Chapter 138
Part 8 A
Mist to mist, drops to drops. For water thou art, and unto water shalt thou return.
Kamand Kojouri
“Oh my sweet Mia….” There was something in that voice, a vulnerability that Mia could not pin point and yet she could sence it all the same.
And if that infamous passion between the lovers was anything near what she was feeling then, she never wanted it to stop.
It was the most pleasurable and fulfilling sensation in the world, to be held in his arms like that, to be looked at – the way he was looking at her, as if she was the only thing that mattered in this world.
Heat pooled inside her like thick molten lava while her heart thrummed inside in an erratic trend, ready to burst forth if he didn’t kiss her right then. But his lips still remained an inch away from hers, teasing with that tantalizing little smile and his fingers drew erotic signs down her open neckline of the dress.
She could have begged him right then to kiss her but apparently she wasn’t the only one here, about to beg. She could hear his sharp intake of breath as his fingers touched the centre of her bosom and even though there were layers of clothing between his skin and hers there was no mistaking his reaction.
“I want you, Mia! Oh God! I want you so much that it hurts!” He groaned, the vulnerability in those dark eyes getting clearer with every passing second.
“But I won’t kiss you, not after how harsh and aggressive I have been to you today. No!” He shook his head, his expression like that of a man starving from years denying his favorite delicacy and Mia could have moaned in frustration, she almost did.
“Not until you agree to marry me.”
It was as if he could read the frustration and the need for him, written on her face because he was once again smiling like a tease while his hands took free reign upon her body, touching and caressing her so intimately yet lovingly that while one moment she wanted to hide away, shyly. The next moment she recalled that she didn’t wanted it to stop.
“Tell me that you will marry me…Say yes!” His fingers ran through the seam of her top in a slow sedate route in such a fashion that could turn any woman mad.
“Say it!” he demanded again, causing Mia to finally give in with half out of her mind with trepidation, pressed so close to him.
“Yes!” She wishpered. “I will marry you.”
A gorgeous smile lit up his face as he surveyed her from, under his lashes, his face slowly coming down for that long promised kiss and she closed her eyes.
When the doorbell to her apartment rang loudly and then rang again.
She opened her eyes with her heart thudding in her chest while he continued to hold her close, kissing her nose, her cheeks, the lobes of her ears, murmuring sweet nothings in her ears and for one moment Mia forgot that someone was at the door.
But there it was again. The doorbell was now ringing continuously as if someone had jammed their fingers into that bell.
And Mia sat bolt upright on the bed, pushing Oliver away abruptly because through the thin walls of her apartment she had just heard something.
The voices of two men, arguing. ‘Her brothers!’ She jumped out of the bed. “Oh God damn it!” She muttered walking out of her bedroom. When her mother’s clear voice rang throughout the apartment.
“Mia darling, open the door.”
“What is it?” Oliver asked, morosely, getting himself out of the bed too with his bottom lip thrust out, giving her a pouting look.
Seriously, he looked like a child who had been denied his favourite candy and that he would be throwing a large tantrum any moment now.
“I- I Think it’s my family….oh god!” Mia covered her face in her hands and halted behind the door, hearing the cute blabbering her little niece and nephew on the other side of the door and her brother’s talking.
‘What would she say when they would ask about Oliver? Her mother was of course going to assume the worse and then…’ She heaved a sigh. ‘She was doomed.’
“Mia!” Now her father was calling and Mia wanted to cry.
“Why aren’t you opening the God damned door?” Oliver bellowed behind her and Mia snapped back frustrated. “Because if I open the door my family is going to see you and – and I don’t know what to tell them…”
“Tell them the truth darling that I am your soon to be husband.” He suggested picking up his blue coat and tie from the sofa. “Anyway, now that we are getting married it’s natural that I meet your family.”
“Nooo!” She went red in the face. “Get out now! My mother would kill me and my brothers will kill you if they find a man in my apartment with me this late at night.”
“Seriously? It’s the twenty first century…” He tusked at her now, amused.
“It doesn’t matter what century it is!” She pushed him towards the open balcony on the other side of the room that overlooked the buzzing market downstairs. “It’s still my family and my parents are very religious people!”
