“You’re playing dirty!” Natalia pouted and dunked Arian’s head into the water. He broke free and flipped his sexy glossy hair.
“And so are you.” He rolled his eyes and she rolled hers double. He chuckled.
“Let’s head back. It’s midnight already.” She turned to leave but he held her back.
“Let’s stay a bit.” He breathed and moved her hair away. Natalia nodded senselessly getting lost in his enchanting eyes. Arian’s thumb diverted, sliding down her throat which left her hot despite the cool night air.
“Doing what?” She mouthed, trying to think instead of feeling.
“I dunno. Let’s just stay this way.” He whispered and pulled her closer. Natalia’s face turned into a splash of red feeling their almost nude bodies colliding.
“You haven’t said how you feel about me yet.” He muttered, moving his lips within a tantalizing fraction of hers. Natalia’s breath hitched. Was he teasing her?
“A… Arian, I’m in love with you.” She gently whispered. Her feelings were pure and clear about him and Arian knew it. He wanted to hear it in words.
His perfect lips curled before pressing it to her warm, moist ones. Natalia could feel his smile as his lips synced with hers, tasting and nibbling until he got full entrance.
She responded slowly, getting lost in his touch. Her fingers found their way to his smooth hair as he pulled her closer, leaving no space between them. Their tongues collided, tumbled, and dissolved into each other in perfect rhythm.
The full moon witnessed their romance and the start of their love. There was no longer doubts that they were hopelessly in love…. in love with each other…
***
( Two days later.)
A simple call from Nicky Winterfield giving a ‘reasonable’ excuse for wanting to skip school made up Natalia’s mind to also skip school on Monday morning.
And for some reason even Elva, the responsible PA, came up with some lame excuse about wanting to skip as well. So since her two friends were skipping, she too skipped.
Enough of the skips and skippings!
Natalia, who’d suddenly turned terribly timid since her first kiss with Arian De’ Argent at the beach, spent the whole day loafing around in her bedroom, wearing her favourite barbie sleepshirt which was short and fitted.
She watched about a million random videos on YouTube and Netflix because watching television series alone was boring. She also made a quick stop at the school blog where videos and pictures of the school camp were popping as predicted.
Natalia finally garnered courage and ran out of her room to tell Elva about her kiss but Elva had locked herself up in her bedroom acting weird. So the princess flew down the stairs and loaded a large tub of ice cream and chocolates in her arms before running back up.
“I’m gonna die from too much sweets.” Thirty minutes later, she groaned on her bed and tossed the last piece of chocolate into her mouth. Deciding a smoothie was next, she removed her headphones, stuffed her feet into her bunny flip-flops and pulled her sleep shirt lower before heading to the door.
But as Natalia opened it, she screamed and shut it back in a millisecond!
ARIAN was right outside!!
She gagged wide eyed and palmed her mouth to stiffle another scream. Her eyes flew to the wall clock and saw it was almost six in the evening. School was over hours ago!
“Natalia I know you’re in there. Open up, please.” His sexy accent serenaded her senses as he knocked lightly and Natalia almost found herself nodding.
She shook her head. He couldn’t come in!
Her heart switched to panic mode and started beating crazily. “I… I… I.. I’m not dressed. Go home, we’ll talk later.” She stuttered.
‘Probably never.’ She mentally cringed.
“I heard that.” He pointed out with a lazy drawl and Natalia could swear he rolled his eyes afterwards.
“You’re a pretty bad liar, you know. I’m not leaving till you open up.” He finalized.
Natalia tensed, unconsciously stomping her flip-flops on the expensive rugs in the process before looking around the room. She ran to her bed and threw away the ice cream tub and candy wraps into the trashcan before patting the bed to the best of her ability.
Don’t blame her, house chores wasn’t her forte.
She dashed to the dressing table. Since there was no time to brush it, she ran her fingers through her messy hair but the end result was that it made it more messier than before!
Natalia shrieked but left it like that, looking around the room once more.
“Natalia, if you don’t open up then I’m gonna force my way in.” She heard him say.
“A minute!” She called and hid her family’s picture frame in the drawer.
“H.. H.. Hi!” She squeaked the moment she opened the door. The stunning young French cocked a brow.
“You’re acting weird.” He remarked then leaned over to peck her before walking in.
