(Arata)
Karsten was like a forbidden tempting dream I didn’t want to wake up from. The hardness of his body and the softness of his lips made lose myself against him. Dissolve into his strong arms, yield to the hard contours of his chest.
With eyes closed, I could feel every defined taut line of his fra—every sinewy dip and peak of his torso, as if he had been carved just for .
His fingers and palms freely wandered against my back. The man knew how to make lose myself to him. The caution I had thrown to the wind was going to haunt , but right now, this sinfully tempting man was all I wanted.
We were so lost in each other’s embrace and caresses that we didn’t realise the awkward knock on the glass door of his ho gym.
And then the knock beca louder, and unwantedly, I had to sever the connection between us and open my eyes.
He grunted in annoyance.
Asbela was standing there with hands pressed together in front and eyes cast downwards.
Embarrassnt coated my whole being to be in this position.
"What?" Karsten tightened his hold around my back, keeping glued to himself while his head turned towards poor Asbela.
"I apologise for the intrusion but Mr Whittle is here to see you."
Karsten muttered under his breath, not at all happy to be disturbed.
"Fine, we will be there. Serve him coffee and keep my smoothie ready," he ordered, straightening up while keeping close to him.
Asbela stole a sheepish glance towards and I had to bite down my lip. She quickly retreated.
Karsten left the floor and easily carried in his arms before settling on the bench. His fingers carefully picked up my scattered hair and placed them behind my shoulder.
His slow-burning gaze, heavy with promises, licked over my skin.
"Let take a bath and we will go et Ranold. I told him what happened to you and he wanted to see you."
I quietly nodded, trying to keep my emotions constrained. Karsten got up and left for the changing area while I sat there battling the weight of these feelings erupting inside .
Collecting myself, I took a few deep breaths in a failed effort to bury these storms of longings that were flaring in my heart.
A different kind of ache it brought whenever he was away, which only soothed with his touch now.
What was I going to do?
Lost in my thoughts I failed to notice when Karsten erged again, bathed and cleaned. The fresh scent of the salty ocean had my eyes lifting to find him and he was carrying a scowl.
"What’s wrong, Arata?" He asked. "Are you in pain?" Tension threaded his words.
"No, no, I was just waiting for you. Let’s go." Quickly I left the bench so I could accompany him.
The look in his eyes didn’t change, and I knew he wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t push further. Placing his hand behind my back he led forward towards the drawing room.
Ranold was casually seated on the leather sofa with his perfect blonde hair styled according to the latest trend.
Snug jeans and a red tee gave him a casual but elegant air. That tease of a smile which he loved to carry was plastered on his face. He held a cup of coffee Asbela must have served him.
His eyes mischievously wavered towards , and without getting up, he asked.
"Ah! Arata. How are you?"
"I am good, Mr Whittle, thank you for asking." I settled down beside Karsten on the opposite sofa and Ranold just shrugged my words off with a wave of his hand.
"Why so formal? We are friends, just call Ranold."
We weren’t friends, and I hardly knew him except for him trying to be over-frank with or pushing Karsten’s temper to rise.
"I think Mr Whittle will be fine," I insisted with a forced smile, and Ranold opened his mouth to protest, but a seething glare from Karsten cut him off.
"She can decide what she wants to call you, Ranold. So drop it."
Ranold casually rolled his eyes and placed the cup back on the plate with a small clink.
"I wasn’t trying to be forceful, just friendly. So, anyway, how are you feeling, Arata? I heard what happened, I am sorry." He seed genuine, the teasing smile had disappeared from his face.
"Alive and kicking, that’s all that counts." I offered another contained smile.
"That’s the spirit, I love that about you." He relaxed against the sofa, offering another of his flirtatious smiles.
Karsten was slightly tensed beside ; I could see his jaw tightening like the edges of a steel sword.
"So did everything at the office go smoothly?" Karsten diverted the conversation, not liking how Ranold smiled at .
He certainly was jealous of every man who even smiled at and I wondered what he would do if he ever ca face to face with Azul.
The thought made smile and I pursed my lips. The showdown between the two of them would be epic. I couldn’t even decide who would win but Azul would definitely give Karsten a tough ti, the only other man who stole the beats of my heart.
The conversation shifted to the Winter Gala and we discussed at great lengths how to make it a huge success.
"You are taking the ramp, right?" Ranold was helping himself to one of the macarons now.
"Yes, I am," Karsten answered as Asbela entered with his smoothie perched on a small glass tray.
The smoothie was mint green in shade, and beads of perspiration trickled down the long glass with a straw and stirrer in it.
Karsten accepted it. Asbela stole another knowing look towards , and my lips quivered to suppress a smile threatening to spill out.
"Who is going to accompany you? Amanda?" Ranold asked with a tease, his clever eyes flickering towards , I boldly stared back at him. His gaze was demanding, a different kind of demanding like he could judge you and understand you on a whole different level.
"I haven’t decided," Karsten bordely answered, stirring his drink.
"Why not, Arata?" Ranold challenged, raising his left brow and Karsten had to pause and give him a look which said.
’Can’t you ever shut up?’
Reviews
All reviews (0)