21. Feelings

Innessa stepped into the church wearing a knee-length, flowy zinc dress. Her hair was in an elegant ponytail. Walking along the aisle, she paused in front of the cross. 

Her brows furrowed, and surprise washed over her features when she noticed a familiar person standing ahead of her. His broad shoulders and huge build gave him away. 

Issac stood there with his eyes closed while his lips moved gently. She couldn't help but gawk at him. The way he looked so serene while praying had her heart stuttering in her chest. 

She couldn't peel her eyes off him. Innessa never said it out loud to anyone, but she always admired the men who were close to God, and she was in complete awe now. 

A lady beside her cleared her throat, garnering Innessa's attention as she raised a knowing brow at Innessa, who told her she had noticed her checking out a pious man, which made Innessa blush profusely in embarrassment as she dropped her gaze. Stepping beside Issac, she quietly knelt. 

Pressing her hands together, Innessa closed her eyes and began to pray. She prayed for Scarlett's peace, Elena's good grades, her parents' health, and her scholarship, and she didn't know why, but she also prayed for Isaac's happiness. 

'I don't know what this feeling is, but it feels good. This man, Issac Knight, is a good guy. He helps me a lot, I... I feel he's a good man. I... I just want to let you know, God. He also prays, thanks for bringing him into my life,' she smiled softly. 

While the girl was earnestly praying, she wasn't aware of a man peering at her with raw intensity in his eyes. 

Issac was sitting on the bench staring at her. He discreetly clicked her picture and also took a video of her praying. She looked so pretty, innocent, and majestic. His heart always thumped wildly when he saw her like this. He'd forever visit the church only if he got to see her converse with her God, looking so captivating. 

Innessa smiled after praying, then pulled herself to her feet. Every time she prayed, she felt so good and light, it felt as if she laid all her worries to God, and he'd do what was best for her. 

"Are you done?" He asked, and she nodded. "Let's go," he said, grabbing her hand as she wrapped her fingers around his palm naturally. 

They walked out of the church when she noticed the kids who beamed at the sight of her and dashed over to her. She crouched down, hugging them. Innessa handed them the chocolates she had brought, and Issac watched the exchange silently. 

He wasn't fond of kids, but damn, she looked so lovely when she smiled at them. 

"Who is thwis mwan?" the little girl asked, staring at Issac with big doe eyes while craning up her neck. 

"He's her bwoyfriend, dummy," The little boy said, nudging the little girl's arm. 

Innessa blinked at the kids as she stood up, Issac wrapping his arm around her waist. Leaning closer, he kissed her temple, and the little girl gasped, blushing and veiling her innocent eyes with her chubby palms. 

Innessa blinked at the kids' reaction, surprised as they ogled the couple. 

"Kids are watching," she whispered, leaning near his face, and at the same time, he leaned down, his lips brushing the corner of her mouth as she flinched back and stepped out of his hold, glaring at him as he smirked and pulled back. She knew he did that deliberately just to annoy her. 

The moms approached their kids and greeted Innessa. Issac introduced himself, and the ladies couldn't help but gush at them. "You've got such a handsome boyfriend," One of them said. 

"I bet you're the luckiest man, Mr. Knight. You've got the most beautiful and pious girl as your woman," The other lady said. 

"I agree, but beautiful is a small word; I could never describe her beauty, words are mere things to describe it. She's beyond magnificent," he said, and Innessa blinked at the floor with a flushed face as her heart drummed in her ears. All the attention and his words were making her heart flutter. 

Henry and that girl were nowhere in sight, which meant Issac wasn't lying. She didn't know why she was pretending that they were a couple, but it felt natural and sweet, so she let it go with the flow. 

After talking to the ladies, they got in his car and headed to the academy. He pulled over at the nearest cafe, and a minute later, he came back with a drink as he handed it to her. 

She blurted out a thank you, sipping it only to realize it was her favorite drink. Iced latte. So, he remembered. Her heart quavered at that sweet gesture. 

Innessa thanked him as they headed to their separate departments. 

She was in her class mid-presentation when she felt a sudden shiver that scraped the back of her neck. Her eyes darted to the students, but she stiffened when her gaze met Isaac's, who was standing in the corridor, peering in through the back door. 

