Chapter 32
Aoi
Night has already set when I wake up in Andrew’s McLaren.
We’re surrounded by a forest and pitch-black shadows as I blink away the haze. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“You seemed tired.”
Now, where the hell are we? Is that how I end up on the news, desiccated and thrown to rot on the side of a road? If I have to die, I’d rather do it with dignity, thank you very much.
The car slows down as we reach the side of a cliff, and he parks on the gravel. “We’re here.”
I stare out of the window and see literally nothing.
What the fuck?
“Come on.” He opens the door for me and extends his hand.
I grab it and let him help me out.
“Where are we?” I ask, as he sits down on the trunk of his McLaren.
“Sit down with me. It’ll be more comfortable.” He taps the grey surface and smiles. “What’re you standing there for?”
“I’m not sitting down on a 358-thousand-dollar car,” I argue. “Too expensive. I’d only feel guilty about it.”
Andrew rolls his eyes and pulls me against him, tugging me down to sit on the trunk. “It’s just a car. I can buy another one if needed. Just sit down, please. I want you to be comfortable.”
Talk about being rich.
I delicately put my ass on the grey surface and apologize internally to the car. “What are we here for?”
Eyes crinkling at the corners, he says, “Look up.”
So, I do, and my lips part in awe at the starry night looking back at me. It’s absolutely mesmerizing how clear the sky is and how bright the stars shine.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, it is.”
I glance at him and notice him already watching me as he smiles softly. I don’t know what kind of spirit possesses me, but I listen to my heart rather than my brain and lean into him. I hover close enough to feel his hot breath and notice the thickness of his dark lashes fluttering.
His hand creeps over mine on the hood of the car, igniting a fire in me that travels all the way to my chest and makes my blood pump faster until I feel lightheaded.
He smiles and for the first time he doesn’t look like the confident man who’s been courting me these past days. When I look at him, I see a love struck fool, desperate to be chosen by the one he set his sights on.
“Can I…kiss you?” he asks, breathing shallowly against my mouth, hands shaking nervously. “I really want to.”
“I know,” I tease, grazing his nose with mine and chuckling when he smiles all dazed and swooned at me. “Kiss me, Prince Charming.”
Hesitant at first, he parts his lips and closes the space between us, brushing his lips delicately against mine until sparks fly in my stomach.
My skin buzzes with anticipation when he deepens the kiss and one of his hands cups my cheek.
Nibbling on my bottom lip and groaning into my mouth, he places his hand, that previously rested on mine, on my nape, caressing the sensitive skin.
I want to thread my fingers through his hair and plunge in the depth of this sensation. A feeling of such arduous want and desperate need to have him closer that I still don’t entirely understand but can’t help desire.
I reluctantly and painfully slowly break the kiss to speak before I lose myself in his silky web. “Thank you for today. I had a lot of fun.”
He stares at me for a bit then a wide grin shines through his lust and obvious desire. “Stop playing with my heart.”
“Who says I’m playing?” I muse and the look he shoots me makes me snort. “You’re annoyingly endearing.”
Leaning my head against his shoulder, I purse my lips as the familiarity of that kiss sinks in. It has to be him. The sensation, the warmth, and ease are the same.
I can’t be mistaken.
Andrew has to be the mystery hook up.
But I don’t know if I should care about that anymore. It’s clear that I like him, at least physically. I’d rather not ask my heart what it thinks, or I’ll probably launch myself off this cliff.
“I was reluctant to give you a chance because I didn’t think this would be a good idea,” I say, intertwining our fingers on his thigh.
“But the more I get to know you, the less discomfort I feel. I enjoy our time together, often forgetting how inappropriate this may be. I’m even starting to think that maybe it’s not such a big deal after all.
You’re a grown man and I can’t keep using your age and lack of knowledge about me as an excuse to push you away. ”
“I’m happy you’re giving me a chance and that you don’t hate me for being so persistent.”
“I could never hate you,” I say, welcoming his touch as he tenderly places a kiss on my cheek. “Hate is such an ugly emotion.”
“Let’s play a little game.”
“A game?”
“A secret for a secret. I tell you something about me that hardly anyone knows then it’s your turn to tell me a secret. It can be anything you want. It doesn’t have to be a deep secret. If you just want to tell me that you like me that’s fine too–though, that’s not a secret.”
“Sounds like you want me to tell you something specific but are too scared to ask, you coward,” I nudge his rib and laugh. “I’m in but you start.”
A rumble of laughter escapes him as he leans back and stretches his legs out.
“Before my brother adopted me, I lived in foster homes, and believe me, money was something I couldn’t even fathom to possess.
The foster home I lived in the longest was absolute hell on earth.
For a year, I had to surmount the worst nightmare of my life until an Angel rescued me. ”
I picture a kid version of him, scared and living in a terrible environment. My heart clenches and I squeeze his hand, hoping my sympathy will reach him. I can’t imagine just how tough it must have been to be alone and down on his luck, hoping his family would come and find him.
"Your brother?"
A melancholic smile curls his lips when he shakes his head and cups my cheek, caressing my skin with his thumb. “A young man found me after I ran away and welcomed me in his home for a while until my brother and I got reunited.”
I lean into his touch, gazing deeply at him and wishing I knew how to comfort him. “Are you still in touch with that person?”