Natalia forced a cheeky blush down her cheeks before closing the door. Then she swirled around to see him lying comfortably on her bed, going through her tablet like he was the Lord of her bedroom?
( Note: Remind the princess to order sofas the second he walks out that door? Thank you.)
Natalia slowly moved to the opposite side of the bed and stood, looking around nervously.
“Aren’t you gonna sit?” He looked at her wryly. She nodded and sat at the extreme end.
“You know you’re gonna fall off in a second.” He noted. And immediately, Natalia felt her butt slipping away! She squealed and scrambled on top the bed properly.
“Why weren’t you in school today?” He tossed the tablet aside and laid his head on her laps, staring up into her huge brown eyes. Natalia flirted her gaze anywhere but at him.
“I didn’t want to.”
“Are you ill?” A tinge of worry flashed across his mint green eyes as he gently touched her forehead. She giggled because he looked so cute.
“No.” She dropped his hand. “I just didn’t want to.”
Arian didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, he softly entwined their fingers. Natalia looked down at the bond on his chest and flushed hotly. They drifted into a comfortable silence.
“Mom wants to see you. And Tommy as well. They say they miss you a lot.” He said and shrugged. Natalia’s smile increased.
“I miss them too.” Suddenly, Arian sat up.
“Let’s go out tomorrow.” He held her eyes. Her heart began thumping again.
“Tomorrow? Where?”
“Somewhere… anywhere. What do you say?” He moved stray hairs behind her ears with a doting look in his eyes. Natalia mindlessly nodded, feeling helpless to his touch. His perfect lips curled into a sexy smile and she returned a pretty one.
They sat together for hours until a text beeped into Arian’s phone and he had to leave.
“Should I come pick you up to school tomorrow?” He asked as she walked him to his car. From the confused look on his face, Natalia knew he didn’t want her involved in another silly drama again, even though another part wanted it.
“It’s okay. I’ll just ride with Elva.” She said and he nodded.
“Oh, that reminds me. Ricky says she’s not picking his calls?” He turned to her. Natalia shrugged.
“She locked herself up in her room all day. I’ll inform her.”
“I’m leaving now.” He announced when they got to his car and she smiled. Arian De’ Argent continued to stand.
“Goodnight?” She smiled again but he didn’t move an inch. Natalia blinked repeatedly and lowered her gaze to the design on his shirt, feeling heat rise up her cheeks again from the hot look in his eyes.
Butterflies fluttered in her tummy but her gaze lifted when he leaned in tentatively. She closed her eyes and felt their lips connect. What was supposed to be a soft, swift kiss lingered a lot longer as no one wanted to pull away.
Natalia lifted herself on her tiptoes, expecting the whole thing but Arian smiled into the kiss and gently pulled away.
“Goodnight.” He whispered and kissed her again. Natalia let go of his jacket which she was unconsciously clutching and nodded, looking away from his dreamy eyes. He smiled at her and left.
The giddy princess ran into her bedroom and crashed on her bed, squealing crazily like a maniac.
Love?
Sighs.
***
The ‘skip’ girls awkwardly came to school the next day. Natalia, Elva and Nicky hit the hallway after saying hi to Leonardo and Becky.
“Girls, let’s have a sleepover at my house Friday night.” Nicky chirped as they picked their books.
“Sure thing!” Natalia smiled excitedly but Elva looked reluctant.
“Can’t we have it at our place?” She pursed her lips, trying to persuade them.
“Natalia!” A merry voice squealed before they could respond. Natalia turned to see Adaeze running towards her.
“Good morning!” She squealed back.
“Morning.” She cutely beamed at them. The girls smiled back.
“I heard you got hurt on your camp trip and noticed you didn’t come to school yesterday. Are you feeling better now?” A pair of caring eyes looked up at her in glasses.
Adaeze seemed fifteen years old. She was a lovely dark skinned girl with big glasses. Natalia cuddled her five foot frame feeling touched.
“Someone missed me after all. I’m fine Ada, thanks.” She smiled. The latter lifted her face and grinned.
“Come meet my friends, please? They’ve been dying to meet you.” Being a sophomore, her zone was two buildings away.
“Okay.” Natalia touched her pigtails. “Girls I’ll be back soon. See you later in class?” She waved.
Nicky started to say something about their first class but Natalia didn’t listen because Ada was excitedly pulling her away. The moment they walked into the hallway, every sophomore student dramatically paused and stared at them…
Chapter 68