4

The next morning, I woke up snapping out of my nightmare when the cold air hit my feet. I was surprised how I fell asleep last night, I was awake most of the time and must have slept in tiredness. I saw the long windows were open and the other side of the bed was shuffled as someone had slept in there. I know I didn't touch the duvet that's hugging me right now. 

It must be him, he slept beside me and covered me in this duvet. What else he had done to me while I was sleeping like a sloth? I shrieked in fear and checked my dress to find them intact. Relief spread across my heart and I got down from the bed to see the drizzling sky outside. 

Aiden is so different compared to my village. It's cold as Mount Athes is nearby and I heard it would be often windy and rainy here. 

When I felt an urgent need to pee, I looked around to find the bathroom door.

Knowing that it must be outside, I came out of the room, and thankfully a maid is walking by that way.

I asked her to guide me to the bathroom and she did. Without telling me there’s also someone inside, she left the place, and having no clue I made my way inside the steamy pathway, that lead to a big bathhouse. The smell of rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, and jasmine filled my nostrils. The mist didn't let me see who or what was inside. The other side of the bath is what I am searching for all this time. I scurried there and closed the door.

After finishing off my chores, I came to the nearby sink where I washed my face and looked myself in the mirror.

As I couldn’t see anything clearly, I wiped off the mirror and was surprised to see someone sitting inside the huge bathtub.

I jumped in my place and turned to see who that is.

“It’s me, don’t get startled,” Alexandro’s voice made me calm down. If it was someone else, it would be so embarrassing, what? Why I am getting cozy around him like this? I should be embarrassed right now. He’s still a stranger to me.

“Come here,” he asked.

I obeyed as I need to explain a few things. The floor is slippery but I managed to walk close to him. He blows out his breath and the mist around him got cleared. I wondered how he did that, and also my eyes got the sight of his naked physique.

I quickly turned my eyes instead of taking another look at him.

“I am sorry; I shouldn’t have come inside. The maid didn’t tell me that you’re here,” I apologized, looking down.

“It’s fine, you’re allowed to go anywhere in this house,” he said.

“Thank you, sir,” I said and stepped to leave.

“I hope you had a good sleep last night,” he asks, with a smirk.

I know he’s purposefully bringing that now. God! What did I do last night?

“Yes, I had a pretty good sleep,” I hesitantly answered seeing his smile grow wider.

“What? Did you do something last night?” I ask feeling so embarrassed.

“No, you must ask what you did last night,” he chuckled.

“What did I do?”

“No one must have told you this before because you got all brothers?”

“What?”

“You put your hands and legs around on me the entire night,”

“What?” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Last night, you were so wild. I took off your hands a lot of times but you kept coming onto me," he said.

“No, you’re lying. I won’t believe you,” I repeated.

“Fine, you don’t have to believe me but I am just saying the truth,” he said with a small laugh.

I felt humiliated. I know what he said could be true because I always slept hugging one of my pillows as I was quite afraid to sleep alone. It’s just a long-time habit of mine. So I must have put my legs and arms around him thinking that he’s my pillow? How stupid of me!

“Why do you turn silent? Have you realized that I am telling the truth?” he asks.

“No,” I lie again. I wanted to apologize actually but the ego in me doesn’t allow me to do that.

“This is why I told you, we shouldn’t sleep in a room. You’re embarrassing me,” I complain.

“This is our chance to get to know each other. You want to marry without even looking at my face properly?” he asked. He’s right but why is he so considerate? I expected him to be mean like last night.

“I should go, forgive me if I have caused you any trouble,” I said and looked at his manly physique and soon my cheeks colored pink.

“Wait, I want to talk to you,”

“You can talk to me later, I am not comfortable standing here,” I said.

“Why? To see me like this?” he asked and raised a little from the water. I gulped down this feeling and fixed my gaze only on his face.

“What do you want to talk about?” I ask.

“About last night, did you say yes, wholeheartedly?”

I nod wondering if is he going to consider my opinion.

“Good,” he smiles. That smile was genuine and he looked so attractive. His cheek-length wet hair was pulled behind so his chiseled jawline and perfect facial symmetry made me marvel. For all these days my brothers were the most handsome man I ever know but ever since I saw Alexandro, everything got changed.

And his blue eyes were gazing at me.

“If I change my decision, would you let me go?” I ask in doubt that he has changed.

“Of course not,” he nodded. “I just want you to get fixed on that yes,” he said.

I frowned.

“Don’t keep your face like that,” he said.

“My face?”

“Yes, I know you’re sad but keep it within yourself. I am not going to hurt you or something,” he said.

I nodded and again stepped to leave thinking he had finally let me go.

“Wait, do you remember the first time we met?” He asks.

“Yes, I do but you act like you don’t remember it,”

“If I had forgotten that day, you wouldn’t be here right now,” he said.

I looked at him, that day he came out of nowhere and saved me from danger. I thought he was a real-life Prince Charming but I don’t see him in that perspective anymore.

“We need to get married as soon as possible. People are waiting to take you away from me,”

“What?” I ask thinking what’s this new problem? I stepped forward wanting to know more.

“I don’t want to scare you by telling you all of that,” he said, “But I promise I will protect you,”

So this is the reason my father hesitated for this marriage?

I don’t know what to say and Alexandro asked me to leave at last.

I stepped back confused about everything. Damn! I wasn’t careful enough, my feet slipped, and when I was about to fall into the water. A strong pair of hands held me, Completely naked Alexandro holding me against him.

He stared into my eyes, that gaze was so powerful and it made my heart pound rapidly.

I got nervous when he leaned close to my face. Oh my god! Are we going to share another kiss?