparse thuja, making his eyes widen for a second before his devious grin followed.

"That's why you're the boss!" He tilted his head as his hand gestured for me to go first, the long, inked fingers once more inviting to mischief.

How could I resist? His words? The tickling curiosity? The inviting music? The universe? And his blue eyes sparkling at me from under his brows?

I didn't even try as I slipped in easily—well, as easily as ripping another part of my dress with a branch sticking out was, whereas Blade was intact, despite his tall height—and in no time, we were inside, surrounded with trees, grass, and flowers.

Of course, it was a park. What had I expected?

Well, I hadn't prepared for the peacefulness of nature, perfectly in tune with the sound of children's laughs, nor for the freshness of the trees' shadows, bringing out the hints of sweets in the air. Mostly, I hadn't prepared for the waves of memories taking me back to the crime scene, and I remembered why this was a bad idea as the same need to escape rushed through my veins, putting my legs into motion.

However, this time, a hand pulled me back. "Hey, what are you doing? Do you want to get us caught?"

I whipped round to find a hazy shade of blue, my eyes blinking until I could make out the dangerous spark—in Blade's gaze and on my skin as his warm hand was still wrapped around my forearm, his grip tightening slightly as he made me crouch down behind a bush, and that way, he had all my attention.

"For your height, you're as discreet as a bull in a china shop."

"Hey! Not everyone is used to break–"

He stopped the words on my lips, literally, with the pulp of his finger putting more pressure than necessary on my open mouth, when I was already quiet outside, and inside too.

I couldn't say his touch was soothing, on the contrary, but strangely, the streak of sparking powder that came with it was numbing every other sensation, including the need to run away.

"When you break the law, you don't talk about it, and you stay discreet."

He had me pinned as he slowly traced my parted lips, making his words about illegality sound too smoothly in the few inches separating us, and then... he stood up, looking around to make sure there was no one, as if he hadn't switched the atmosphere a thousand times in a few minutes.

"Now, let's go get your dessert."

He was indeed a sharp contrast, and I had trouble keeping track. Though the sly glint in his eyes let me guess it was the aim as he dragged me through the park, and my head was spinning so much that the weeping willows, balloons, and various flowers around appeared far away, like watching them from outer space...

And when we reached the large tent, we landed in another world with a gasp.

I'd been to fancy parties before, but nothing as impressive and luxurious.

There were ten times more people than at my birthday celebration, yet they weren't crammed inside the tent, on the contrary. The fifty or more tables were spaced and arranged perfectly around a large scene with musicians and a gigantic dancefloor, where couples were waltzing elegantly in their evening dresses, and although I didn't recognize the song, my heart was already following the catchy rhythm.

On top of all of this, there were also flowers, silver plates, and golden decorations everywhere, while the room still looked refined and spacious, and the atmosphere was incredibly warm, though not suffocating, thanks to the open side of the circus tent, which led to a playground from where all the children's laughs were coming.

It was a real celebration.

However, what really made me feel like I was in another world was the sight above. Hundreds of multicolor fairy lights were shining on the white ceiling, and with the dancing shadows of trees from outside, it became a unique milky way full of starlights.

It was better than everything I could have ever wished for, and for an instant, I forgot that this party wasn't for me. It didn't matter that we were standing in a hidden corner, nor that my outfit was far from the dress code of all those people dressed to the nines, and not even that we could get caught at any second.

"See, it was worth breaking the law." Although it could have sounded like the little devil on my shoulder, it was only Blade's raspy whisper above my ear, and as I turned to this devilish genie, I couldn't fight the smile pulling on my lips.

"Yes, you were right."

"That's something I like to hear."

The lights above made me even appreciate the wicked grin he offered me in return before I spun around to catch every detail of the scenery.

I wanted to imprint them deep inside and replace any other memory because more than the fancy decoration, I knew it was the free and magic sensations in the air I would never experience again.

Though I had to admit I really liked the setting too, especially when my eyes came back down and landed on a detail I hadn't seen before.

Better than any birthday pancakes.

I didn't even have to say anything as Blade instantly grabbed my hand again, leading us in the direction of my avid gaze. Still, a gasped awe sound came from deep inside, surely my stomach as the sight of the long buffet full of desserts made me realize I hadn't had anything besides a piece of melon and sour betrayals since my breakfast.

This was finally the birthday dessert I needed, well, even more than I needed, as there wasn't only one cake but a multitude, probably as many as there were guests, and some plates were already half-empty. So I could only guess what it had been like before—it must have been the reason for the applause earlier. 

