CHAPTER 36
Amara blushed. Her cheeks and the rims of her ears were painted in the deepest shade of red. Just like the soft hue of a rose in full bloom, like a delicate sunset.
Kaelith fought for his self-control, which was slowly slipping through his fingers.
How could someone look so innocent yet temptingly stunning at the same time?
The way she looked at him through her lowered eyes, the way her skin tingled underneath his touch.
Kaelith could die thousands of deaths just to feel her.
His eyes slowly raked over her neck which now was covered with marks, the marks that he left on her. The possessiveness in his thundered like the wild roar of a hungry lion.
He wanted her, wanted the peaceful delight of being a part of her life, of being able to embrace her during the midnight hours and observe her presence at the breakfast table.
He longed to be with her during her sickness and revel in her happiness when she was in good health.
Occasionally, when his monsters overwhelmed him, he also wanted to cause her pain, to hurt her, a temptation he vehemently resisted as a man.
He was a sinner, and she was his sin. A sin he would commit thousands and millions of times. Amara felt her chest clenching and body trembling in his vicious embrace.
“Can you let me go?” Her eyes sparkled with innocence as she shyly glanced at Kaelith, her naivety captivated him and he felt the desire to preserve that purity.
But then he recalled everything. Her lost memories and the torment she went through. His protectiveness intensified as he clenched his jaw tight unknowingly tightening his hold on her. She winced.
He quickly masked his expressions and loosened his grip.
“Where will you go?” A small smile curved on his face despite the strain in his chest. She looked so small and breakable in his rugged hands. Just like a glass.
“I need to finish the painting.” She mumbled averting her gaze. Kaelith almost chuckled. The way she avoided his scrutinizing gaze did something to him that made him want to seize her jaw and make her look into his eyes. He could fall asleep in those eyes for a lifetime.
“Hmm… go on. But first, kiss me.” He mused, the reason for his anger slowly dissipating. The soft breeze and her eyes molded his body in a volcanic eruption of sinful desires.
Amara’s eyes widened.
“Kaelith—” he clicked his tongue pushing her to the wall and putting his strong thigh between her legs making her straddle his thigh.
Amara gasped.
“I don’t care what you want or not, I want you, Amara. I need you like a fresh breath of air. I want to see you, to hold you, to feel you. You can’t even imagine the things I want to do to you.” He groaned muzzling her neck.
“To penetrate through your skin, to imprint my name on every single fiber in your body. My desire for you is not sacred, you exist in every unholy thought of mine.” She instinctively shut her eyes, her breathing fastened as he licked her neck leaving bite marks all over her soft skin.
Amara tried to push him away but he grabbed both of her hands and pushed them above her head.
"On a river, there are two banks, Kaelith. And those two banks can never meet." She whimpered.
"But those two banks walk until the river doesn't end. Together." Kaelith mumbled moving lower as he blew on her collarbone. Amara shuddered. The way he was making her feel was so sinful and wrong. She shouldn’t let him touch her, but it wasn’t like he’d stop if she resisted. He’d take what he wanted.
And Amara wouldn’t be able to stop him.
“But Rafael—” his fingers caressed her lips shushing her. His touch was possessive and dark making her skin crawl.
“You do not love him.” His eyes travelled to her neck as his fingers followed the path and gently pressed the marks he left on her as she hissed.
“But he is my husband,” Amara mumbled. Kaelith’ s jaw ticked as his fingers spread and he gripped her neck in his hold gently pulling her forward. His face was an inch away from her and her eyes widened in anticipation.
He tilted his head, gently breathing on her tingly skin.
“And you’re my life. I won’t ask you to choose. But when the time comes, I’ll take you away from him.” He said meaning every word he said. The gleam of darkness and something more peculiar like possessiveness still flickered in his eyes.
Amara realized he was not someone she should’ve messed with.
He gently let go of her, taking a step back as the warmth slowly stripped away from her, leaving her all cold and shivering. Breathing fast and chest heaving up and down.
There was a visible tent in front of his joggers, so obviously Amara turned her head away feeling shame.
He noticed and chuckled. Amara felt a spark of something unknown in her stomach at his sight. His chest was broad and muscular, and narrow hips with a trimmed torso. The muscles of his thighs appeared tight and powerful making her wonder how he managed to stay this way.
“Enjoy your days while you can, but when I come for you, I won’t stop even if you beg me to do so.” He said with a sly grin.
Amara swallowed hard taking a step back.
“I should get going.” She said looking around the room hoping he’d let her go for today. No matter how gentle and calm Kaelith was around her, she knew he was far more dangerous than Rafael. And she should be scared of him instead of Rafael.
“Rafael leaves the house at 9. I want you in my suite by 9:10.”
He knew Rafael’s schedule too. Amara swallowed no longer shocked by anything. “Why?”
He grinned at her, looking amused for some reason.
His powerful arms once again caged her but this time, his hold was gentle. “You have a portrait to finish.”
Amara swallowed, suddenly feeling on edge. She hoped he didn’t have any intention of keeping her here against her will.
To her relief, he let go of her. “I want you to come here again. Tomorrow morning. Spend the day with me.”
Amara stared at him. “And what if I don’t?”
“Then I will come and get you.” He answered, the darkness in his eyes leaving no doubt of his seriousness.
Staring into her shocked eyes, he added with a familiar dangerous gleam in his eyes. “As I said earlier, I’m not a man of morals, I do not care about others. But, you,” his eyes darkened with each word. “You’re mine, little one. No power in this world can change that. Not even you.”
*******
Amara left his penthouse and walked towards her, her thoughts whirling in chaos. Her stomach clenched at the memory of his body against hers and she shivered with the intensity of her recollection.
He wanted to see her again tomorrow. It sounded more like an order than a request, despite her wish.
It angered her. He had no right to do that to her.
She was grateful to him when he took care of her in his mansion, but that didn’t mean he got to order her around.
Whatever he felt for her did not excuse that he was pretty much like Rafael, in fact, worse than him.
She wished there was something she could do to lose interest in her before she started falling into his charms too.
Amara shook her head pressing the buttons on the elevator as she waited for it to reach her floor.
Amara had to clear her head before potentially seeing Rafael.
It was right in the evening when she left Kaelith’s apartment so she had plenty of time to change her paint-filled clothes and look presentable.
Her subconsciousness mocked her.
Presentable? For whom? The husband who forced himself on you?
Amara stiffened as the elevator pinged. A faint ache occurred in her chest.
She shrugged it away refusing to worsen her mood. Stepping outside the elevator, she strange walking towards the hallway when a very familiar voice stopped her.
“Amara?” Amara’s eyes widened in shock as she heard her name, and she turned around to see Anna with a smile by the second elevator.
However, this wasn’t what startled her.
Amara’s face paled and their legs started trembling as her eyes moved over Anna’s shoulder to the eyes that now pierced through her. An unreadable expression gleamed in those eyes as they stared back at her with disbelief and disappointment with a subtle hint of anger.
“Rafael?” Amara mumbled with fear lacing her voice.