Chapter 33

A shout-out for these awesome countries. Latvia, Pakistani and Indonesia. I love you guys.

Kara’s POV

*

I took a deep exhale and fluttered my eyelashes with a daring smile, allowing my eyes sweep over my casual self. I was in casual clothes, since I knew he’d probably take me for a nice time just out of the estate or we would even stay in the car and just talk after breakfast or something. Either way, we must continue our conversation after breakfast because I never joked with my stomach.

With a blue high-waist jeans, white tank top, black jacket on it and white Adidas sneakers, I knew I was good to go. Also, I applied make-up. I need to look good since he would be doing the same. Right? As if. He always looked good, even when he was just getting right out of bed.

“I think I’m good to go.” I breathed out for the umpteenth time, staring at the chocolate eyed girl in the mirror. Her eyes were scrutinizing.

Her gaze didn’t waver from my eyes. And she didn’t move even an inch.

‘I should go.’ I reminded her yet again as she mirrored my movements when the door slightly opened behind me but I didn’t bother taking a glance behind me.

“Yeah, you should. The mirror sure agrees with you.” A deep voice came from the entrance.

I stilled for a bit, but then sucked in a harsh breath and turned around and my breathing slowed as my hair which was put into a ponytail swayed on my head due to the movement. Stephano was in dark blue pants and a white tee-shirt, matching his piercing blue eyes. A pair of black, leather palm sandals was strapped on his feet.

My brows immediately scrunch up in confusion. That was a first. He rarely wore pants and palm sandals but he looked really good in them.

Before I realized it, I gave him a good once over and nodded in approval at his outfit. His hair was combed neatly to the back but he still looked really good. He would be easily taken for a model just leaving a photo shoot in his dashing appearance, and I instantly knew other women would stare at him.

Insecurity kicked in and I went into self-defense mode.

Doesn’t matter if other women look his way, because Stephano is going out with me! Me alone!

“You look really beautiful, Kara.” His gruff voice stated and I connected my eyes back to his. It warmed my heart and my eyes twinkled even though I knew I should be immune to his praises or mere comments; because he didn’t put any emotion into them, and maybe he didn’t mean them. He made the comment as if he just thought about it while checking me out and decided to just say it. For ‘saying’ sake, if that made sense.

Curling my lips in slight disappointment at my selfish thoughts, a small frown slipped onto my face.

Of course I was beautiful. But irritation still burned through my system at the fact that I was already having a marathon of negative vibes over my earlier thought on other women checking him out.

He shut my room door with a loud thump and I snapped out of my disturbing thoughts and wore the most deceiving smile ever known to man.

“Thanks. You brush up well too.” I said and immediately cringed. Brush up well?

Yeah, right. He looked really great.

“If you say so, and thank you baby.”

He just stood there and stared at me like something would grab me and take me away forever if he dared take his eyes off me.

“I’m set.” I heaved a shaky sigh. I bit my lower lip slowly.

“I can very much see that.”

“Uhm, let’s go.” I moved around the room with stiff muscles, checking to make sure everything was in order. I loved it when my things remained in order, even when I was not around.

I kept my makeup bag in its place and picked my sling bag, which already had my phone and some other necessities in it, and then I turned to him. “Now I’m set.”

Walking closer, I stopped for him to exit and took my key from the keyhole so as to lock it. He remained where he was standing and raised a brow up. “Lady first.”

“Oh sure.” I chuckled.

Just as I tried to pass by him, he maneuvered his right hand around my waist and pulled me flush against himself. A gasp escaped my lips and I tilted my head back quickly, in case he tried to kiss me. I needed the kiss badly but didn’t want to initiate it.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked. My voice was a bit hoarse.

His hold around me loosened a bit and I sucked in a harsh breath. Calculating the amount of seconds I held my breath, it should be seven seconds.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Stephano softly breathed with a raised brow and I shook my head, watching him trace his tongue past his lips in a sensual manner. My heart hammered frantically against my ribcage but I kept a poker look.

I thought I would’ve been used to seeing him so close to me, after jumping on him last night and even with us kissing this morning. But seeing him so close to me now, especially with the way his eyes were on me, I didn’t know what to think.

But one thing was for sure. He had totally stopped glaring. And it was either he was pretending now so as to be a perfect boyfriend or there had been something up with him all those years ago when he used to throw glares.

“I’m not forgetting anything.”

“My kiss, perhaps?” He stated bluntly.

“Uhm, I don’t remember owing you a kiss.” I commented with a frown. Excitement bubbled up within me at the mere fact that he asked for my permission, though I admit there were times when I would totally prefer it if he just dipped his head in and kissed me senseless.

I was not expecting any novel romance thingy like my mama used to tell me but it wouldn’t be bad if he did some romance shit.

After all, I liked him.

Uh.... Cazzo!

I said it. I just admitted to what Paul and that annoying girl I had as my best friend, Adrian had been trying to get out of me. Well, damn!

“But you do.” He breathed out and I was dragged back to the present. I should just work in some place where you’re paid to zone out into another universe— since I happened to do that a lot.

