Chapter – 14

Nine days had passed, and three days since our conversation. A lot had happened, and I was happier than I’d been in a long time. I never knew just a few days was enough to take my mind off certain things. But in truth, I was never over the crush on Orlando. It felt right in every sense. Sometimes, I thanked my fate for bringing Brian into my life. If it wasn’t for the heartbreak, Orlando wouldn’t have felt the need to get closer.

Isabel was removed from the property, and everyone was back to normal after that. The wedding date drew closer. While Brian poked his head in my mind once in a while, all I felt now was shame and anger at myself. I was furious for not seeing through his facade. Shameful for trusting him and for allowing him to jerk me around.

I had no way of knowing. Even moving in again with my parents was temporary. I was going to move out as soon as I found a job, which I already had with Orlando’s recommendation.

A smile broke past my lips at the thought. This morning, he surprised me with my interview at one of his firms and even arranged for a place for me to stay nearby. It was a decent studio apartment overlooking the city of Linnesse, and I was excited.

However, my happiness didn’t last because he informed me that he was traveling to Europe after the wedding. Mike’s words surfaced in my mind as I masked my hurt and wished him luck for the important negotiations he told us about.

If Orlando caught my distress, he didn’t show it. He expressed his worries about leaving Boxer for so long. When he asked if I could check on Boxer once in a while, I readily agreed. I realized he wanted me to be a part of his life, even if it extended only to caring for his dog. Will he miss me? Does he feel the same way about me?

Orlando was looking forward to this trip. That much was clear. This was planned almost six months ago, and though I wished he’d change his mind, I knew it wouldn’t be possible. I couldn’t be selfish when I knew this trip would bring in more business opportunities. Thousands of families depended on Cortez businesses, and Orlando’s success meant they all had jobs.

A deep sigh left my lips as I caressed Boxer’s fur. We lounged on the balcony, which gave me a wonderful view of the sea. My phone beeped with a notification, and I opened my I*******m to see new comments on my recent post.

Alana’s friends had stopped posting mean comments, and suddenly, they all went silent. Her I*******m was now full of images that were related to the wedding. Every morning and night, she posted a selfie of her and Brian with a love quote, saying how blessed she was to have him in her life.

Brian’s smile was effortless, and he wasn’t looking over his shoulder, worrying if anyone would see them. Looking at the photo again, I now remember the constant concern on his face whenever we met in public places. He’d stopped taking me to restaurants after two months and instead cooked dinner in his apartment. At the time, I thought he was being romantic. It was only now I realized he was being careful.

What was going on in his mind when he courted me? Did Alana know about this? Of course, she did. I mean, she saw us together several times and never seemed to care. My head began to ache, and I massaged my temples. What was their sick game? Was I some kind of bet? Did Alana want me broken so badly that she had her boyfriend seduce me?

Whatever it was, I was glad it was over. While it hurt more than it should, I looked at the positive side of things. Orlando wasn’t open with his feelings, and to be honest, I wasn’t either. I needed a distraction, and Orlando was conveniently near.

But was that all he was to me? Definitely not. A painful breath stretched my lungs, and I felt an ache in my heart. I knew Orlando was more, but I was afraid to admit it and even more fearful to express it to him. What if he didn’t want more?

I should stick to my original plan. No expectations. The thing with Orlando was I couldn’t risk it. If things escalated and didn’t work out the way I wanted, I would lose him forever. He wouldn’t be there even as a friend. I wasn’t ready to lose him, never. That much I knew. I wanted Orlando to be a part of my life, if not as a lover, then at least as a friend.

My poor brain failed to comprehend how hard it was to return once that fine line was crossed. You both have crossed it several times already, my conscience pointed out. We did. Though we didn’t kiss again, we often cozied up to each other at night, talking. We often woke up next morning in each other’s arms. It felt more intimate than the kiss we shared.

“What’s happening to me?” I groaned, wanting to pull my hair. Why am I thinking of all this now? I was supposed to enjoy this evening as my friends enjoyed their time in town. They’d gone to a local club to grab a few drinks and dance their asses off. I feigned a headache and stayed back, wanting to enjoy the solitude. What was happening now was the exact opposite of what I had in mind.

I should’ve gone with them.

I got up and walked to my room, wondering where Orlando was. I hadn’t seen him all day. Boxer showed up in my room just after lunch, and we’d been hanging out since then.

“Hey, boy, did your papa tell where he was going?” I asked Boxer as I went down to the kitchen. I was bored, and when I was bored, I always craved junk food.

The kitchen buzzed with activities for dinner, and the staff greeted me with warm smiles before going back to whatever they were doing. I went to the refrigerator and was delighted to find the leftover cake from last night’s dessert.

