Rose’s POV:
“I can smell him on you!”
The moment the sentence left his mouth, I felt like a cheater. Like I was being disloyal. This unexplainable guilt took over me.
“I told you to stay away from him and any man but you didn’t listen!” He roared with the anger clearly visible in his eyes.
“Elijah..!” I was speechless. I regretted my every action. But why was I submitting to him again?
‘Did I really do something wrong?’ I questioned myself.
“Why did you do that?” Elijah asked, his face just inches apart from mine.
I felt like my heart would burst out of my chest. I bet he could hear my thudding heartbeat.
My breath quickened. Saying my palms were sweaty was not enough, I was sweating throughout my body.
I should be grateful that my sweat doesn’t stink or I would’ve been embarrassed to death by now.
I realized that when moments ago Oliver came this close to me all I could feel was disgust but right now, when Elijah is so close to me, a part of me, a bigger part to be honest, is quite excited.
Even though, I have no idea why I am afraid of his disappointment in me when I didn’t do anything wrong, deep inside I feel like I did something wrong. Like I should have kept my distance from Oliver. I shouldn’t have let him anywhere near me.
I am unable to understand the loyalty and protectiveness I felt towards Elijah. Like he is an important part of my life, very important indeed.
Also, the fact that I don’t know anything about this gorgeous man except for his name and his secret, scares me about this strong feeling of mine towards him.
He held my chin gently and made me look into his eyes. I noticed that even when he was angry with me his actions were still way too gentle with me compared to Oliver who lost his control in his troubled emotions. I could feel that Elijah doesn’t want to hurt me at all, even by mistake.
“Answer me, Rose!” He demanded not quite happy with my silence.
I swallowed hard as soon as I looked into his eyes, like I was being accountable for the crime I did. But that was not true, I didn’t do any wrong, I was just standing there. His closeness was making me angry now, I was not enjoying it anymore.
“I didn’t do anything!” I gathered up the courage to speak but it came out more like a cat has been choked to death.
He raised his eyebrow. He wasn’t really buying it.
“Then why do you smell like him?” He asked calmly, although his expressions were still tensed.
He needed to hear something to ease up those tensed muscles.
“I was just standing there. He blamed me for not telling him the truth” I explained the half-truth.
“What truth?” He questioned me.
“About you” I replied plainly.
“Does he know that I am here” Elijah enquired.
“No, I didn’t confess” I replied.
“Why didn’t you?” Elijah questioned again.
“Because it’s not my secret to share” I replied without any emotion.
After that, I was expecting him to again get angry for letting Oliver come closer to me or something but to my surprise, he asked something that melted my heart.
“Did he hurt you?” He gently held my shoulders.
“He just held my shoulders tightly, nothing else” I replied honestly.
He retracted his hands from my shoulders while saying, “I am sorry”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Your hands were gentle” I replied softly.
“I am sorry for getting angry. I was imagining things. Maybe I am a bit too possessive” he said later under his breath.
I was still feeling like I was cheating on him when I hid the main part of our encounter. I cursed myself for having those unexplainable feeling.
“Um.. Elijah” I tried explaining things.
“Hmm?”
“He.. He tried to kiss me” I said, cursing myself again inside my head.
“What? What was your reaction?” He was shocked for a moment, maybe he wasn’t expecting me to tell him this, even though, I think he might have heard our conversation upstairs.
He was close now, closer than before. I was pressed between him and the closet behind me. Our chests were nearly touching.
His expressions were unreadable but I can tell, he was suppressing his anger.
“I was shocked for a moment but then I pushed him away followed by my brother’s unexpected entry into the scene. So, nothing really happened” I replied honestly.
“Oh, I see” He replied with a slight nod.
“Are you not going to be angry?” I asked, I was a bit too eager to see his reaction for some unknown reason.
“I am glad that you didn’t reciprocate any of it and you were being honest with me. I don’t care about the rest” he said moving away from me.
“Are you not mad that I let him come closer to me?” I asked again not knowing what I really wanted out of this.
“You must be in shock and not everything is under your control. I am not that shallow, Rose. As long as you are honest with me, I will only trust your words and nothing else” He said cupping my face gently and finally moving away completely.
I was a bit disappointed that he moved away. The way he was so close to me was giving me a sense of protection which I never felt before. Also, I never felt the need to be protected before.
His lips were looking so soft and delicious up close.
He was about to turn around but I was not ready to let him go.
“I want to say something” We said in unison to both of our surprise.
“You go first” He said like a gentleman.
“I enquired about your family at the dining table” I said waiting for his reaction.
“And?” He asked with a mocking smile.
‘That bloody r*scal!’ I thought looking at the devious smile.
“You were saying the truth. So, can I wish for anything?” I asked excitedly.
“Yup anything. Except for leaving me or being with another man. that is not going to happen!” His tone was utterly cold showcasing his emotions perfectly.
“Why would I ask for that? Do I look like an idiot?” I suddenly realized what I was saying, ‘I am doomed’
His smile widened, that infectious smile will be the death of me. I looked down in embarrassment.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my brain, making my eyes widen,
“No, this conversation is not important right now, I have a more urgent matter to discuss with you” I said hurriedly.
I bet my face turned pale when I said that and my sudden change of expression must have surprised him.
“Are you okay, Rose?” he asked in a concerned tone.
“Yes, I am, but listen, Uncle Pete and David, the two of your attackers passed away this morning!” I informed him of the grave news and was met with an expected reaction.
“WHAT!”