“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been here with you, right?” said Eva breathlessly. It was the first time he had asked her about her feelings, and Eva couldn’t evade his question.
“I didn’t give you the option to opt-out. If I hadn’t forced you, would you still have come away with me?”
“Yes. So, why did you want me to accompany you when you could easily have gone with Beatrix and your parents?” she asked, waiting eagerly for him to admit that he liked her just as she liked him. His hand sought hers and he threaded his fingers through hers.
“I wasn’t with her out of my own free will, Eva. Uncle Desmond has done a lot for me and I couldn’t decline when he had a heart attack and pleaded with me to get engaged to Beatrix and take over his business. It was what my parents wanted, too. There was pressure from all sides, and I accepted my fate. For four years, I tried my best to do justice, but Beatrix wouldn’t leave her bad habits of partying and random hook-ups. Uncle Desmond was then diagnosed with serious ventricular arrhythmias last year as all other treatments failed him. The only option left for him is a heart transplant and he is waiting for a donor’s heart. I caught Beatrix red-handed with Sean Fairfield, the popular actor, and broke off the engagement, but uncle Desmond asked me to give him a year. He wanted to change Beatrix and drill some sense into her head. It isn’t possible since she has been spoiled rotten since birth. She can’t ever change!”
“What if she really changed? Will you get back with her as per your promise to her father?” Eva didn’t know where she gathered so much courage to ask him the questions that had been bothering her for so long, but she was glad that she could. This conversation would never have happened under normal circumstances! It was the magical atmosphere surrounding them that brought them closer.
Alexander frowned and gazed at the dark surface of the water, shimmering under the moonlit night. Her simple question had got him thinking. He had never considered this angle at all. How would he decline Beatrix if she really left everything and changed for the better?
“I don’t think so. Maybe I’ll think of an excuse.” He shrugged, but deep down, he was worried. Could he really think of an excuse?
“Sometimes excuses don’t work, Alexander. Only honesty does. You should know what you want, and what your priorities are! That is the only way you can decide!”
“You’re right. I have to think this over.” He released her hand and removed his arm, getting ready to get up. The magic was lost, and she sighed, sitting upright. One thing she realized from the conversation was. The magic she shared with Alexander was temporary! In a year, he might get back with Beatrix despite his claims. That was a possibility she couldn’t rule out. So it would be wise not to lose herself in him to the point of no return. There was no future for her with Alexander!
They walked back to the log cabin and this time Alexander didn’t hold her hand. He looked a little disturbed, and she just trudged on beside him. “Do you need to go to the washroom before sleep?” he asked suddenly, breaking the silence between them.
“Yes, please.” They went to the facility, and after ten minutes, they were back in the cabin.
“Good night, Eva.” It was a quiet and clinical wish and Eva just mumbled her reply, her heart bleeding for what she was missing with him.
“Good night.” Alexander lay down on his side with his back towards her. Eva sighed and lay down on hers, but she felt close to tears. She hadn’t expected this at all. She had wanted him to kiss her, to admit that he liked her. Silent tears fell from her eyes and she swallowed the emotions that clutched at her throat, choking her. She immediately repented having come out here with him, knowing that he was forbidden for her.
Suddenly his hands scooped her up and whirled her around, and crushed her to his chest. “Are you crying, Eva?” Eva looked up into his eyes, shaking her head through her tears, unable to answer him.
“I want to be with you. I’m not in a position right now, but one day I’ll make it happen. Will you wait for me, Eva?” Her breath got stuck in her throat and the tears spilled, trickling down her cheeks.
“Yes, I’ll grow old waiting for you.” Alexander held her close, wiping her tears with a smile.
“I won’t take that long. We’ll be together before my mechanisms stop functioning,” he chuckled and Eva pushed him away, knowing what he meant. Her cheeks flushed with color, even thinking about the organ he meant! He laughed at her reaction and gazed at her with so many feelings in his eyes that she could almost mistake them for love.