“Sort of but it’s become complicated now.”
“Why?”
His hand leaves my cheek, and I feel the loss of his warmth instantly. “We lost contact for a really long time so when I spoke to him again, things had drastically changed.”
“I see. Well, I’m glad you’re here and safe.”
Andrew’s eyes widen and a sudden laugh escapes him, his body shaking next to mine.
I frown. “What’s so funny?”
He gets off the trunk and pulls me to my feet, pressing me against his chest as he smiles down at me. “You have no idea how hard my heart beats for you when you say sweet things to me.”
“You’re an idiot.”
He smirks and tips my head up. “Your idiot.” Then he pulls out his phone and turns on ‘Tenderly’ by Chet Baker, and I almost wheeze at the absurdity. “Dance with me.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
Smiling, he shoves his phone in his back pocket and presses me against him, moving to the melody of the song. “Ridiculously in love.”
“You seem happy about it.”
“Very.”
Could I too be happily in love if I allowed myself to? Maybe he could be the one to soothe my pain and replace it with soft affection.
Or he could destroy you and leave you to rot.
Don’t trust him.
Just for a while, I want to believe that this could be real even for me. Just for tonight, I’ll let myself forget about the rotten truth and accept his feelings.
Just a bit. I want to dream.
Even if I end up waking up and realizing that it was never meant to be.
Locking my arms around his neck, we sway to the music. His eyes shimmer with so much love and affection that I almost look away. But he tenderly leans his forehead against mine and smiles.
“What’s on your mind?”
“I was just thinking about how long I’ve waited for this moment and how I can’t believe you’re really here with me, in my arms, gazing at me like I hung the stars.”
Chuckling, I slide my hand in his hair and enjoy the little groan that slips out of him when I tug on the strands. “You’re getting ahead of yourself, Prince Charming.”
“Is it really so hard to admit your feelings for me?” he asks quietly, looking like a kicked puppy in the rain.
“I don’t think I’m ready to admit anything right now.”
I sigh and release his hair, settling my palm on his shoulder and wondering how such a sweet fox has managed to burst through all of my defenses and replace my walls by a garden of flowers.
“It’s okay,” he kisses my nose and smiles at my giggles. “I’ll wait an eternity for you.”
I slide my hand over his shoulder, creeping up to his neck and resting on his jaw. “That’s a long wait, you know?”
“Not if it’s for you.”
A rain drop hits his nose, but I don’t even have time to laugh when the drop turns into a downpour, and we’re forced to run back into the car.
“I’ll be damned. New York and its unpredictable weather.”
“Tell me about it,” I laugh and almost hit his arm when he shakes his head like a dog, splashing droplets of water all over the car. “You’re making everything wet!”
“Not everything,” he says, and this time I actually smack him.
We end up driving to a nearby chalet since we’re four hours away from the city and it’s already night. We could easily drive home but there’s no reason to cut this day short, is there?
I definitely don’t want to go back yet.
The receptionist announces that she still has a room with two beds, and I sigh in relief, although Andrew looks less glad about the number of beds.
As we enter our room, he motions me toward the bathroom. “You can shower first.”
I strip out of my sticky clothes and let them fall to the floor with a loud thwap that makes Andrew chortle behind me. Glaring daggers at him, I bend over to pick up the pile of clothes and notice him follow my every movement.
“Are you seriously ogling me? You could at least be more subtle.”
“Why? You know I find you sexy as hell. Why should I hide it? Don’t mind me. I’ll just enjoy the view.”
“Pervert.”
“You like it, though.”
I laugh and head into the bathroom, removing the rest of my wet clothes before I step under the shower stream. I groan under the soothing heat distracting me from the thoughts racing in my mind.
The downpour was completely unexpected, but I’m glad it began raining since I don’t have to bid Andrew goodbye yet.
Okay, I’m visibly more into him than I want to admit, but what can I say? He has a way of making my heart shiver and want more. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
I step out of the shower and dry myself with a towel. I grab one of the bathrobes on display and wrap myself in the soft white fabric. Now that we don’t have any clothes to wear, the atmosphere is going to be so awkward.
I almost audibly gasp when I push the door open and find Andrew standing in the middle of the room in only his black briefs.
Consider me delighted.
He turns to face me and smiles. “Thankfully, they offer free bathrobes. I’ll go check if they sell underwear and other necessities in their souvenir shop.”
Am I staring? I totally am.
Damn, that body is to die for.
Strong and firm muscles ripple with each movement, from chiseled abs and perky pecs to sculpted thighs and perfect arms. I knew he had the body of a Greek god. I could tell through his clothes and the fragmented memories of his body pressed against mine as he fucked me senseless.
But seeing it sober and under a bright light definitely feels different. Now, if he could just turn around and let me see those back muscles again, I could die happy.
“If you keep staring, I might just take it as an invitation.”
“Shut up. I wasn’t staring. Just go shower before you catch a cold.”
“Yes, sir.” He chuckles, walking past me into the bathroom and closes the door.
God, I’m exhausted. The nap I took on our way to the cliff has somehow managed to make me even more sleepy. And here I thought they were supposed to pump your energy back up.
Throwing myself on one of the beds, I stare at the ceiling and sigh. At least there are two beds. If I had to sleep next to him I’d never be able to keep my hands to myself.