ARLAN’S POV:
‘Great’ I roll my eyes, ‘Just what I don’t need’
“Mr. Arlan Reef.” She counts out my name, moving close.
“So, it’s Saraya Newman, isn’t it? Don’t even answer that, it’s a stupid question now.” I let out a sigh, releasing the tension off my chest.
I took a sip of the wine in my hand, it now tasted unpleasant – like acid, compared to the good taste it had almost an hour ago.
“Are you mad I wasn’t completely honest? When we met, my family was yet to officially introduce me. Fuck it, I hadn’t even met them yet. Hilton is my mother’s last name that I have been using until I met my father, so technically I didn’t lie” She kept her voice low. “And also,” she adds, ” about the other night-”
“Little Miss.” I cut her short, glaring at her in disbelief. How could she even be talking about that night with me now.
I opened my mouth to say something, but I was still too stunned to utter another word.
The memories of our different encounters came alive in my head. My hand had touched her in so many wrong places and even desired her up until the shocking revelation-And damn me, I might still do.
I wiped my face with my hand. “Little Miss,” I began as soon as I found my wits again, “This is neither the appropriate place nor time to talk about last night or any other time since we’ve met, trust me. Come with me.”
She wrapped her arm around mine and followed my lead to the garden.
The garden, adorned with different species of flowers and a few gazebos positioned around, was filled with a few people who perceived the party as too crowdy for them.
I led her to a much secluded part and pinned her against the wall.
“Did you know who I was all along?” The words came out of my mouth in a hurry.
“No.” She replied, startled.
“Then how are you not petrified at the outcome?” I asked.
“Petrified? It’s not like we’ve had sex… yet ”
“Yet? Are you out of your mind, little miss?”
” Are you?” She brings her face closer to mine.
I couldn’t help but stare down at her face, those eyes of hers that keep drawing me in every time and also, her lips too!.
The urge to kiss her washed over me. I shut my eyes for a second to pull myself together
I also didn’t want to move away from this temptation so I stayed, fighting my urge inside and breathing heavily.
“What do you mean?” My voice softened.
“Are you out of your mind standing this close to me and all alone, just the two of us.” She placed a finger under my chin and slowly raised my gaze to meet hers.
“Maybe I am.” My voice turned husky.
She ran five fingers down my face and stopped right in the parting of my lips, and stroked my bottom lip.
Then, she pressed lightly against my lips and I parted my lips only a little, letting her bewitch me with her charms.
I kissed the tip of her fingers, slowly invited them into the warmth of my lips. I started to suck on the tip of her fingers, my eyes fixed on the subtle sly look on her face that drove me wild the more.
‘ARLAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU IDIOT!’ My subconscious screamed in the back of my head.
I wanted to save myself, but I just couldn’t resist the touch of her hand on my skin.
“We need to stop, this is Madness.” I managed to say.
“What madness?” She smirks wickedly, sliding a hand down and resting it on my chest.
“Would you like to be out of your mind with me? Have you ever been sexually intimate with a woman around my age before?”
She turns around to face the garden wall, her body so close to mine. She wraps a hand around my neck and leans her head back.
“Do you like the sweet smell of lotus?” she adds.
Grunting, I reply “I’m not sure.”
“Here,” She slowly tilts her neck to one side, giving enough room for the sweet scented smell of perfume to waft out. “Take in a sniff, it’ll help your nerves to relax. You look tense.
Getting lost in the sensation, I wrap my arms around the small of her waist and pulled her in, taking in her scent “I think I do love the smell of lotus”.
“There you go, don’t you feel better?” She asked.
“I- I argh!. I need to stop.” I stepped away from her.
“No you don’t” She tried to take a step closer
“Yes, I do. And I’d appreciate you just stay right where you are.”
“Or what? You’ll punish me, Daddy?” She smirked at me, teasing.
“Stop it already.” I turned around to avoid her gaze, and focus on steadying my breathing. I looked up at the grand mansion to distract myself and then, my eyes fell on a pair of big eyes watching us from the window.
“Little Miss,”
“Yes daddy.”
“I think someone has seen us.”
***
I walked back into the party minutes after Saraya, to avoid suspicion.
My mind raced wondering who it could’ve been, watching us from the window all the while.
I catch a glimpse of Alex making his way towards me, looking angry. My muscles tense.
“I would like to have a word with you in my study.” Alex says, between gritted teeth.
‘Shit! It was Alex.’ Immediately I closed the door, I try to explain. “Look, I can explain. It’s my fault, she -”
He punches me in the gut, cutting my words short. “How dare you?!” He snarls, giving me another punch.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was-”
“Shut the fuck up, Arlan!” He cuts in, “I don’t care about your shit man. You can do whatever you want with any woman that tickles your fancy, but just not in my house you understand me? Hell dammit! Especially not at my daughter’s party. Thankfully it was I who saw you. Well, Evan saw you first and me pointed to the window, but the point is thank God it wasn’t my daughter who saw you. You would’ve created a bad impression for both of us, Arlan.” He scowled, pacing back and forth.
I look up at him, surprised by the revelation.
He walks back to me, “Now get your act together, don’t pretend like this feeble hand can cause that much pain to you. I am not going to pay a dime for your health if anything is broken, sue me for assault if you want.” He says, adjusting my shirt and tie.
“Now we have a toast to make”. He adds, leading me to the door.