Chapter 23 Sharing A Room
Shocked at the roots of her hair, Skylar turned to gape at Christian. Did he bring her here for their engagement?
“Skye, come, I have something important to show you,” said Lillian, pulling her away with her. Skylar glared at Christian all the way, her accusatory gaze holding him captive. He stood still, holding her gaze, feeling a swirl of emotions deep inside him. Although he wanted to admit his feelings to her, to explain why he kept it from her, nothing came out of his lips. He simply watched the hatred reflected in her beautiful eyes.
“Chris, I’m so happy for you,” said Sebastian, coming forward to embrace his younger sibling. He was the only one who knew the depth of Christian’s feelings for Skylar right from the beginning. Lillian found out much later by chance when she overheard them.
“Thanks, bro. It’s all because of you.” They say down with Caleb, Grandpa Ben, and Skylar’s grandparents while Christian wondered where Lilian took Skylar to.
“Lilly bought a few dresses for her to wear for the occasion. She might have taken Skye to her room,” granny Miriam leaned in to whisper on seeing him look around for Skylar.
“I’ll just freshen up.” He left to go to the room he had arranged for their stay. He knew Skylar would be in for another shock when she realized that they would have to share a room. With the whole family here for their engagement, they would be expected to behave like a couple in love and stay in the same room. He noted their luggage placed in their room, but where was Skylar? Maybe she still was with Lillian.
Skylar thanked Lillian profusely and left with a handful of pretty designer dresses she could wear for her engagement. Although she seethed at Christian, she hardly showed her actual feelings to his sister. How could he plan their engagement and not inform her at all? It seemed everyone knew about it except her! She would definitely confront the arrogant man, but first, she needed a shower.
She went to the reception to ask for her room and a staff accompanied her to a room at the far end.
“Thank you.”
The staff left, and she used the card they gave her to swipe and enter. The enormous bay windows overlooking the pristine beach and Biscayne Bay attracted her, and she smiled at the panoramic view. She couldn’t wait to go down there! Maybe coming to Miami wasn’t such a bad idea after all! She was still angry with Christian for keeping her in the dark, but now she started having second thoughts. If they were doing a contract marriage for two years, she might as well get it over and done with. That way she could get rid of Christian from her life faster than live in constant apprehension.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Christian’s husky voice near her ear made her jump. When did he come into her room? She was sure she had locked it when she came in!
Whirling around, she gasped at finding herself nose-to-nose with a towel-clad Christian. Her eyes went wide with horror! She didn’t want to look, but her innocent, virgin eyes seemed to revolt against her resolutions! They seemed to have a will of their own and checked out his ripped, sculpted body, following the trail of water droplets that dipped into his towel.
“You? How did you come into my room? Why are you naked?” she rambled on, trying to escape from the room. Christian’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he took baby steps toward her, closing the distance between them.
“Stop right there. You might be good-looking, but you don’t affect me at all. Stay away from me and my room.” She took a step backward until her back touched the glass windowpane. If it wasn’t closed, she might have jumped out!
“I’m glad that you find me good-looking!” he flashed her a charming grin, resting his hands on either side of her to trap her.
“Whatever! Now, will you leave my room?” She tried hard to focus on his face, but it was an almost impossible task. His fresh citrus and pine scent tingled her nose and seeped into her brain. A strange warmth radiated off his body, causing the butterflies to dance in her stomach. He seemed to understand her reaction to him and brushed his chest against hers, his fiery stare melting her resolve to stay away from him. He was lethal! She had to stay away from him!
“Go to your room and put on something, Christian. Your ploy won’t work on me. I’m immune to you.” Christian chuckled and leaned closer.
“Prove it then.” Skylar’s eyes widened with horror, and she glanced at the bed behind him. Would he kiss her now? She knew where a kiss usually led to. Would he take her here on the bed right now? Panic settled in the pit of her stomach.
“No, I don’t need to prove anything. Leave my room, Christian,” she breathed, pushing at his bare chest.
“Ours,” he corrected her, his gaze dropping to her luscious lips. Maybe he would have forced her to kiss him after all!
“What?” she blinked with confusion, her thoughts turning into mush at his nearness.
“This is our room. Our grandparents would expect us to stay together now that we’re getting engaged.” His eyes searched her shocked ones, and he waited for her to put up a fight. Skylar frowned at him, wanting to punch him for keeping things from her.
“Why didn’t you tell me about all this? Shouldn’t you have consulted me as well?” she asked, sucking in a deep breath to control herself. “I won’t share a room with you. Tell them that.”
“If I would have told you, would you have agreed? Grandpa Ben insisted on us getting engaged. Even your grandparents requested me to do it right away. I couldn’t deny them their wishes. I had to wrap up two weeks’ work in three days to arrive here. Even if we have a contract marriage, we have to get engaged. Don’t we?”
He released her and picked up his clothes from his suitcase. Skylar stood frozen, deep in thought. Yes, he was right. Even for a contract marriage, they would have to get engaged. So it’s better to get it done right now.
“Fine, but I won’t stay in the same room with you.”
“Good luck with convincing our grandparents. If you can convince them, book yourself a room here and move out. Just don’t expect any help from me.” He went into the en-suite change, leaving Skylar in deep thought. She didn’t have the courage to talk to Grandpa Ben. With her grandparents always around Grandpa Ben, it would be difficult to approach them as well. Maybe she was stuck with Christian here in this room. Would he take advantage of her? She turned to watch the expansive blue waters lapping the shore continually. Her life had become so unpredictable now with Christian’s return. She had been happy these last four years without him!
“How are you still here? I thought you weren’t interested in sleeping with me?” His amused voice made her whirl around and face the arrogant man. As if he left her with a choice! He knew how much she feared his grandpa.
“I’m still not interested in sleeping with you but I can’t talk to our grandparents. This is so frustrating!” she rolled her eyes with disgust while Christian’s heart raced with excitement. He had succeeded in his mission to make her sleep with him. His next mission would be to get a kiss from her! He couldn’t wait for it.
“It is! Who wants to sleep with a brat like you? What if you murder me in the middle of the night?” he chuckled and walked out, leaving her gaping at the man. He didn’t say that, did he?
“Excuse me?” she yelled after him, but his chuckle echoed in the air as he left without a retort. How could he call her a brat when every guy in this universe found her irresistible? Was he really not interested in her? Maybe he wouldn’t attack her in the middle of the night then.
She showered, changed, and went down to face the family. She saw them still gathered in the lounge. The sun was about to set and it cast an orange and red glow all around. It was too stunning to ignore.
“Do you want to take a stroll on the beach?” asked Lillian eagerly.
“Yes, I’ve been dying to go there.”
“Lilly, Vivi needs to use the washroom,” said Caleb, who was busy with an online consultation.
“I’ll join you in a minute,” she said to Skylar, excusing herself. Skylar nodded and walked out towards the beach, her mood improving considerably.
“It’s not fair to walk alone in such a romantic place.” She groaned, hearing Christian behind her.
“Why are you following me, Christian?” she turned to see his smiling face as he jogged towards her. His eyes sparkled like precious gemstones under the light of the setting sun. He looked genuinely happy, and she wondered why. They had been fighting with one another since the moment they had met. Then what changed so suddenly? Was he happy to get engaged to her?
“Because you’re my better half. You’re stuck to me for life!”