It all formed an elegant alignment of round and iced forms, presented in so many flavors from chocolate to coconut, by way of angel cakes, tarts, and cookies. I didn't know where to look, and even less what to choose.

"My dear, which delicacy would you like?" Blade's unusual words and tone pulled me out of my contemplation, stopping my finger one inch away from the creamy icing of the cake in front of me, and I took in the old woman a few feet away, leaning against a column.

My awe sound and my stomach growlings probably had caught her attention, and our appearances were keeping it, as she blinked her wide eyes at us. 

I could already picture her calling the guards as my own large gaze turned to Blade's expectant lifted eyebrows, and I pondered what to do. After all, I doubted we could look credible as upper-class people, but he seemed to know much more about breaking the law than me, and my stomach would never let me run away from this buffet.

So with my best stuck-up expression, I replied, reading one of the many fine cards in front of the cakes, "The Black forest cake, the delicate mix of sweetness and intensity, please."

It was a miracle, and the first time today that the universe was on my side—either that, or we were really great actors—because the woman stared between us and her half-empty glass before throwing it away and staggering out of the tent.

Okay, maybe we had some luck, and we both snickered as soon as we were alone; for me, it was mostly out of relief, and Blade, well, it was mischief.

"And you, my dear, which one?" I waved my hand at the cakes, keeping up my bad impersonation.

"Um... red velvet," Blade replied smoothly, back to his magnetizing voice and wicked ways as his gaze found mine in a sideways glance.

We actually took a few more flavors, along with some cookies, before sneaking away in a quieter corner when a group of people approached the buffet.

Luckily, almost everyone was as tipsy as the old woman at the buffet or too busy dancing and chatting to notice us, we were able to return a second time to the buffet, even stealing a cup of the finest champagne.

I wasn't merry though, at least nothing like the people around, and the giddiness tickling in my veins wasn't from the sip of alcohol I'd had. It was joy and carefreeness as we went on empty swings near the playground, and adrenaline and laughter when we decided to pop in a few pictures that were taken near the largest flowers arrangements, so these people would have a forever print of Ford Wels and Lucy Lucas—in Blade's words.

That way, time ran by quickly, almost as quickly as we did when we glimpsed guards, and not a memory could catch up with us.

Dorothy Duncan was completely forgotten, and my wish was realized somewhere between fits of laughter, Cheshire cat smiles, and many bold ideas and activities, of course, coming from Blade. Though I had a few too, like when I grabbed his hand.

"Dance with me."

The same expression as when I'd shouted these words at the diner was back on his features. He probably wasn't expecting this as we'd been observing the people on the dancefloor from our corner, giving them scores, along with a few raving suppositions about their lives.

Yet something in the way these couples were swirling around, almost flying in their elegant dresses—at least, for the few 10 we'd assigned—was pulling me to join, and the music put my members into movements as I tugged on Blade's hand.

He didn't budge an inch, though. "I told you I don't dance, and even less waltz."

"Come on, it's easy! Ordinary! You can't be worse than the Duke Two-left-foot, right here." I nodded to the man we'd nicknamed after he'd scared away five of his partners. "I'll teach you. It'll be fun, please."

It took all my strength to finally move him, and still, I knew from his smirk that I only succeeded because he let me.

When I managed to drag us to a small portion of the wooden floor, I was really reminded of how little I was, and how tall he was. It was easy to forget when we were sitting side by side, but face to face, or more exactly, face to his strong chest, he was much more imposing, especially when I peered up at his magnetizing eyes.

"Um, here, you keep your hand here." I placed his hand in mine, lifting his elbow with it, while I already focused on the other one with the tattoo. "And this one..."

This one went in the middle of my back, his long fingers warming me until the small of my back and making my legs unsteady.

"And then we swirl. Well, um, I'll lead... it'll be easier."

"Of course," he chuckled, and I realized dancing would be more complicated than I'd imagined as the sound vibrated straight throughout my whole body.

Besides, his eyes were back to examine the freckles on my face, so I guessed my nervousness was showing in the same shade as the red velvet cake.

"Shooting star."

I was about to lead our first turn when his smooth voice stopped me, and I automatically glanced up at the white ceiling. "What?"

"I found your nickname: Shooting star. It fits you 'cause you're obsessed with everything in the sky, and shooting, well, we both know why..." He leaned his head down to catch my green eyes with his twinkling blue ones.

Shooting star, it wasn't what I would have expected, and I wasn't sure if it was fitting when I was far from moving at the speed of light, especially in this instant, where even my lungs seemed immobile. It was his eyes that were shining in an unreachable infinite of blue, and he was the one who had made my wish come true. Yet sparking streaks were indeed running quickly all over my skin, and I let the ones tickling my cheeks form a smile as I glanced up at the 'starry' ceiling.

