The slumped set of her shoulders broke something inside him. Looking incredibly gloomy, soft, fragile, yet exotically beautiful, he couldn't help but want her with a need that pulsed through his body.
Stefan stared down at her wanting nothing more than to kiss her senseless. The sexual tension hovering around them seemed to thicken between the four walls of her room. He instantly feels his arousal tighten with suppressed need.
"Nice flowers." He indicates with a nod of his head toward the two very large bouquets he sent, in the corner of the wall. He was procrastinating, trying to buy himself time and stay.
"Yes! They're from Aries, the God of war!" Camelia exclaims to his surprise with arms wide as if it was the most important thing in the world.
Stefan lifted an eyebrow and nods once. She definitely consumed more than her body allows. She was communicating all right but it's already affected the way her brain works.
"I highly doubt that." He replies. "Camelia how many fingers am I holding?" He holds three fingers before him.
She squints and tilts her head to the side as if in contemplation. Frowning she replies, "That's soooo easy, it's four!"
"Wrong. You should have known better then to drink so much. Have you ever had an alcoholic beverage before?"
"Nope." She pops the p purposefully and she watches him with a glint of mischief in her eyes.
"I don't believe you should be alone right now." He advises.
"You can go, I'll be fine." She slurs and starts to remove the gold bracelets off her wrists in a lazy, slow motion. She throws them against white tufted headboard, one by one, not caring for the jewelry.
"Remember that day you caught me staring at the magazine cover in that French restaurant?" She asks not waiting for a reply, "They're from him. Isn't he the sweetest...? I wish he...never mind."
The surprise flared in Stefan's eyes and the lust quickens in his loins, tightening in his muscles holding him back.
Lips set in a grim line she shakes her head as if clearing her thoughts and bends forward trying to slip off her gold glittery stilettos.
"You wish what?" He asks in a hard voice but Camelia never bothers to look up busy working to coordinate her sluggish movements and remove her shoes. Her attempts were futile. She was too drunk.
Without a word, Stefan bends down to his haunches grips her wrists, lays them on her lap and pulls her foot over his thigh and helps her slip off her shoes one by one.
Camelia lifts her head, biting her lip in embarrassment and avoiding eye contact.
"Look at me Camelia."Â He instructs.
She shakes her head. Stefan places her legs on the floor, leans forward, positioning his fists on either side of her thighs.
"I'm sure you are not going to remember a thing after this...but I know you want me."Â He states gruffly the unbidden desire in his tone.
She shivers.
"I'm not going to hurt you."Â He continues, caressing her arm with the tip of his fingers leaving in his wake a sensual sensation.
She jerks her head, tossing her hair with the effort. "Wh-what are you doing...?
"Can I kiss you?" He asks with half lidded eyes full of desire, ignoring her dismissal. "Just one kiss?" Still watching her.
She raises her troubled eyes and he sees the turmoil boiling within their depths.
"What? I-I thought you're gay?"
"We can pretend I'm not, if that's okay with you?"Â He continues in a soothing, mediating tone hoping it'll sway her muddled thoughts and give in to him like he knew she wanted.
It was a lie after all.
His fingers work their way up her arm and wrap around her delicate neck as the other circles the width of her thighs. A soft sigh escapes her parted lips and she averts her eyes. Stefan raises himself over her, hauling her into a standing position against his length.
Camelia gasps in surprise.
His movements were aggressive he knew but an overwhelming possessiveness took over his actions. The ache spread through his bodyâthe temptation overwhelming. He could not, would not go another day not knowing how she tasted and if his feelings were as genuine as he felt.
The kiss would be the only chance he could ever get.
"If you don't want this, tell me no." Stefan voice was strained and he tenses, waiting, giving her one last chance to pull away. It was not his method to take advantage of women but his honor wouldn't allow it if he forced her.
"I don't want to."
His body hardens.
"And I don't deserve you."Â He whispers, tracing his thumb over her plump lips, relishing in the fullness.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead as if she were a child. She swayed dizzyingly against him, her chest heaving. He held her carefully as if handling fine china. He sifted his fingers gently through her hair, then massaged her scalp and neck.
Camelia doesn't move, doesn't breath when he dips his head down and captures her lips in a soft caress.
As though it was a zap of magic, the touch of her lips sealed all the torn pieces inside him as if she held a bottle of super glue, putting him back together. Soothing the loneliness, helping him forget his losses, easing the suffering residing permanently inside him.