“I certainly don’t.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

His eyes flickered to the spot below my nose, my lips. They darkened.

“Perhaps, I should refresh your memory?”

“On?” I arched a brow.

A malicious smirk crawled up his lips, his eyes brightening with a mischievous glint in them. “Your certain ‘dream’, perhaps?”

I scoffed and tried to fully pull away but he added the other hand to aid his chiseled, hard body, trapping me flush against his chiseled chest as his eyes remained fixated on me.

“There you go again,” I rolled my eyes. “Just release me and let’s be on our way.”

“But I like holding you.”

Excitement pulled at the region below my abdomen. It was so strong in my core, and I wanted him to do something that would make that excitement stronger. Like kiss me or make out.

“Really?” I asked in a small voice.

He caressed my cheeks. “Yes.”

Now he was making it hard to not like him more. Heat crept up my cheeks.

I never knew this man could openly make confessions like this. In this lovely relationship of ours, he was the rather blunt one and of course he never failed to amaze me by the things that usually spewed off his lips.

“Why?” I asked inquisitively, mildly curious as I peered up at him through my spiky lashes. He chuckled, and the sound was more pleasing than I would’ve bargained for.

“You feel so good in my hands.”

“Hmm. I sure have an amazing body.” I smirked.

He clenched his jaws and his eyes darkened. He muttered a curse word and tilted his head up, as if saying a prayer to the heavens.

“You have a great body, Kara. You have a beautiful face and an equally beautiful smile. Great structure and short but fuckin wonderful legs,” his hand moved up to cup my right breast and my world quaked a little as my breathing gets uneven, “Your perfectly sculpted breasts are just the perfect size for my larger hands to caress all day and do-”

I slapped a hand over his mouth with wide eyes, feeling heat run in frenzy over every single part of my body. I didn’t expect him to actually do an anatomy on my body. I slap his hand which is still caressing my breast, stifling a pleasurable moan at the feel of his large hand on me.

My hands were shaking and my body was yearning with lust!

Feeling some sloppy movements on my hand which was still covering his mouth, I hastily removed my hand and realized he was sucking on it. I just stood there awkwardly and wiped my hand on his chest with a disgusted expression, since it had his damn saliva.

“Well, the kiss.” He probed with his eyebrows wiggling.

I threw my head back and released a soft laughter. And I loved it. Because I didn’t force myself to laugh just to please him but he had prompted it for the second time since we started this relationship.

He was being childish with the eyebrow wiggling and teasing tone, and I was very glad that he was getting relaxed that way with me. Funny enough, I was grateful that I could make him smile, make him chuckle, make him laugh and all.

I went on my tippy toes and pecked him on the cheek but he grabbed my head before I could properly get back on my feet and connected our lips.

The connection at that moment, which was represented by the mere touch of our lips couldn’t be described in words.

It consumed me whole, I parted and moved my lips against his, not being able to resist it when he was holding me so firmly and also meshing his lips against mine in a sensual manner, moving fiercely but not bruising and taking everything I had to offer, and even more. When he pulled away, his eyes still had that mischievous glint in them. A part of his lips twitched and he released me, but not fully.

“I love this side of you.” He told me and pecked me once again. “It’s sexy and vibrant.”

I thought I would explode. My cheeks hurt with how well I held the smile in. He called me sexy, then that meant I was hot and also daring.

But...he didn’t call me beautiful.

A frown slowly curled up my face as I thought about it and compared the two words. I squared my shoulders and looked up at him daringly. He might have been my boss before, but now he was my boyfriend as well. If he said I was sexy, then it meant I was hot. Also, I shouldn’t lean on his opinion about me. No. That was bull-crap. I opened the door and exited it.

Oh, he called me beautiful earlier on. I shook my head at my silliness.

Mama had gone for her usual checkup at our hospital and Mimi was the one who took her. Compared to how slightly disturbed she was at the party, she was now better. Stephanie and Mimi did the house chores, supervising the girls we’d rented to help with yesterday’s gala before I took my bath this morning and I also served Stephano some grapes.

He loved grapes a lot. We got into his Maserati and he drove out of the estate. He didn’t want James, the driver to take us so he drove himself.

“So, where are we going?” I asked and stole a glance. His eyes were already on me, so I looked away to avoid eye contact for too long. I still felt his eyes on the side of my head.

“Neverland.”

I couldn’t keep the curiosity out of my voice.

“Is that like a restaurant or what?”

“You’ll see for yourself when we get there.” He told me with a soft smile.

We passed two other estates and got onto the express road. He finally pulled up after twenty minutes of driving, I found out we were in front of a jewelry shop.

“I need to quickly see someone here.” He explained and took off his seatbelt. I did the same. “Okay?”

I nodded eagerly and took a fast exhale. “I’ll stay in the car.”

“Are you sure?” He questioned as if it was a really bad idea.

I nodded and rested my head to show him I wasn’t going to follow him into the jewelry shop. He got out of the car and looked around. When he opened the car door again, I shut my eyes too quickly to pretend as if I was trying to have a nap. He muttered something about the road not being safe and came to my side, opening the door immediately.

“Kara.”

