267- The Most Beautiful Gift

267- The Most Beautiful Gift
POV Nicholas:

I head to the bedroom with this thought disturbing my mind. Dona Sara tormented Isabella’s life, and she wouldn’t stop short of doing the same with Raica. To her, Dominic would marry Ellen Castiel, and I would marry some daughter of her magnate friends. Anything outside of that context is unacceptable.

I take a quick shower, choose a comfortable pair of sweatpants, and grab a plain T-shirt from the pile. My breath falters when I notice the envelope stuck between the stack of fabric. Just looking at the document still brings hesitation — better to keep it in the safe.

I put on the T-shirt and slip the certificate, proof that the world is a great chaotic mystery, among other important papers. I don’t dwell too long on it; triggers are enough to ruin my mood. Before heading downstairs, I grab a present from the pocket of my jacket — something I bought for Raica — and as I turn the handle to the media room, I raise a brow.

Why the hell is Raica crying?

"What happened?"

She diverts her teary eyes from the television, and then my heart stops for a few seconds.

"Nicholas, they kissed. It was so beautiful."

I let out the air and smile in relief when I realize it’s about fiction. Fuck, this girl can drag me from heaven to hell in a snap.

"You cheated, didn’t wait for me," I’m already at her side, "I don’t even care, you’ll have to rewatch the episode."
"I’ll watch it with pleasure. Goblin is amazing, it made it to my top one favorite k-dramas."

I lift the gift to my face.
"What’s that?"
"This?"
"Ahaaa!"
"A gift for you."
"I love gifts." She claps happily, and I laugh at her excitement as I hand her the box. "What could it be?"
"I looked for something special." I caress her face, entwining some soft curls between my fingers. "Open it," I urge, because she’s staring at the object.
"Alright." Her trembling fingers uncover the box. "Wow… it’s beautiful."

Raica lifts in her delicate hand the white-gold chain with a drop-shaped emerald pendant. The stone shines like her greenish eyes.

"Do you like it?"
"It’s perfect! Can you put it on me?"
"Yes, but first, there’s a detail in this pendant. Hold it close to your eye, look inside the emerald."

She looks confused, but obeys my command. I can count the seconds until the tears fall from her eyes like particles of longing. The pendant, like a magic eye, holds Renan’s photo.

"I got that picture from his Instagram. He looked so happy, so I thought it was perfect."
"Renan was very happy that day. He finally got to show the world who he really was without fear of my father beating him." She blinks a few times, then turns to me. The tears keep falling, but now a smile begins to form on her beautiful face. "This is the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received, Nick. Thank you!"
"May I put it on you?"
"You must!"

With the jewel in hand, I place it alongside another necklace — one Raica never takes off. Curious, I resolve my doubt.

"What does that heart-shaped lock mean?"

She holds both pendants and smiles.
"Only Isabella has the key to this lock. I miss my friend."

"Why don’t you call her?"
"I wouldn’t know how to lie, and I know Isabella would drop everything to stay by my side. It wouldn’t be fair, she needs to be happy."

I shrug.
"In this part, having Dominic away is very pleasant." She makes a face, so I change the subject.
"Hungry? Most likely Leda is already bringing dinner."
"I also have a gift."

"Oh?" I’m caught by surprise.
"Look what I bought for you."

I laugh when she pulls from the side table a cactus without thorns. She winks and hands it to me. I turn the pot in different angles, the plant, like a miniature, is the definition of the Nicholas I want to become — free of thorns and masks.

"You removed all the thorns?"
"I wasn’t lying when I said I was good with thorns."
"I can’t deny that you are."

I set my gift down on the coffee table and pull by the waist the far more valuable one, still trying to understand what I did to deserve her. Raica falls onto me but doesn’t let me kiss her, to my disappointment. Sometimes her mouth talks more than it kisses.

"Your gift has a meaning, did you know?"
"No," I shake my head, sliding my hands down her body until I reach the curve of her gorgeous ass and squeeze it eagerly.
"What is it?"
"Cacti offer energy of stability and harmony, just as they can live in improbable places and still bloom. Okay, I memorized it."
"Live in improbable places? Improbable is the word that defines us, Bella."
"Yes, improbable."

I hold her nape and bring her mouth so mine can possess it with lasciviousness. Kissing this girl is surrendering to the most intense sensations. I can’t remember the last time a kiss gave me so much pleasure. An endless mixture of desire.

I pause the kiss, hard as fuck.
"For God’s sake, Raica, you manage to arouse my body just with this delicious mouth."
"Yeah." She smiles seductively and rubs her pussy against my cock, hard as fuck.
"Good, because I’m already wet just by touching your mouth."
"Slut."
"Delicious."

"Hope you’re both dressed for dinner." A voice comes through the door.
"Fuck!"
"It’s Leda, she’s coming in. God, we almost got caught in indecency," Raica mutters seconds before the door opens.

We straighten up as best we can, but obviously our indecent faces don’t hide that we were making out.

"Enjoy your meal, kids." Leda smiles discreetly while serving our hot dinner on the coffee table.

Not that it helps. I’m going to reheat the broth. Who said I don’t intend to finish what I started?