Circling his shoulders with her hands, her fingers dig into their enormous strength. His kiss was demanding, as a groan erupts in his throat. Her lips part as his hands drift over her silken skin.
A gasp of pleasure escaped her.
Taking a advantage, Stefan quickly plunges his tongue between her lips and tips her head back to allow his tongue to take deep thrusting pulls. He kisses her savagely as he tasted the sweetness of her mouth holding her weight for her as she sinks against his chest. A shock of pleasure rushes through him and he grips her backside like he always wanted.
They were perfectly plump and hard just like his throbbing member that twitched and strained.
She breaks the kiss and cries out softly. Their breathing coming out in gasps. He watched her with hooded eyes, foreheads touching. His breath caught in his throat when she pulled him eagerly, not gently but with a ferocity. A hunger. Stefan returned her kisses in smoldering desireâa desire that exploded into a raging blaze of passion.
His hands reach back and easily found the zipper to her dress and slowly, ever so slowly to not frighten her and began unfastening the bodice from her upper body. Her arms fell to her sides as she allowed him to slide the material over her arms, passed her waist and hips until it slid down her legs and laid to rest at her feet. Stefan gropes her exposed skin with greedy hands, breaking the kiss temporarily to spread open-mouthed kisses over her shoulders and chest.
***steamy scene continues in the "Pleasures of the flesh" found in my profile***
(Must follow in order to view the scenes. First follow than add the book or it will not show up)
Once caught in his hair, her hands fall limply to her sides and her head rolls as she lay in the bed unmoving.
Stefan lifts his head feeling her body instantly change and relax. Her long dark lashes curled against her slender, delicate cheek, a little smile hovering on her swollen lips. With a quirked eyebrow and a small chuckle, he lifts his weight slightly off of her.
"Camelia?" He calls her name, his left forearm pillowed her head, his right hand caressing the side of her sleeping face. A small smile lifted his features then he burst out laughing softly.
She fell asleep, Or fainted from the onslaught of pleasure. He couldn't tell.
He held her tenderly, kissed her closed eyes, traced the curve of her face, his gaze full of need. Wistfully his gaze memorized every aspect of her features before he got up. After taking his full at appreciating her sexy legs, thighs, waist and large erect brèasts, a long suffering sigh leaves him.
Once he finished staring at her like a sex-crazed teenager, he strides to pick up her dress and places it on a chair and came back to sit on the edge of the bed, watching over her as a guardian angel.
Watching every breath, watching every shift, watching every smile or frown descending over her features in adoration and despair. Every so often his gaze could not help but scan her bare body. The matching lace bikini underwear was scantily hiding the most sensitive place on the female body. Stefan imagined his fingers parting the moist fold of her femininity. Feeling her long shaped legs wrapped around his waist while losing himself inside her in ecstasy.
Stefan made a masculine sound, somewhere between a moan and a curse.
"May God forgive me."Â He mutters and looks away from her enticing figure.
Stefan would keep her safe, keep her protected from the evils of the world. He had to do what he had to do. Nothing he did benefited him but was for her own best interest. The lie had to continue, had to grow. For they would find a weak spot in his armor and use him to hurt her.
Bound by his duty, Stefan would shoulder the responsibility for her. He would die to protect her. But in that moment, he was agonized, torn between loyalties, feeling a noose tightening around his neck.
The consequences be damned.
For her to hate him after all that was said or done was a sacrifice, a chance far better than all the various outcomes running through his brain. It was a risk.
The right way often times is the ugly way.
All he needed to do was stay numb until the job was done and act casual as a real bodyguard should.
Good luck with that, Steel.
Stefan sighs, rubs the bridge of his nose, pulling his tall frame into a standing position ready to leave. But before he turns away, his eyes wandered over the room, searching for something to cover her with since she was laying over the comforter.
A throw blanket was propped against a chaise lounge chair in the corner next to a tall lamp. He goes to it, flaps it open, and places it over her slender figure.
Tomorrow was another day. A new day.
Stefan was almost positive she wouldn't remember what transpired between them that evening but for him it would forever be engraved in his memory. With a resigned acceptance he nods to himself, kisses her temple hard, lingering for a few extra moments and savoring the smell of her hair, the smell of her intoxicating vanilla perfume, than abruptly turns away.