I kept still and hoped he would just go about his business here.

I felt like a coward for being like this but there was a more powerful feeling I was battling. I would feel highly embarrassed if I raised my hopes up and had it crushed. Like when he stopped here, I had started having unsafe thoughts about him doing something weird like coming here sometime in the future to get me a ring...or bracelet...or something special, like even a wedding ring.

I was going way ahead of myself with all these thoughts, and I needed to apply the brakes before doing something stupid.

I also didn’t want to have any memories of us going to places together; especially a ring shop. It would pay us both if we could only to go to a nice place, have something to eat and then come back home immediately! It was just a year agreement anyway.

“Baby, wake up.” Stephano softly patted my shoulder but I didn’t move once. I managed to slow down my breathing.

“She couldn’t have slept so quickly. What will I do with this girl?” I heard him mutter and curiosity got the better of me. Because I wanted to know if he was ruffling his hair in a bad boy move that would make him look so handsome or just frowning at me, so I adjusted to face him. I peeked one eye open ever so slowly but immediately regretted it when I felt, wet, slow movements on my lips and I opened my eyes. Stephano was kissing me!

I pulled away and could have sworn my cheeks were redder than tomatoes. His laughter rang throughout the neighborhood. My heart warmed at the sound of bliss as I saw him throw his head back in laughter!

“I knew you weren’t sleeping. Let’s go in, I am not too comfortable with leaving you here.” There was nothing suspicious about this street. It was like a private estate for companies and the few people around were alighting their car or walking into the cafe nearby.

I squinted at him, giving him a comical look. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Just instincts.”

“There’s nothing suspicious about it.”

He narrowed his eyes as if he really desired to give me an earful but then he heaved a sigh. “Let’s go..”

“I’m staying.”

“Kara, I want you to meet a friend.”

“I think I’ll stay here because I still feel tired from yesterday’s house party. You won’t stay too long right? Because I’m hungry.”

He heaved a sigh and contentment filled me. Defying him felt more blissful than I would ever imagined. I knew I would be doing more of that, thinking of how he had treated me these past few years. The glares, the commanding tone, the bittersweet action of his.

“Fine. I’ll be back soon.”

He left and I allowed myself drift into a real slumber.

“I’ll see you soon then.” Someone was saying as the door on my side opened and I felt something cold against my wrist.

“Extend my greetings to Benito; it’s been a while since I last saw him. She looks better up-close, compared to what the tabloids gave us. Tell her your friend said hi, let’s not disturb her nap.” The feminine voice spoke. It was smooth, mature and loving. It also held familiarity. They were probably acquainted.

“Sure, Sera. I will.” Stephano responded. I fluttered my eyes open just when Stephano fastened the stuff on my wrist, clicked the lock and shut the door.

The woman pecked his cheeks and her teeth shone in laughter as she clapped her hands to whatever Stephano just hushed in reply but I couldn’t hear it because the glasses were winded up and the door was now shut.

He opened the door on the driver’s side and got in. “I know you’re awake. She said hi.” He told me.

I stretched quickly and opened my eyes. “Hey.”

I looked down at my wrist and behold, gold watch was glittering on it. It must’ve cost a fortune and it looked really beautiful. “Wow. This is beautiful. I love it Stephano, thank you so much.” I leaned in and pecked him on the cheek.

“Is it? Thanks babe. Also, have this.” He brought out the newest iPhone model phone case and my my smile was wide as I received it. Stephano didn’t like it when his gift got denied anyway.

I hugged him and pecked his lips, giggling in happiness. “Thank you so much Stephano. I was thinking of changing my phone sometime this month.”

“You’re welcome baby, anything for you. You needed the change anyway.”

He smiled and stole a small peck on my lips. He pulled away and I bit my lip, smiling up at him but Stephano dipped his head in and kissed me again, cradling my cheeks to go deeper this time around.

He shook his head, breaking the kiss about a minute after and leaving me panting for more as I stared at him with dreamy eyes. “When will I get tired of kissing you?”

“When the contract is over?” I raised a brow, giggling at his question.

He chuckled. “Hm.. Sure babe.”

I stared at him and heaved a deep, contented sigh. He didn’t look like the wicked young master anymore. He looked like a normal man who didn’t have coldness emitting off him in waves and freezing everything all around him.

Okay, stop being so damn judgemental!

“So, you’re officially calling me babe now?” I giggled again as I asked, now staring at his lips and watching one side quirk as a small smile tugged there.

Now my lipstick was gone and his lips looked more colorful and edible than I knew them to be.

“Uh, yeah babe.” He said casually. His face was straight and I couldn’t read a single expression. Everything was blank, including his eyes which was the window to everyone’s heart. But I didn’t care, I liked how things were progressing between us and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. “You must be hungry. Let’s go.”  Then he started the car once again

*

Xoxo. Please take a second or two to vote. I really appreciate it and it means so much to me. Kindly comment your thoughts and also tell your loved ones about this book. I love y'all so much. Stat safe and don't let whatever you're going through get to you. You're strong and you can overcome it. I believe in you.

Much love.

Hephzibah.