“And I don’t want to break their heart…so, just go!” She pushed him till the railings of the veranda. “Just go!” She muttered and he gave her a lopsided grin. “Fine I will leave through this balcony if you kiss me!”
“No!”
“Yes”
‘NO.”
“Yes”
“no”
“Fine then, I will stay right here and say hello to your family and tell them what a wild little cat you have been in bed.”
“fine!” She snapped red in the face and stood up on her tip toes to reach his mouth. Her plan was simple. to give him a little peck and then sweep him out of here before she could let her parents inside but of course he had to take that away from her too.
As soon as her soft lips touched his, the familiar charge between them sparked and somehow became a full fledged thousand watt electricity that shocked them both. She tried moving away but his hands had gripped her back side intertwining their bodies so that not a wisp of air can come between them and then he kissed her.
“Oh my sweet Mia….” There was something in Oliver's voice, a vulnerability that Mia couldn’t quite pinpoint, yet she sensed it all the same. If the legendary passion between lovers was anything like what she felt now, she never wanted it to stop. It was the most pleasurable and fulfilling sensation in the world to be held in his arms like that, to be looked at as if she was the only thing that mattered.
Heat pooled inside her like molten lava, her heart beating erratically, ready to burst if he didn’t kiss her soon. But his lips remained an inch away from hers, teasing with a tantalizing smile, while his fingers traced erotic patterns down her open neckline. She could have begged him to kiss her, but she wasn’t the only one on the verge of begging. His sharp intake of breath as his fingers reached the center of her bosom, even through layers of clothing, betrayed his own desperation.
“I want you, Mia! Oh God, I want you so much it hurts!” he groaned, the vulnerability in his dark eyes growing clearer with every passing second. “But I won’t kiss you, not after how harsh and aggressive I've been today. No!” He shook his head, looking like a man who had denied himself his favorite delicacy for years. Mia almost moaned in frustration.
“Not until you agree to marry me.”
He seemed to read the frustration and need on her face, smiling like a tease while his hands took free rein over her body. His touch was intimate yet loving, making her want to hide away shyly one moment and never wanting it to stop the next.
“Tell me you'll marry me… Say yes!” His fingers traced the seam of her top in a slow, deliberate route, driving her mad.
“Say it!” he demanded again, his voice a husky whisper that sent shivers down her spine. She was half out of her mind with trepidation, pressed so close to him.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I will marry you.”
A gorgeous smile lit up his face as he surveyed her from beneath his lashes. His face slowly descended, finally coming in for the long-promised kiss, and she closed her eyes in anticipation. But then the doorbell rang, loudly and persistently. She opened her eyes, her heart thudding in her chest. He continued to hold her close, kissing her nose, her cheeks, the lobes of her ears, murmuring sweet nothings. For a moment, Mia forgot that someone was at the door.
But there it was again. The doorbell now rang continuously, as if someone had jammed their finger on it. Mia sat bolt upright on the bed, pushing Oliver away abruptly. Through the thin walls of her apartment, she heard the voices of two men arguing. ‘Her brothers!’ She jumped out of the bed. “Oh God, damn it!” she muttered, walking out of her bedroom. Her mother’s clear voice rang throughout the apartment.
“Mia darling, open the door.”
“What is it?” Oliver asked morosely, getting out of the bed too, his bottom lip thrust out, giving her a pouting look. He looked like a child denied his favorite candy, ready to throw a large tantrum.
“I- I think it’s my family… oh God!” Mia covered her face with her hands and halted behind the door, hearing the cute babbling of her little niece and nephew on the other side, and her brothers talking. What would she say when they asked about Oliver? Her mother was, of course, going to assume the worst and then… She heaved a sigh. She was doomed.
“Mia!” Now her father was calling, and Mia wanted to cry.
“Why aren’t you opening the God damned door?” Oliver bellowed behind her, and Mia snapped back in frustration. “Because if I open the door, my family will see you and – and I don’t know what to tell them…”
“Tell them the truth, darling, that I am your soon-to-be husband.” He suggested, picking up his blue coat and tie from the sofa. “Anyway, now that we are getting married, it’s natural that I meet your family.”
“Nooo!” She went red in the face. “Get out now! My mother would kill me, and my brothers will kill you if they find a man in my apartment with me this late at night.”