“Let’s see about that. Now, move, you’re crushing me,” she said, pushing at his chest to reduce the tension in the air between them. Being so close to him, she could feel every contour of his feverishly hot body, his heart thundering in his chest as erratically as hers. His admission had cleared a lot of misunderstandings, and she knew she was melting at the way he gazed at her.
“I will. Stop me if you don’t want me,” he whispered hoarsely, his expression darkening as he watched her run her tongue anxiously over her bottom lip. Eva was stunned by his desperation. She knew she couldn’t stop him even if she tried. He had always been impulsive and used to getting what he wanted. He admitted he wanted her, right? Why would he want to be with her if he didn’t want her? Was it the same thing?
“I knew it. You still want me, Eva. Don’t deny it. I can see it in your eyes.” Eva stared at him, his hoarse, desire-filled voice causing her heart to skip a beat. His gaze bore into hers, leaving briefly to flick to her mouth. Her breath hitched in anticipation, and a small smile played at the corner of his lips. It wasn’t a loving or friendly smile, but one that makes your heart thump wildly knowing that the predator is on its prowl. Suddenly, he flipped her to lay her on the bed while he crushed her almost with his weight, pinning her with his leg.
“I want to kiss you, Eva. Please, can I?” he begged, searching her eyes for permission. Eva gasped with surprise as the Alexander she knew never begged, nor asked for permission. He just took what he wanted.
“Yes, Alexander.” She couldn’t deny him after knowing how he felt about her. His lips descended upon hers and she closed her eyes as a deep moan of satisfaction escaped her mouth. This was what she had been wanting since morning, to feel his lips on hers again. She had grown addicted to him now. How would she ever get over this feverish addiction called Alexander Van Every?
He tugged at her lips, and she opened her mouth to him, surrendering to her own urges. A groan escaped his mouth as his mouth enveloped hers and his tongue glided deep inside hers. It lingered over every recess, taking his time, tasting her thoroughly. Eva wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging at his hair and kissing him back in the same unhurried manner.
He released her mouth to catch his breath. “I want more, Eva,” he murmured against her neck and again captured her lips with renewed passion. The hunger was double of what it was before and Eva was totally lost in him, completely at his mercy. She was an inexperienced twenty-two-year-old innocent girl who had never known love in her life. Although she had loved Alexander for all her growing-up years, this was the first time he showed some affection towards her. The feeling was so blissful and overwhelming that it seemed as if she had died and gone to heaven.
“Alexander,” she moaned with her eyes closed as he broke the kiss and traced his lips down the column of her neck.
“Yes?” he murmured softly, leaving her to gaze into her eyes.
“Don’t forget me again.”
“I’ve never forgotten you, Eva.” His heart constricted with pain, knowing that he didn’t exactly show her his true feelings for her. He had always cared for her, but she never knew that since he hardly wore his heart on his sleeve.
“Yes, you forgot me when you went away to study. I waited for your call every day,” she reminded him.
“I battled with my soul every day to stop myself from calling you,” he said, stroking her hair tenderly. Eva’s eyes filled up with tears of joy. She did not know that he wanted to call her.
“Then why didn’t you?”
“You were just twelve, Eva. How can I take advantage of you? I knew you would forget me, eventually.”
“Well, I didn’t.”
“I can see that.”
“I meant every word I wrote,” admitted Eva, and a sigh escaped Alexander’s mouth. He cuddled her into his chest as if she was precious to him, cocooning her in his warm embrace.
“Are we sleeping now?” she asked with disappointment in her voice, something she couldn’t hide.
“Yes, before things go out of hand. Good night, Eva!” He didn’t release her, and she sighed into his chest.
“Good Night, Alexander! Can you leave me now?”
“No, let me hold you, please!” It was a desperate plea, and Eva knew he was restraining himself a lot. It cheered her up, and she smiled into his chest, wrapping her arms around his torso to sleep.