Innessa quickly tried to compose herself as she continued her presentation, but her voice had gotten softer, and she refused to look at him. He makes her nervous in a jittery way. Why did he have to show up when she was in the middle of her presentation? 

The more she felt his gaze on her, the more her cheeks turned red hot. Once done, she quickly took her seat. 

"Your cheeks are burning red. Were you nervous?" Elena asked as Innessa bobbed her head. She had practiced so hard for the presentation and was sure she wouldn't get nervous, but Isaac's presence and watchful gaze made her feel like this. 

Once the class ended, she stepped out only to be pulled on the side with a grip on her arm. It was too sudden; her foot slipped, and she crashed into his chest. Innessa stepped back, wincing and rubbing her nose as she glared at him and swatted at his chest grumpily in anger. 

He watched the adorable little being with gleaming eyes. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along with her to the second floor and into an empty classroom as he watched their intertwined hands with a mixture of intense emotions he had never felt before. 

"What brings you here?" She asked, facing him, only to pause when she found him so close with a drink in his hand. 

She took it from him, thanking him as she sipped the juice. This man was purely and thoroughly a true gentleman. Just yesterday, she mentioned to him by text that she was going through headaches and dehydration, and today, he was offering her drink after drink. He was so kind. 

"I wanted to see you," he said truthfully, walking to the table as he leaned against it, tucking his hands in his pockets and staring at her with a cute tilt of his head. 

"You miss me?" She teased playfully, and a mischievous smile curled his lips. 

"I do," He grinned cheekily, feeling jittery watching her eyes widen at that small confession. 

Missing her was a small thing. Issac couldn't stop thinking about her. She was on his mind all the time. He found himself staring at her pictures for hours as sleep abandoned him, and her wishful thinking made him have blissful hallucinations. He was sure there was a term for daydreaming like that. Innessa must know that term, but he wouldn't ask her, though. He didn't want to mess things up. Even in class, he often found himself thinking about the red crescent birthmark on her chest. The urge to bite it and leave hickeys all around it. He was restraining himself. She was finally letting her guard down around him. He wanted to cherish these moments. 

"I... Uh... Thank you, I guess," she said a bit flustered, and he smirked. 

He beckoned her closer with the flick of his index finger. She hesitated before walking over to him and stopped at some distance. 

Issac pulled himself to his full height instantly, making her feel small because of his huge, broad frame. 

"Is thank you a correct response?" he asked with a raised brow, taking a step towards her. His stance was cool, but his eyes were swirling with deep intensity. 

"No. I... I mean, I don't know." She said in a small voice, taking another step back. But that didn't stop Issac as he walked her back. With each of his steps forward, she took a step back until her back touched the wall, making her startled. 

Issac stepped closer, a deviant smile playing on his lips, eyes gleaming. 

"I want to hear it," he said. The way her cheeks turned a bright shade of red, the way she looked anywhere but at him, and the way she clutched the drink to her chest. He could read her like an open book, and it was so f*cking adorable to the point he felt like dying because of her overload of cuteness. 

"I... I," She stuttered, chewing on her bottom lip. 

"I?" He cocked a perfect brow at her. 

"Imissyoutoo," She mumbled. Issac clicked his tongue, shaking his head. He guided two of his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up. 

Their eyes locked. Cognac-dark eyes peered into those innocent, icy-blue pools. 

"Now say it," he said. His thumb ghosted over her lips before gently pressing on her lower lip, applying enough pressure to free her lip from her teeth. Grabbing the drink from her hand, he placed it on the desk beside them. 

He took another step closer, keeping her gaze locked in a trance. His hard body lightly pressed against her soft frame, earning a soft gasp from her. 

Issac bent down, his hot breath caressing her ear, his tongue flicked out as he stroked the shell of her ear, causing a surprised, faint moan to slip through her lips as her eyes fluttered closed. 

The impact of that small act was so much on her that a shudder zapped down her spine, she closed her thighs tightly, her toes curling as she balled her hands into fists on her sides, while her eyes shut tightly. 

"Say it out loud. I want to hear it," His deep baritone voice had her belly tingling with foreign warmth. 