“Seriously? It’s the twenty-first century…” He tutted at her, now amused.
“It doesn’t matter what century it is!” She pushed him towards the open balcony on the other side of the room that overlooked the buzzing market downstairs. “It’s still my family, and my parents are very religious people!”
“And I don’t want to break their hearts… so, just go!” She pushed him to the railings of the veranda. “Just go!” She muttered, and he gave her a lopsided grin.
“Fine, I will leave through this balcony if you kiss me!”
“No!”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Fine then, I will stay right here and say hello to your family and tell them what a wild little cat you have been in bed.”
“Fine!” She snapped, red in the face, and stood up on her tiptoes to reach his mouth. Her plan was simple: to give him a little peck and then sweep him out of here before she let her parents inside. But, of course, he had to take that away from her too.
As soon as her soft lips touched his, the familiar charge between them sparked and became a full-fledged thousand-watt electricity that shocked them both. She tried moving away, but his hands gripped her backside, intertwining their bodies so that not a wisp of air could come between them. Then he kissed her.
It was sweet and sensual and mind blowing and beyond any dreams that Mia had ever had about kissing a man.
“Mia! “ A loud voice boomed beyond the door and Oliver reluctantly let go of her as she started panicking once again. “Go! Please!” And so he started his descend through her little balcony to the floor below where people were milling around in and out of the shops in that street.
By the time she finally opened that door her parents were looking positively alarmed. “ we heard voices but you weren’t opening the door.”
Her mother murmured taking a seat on the sofa along with her father while her brothers continued to harass her with further questions.
“What took you so long?” Toby asked and she had to lie through her teeth. “I had fever as Nicole might have told you so I was in bed.”
“But We heard voices.” Henery pressed and Mia wished she could faint again and somehow turn the conversation away from here. “It was the Tv.” It was on and I just switched it off when I came to open the door for you all.”
“oh my poor baby…” Her mother hugged her tight as she checked her temperature. “We came as soon as we heard that you were sick.”
“How are you feeling now darling?” Her father asked as the two toddlers ran around the room like a giggling tornado. “Better.” Mia was glad to be back in a conversation where she need not lie anymore.
“Yes, the fever seems gone now.” Her mother nodded.
Finally the rapid fire phase ended and they all settled down but of course her little niece and nephew continued to run around and squeezed their way in through the legs of the adults and wound their arms around Mia’s limbs.
“Auntie” They unisioned together that was a message in itself. ‘pick us up!’ It said and she obliged by picking them up one by one and placing them on the large sofa by the tv.
“Have you eaten anything?” Her mother asked while moving towards the kitchen and suddenly Mia found herself blushing furiously, remembering about a certain someone serving her soup in bed and then much much more.
“Yes, soup.” She murmured as she settled herself on the rug of the now full room.
“But you all didn’t need to come here all the way from Brisbane, anyway it was just fever and I could have coped and you didn’t need to drag the kids all this way.”
Suddenly her mother peeked from the kitchen doorway. “Oh dear, you have forgotten.” Her mother exclaimed.
“What?”
“Tomorrow is 26th January, the republic day! Henery must have told you that the kids were chosen for the children’s programme and I had called you last week, to remind you to book 3 rooms in a near by hotel for us all.”
Mia looked at their face with a blank dumbfounded expression because yes she could now remember her sister- in –law’s call and her mother’s reminder to book three rooms for them so that they could stay in Sydney on the night of 26th, enjoy the parade and then drive back the next day but after all that had happened in the last week in her life, Republic day celebration had been the last thing on her mind.
“Shit!” Henery was laughing somewhere in the back. “Com’on Toby let’s go and search the nearby areas – if we are lucky we could find a room or two for tonight. I have no intention of sleeping on the floor.”
Suddenly the door bell rang, distracting everyone for the moment.
“It’s almost 9.” Toby muttered. “Who could it be now?”
It was Oliver, in his now – rumpled blue suit and bedraggled hair leaning on the door frame like a gorgeous Greek statue.
“good evening…I am Oliver Ryan.” He stretched his hand out for a shake to Toby who had opened the door and now stood looking at him, confused. “Mia’s boyfriend.”
And Mia wanted to kill him so bad right then! She had got rid of him from the back door and the bastard had now crawled back through the front.