"I like it," I murmured, my gaze coming back down, only to be dazzled by the intensity of his stare, so close.

We weren't talking anymore, and we weren't quite dancing either. At least, the couples waltzing around and the flowing music appeared so far away as we were moving with a faint, imperceptible swing, the same rhythm as the featherlike movements of his thumb along my spine. We were just roaming somewhere in the galaxy along with meteorites.

His eyes were still flickering all over my face nonetheless, and I let my own soak in his sharp features from closer.

His eyebrows weren't cocked or frowning anymore, even though a light and sharp crease was forming, not exactly in the middle, but slightly on the left, as if he was trying to pierce one of the mysteries of the universe, or maybe still counting my freckles.

I also noticed a small scar on his right cheek, hidden just on his dimple, and it was obvious why I hadn't seen it before, while it surely also accentuated the devious indent.

Finally, there were his lips, and the same lopsided smile as before, yet it appeared less irritating and mischievous. It was... inviting... like it would help me discover the many secrets these lips hid, or maybe I would find more about myself?

"Can you please show us your invitations, Miss and Mister?"

Once more, I would not get answers, and we landed back on earth with a jump as two men in black suits were standing next to us. Actually, I may have made more than one start when I took in their imposing figures and their suspicious gazes traveling from my exposed thighs to Blade's inked arms.

Before they had asked, those details already made us guilty, and our answers wouldn't change anything. So we would pretend it was the reason why I was opening and closing my mouth like a fish.

"Oh, of course! Our invitations, Lucy, my dear, where did you put them?" Blade, or Ford Wels, he, was more reactive, his fake accent still flowing smoothly and with no hesitation, and in front of his pointed lifted eyebrows, I managed to stammer a few words,

"Um, y-yes... my dear, it-it's in my b..." I stopped when my fingers felt an unmistakable shape in my purse, and my hand pulled away faster than if it had been burned, as quickly twisting the lock again. "Other bag!"

Sneaking in a party without invitation was one thing, but gun transport was a whole other level of illegality that could get us in a lot of trouble.

"Okay, that's enough. You don't have invitations, you get out," one of the guards spoke, while the other one was stressing his words with sharp nods.

"What?! But we had one! What an offense!" Blade put his hand over his chest, and despite his great actor performance, the designs there were catching all the attention, and not in our favor.

"In those outfits? You're not fooling us!" the same man replied, while the other one grabbed Blade's arm, trying to drag him away—well, I wasn't sure who was who, as the two guards looked like twins, both strong, bald, and annoyed, and my wide eyes were more focused on the evil genie they were trying to take away from my hands.

"We thought it was a costume party?" I tried with my best innocent expression, and surprisingly, once more, it didn't work, surely because Blade's chuckle didn't help at all.

Yet when I met his gaze sideways, and the flash of slyness sparkling there, I couldn't be mad, not even when the other guard caught me roughly.

"How dare you treat the great astronaut Lucy Lucas like that?!" Blade gasped, while I burst out laughing, a full and loud laughter that I couldn't stop.

When anyone normal, 'ordinary', would have been stricken by panic or dread, I was shot by euphoric tickles.

It must have been the evil genie's magic power because the fact that we were escorted by officers of the law was setting in with the man's rough grip pinching my skin, yet like a shooting star, it was turning into a sparking trail, spurred by Blade's ravings.

Or my laugh was encouraging him? It was hard to know as he continued,

"She had an incident with a cake when she was in space!"

My stomach was hurting at this point, Blade's words, along with his grand act and the whole situation, forming a kind of deadly combination that I wouldn't have imagined when I'd met him a few hours before.

I couldn't even walk, not that it stopped the large guard to drag me around, and I was still doubled over when we arrived at the same white gate.

The journey through the park had once again passed in a blur, although the mist in my eyes was so different from earlier.

"And we better not see you again!"

We were pushed outside, and while I struggled to keep my balance through my fit of laughter, Blade was already straightening to call above the gate, which the guards closed in our faces.

"Your loss!"

"The youth! Where is it going?"

"In our time..."

We could hear the grumbles through the fence before our eyes met again, and everything disappeared under the sound of our laughs.

In this instant, we may still have been two strangers, who didn't know anything about each other, except our names—and thanks to my wish, I wasn't sure I remembered mine—yet we were sharing intimate parts of ourselves and a unique closeness through the breathes we were trying to catch and the innocence and deviousness of our shining gazes.