His thumb pressed roughly on her lower lip, urging her to speak, and she obliged. 

"I... I miss you too," She breathed, her voice throaty. 

"Good girl," He purred, his lips brushing on her sensitive ear. 

"But I miss you more." He rasped, giving soft feathery kisses on the back of her ear and trailing down her neck. He was so tempted to wrap her ponytail around his hand in a fist and kiss the life out of her, but he refrained from following his dark thoughts. He didn't want her running for the hills. He was f*cking ecstatic to know that she missed him. His heart was pounding like a marathon. He didn't want to ruin such a beautiful moment. 

Her skin was soft and smooth. His lips lingered on her collarbone as his tongue darted out, and he licked her throat and paused with a nibble just below her chin as her face was to the ceiling. 

That lick was so intense that her hands shot up, fisting his shirt at the chest and his bicep tightly. Tremors raked through her body. 

"I can't stop thinking about you," He murmured, giving an open-mouth kiss on her jaw. His lips trailed down her neck as he felt her throbbing pulse. 

He gently bit on it, making her yelp as she braced herself. He sucked her soft skin, nibbling the flesh between his teeth before sucking again. 

She shivered, hearing the sinful noise that he was making as something twisted in her belly. 

"I... Issac," She breathed his name in a heavy whimper, earning a low growl of satisfaction from deep within his chest. He loved the sound of his name on her lips. 

Seductive. 

"There's no one watching, Innessa. But I still want you," He rasped, causing her heart to stutter. Her eyes blinked open as she tried to come back to her senses. 

"Your blooming gardenia scent drives me crazy," He rasped, biting her earlobe and earning a gasp from her. 

His free hand moved as his fingers lingered on her spine at the nape of her neck before slowly tracing her spine down to her lower back, causing her chest to arch into him. A soundless gasp left her lips. 

Unable to control wild hunger. He smashed his lips on hers in a passionate kiss. His tongue delved into her mouth, slithering against her tongue as he devoured her mouth. 

Her stomach fluttered, and something so foreign began to gather in her lower belly; she felt knots forming in her stomach. 

Issac grabbed the back of her head, tilting his head as he deepened the kiss. 

Innessa needed to breathe as she tried to break the kiss, but he sucked on her tongue, making her tremble. She tried to respond gently, but he dominated the kiss with ease. 

Devouring her. 

Innessa's eyes shot open wide when she heard footsteps approaching them. She tried to break the kiss, but he didn't pull back. 

She punched him in his chest, shoving him back, and he finally broke the kiss. "What?" He grumbled, annoyed because of the disruption. 

"T... There's someone outside," She breathed heavily. 

Issac pulled her to his chest and pressed her back against the wall. "Stay quiet," he said. Innessa fisted his shirt at his back, hugged him, and breathed deeply. His scent filled her senses; she could feel her heart thumping in her ears. 

A couple of minutes passed as those guys left. Issac pulled back as the girl kept her eyes focused on the floor. Her face was a bright shade of red. As she stepped back, she grabbed the drink and tried to walk out of there, but he grabbed her arm and tugged her back. 

Issac dived down, kissing her cheek tenderly. "I'll pick you up for the movie night tomorrow," he said, pulling back. 

"O... Okay," She whispered in a small voice. Grabbing her drink, he took a sip before handing it to her. She stared at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks as he walked backward, eyes still focused on her. 

Issac smiled genuinely, winking at her before turning around and leaving as the girl stood there blushing profusely and trying to calm her heart. 

They just did it when no one was watching. The things he said ran through her head as she gently touched her lips. Her heart stuttered, and a giddy feeling swarmed her belly. 

Her cheeks were flaming. 

God. 

It was dangerous and thrilling. The prospect of getting caught scared her, but at the same time, the thought of not getting caught thrilled her. But it was risky and could affect her scholarship; she should’ve been careful, but then again, it felt like her body wasn’t in her control when he touched her like that.  

Her heart was a mushy mess. She could still feel his hot lips on her skin. 

The sweetest smile curled her lips as she realized her feelings. 

She likes him. It was more than that. 

Inessa was falling in love with Issac Knight.