003

~KRISTEN~

"A break from the business meetings and getting to know your fianceé." Those were the exact words that landed me at the Manhattan resort for Yuletide Gateway. 

Billie, my fiancee by business arrangements, suggested this resort because of the awesome events it held in store for couples this Christmas.

My Dad was pushing for us to work out because our marriage meant an alliance with one of the most powerful conglomerates in Manhattan— Sternberg Conglomerates, owned by Billie's mum, and that technically made her the heiress.

It would be a huge boost to our company's clientele.

Our engagement was finalized last month and while Billie seemed to be on the highs for me, I felt nothing for her. This vacation was an avenue for me to give myself a trial if I could fall for her. I made that clear to my Dad. 

I arrived at the Island solo because Billie had an impromptu business meeting in Istanbul and wouldn't be back until tomorrow. I decided to go and at least spend some time alone— away from my Billie, from my parents and only sister— not that she was a pain in the ass though. 

But I needed some time alone. 

Barely a few hours later, I got to the resort in my power bike that I parked in the resort's parking area; I stripped and decided to go for a swim.

The weather was chilly, I knew. But I couldn't help the urge to dip myself in the beach for a few minutes. I was clad in shorts and a loose shirt. 

As I walked down the path that led to the beach, my eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the couples basking in the Yuletide weather.

I let out a small smile. The chemistry between each of them could be felt from a mile away, but I couldn't say the same for me and Ingrid. She was clearly into me, but I wasn't. At least, not yet. I hoped this holiday would solve that.

Halfway to the beach, I snapped out of my thoughts and I noticed two hands sticking out of the pool. Just then, a lady jumped into the pool, probably to save the person drowning. 

"How can she swim with heels and a dress?" I quizzed as I sprinted down to the pool.

I jumped onto the beach immediately when I saw that the young boy that was drowning before had reappeared from the hollow part of the beach, but the young lady hadn't. 

I swam faster than I ever did in a while and soon I caught a glimpse of her heading right to the bottom. I spiraled down immediately, catching her just in time and dragging her to the surface and the shore, alongside the young boy. A relative of the boy arrived, taking him from me with thanks and smiles. 

I looked down at the unconscious young lady who was floating and carried her in my arms before stepping out of the beach.

I walked a few paces away from the beach before I knelt down and gently dropped her to the ground. Thank God she was still breathing. 

Leaning in, I breathed into her lips before I started pressing her chest repeatedly. It didn't take long for her to come to. She coughed out water, her eyes opening and staring directly into mine.

I exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness you are awake. You almost gave me a scare." I muttered, but for some reason, I couldn't stop staring into her eyes. They were icy blue, but had a little glisten around the irises.

I had never seen any icy blue eyes that were that gorgeous. The outline of her face was round and the features were stunning. That wasn't your regular kind of face.

Icy blue eyes, thick eyebrows, and long lashes— just like mine, a very pointed nose that was sitting over the most sumptuous rosebud lips I had ever seen. And her curly red hair was as natural as they come.

In one word, she was... I mentally shook my head. 

'Concentrate, Kris'

I snapped out of my thoughts to see her staring pointedly at me. I felt something stir within me, and I knew right then that I had to cut that incessant stare. 

I didn't know how to convey it with words so I arched my brows, prompting another cough from her. I felt her body shiver against my hold on her nape and the back of her legs. 

Great! I was so fixated on her face not to remember that she needed a warm place right about now.

"We should get you to your room. You are a guest here, right?" I had barely gotten the words out of my mouth when she recoiled away from my body, shaking her head.

My brows furrowed in confusion. "Not getting to your room or not being a guest?" I could help giving way to the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. She was just too gorgeous and damn natural.

"It seems you haven't quite recovered from the shock of almost drowning." I continued, noticing that stare again. She was staring at me as though she could see me. I didn't want to read further meaning to what I wasn't sure of. Not this point when I wasn't open to attractions and chemistries.

"I'm going to take you to my room then." I studied the expression on her face, the furrowed brows, as though she was considering what I said. I was also surprised at myself for suggesting that.

Then it occurred to me that I hadn't heard her talk since I brought her out of the water.

"Are you a mute?" Her gaze snapped sharply to me, and she shook her head vigorously.

"Words, beautiful," I commanded softly. 

 "No." She half-whispered. Whoa! Finally. 

My smile broadened to a grin as I pulled her into my arms and sprang to my feet. 

'Wow, so light.'

I looked down at her, ignoring the way my length twitched at the contact of our bodies.

"Let's get you to a warm place then." I smiled down at her, noting the way her lips fell inches apart as she continued staring at me. It was now dawning on me that her gaze had never left mine since I rescued her from the beach. 

I could say the same for myself, but the fact that I was already engaged kept drawing me back from basking in her gorgeous gaze much longer. 

But as I headed towards the room with her in my arms, plus my suddenly heated body, I knew that it was just a matter of time before I would forgo that I was ever engaged.

I got to my room and held her With one arm, while I used the other to fish out my key card amid the way her gaze was boring into me. The door beeped before I pushed it open, adjusting her in my arms, and headed towards the bed. 

But as soon as I dropped her on the comforter, the lower part of our bodies subtly clashed, drawing a gasp from our lips.