Her phone which lays on the beside table rings with a message. Stefan shifts his gaze back, just in time to see the message display on the home screen.
Kivanç.
"Stefan!"
Before he could read the message Stefan whips around so fast he nearly staggers. After a moment his limbs stiffen but he relaxes his stance only to cautiously approach Camelia's bedside, observing her shifted position. She was sleeping on her side, calling him by his true name.
The message forgotten.
"Don't leave me!" Her plea was partially muffled by the pillow she lays on, her mouth slightly obstructed. "You promised me..." she argues in her dream fisting the sheets beneath her fingers.
Stefan goes around the bed and watches in fascination how her lips turned down and she grimaced.
She was asleep, calling out to him.
"...I love you." She mumbles again, it was barely audible, but he heard her well.
Stefan freezes like a block of ice.
She said. I love you.
No emotions could ever describe the affect her words left him feeling. She left him breathless, shaking the core of his very soul. It took all his control not to pull her into his arms and wake her. Hope bloomed in his eyes as did his own love for her spreading in his chest, curing all his doubts and filling him with a emotion that rarely surfaced.
Happiness.
He didn't care why she said it or where it came from all of a sudden. He had a feeling she had some feelings for the real him and she just confirmed it.
Sending the flowers and card were a good move, giving them a quick sideways glance.
A part of him wanted to thrust his unknown presence and remind her not to forget him. Another part of him was working on wooing her and the otherâhis alter ego, was pushing her away so she wouldn't build on her feelings.
"I love you more." He replies close to her ear, brushing the hair away from her face. "Sleep now princess." She instantly quieted and slept soundly.
Pausing at her door, he glanced over his shoulder. His mouth curved into a brief and sorrowful smile then in a low voice he spoke again, "Mon coeur est á toi".
My heart is yours....
*****
Camelia awakens early the next morning.
Opening her eyes they flutter open several times as they adjust to the sunlight coming through the windows. Shifting her head toward the light she squints. The pain was equivalent to the feeling of a sharp jagged knife cutting into her eyeballs and spreading to her temples.
She hisses in discomfort.
Her head starts a dulling, torturous throb and she quickly shades her eyes, turning away from her source of agony.
"This must be what a hangover feels like."Â She moans, her voice scratchy from sleep, rolling to her side miserably.
Feeling as if a truck rolled over her she curls into a ball pulling the pillow beneath her over her head. She stayed there for several minutes trying to remember what happened last night.
How she got in bed she couldn't even recall.
Shifting her legs she noticed her shoes were off and she was practically naked expect for her bra and underwear. Pulling the pillow up slightly, her blurry vision examined her room. Her shoes were scattered, as were several pieces of the jewelry she was wearing the night before.
The last thing she remembers she and Sammy were in the kitchen waiting for his martini. She didn't even want to know how she managed to get out of her dress.
"Great..."
With difficulty she raises herself and sits, with her head hanging low. Her neck was stiff, her whole body ached. What she needed was a nice hot shower.
Before she gets up she reaches for her phone, peeling one eyelid open she taps the home button and a message from Kivanç appears. She sits up straighter in surprise.
"Happy Birthday to my beautiful lady in red. Seni özledim."
A small smile hovers around Camelia's lips. That was sweet of him, she thinks. But what does Seni özledim mean? It was in Turkish. Her curiosity got the best of her and she looked it up quickly.
It meant, I miss you.
They emailed and texted often even when her phone number changed. She provided him with her email at the auction when they exchanged contact information. Kivanç was crafty when she didn't respond to his texts so he began emailing her.
Since then, he was always the one reaching out to her. His attention was welcoming and kept her emotions in sync at times. She was fighting the attention he seemed to push upon her all these weeks when she, sadly, was deeply falling for another. A part of her was guilty for stringing him along when she promised to wait for him.
But there was nothing she could do to change matters. She allowed it since nothing deeply happened between them yet except for developing tender sentiments. Camelia sighs, runs a hand over her face and places her phone back on the nightstand with sluggish movements.
Standing on wobbly legs, half covering her eyes with her fingers she scurries over to her bathroom and closes the door and leans against it. The only light came from the skylight above her shower. Moving towards the vanity she spies herself in the mirror.
Her hair looked like a bird's nest, make-up slightly smudged. Under her eyes were puffy and her lips appeared swollen. She frowns. They were plump as it is but even more prominent then normal.