When I finally managed to straighten up, we weren't quite exactly the same, and neither did the surroundings, my eyes going from wrinkling to wide in a second.

"What?! It's already night?!"

Where had the time gone?

Surely somewhere with my forgotten memories, as we'd escaped more than the guards in this special celebration, and it seemed to be a mystery for Blade too as he glanced with lifted eyebrows at the sun starting to set behind us.

The orangey lighting was giving the large tent even more highlight in the middle of the dark green shapes of nature, and actually, even the parking lot had a special glow, though I didn't know if it was from the flaming rays of sunset or from the magic of laughter, music, and freedom.

Finally, I understood why he'd chosen this gloomy and ordinary place, and it made it even harder for my next words to come out.

"I guess it's time to go home..."

"As you want, Shooting star."

I imagined that if it hadn't been this last faint remain of my reason reminding me of my curfew and rules, it wouldn't have been Blade who would have. He resembled more the little devil on my shoulder, and I couldn't read his expression as we started to head back to his motorcycle.

Unaffected was probably the best way to describe it as I observed him walk with this same confident gait.

The silence had fallen with my words, and with each step we took, they were settling in. The carefree sound of our laughs appeared farther, yet I tried to replay every second of this unique moment, relishing the feeling of freedom. 

It may have only been for an instant; it may not have been the birthday I'd imagined, but when my only escape had been tears and bullets, it had turned into something magical, all thanks to one person...

"Blade." I tugged on his hand, making him turn to me before he could reach his motorbike.

Though I hadn't expected we would end up this close, and my gaze sliding from the movement of his protruding Adam's apple to his penetrating eyes, I struggled to remember why I'd said his name, other than to taste the sharp syllable on the lips I was now nibbling.

"Thank you for making my wish come true."

He may not have been fond of politeness and have repeated that 'it was nothing', yet for me, it wasn't. This stranger was the only person who had cared about my wishes for today, and he had even realized it without asking anything in return.

I didn't regret accepting his offer, even if he hadn't left me much choice.

"You should use this."

I was so lost in my thoughts, which had taken the color blue, that I hadn't noticed he'd slid something in my hand. "What?"

Cold metal... Unmistakable grip... Small and protruding lever... The gun...

How had he managed to pull it out of my bag? Was I really this distracted, or were his fingers that sly? I guessed both, and I needed a few more seconds for the question why did he put a gun in my hand? to arrive in my brain and make me widen my eyes in search of a possible danger.

I didn't get to glance at the grizzly bear or whatever frightening beast was behind me, however, when his gravelly voice froze me.

"'Cause I'm having a real, bad intention right now."

He had all my attention, and gaping at his piercing eyes, I could indeed take in the darker blue shadowing them, although he wasn't counting my freckles anymore.

His only focus was on my lips, which I released from the hold of my teeth with a shaky breath.

"And it's the only thing that will stop me from kissing you." His words were just a whisper, but I could feel their trail on my skin like sparking powder until they sank in and sent a bang in my chest.

Did he switch off the safety? Was he crazy? Did he realize how shaky my fingers were?

One thing was sure, I wouldn't fire. I could never hurt someone who hadn't hurt me.

I could pull away, nonetheless. In spite of the mischievous spark in his eyes, I doubted he would force me if I pushed him away.

Yet I didn't do either of those.

Did I want to let him kiss me? Did I want to kiss him?

The question hit me like the trigger of an automatic gun, setting off many bangs in my chest. It hadn't crossed my mind before, but all those times I'd been drawn towards his hypnotizing eyes and smirk, all those trances he'd pulled me in, what would have happened if I hadn't been stopped?

Whatever the answer was, my reason was telling me it was a bad idea when I was heartbroken and lost. Besides, it wouldn't be ladylike when I'd kissed my boyfriend just this morning, no matter what had happened after.

Still, something else was growing louder, an instinct coming from my guts, my stomach, my core... I couldn't place it, only feel it taking over.

There would never be another opportunity like this. I would probably never see this stranger again, and Blade was handsome and magnetizing; there was no denying. He was here, right in front of me, and despite the seconds, minutes, or maybe hours of my internal dilemma, he hadn't moved.

His gaze was still on me, darker as if the night was falling on the expanse of water too, making it more mysterious, dangerous, and tempting.

From the intensity of his stare, I didn't doubt he could see all the questions rushing inside me, and it only brought me more what-ifs...

"What if I don't?" My breathless voice held as many cracks as when I'd met him hours before, but the chaos threatening to unleash behind was very different as I waited for an answer.

