The entire night Nicholas contemplated doing what Maxwell suggested. Would it work? Would she finally fall for him? No, he couldn’t stoop so low. He would give her some space and meet her after a few days when he was well enough to move about freely. Although his heart wanted to meet Alyssa and demand an explanation for breaking her promise to him, he tried hard to restrain himself.For the next two weeks Nicholas concentrated on his health but not once did he stop thinking of Alyssa. It surprised him that she didn’t call him even once. Although he had resumed work the day after his release from the hospital, he refrained from visiting Alyssa or calling her. It wasn’t because she was staying at her brother’s place but because he needed to rethink his strategies with her. With his need to have her again in his arms, driving him crazy, he knew he had to try another way to approach her. He cared little about Alexander’s wrath, but he cared about Alyssa’s opinion of him. He had engaged J

A look of pure confusion crossed his face as he searched his soul for an answer to her question. Why was he so impatient to see her? Why did it feel as if he would die if he didn’t meet her? Was he in love with Alyssa? His eyes focused blankly on her curious face as the realization hit him hard. Yes, he was hopelessly in love with Alyssa Van Every! How had he not realized it before? There wasn’t any other explanation for the heart-wrenching emotions he experienced when away from her. They tormented him until he saw her again. It explained why he needed to be near her all the time. “Nicholas? What’s wrong?” asked Alyssa, noticing the dazed look on his face, the beads of perspiration on his forehead. He seemed to be lost in a world of his own. “Nothing. Nothing at all. You must be hungry, Alyssa. Let’s eat the food the caretaker has arranged for us. It’s late. We can explore the place tomorrow morning,” he rambled on nervously while Alyssa gaped at him, unable to figure his mood out.

The boatman called them and Alyssa rushed after Nicholas, thankful that she didn’t need to think of a reply. It was the truth, she did want him as much as he wanted her. While his was just a physical desire, what Alyssa felt for him was deeper, more like an elemental need. Nicholas lived in every pore, every cell of her body and it was natural that she would desire him! “Alyssa, give me your hand. What’s wrong with you? This is the second time you have zoned out!” he said, coming closer to her. It brought Alyssa out of her reverie and she caught his outstretched hand while he helped her into the boat. As they sat opposite one another, the boat surged ahead toward the first island nearest to them. They first visited the Cockenoe Islands with its mile-long reef and extensive rookeries populated by egrets, Herons, and black cormorants. The cormorants' guano, which left some rocks white, was so toxic that the area was almost barren. “Touch nothing here. It’s so toxic to the trees that

“Strip! What are you waiting for?” Alyssa whispered, bringing him out of his daze. He grinned at her and followed her to the bed, hovering over her while his leg pinned her to the bed. “I’m waiting for you to do the honors.” He winked at her, his face inches away from hers, ready to devour her sweet lips again. He just couldn’t get enough of her. She giggled and pulled the tee shirt off him in one yank, eager to please him. She struggled to unbutton his jeans. “You’re taking ages, Alyssa.” Unable to control himself, he unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them off him leaving him only in a pair of boxers. “Now, it’s your turn,” she breathed, her fingers already roaming all over his body. His breath hitched as he closed his eyes to feel her touch on him. It felt so heavenly that he was drunk in her touch. “You’ve made me uncontrollable. Touch me, please,” he pleaded. Alyssa smiled, a sense of power washing over her at seeing his response to her touch. It was the same as it was the first

“Nicholas will train you at his office after marriage and then you will take over from me. I can’t pull any longer,” said her dad sternly. Alyssa gaped at all three of them. So they had planned and plotted against her back and decided her life for her without even consulting her. Blood boiled in her veins and she took a step backward, feeling like a piece of trash that could be easily trampled upon by all. “How is it I do not know about this? All three of you have already decided my life while I’m left in the dark. I really can’t believe this.” She whirled around and ran up to her bedroom, upset with all of them. Her parents had always been this way, but Nicholas could have told her about his plans before talking to her parents. She felt betrayed and dashed into her room, upset and close to tears. “You’re overreacting, Alyssa. I didn’t have a choice,” said Nicholas as he followed her inside. “Yeah, I understand, Nicholas. Go away and plot with my parents behind my back. What are yo