Chapter 61 Nicholas's Realization
A look of pure confusion crossed his face as he searched his soul for an answer to her question. Why was he so impatient to see her? Why did it feel as if he would die if he didn’t meet her? Was he in love with Alyssa? His eyes focused blankly on her curious face as the realization hit him hard. Yes, he was hopelessly in love with Alyssa Van Every! How had he not realized it before? There wasn’t any other explanation for the heart-wrenching emotions he experienced when away from her. They tormented him until he saw her again. It explained why he needed to be near her all the time.
“Nicholas? What’s wrong?” asked Alyssa, noticing the dazed look on his face, the beads of perspiration on his forehead. He seemed to be lost in a world of his own.
“Nothing. Nothing at all. You must be hungry, Alyssa. Let’s eat the food the caretaker has arranged for us. It’s late. We can explore the place tomorrow morning,” he rambled on nervously while Alyssa gaped at him, unable to figure his mood out.
“I’m actually dying of hunger. Thank God there’s food here. I thought I would have to go to bed on an empty stomach like a prisoner on a secluded island.” She giggled nervously while Nicholas rolled his eyes, a lazy grin lighting his face up.
“Don’t give me ideas. I could take advantage of the situation in a better way than keeping you hungry,” he said, while Alyssa groaned. Why were all his words laced with seual innuendos? She noted the strange fire in his eyes, the hungry glance he gave her occasionally, and her heart skipped a beat. The familiar need to pull him into her arms and kiss him drove her crazy. She went to the kitchen to serve their dinner, but Nicholas followed her there. Within the small confines of the kitchen, she could feel the heat emanating from him as he stood close behind her, watching her check out the dishes.
“Shall we take them to the table?” he asked hoarsely, his face already encroaching upon her personal space, his hot breath fanning on her neck. At that point, all she wanted was to pull him closer and kiss him, but she just restrained her racing heart and nodded.
“Yes. Looks so delicious that I could eat straight out of the casserole.” Nicholas chuckled, the sound so sey that it made her throb with an intense need to taste him rather than the food. They carried the food to the table, Swedish meatballs with pasta, served with garlic bread and potato wedges. Sitting opposite one another, they hungrily devoured the food. It was already late and Alyssa longed to change out of the long flowing gown she wore. However, the thought of their sleeping arrangements made her heart race. Would he want her to sleep with him? Maybe that was the reason he took so much effort just to get into her pants!
“Don’t you like the food?” asked Nicholas, seeing her frown at the food.
“Of course, I love it.”
“Then what’s wrong? Don’t you want to be here with me?” Alyssa searched his eyes for a sign to his motive behind this abduction.
“It’s not that, Nicholas. I don’t know why you brought me here. I’m not ready to indulge in a physical relationship with you.” She couldn’t help but clarify with him for her own peace of mind. The attraction between them was intense and sitting opposite him at the dinner table, she could feel the magnetic pull. If she weren’t careful, she would end up heartbroken! She didn’t need that in her life now. Her biggest concern now is to find herself a place of her own to stay. Living with Alexander stressed her immensely and she couldn’t wait to move out, but she knew the outcome of it all. Her dad would again freeze her account.
Nicholas looked down at his plate, his heart filling up with longing and disappointment. Did she think he brought her here only to have his way with her? If he needed just se he could easily find it elsewhere! Couldn’t she realize he needed her? He needed her in his life! He needed the opportunity to convince her to give their relationship a chance.
“Did I say that I just want a physical fling with you? You can stop imagining things and relax instead,” he said, holding out a meatball dunked in mouth-watering gravy for her to eat. “C’mon, open up,” he urged, surprising her. Alyssa opened her mouth to eat what he offered, completely puzzled by his change in demeanor. He was so unpredictable that it was difficult to guess what he would do next. Nicholas gazed at her and Alyssa felt he was expecting her to feed him!
She picked up a fork full and held it up for him to eat. Nicholas’s eyes sparkled with happiness as he opened his mouth to take a bite.
“This tastes so much better. I could get used to it,” he whispered, his eyes taking in the flush that stained her cheeks.
“So could I,” she breathed, acutely aware of his gaze following her every move. Nicholas’s heart skipped a beat at her admission and he fed her another bite. Alyssa, too, returned his gesture and they ended up feeding one another the entire dinner. There seemed to be an unspoken understanding between them, as if their hearts had fused together as one.
“That was the most delightful meal of my life!” rasped Nicholas, as he got up to help clear the table. “I’m glad I abducted you.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes, but deep inside her heart, she knew it was true. She, too, was glad that he had abducted her and brought her here. For the first time, she didn’t want to think of the consequences. She wanted to enjoy herself with Nicholas just as much as her heart desired. Maybe this was the only opportunity she would get to make memories of the man she loved! That was okay. She wasn’t complaining. She could live her whole life with these memories!
“Done? Let’s call it a night. I’m dead tired! Abducting you was such a tiring job!” Alyssa chuckled, but her heart started thumping loudly in her chest at the mention of sleep. Would he want to make love to her again like before? Was that what this was all about? Nicholas led her upstairs to where the bedrooms were located.
“You can choose your room, Alyssa. I’ll get our luggage,” he said, opening the door of the master suite and going inside. Alyssa gaped at him, not understanding what exactly he meant. Nicholas emerged from the master suite and went down the stairs to get their luggage.
In the meantime, Alyssa checked the other two bedrooms. Her mind was in a state of turmoil. Why did Nicholas not force her to sleep with him? If not a physical relationship, what was it he wanted out of her? This was getting more confusing day by day. Absent-mindedly, she chose a bedroom and sat on the bed to wait for Nicholas. With the dress clinging to her body, she couldn’t wait to change out of it.
The beautiful wrap-around window beckoned her, and she went towards it, drawing the curtains open to watch the dark waves under the moonlight. There was a mysterious quietness all around the place and she found it much more beautiful than Preston Island.
“Here’s your luggage. I wonder why you chose this room!” said Nicholas as he strode in with her luggage.
“Why? What’s wrong with this room?” she asked, looking around the room with a comfortable-looking single bed on one side and a cozy sit-out, on the other. She found nothing wrong with the cute little room and glared at Nicholas. Did he expect her to choose the master bedroom instead? Nicholas chuckled and shook his head at her ignorance. Why would he tell her? He would wait for her to find out.
“Nothing. Good night, Alyssa,” he said, walking out towards the master suite next to it. Alyssa twisted and turned, but the bed was a little small for her and she couldn’t get a wink of sleep. It was late when she somehow dozed off in an uncomfortable posture when a door opened somewhere.
In a matter of minutes, she felt lifted and carried somewhere. Was this a dream, or was it for real? A few minutes later, her back touched a soft, warm, and comfortable bed, much larger than the one she was sleeping in, and she sighed with bliss. Snuggling against a warm cushion that somewhat smelled like Nicholas, she sighed and soon fell into an undisturbed sleep.
Alyssa woke up the next morning to the sound of birds quarreling in their rookeries. It was a bright and sunny day and the warm sun streamed in through the wrap-around windows of the grand room she was in. The huge circular bed wasn’t the one she slept in last night! Where was she? Alyssa sat up with dread! Was this the master suite? How did she get in here?