Chapter 38 DIRE DESIRES
I thought about his offer for a bit, contemplating whether I should take his hand and join him in the pool or let my mild phobia for large water overtake me.
“I promise.” He said softly with total genuinety in his eyes.
I finally gave in, walking towards the edge of the pool and I took his hand. He carefully guided me to take a seat first at the same edge of the pool before he lifted me up from there and he let my feet wander in the low current wave before I eventually found my footing, my sundress wallowing in the deep.
“Careful…” He pronounced slowly, his hand still guarding mine while his other hand held my waist.
I suddenly became conscious of the close proximity between us which was slowly becoming electrifying.
I was nervous that I began to feel chills as his breath brushed against the surface of my skin. This wasn't swimming, we were just standing in the middle of the pool, a lot too close that I could feel his skin touch mine due to how wet our clothes had been.
My heart was racing as he held onto me like we were going to dance and I knew I dared not look him directly in the eyes or I would have to bear the consequences of that action of mine when it happens.
His hand reached for my chin after a little while of standing still in the pool, breathing through each other's skin.
He lifted my chin towards his face, allowing me to fall into his gaze while also embracing the look within his eyes.
I could feel my hand still pressed against his chest and I got conscious of how fast his heart was racing.
His thumb touched my lips and he began to caress my soft lips like he was drawing a line on my lower lip.
He gulped hard by merely staring at me while touching my plum lips with his thumb and the way he touched me made me want to sin— to do anything and everything for him at once if he wanted it.
“Vanessa…” He called my name with his husky voice which sent a loud tingle through my lone body.
His voice was voluptuously cold, thick and moist at the same time.
“Huh?” I breathed like a whimpering cat, my gaze turning into something pure— just like an innocent child's stare.
“Will you kiss me?”
—
I felt weak in the knees as he asked that question. He had just asked if I would kiss him, he wanted something from me at that moment just as much as I did.
He had asked for my consent first and would only want me to take charge of the ride.
For a moment, I thought my legs had turned to jelly or maybe they just gave a wobbly feeling like soggy pasta because they were deep inside the water of a pool.
The longer it took for me to give him a response, the faster I could feel his heart beat against his ribcage.
I must have lost all of my senses at that moment, giving in to my sudden insatiable hunger for something I never had my wish upon with Rafael.
I wanted him. I wanted this man— Rafael for myself. I wanted to feel the softness of his lips against mine again.
I wanted his tongue to explore the inside of my mouth as he pressed himself against my body. I wanted to be trapped in the heat of his warmth, his touch— all of him.
I could feel a rushing heat pool in between my legs again and I could find myself carving into what my mind desired, making his desire come true as well.
It would kill me to refuse him at that moment because I knew the feeling between us was a lot too mutual to want to escape from, but then again, I had to remember who he was.
He was Rafael— Santiano Rafael Devereaux, the man who had destroyed my wedding.
I shouldn't be a subject to the Stockholm syndrome and I should remain unforgiving to him. I shouldn't develop any feelings such as pity, want and love for this man.
—
I pulled away from him and he found this so sudden that he tried to hold me again, but I wouldn't allow it. I managed myself back to the edge of the pool, climbing up the pool stairs to sit at the edge— where I think I should be, or perhaps where I belong and I should have been.
I knew I had disappointed him, but he wouldn't show it. Instead of standing where I had left him, Rafael swam towards the edge of the pool where I had taken a seat.
He pulled up in front of me, a soft glint of worry settled within his dark eyes.
“I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” He apologized.
He had me on lockdown with his words that I barely know how to react or respond to his apology. I couldn't let him go on about how bad it was for him to have ruined my life to satisfy his own personal desire.
Not while I would be out of his hair tomorrow— for good. I only had to make him happy and this was at my own expense.
I suddenly found myself holding his face and he purred within my palms, closing his eyes as he could feel my touch again.
“Touch me slowly, Vanessa. Let your touch rest on my skin. Let me show you how completely my body belongs to you.” He said.
I couldn't measure or imagine how much this man was in love with me. It was his claim, but every word of his, the actions he took to claim me, the way he made my presence in his life an adoring monument— could these be called love?
I was out of words to say, thoughts to think or actions to make, but suddenly, a couple of his men surrounded us with haste as they had urgent news to say to him.
Rafael sprang out of the pool, understanding the look in the eyes of his men at once and he fell out of my hold as his cold nature overshadowed him like a coat.
“Our men, boss… They've been under an attack,” One of the men said.
“I want names.” Rafael growled, stepping out of the pool at once.
“It's the Pedro family.”