She touches them lightly and a jolt of awareness descends over her.
She was kissed.
She tenses recalling the feel of a man's grouping hands searing her skin, an achy throb began down between her thighs.  Squeezing her eyes shut she takes a shuddering breath to control her hormones. Her stomach churred with apprehension as she kept pondering what happened last night. But even more so was her anxiety over how she may have acted or revealed while intoxicated.
It was a dream. Just a dream, she chanted in her head. It's all part of your over active imagination.
You weren't kissed. No way.
"I had only three glasses of champagne...I think." Attempting to reason to her reflection as if trying to reassure herself. Pulling the Bobby pins holding the gold wreath around the top of her hair she places it on the vanity with shaking hands.
The third glass was due to Kent's confession.
His declaration was unbelievable even to her ears. His announcement and his actions don't go hand in hand.
What was he trying to do? Was he lying?
But why would he say he is gay in the first place if he was straight? Was it because it would fall in the categoryâdon't mix business with pleasure?
Or it could be because of the gap in their status.
She was the daughter of a multi-billionaire and he was only a bodyguard. Did he think he was not good enough? Or was he just not interested in her like she may be him? Perhaps she wasn't his type. Maybe he didn't want to lead her on and so he lied to not hurt her feelings.
That was it, she wasn't what he would want in a female. Why be interested in a mere girl like her when he could catch the eye of any woman he wanted with a single wink.
She felt pathetic and ugly all of a sudden.
After a while Camelia dressed in blue jeans and a long sleeve blue and white shirt. Styling her hair down she applied lip balm and a brush of mascara and turned away from her mirror catching sight of the two very large bouquets standing quietly in the corner asking for attention. They stood out against her white and pink patterned room.
Camelia squints her eyes as the blood-red color of the roses and the cloudy white of the other stand there blooming silently, waiting for acknowledgment.
From Stefan.
Her heart melts and she sighs. Their essence was thickly enriching it's sweet perfume in the room. The roses beckoned her, nudging her nose, placing a trance meant to lure her toward them.
It worked.
Before she knew it she was kneeling with her nose in the center of one of the several dozen red bouquet.
Closing her eyes and inhaling deeply it provided a glimpse of what a small piece of heaven smelled like. Pure, rich, irresistible and sweet. Camelia lifts her hands and shrouds the wide bouquet, lightly touching the velvety petals which felt softer than silk.
They were beautiful. She thinks.
Utterly unexpected.
They were the only positive presence to a rather disappointing day.
"Oh Stefan...."
She'd never properly thanked Stefan for sending her cards over the years. How nice and completely unplanned would it be it she contacted him for once? He was always the one instigating the communication. She was too shy, too timid to reach out to him before except for that one disappointing night at the auction.
Camelia runs down the stairs with the idea still in her head, jumps the last step and fast walks toward her father's study where she was sure to find him.
Knocking twice she hears his voice and waltzes in.
Greeted by the gas fireplace lightly warming up the rather large room she finds her father typing away on his computer.
"Good morning dad!" She exclaims and sweeps low to place a kiss to his cheek.
"Good morning, love. To what do I owe the pleasure this early morning?" He asks with a fine quirked dark brow, eyeing her above the rim of his reading glasses.
"I need a favor." Camelia bites her lip uneasily. Julien slips off his spectacles, giving her his undivided attention. "I would like Stefan's phone number."
Her father's eyebrows inch up his temple.
"I wanted to personally thank him for the flowers he sent last night." She explained as she clasped her hands together, anxiously waiting for his answer. "If it's all right with you of course." She added to ease the strain she felt enter the air.
Julien strokes his chin thoughtfully. His expression appeared almost hesitant if not uncertain.
"All right. I do not see a problem with that." He answers with a tight lipped smile. "Why don't you run along and have breakfast with your sister and brother. They are scheduled to leave back to England tomorrow. By the time you come back to see me I'll have supplied the information."
"Thanks dad!" Camelia exclaims and swoops back down to give her dad another peck on the cheek.
Julien nods and keeps smiling for his daughter's benefit until the door closes. A deep serious expression marred his features and not a moment later he reaches for his phone and dials Stefan.
________________________________________________________________________
How was that for their first kiss? I know many of you were waiting for the moment to happen.
Thanks for reading! Always love to see your support by voting and commenting. I really appreciate it!
-Shaz