I served myself a generous amount before grabbing an ice cream tub and a few bags of chips. My cheeks stretched with a smile as I had everything I wanted. Today, I was treating myself. There was a bounce in my step when I exited the kitchen.

Once again, I couldn’t help but compare the sense of freedom I had in Orlando and Mike’s home. If I paraded in my tank top and tight shorts at my home, there would be several sets of judgemental eyes drilling holes in my skull. They just never realized there were more important things in this world than Gucci or Prada. What was the point of dolling yourself with expensive brands when your soul smelled worse than a pile of horse shit?

What else can I do? Maybe a movie marathon, or maybe I could just listen to music and paint my nails. Boxer was eyeing the goodies when I set them on the table. I almost felt guilty for not grabbing his dog treats. But again, I could always share my treats with him.

I winked at him as I took the first bite of the cake. I had forgotten the name of the Indian dessert that was full of rich cream, almonds, and pistachios. It tasted like heaven, and my taste buds longed for more. Boxer tilted his head as I indulged with greedy spoonsful.

“Do you want some?” I asked, and he responded with a bark, his tail thumping on the floor. “Go ahead and bring your plate, then. We’ll share.”

Boxer dashed out of the room like a bat out of hell, and before I knew it, he was back with his plate safely clutched in his mouth. He dropped it gently beside my leg and drooled with his eyes fixated on my dessert bowl, which was almost empty. He was well-trained and well-behaved. He surprised me often. With a grunt, I gave the rest to him and picked up the packet of chips.

***

Jessie J and Nicki Minaj sang at the top of their lungs. A giggle tumbled past my lips as I twerked in front of the mirror. It started with me singing out loud and Boxer’s howl as I painted my nails. After a while, he started chasing his tail and jumping when the music changed, which made me join him.

I’d never seen a dog dancing before. He shook his butt and wagged his tail. I saw the real happiness on Boxer’s face as we ran around the room, chasing each other. Boxer loved music. He seemed to like my choice of songs.

We were dancing for a while, and when I twirled, I noticed someone in my peripheral vision, and my footing slipped. Orlando was there, catching me before I fell on my butt. When did he get here?

I regained my composure and steadied myself. Looking around, I realized Boxer was nowhere around. Bugger! Couldn’t he at least give me a warning before bailing on me?

“That was a wonderful performance, Arianna.”

The booming music had nothing to do with the butterflies that fluttered in my belly. His pupils were dilated, and his gaze didn’t mask the desire as it swept over me. I felt his heated gaze caressing me like a feather.

“I liked watching you dance.”

My breath hitched, and I averted my gaze, unable to hold his anymore.

Orlando hooked his finger under my chin. “Will you dance for me?”

“Ah… I…”

“Please…”

I bit my lower lip, contemplating it for a moment. Brian never asked me to dance for him. I remember how offended he looked when he saw me dance with Rosie when we went clubbing together. He’d said he saw no difference between me and a hooker.

“Okay,” I agreed, shoving aside thoughts of Brian. Orlando respected me, and there was no mockery in his eyes. They held pure admiration, and I couldn’t lie about the sudden urge to show him my moves.

Orlando changed the music, and I felt a deep blush creep onto my cheeks when the song began to play. Ciara’s voice sent chills down my body. Did he know I had this song? It fit the mood perfectly. He moved to close the curtains.

When he returned, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Orlando’s eyes never left mine as he shrugged off his leather jacket. The thin V-neck t-shirt emphasized his taut muscles. I could only gasp as he pulled me to him, both his hands on my waist. His forehead rested on mine as he began to move, a slow and sensual motion that set my veins on fire.

I found my body moving in rhythm with him. Orlando twirled me around before pressing my back to his chest. I threw my head back when he rolled his hips against me. When his nose ran along the skin on my neck, my flesh erupted with goosebumps. His hands traced the length of my body as he moved me around. When he dipped me, I wanted his lips on mine. Orlando, however, was on a mission.

He knew what he was doing. He’d let me feel the heat of his body before moving away and twirling me around. His lips would grace my skin, leaving me breathless. His hands would cup the swell of my breasts, tracing the outline but never touching the way I wanted. He would squeeze my ass before stroking his hands on my inner thighs.

I ran my hands along his strong chest, rolling his t-shirt up and feeling the warm skin against my palms. The growing bulge in his pants brushed against my hip, pressing into me once in a while. My hips rotated, grinding against his hardness as he turned me again.

Our combined breathing and the growing heat clouded my mind as wetness pooled down south. By the time the song ended, I was lying on my back on the soft mattress as his body hovered over mine. I moaned even before his lips touched mine, my body overly sensitive to his every touch. The feeling overwhelmed my senses.

I trembled with anticipation as he finally relented. I writhed under his hands, arching my back while begging him with my moans.