Chapter 75 The Snake and the Apple
BELLA
I woke up to the soft sensation of a kiss pressed to my forehead. My eyes fluttered open, barely, and then quickly shut again. What the hell? That kiss, so tender, was not something I expected. It was then that I remembered David’s room. I had spent the night here. The realization hit me, and my stomach twisted. I lay still, feeling his breath against my skin, his hand still resting near my ear.
Why is he touching me like this? My thoughts scattered as his voice broke through the haze.
"Are you going to pretend you're still sleeping, or should I force you to have another round of sex this morning?" His voice was low, filled with amusement.
The words slammed into me like a bucket of cold water. I shot up in bed, panic rising in my chest. No. I won’t let him touch me again. Never.
"I’m up," I said, my voice rough, betraying the rush of emotions swirling inside me. My hands quickly wrapped the blanket around me, clutching it tightly, as I saw him staring at my chest, his eyes unblinking.
"What do you think you're doing?" I demanded, the words more sharp than I intended.
His eyes didn’t waver. "I'm staring at what belongs to me," he said, his voice smug and self-assured.
I froze. "It’s mine, not yours," I said, but the words felt hollow, weak, as I instinctively shielded myself more.
He wasn’t done, though. Slowly, deliberately, he tugged at the blanket, trying to pull it away from me. My heart pounded as I jumped off the bed, the blanket still clutched to my chest. As I did, my eyes caught a glimpse of him completely naked. I couldn’t help but gawk. He was stunning. His body, lean and muscular, was a stark contrast to his arrogant, calculating demeanor. His six-pack was flawless, his skin smooth, and those piercing blue eyes god, those eyes.
I couldn’t look away. My mouth dried as I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat only making it harder to breathe.
Still, I couldn’t let him see me like this. I looked away, but it was too late. He had already grabbed me, pulling me back toward him as I felt myself seated on his lap, the heat of his body radiating into mine.
"What do you think you’re doing?" I gasped, trying to pull away.
"Nothing," he said casually, "Just want to hug you from behind."
His hands, those large, strong hands, moved to my chest, squeezing gently as he rested his head against my back. I couldn't suppress the soft moan that escaped my lips at the sudden pressure, the heat of his body making me feel exposed and vulnerable. There was a strange warmth building between us, a sensation that spread through my body, tightening my core.
Then, something else began to shift. Something that made my skin flush, my heart race, and my mind go blank with confusion. I felt something hard against my backside. His arousal was undeniable, pressing into me.
I jumped, startled by the growing pressure against me. "What’s that getting longer?" I asked, panic creeping into my voice. I attempted to stand, to escape his grasp, but he held me tighter.
"It’s a snack trying to bite your apple," he said, his voice dripping with amusement.
"What apple? I don’t have any apples with me," I said, confusion flooding my mind.
"Under you," he whispered, his words sliding over my ear, "There’s a delicious apple the snake is trying to eat."
Suddenly, everything clicked, and a wave of heat crashed over me. My heart skipped a beat as I realized exactly what he meant. "Fuck," I cursed, backing away quickly, my legs shaky as I stood, still clutching the blanket around me like a lifeline.
But my eyes unwillingly darted down. And there it was. His long, hard erection, standing tall in front of me. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The sight of it sent a jolt of heat through me, and for a moment, I almost reached out. My body, my traitor of a body, seemed to be on the verge of doing something I’d regret.
Swallowing thickly, I turned and ran, desperate to escape, hearing his laughter follow me. He was nothing but a pervert, I thought, my mind screaming in disgust. But as I darted through the hall, I realized something else. I was still holding his blanket around me, using it as a shield to cover my nakedness.
My breath came in short, frantic bursts. I had to get out of here.
I crept through the hallway, keeping my head down, trying to avoid anyone seeing me. But fate, it seemed, had other plans. As I rounded the corner, I ran straight into Janet. Her eyes widened for a split second, then softened, and she smiled.
Why is she smiling? My stomach twisted in unease, and I forced myself to make eye contact, even though I felt exposed, my heart still hammering in my chest.
"Good morning, ma'am," she said, her voice polite, but I could sense something else in her smile.
I hesitated before responding. "Good morning. I was just having some exercise here," I said, trying to play it off, trying not to let her think the worst.
"Ooookay, ma’am," she said, her smile turning mischievous. I narrowed my eyes, unsure of what was going on behind that innocent expression. What was she thinking? I quickly turned and hurried toward my room, heart pounding even harder now.
Now she’ll know I had sex with that old pervert, I groaned to myself, collapsing onto my bed. The sheets tangled around me as I buried my face in them, trying to block out the growing shame.
But then the memories hit me again. His body. His erection. How could he have something so big? Is that what he put inside me last night? I flushed with embarrassment, a hot wave of heat spreading from my chest to my cheeks.
I jumped up suddenly, the bed a mess of tangled sheets, rushing to the mirror. My reflection was a mess my hair wild, my eyes wide. But it was my neck that drew my attention. A series of dark marks marred my skin, hickeys from last night’s wild encounter. I cursed under my breath. Why would he do this? Now I had to cover it up all day.
I reached up and touched the marks, the memory of his mouth on my skin still fresh in my mind. His words echoed in my ears: "I don't want you to remember what happened. I don't want to lose you."
What did he mean by that? What did he do to make me forget?
I stood there, grappling with the confusion, my mind racing. I had to recover my memories. I had to know what happened, what I had forgotten.
Just then, Janet came in with a glass of water, and I blinked, caught off guard.
"How did she know I needed this?" I thought, taking the glass from her hand.
"Thank you," I said, my voice still shaky.
"I’m always at your service, ma'am," she replied, and I nodded as she began straightening my room. It felt strange almost too familiar. My old self must have been close to her. Maybe, just maybe, she could help me.
I placed the glass down, turning toward her. "Can I ask you something?" I said, watching as she hesitated, still arranging the room.
"What is it, ma’am?" she asked, looking up at me, her expression kind but cautious.
"How close am I to you?" I asked. The question felt odd, but I needed to know. I needed to understand.
She smiled, a small, warm smile. "You took me as your sister," she said.
"Sister?" I murmured. That felt strange. A sister. If I trusted her, maybe she wouldn’t lie to me about the truth.
I took the last sip of water and turned to face her, sitting down on the couch, feeling the weight of the moment. "Promise me you won’t lie to me," I said, my voice low but firm.
She hesitated, but then she nodded. "I promise, ma’am. I’ll never lie to you," she said, her voice steady.
I smiled softly, though my heart was heavy with uncertainty. "Can you tell me how I lost my memories? What happened? I need to remember. I’m trying so hard to remember," I said, my voice cracking with the desperation I felt.
Janet’s face shifted. She looked terrified, her eyes widening. "I don’t want to die, ma’am," she whispered. "If I tell you, I might lose my life.