And his answer was wordless. His eyes flickered to mine then to my lips, and back and forth a few times, while his fingers grazed mine on the trigger, leaving me one more chance, or warning, to change my mind before his hand ever so slowly snaked along my arm and my neck.

Of course, it created a streak of sparks on its way until it landed in the back of my hair, and the base of his large palm was well-placed against my jugular to feel the detonations of my heart as he leaned closer.

The length of the barrel was the only thing remaining between us, and as the handle pressed deeper into my stomach, my instincts took over.

My fingers moved. My eyes closed, and my breath halted as I prepared for the impact...

... Of his warm lips on mine, and oh, I was glad I had put the gun back in my bag.

Like everything about him, the touch was unpredictable, the melting gentleness dizzying before the sharp contrast happened, and following the soft first brush, he seized the opportunity of my shaky gasp to slide his devious tongue between my parted lips, claiming my mouth.

The caresses weren't particularly fast, yet they were intense and ... sharp.

He'd warned me to use the gun, but he hadn't specified there would be a firing anyway. Overwhelming tingles were shooting through my veins as I struggled to keep up with the sparking attacks of his tongue, and my empty hands reached for his neck, trying to hold on to something as I felt so inexperienced in front of him.

Even if it wasn't my first kiss, in a way, maybe I was inexperienced because I had only kissed one person in my whole life, and it was so different.

Where Spencer was always tender and giving through his lips, Blade was taking with no restrain—my breath, that's for sure, but also so much more—and I found myself wanting to give him all as I melted closer against his strong chest, and of course, his hands pulled me in even more.

At this point, he was invading, seizing all my senses, and as he sucked between my upper and lower lips, each of my nerve endings was drawn by the sinful kiss.

When he nipped at the left corner of my mouth, he even had one of my breathless moans, a tug from deep inside my core, and more was about to follow when as fast as a shooting star, his mouth broke apart from mine.

Well, like for our illegal intrusion at the party, I didn't know if it had been seconds, minutes, or infinite that had passed, yet it was too soon for me, and my only point of reference was blue when I opened my dazed eyes.

His gaze was already on me, the night completely fallen on the clear shades, and meteors could surely reflect on the gleam there, though it remained unreadable as he flickered his attention from my lips to every inch of my face.

I could have believed he was still counting the freckles on my flushed skin and I had imagined this breath-taking kiss if his taste hadn't been all over my lips.

Sugary from all the cakes we'd eaten, along with a hint of something bitter, which I supposed was tobacco, and another unique savor that was surely his... it was a special and contrasting mix that shouldn't have felt so right as my tongue slipped along my swollen lips.

"Let's go."

Sharp contrast, it was, when he stepped abruptly away.

I almost lost my balance, my whole body deprived of his touch from my forehead to my now empty hands, and my head spinning, while he was already climbing on his bike.

Had I done something bad? Was I that bad at kissing that he wanted to run away?

I'd tried to return the ardor of his lips, though. Maybe people in the East side didn't kiss the same way because Spencer had never complained, but again, he probably wasn't satisfied if he had searched for other lips, and other things too...

The bitterness was coming back, inching up my throat and threatening to spoil the sweetness on my lips when Blade pulled me out of my thoughts, figuratively and literally, with his hand tugging on my twisting fingers.

"If you want to go home, you have to get on the bike." The devious dimple reappeared along with a small Cheshire's smile, and on his now slightly swollen lips, it was a sight, which made me forget again.

After all, he didn't seem to avoid me as he 'helped' me up on the motorcycle, his fingers wandering more than necessary on my exposed skin, almost as much as his piercing gaze, and he wasn't the type to tiptoe or sugarcoat. If he hadn't liked the kiss, he would have surely told me straight. Although I wasn't sure he'd felt all the sparks I had, and I preferred not to wonder. 

It didn't matter, since I would never see him again, and I chose to relish the wish come true and the taste of freedom he'd offered me in so many ways as the roar of the engine brought me closer to him, my hands on the same spot as on our outward journey.

Can we just take a minute to talk about this kiss?! Isn't it the sexiest way to ask for consent? Blade is 🔥🔥🔥😍 Let me know what you think of this kiss!

Also, Shooting Star? Do you like this nickname and does it fit Dorothy? 😉🔫 🌠

I hope you liked this chapter which was totally inspired by Taylor Swift's song (did you catch all the hints at the lyrics in this chapter and the previous one? If not, go re-read it! 😉👀) and don't forget to vote ⭐ and comment to let me know all your thoughts! 😘

I love to see all of you in my notifications, and you are my little shooting stars! 🤩😘💕🌠🔫