Chapter twenty four

Alison had half of her face smeared on the glass window of Leonardo's car.

Her mind recalled the last time she was in here with him, he almost had an accident but that accident that seemed so terrifying at that time looks less distraught and terrifying now.

What terrified her was her growing proximity with him?

The only thing that kept replaying in her thoughts was his smooth lips smashed on hers last night.

Her resolution seems to be at its weakest point now and there is nothing she can do.

Her eye skimmed over to Leonardo's side, taking him in for a moment. He wore a grey shirt that matches his dark trousers, a golden wristwatch decorated his wrist, she has never seen him wearing accessories before.

It was then he noticed how tight his hold was on the steering wheel he gripped it so tight his knuckle were almost snow-white, the pressure he exerted on his arms caused wry veins to rope around his thick arms.

She slightly drooled at such sight of masculinity, he seemed to notice her gaze but she in time steered her face away from his line of sight.

Pretending to notice the fast-moving objects, that creates the illusion of being in motion too.

Was her whole existence an illusion? In some way that thought sounds alluring, it comforted her.

An illusion would be better than the confusing alternating reality she found herself.

When he asked earlier, where she suggested for their private talk. She remembered suggesting the site, the wind from the river would help cool her senses, it might clear up her thoughts too and help the both of them to air their opinions about the unknown matter in a mature manner and also there is a break today at the site, so it is sure it would be as silent and empty as a cemetery.

But what are the odds of this meeting? Her heartbeats in the trepidation of him kissing her again, what would she do then?

She eased her thoughts by tucking a stranded strip of hair behind her ears.

Watching him from her peripheral vision, she swallowed as his arms flexed as he steered the car towards a familiar path.

They are here, within the event of two minutes he stopped the car by pressing a bit hard on the break.

The law of inertia happened she jerked forward only for her to bounce back into the plush leather car seat.

"Sorry," he muttered releasing his breath at the same time.

Slowly he tucks out himself from his seatbelt and he reached towards her side, clutching the seat belt that ran across her bosom. A wave of Deja Vu sends chills down her spine.

The last time he did this she called him a pervert for looking at her boobs, she smiled inwardly.

He made her blush for the first time. First time since her divorce she found herself stuttering in front of a man.

Swallowing nothing but old saliva she watched as his slender finger ran across the length of the thick black seat belt, he inched himself closer to her.

They were almost sharing the same air, his breath fanned her face, hot exhalation breath. She took a deep breath in, trying to ease out the knots tying in her stomach. What she inhaled was a whiff- full of his strong cologne it overpowered her senses for a moment, then a subtle trace of his signature spicy smell.

It smelled familiar like the spice he showed her.

His eyes remained on her, as his hands did the work, he searched for the lock system and a soft click was heard signifying it was undone.

Instead of him moving away he maintained his position.

Push him away Alison, push him.

Her body was in serious conflict with her mind. She tried but could not help drowning in his beautiful grey hues pair, his eyelashes revealing them each time his lids flopped up and down.

She held her breath with the turmoil happening in her stomach whenever he comes close to her, she was at unease not because he was uncomfortable to be with but because he was different, he confused her mind and body, he made her exercise different thoughts in her head.

His eyes scanned her for a moment and rested on her lips, she held her breath.

Remember she came here to talk not to have another kiss with him.

With luscious carved lips, it looked so plump and soft, she recalled the delicate rhythmical movement of it on hers.

Opening the door, she slid away from his close attempt to kiss her again.

Each moment she found herself finding it harder to resist.

Why is she feeling this way? Burying her face in the comfort of her palm, she tried envisioning things differently.

Cursed the damn project assigning her to Leonardo was a blessing and curse.

The project of building her walls so high was slowly crumbling.

Leonardo was responsible, the driver's door closed with a loud thud and she heard him coming towards her, immediately she released her face from her palm, wrapping her arm across her chest instead.

"Alison!" She won't know why but she sensed the urgency in his voice.

He made her attempt to touch, but the ferocity she used to withdraw her arms alerted him.

"What do you want from me?" She asked now wary of him, and a bit agitated.

He came only closer, and she walked further away from him, she strolled quickly to the waterside passing through the ongoing Construction site, some rods stood up dangerously from the ground, cement being littered across the whole construction area where the foundation was being developed.

She passed the warning signs and safety boards.

Her legs walked so fast her joints were burning, she was running, running from her past running from Richard's hurt, and running presently from Leonardo.

Who knows, who might hurt her next?

If she doesn't run, she doesn't know what her heart might do next, her heart is speaking in a language her mind finds confusing.

Funny enough only Leonardo seems to be the one who clearly understands her heart and she was running from him.

If she doesn't run, he would win her and then break her glued remainder of what she calls a heart.

Which worked on its rusted hinges, and might give up from another fatal blow.

She is simply running because she is afraid of falling in love with Leonardo.

Suddenly a stretched-out arm pulls her to a stop, the owner faces her, his eyes revealing how hurt he is by her actions.

"Why are you running?" He asked his voice a bit loud, and enraged, his emotions displaying other emotions.

Her eyes trained on him, his beautiful masculine feature, it was perfect except his crooked nose it reminded her of her life.

"Tell me, Alison, " he said his voice turning smooth like velvet silk.

He tried to look into her eyes, but she averted it. Her eyes are windows to her soul, very transparent windows.

Her legs shook underneath the damp grey sand despite her efforts to keep it steady, "I am running because of you. You confuse me, and my feelings," she spluttered speaking the pure truth.

"I make you feel things, Alison?" He asked, his face revealed happiness at such development, and his tone was simply enthused.

She kept quiet for a while before responding, "You make me feel things - I don't want to feel."

His expression fell for a moment, but he continued, "Alison you make me feel things too. Beautiful things." The way his eyes gleamed it resembled the twinkling evening star for a moment.

"Thing I want to feel. No...Let me rephrase that," he paused, she gazed at him softly, "Thing I need to feel, that sound so much better," wanting to lighten the tension around them with a little humor.

She can't help but let out a little laughter dying down to a smile, he smiled along with her she noticed the crinkles forming at the edges of his eye skin, it made him look more mature.

He looked down at her hand, and gently clasped it around his, "Come," he said, and she did she came. His words carry so much power, emotions, tenderness.

Her mind protested but her body?

No, it pretty much dined around the name Leonardo.

She tagged along with him, his legs a bit eager than hers.

They stood at the bank of the river, her shoes were sinking in the damp sand, "Breathe!" He ordered, she raised her eyebrows at his instruction but did it anyway.

She did, she inhaled, " It smells like what?" He asked.

She sniffed once more trying to make out what the air smell like, "Nothing, smell like air." Her reply made him chuckle a bit.

"Whenever I breathe the air, it reminds me of being free. I feel like the air whenever I am with you, all light-headed and touchy, I feel intoxicated by you and your smile."

His hands gently skimmed over her face, it felt natural to let him she gently closed her eyes against his touch, " Your beautiful eyes, your personality. Your cute frown and the creases you form on your forehead whenever stressed, you light-hearted nature you sometimes hide."

A stray tear trailed down her face, "Leonardo stop it. I wanted to tell you to stop.. s-stop being my friend, so you won't kiss me again, or won't find the reason to remove the strands of hair from my face. I don't want to be involved with you," She stopped, erasing the tears forming in her eyes.

It hurts to say this to him why? She observed as he tries to hide his hurt from her.

"I do... I want to be involved in every part of your life." He said.

"You can't accept all of me, you don't even know half of me."

"The little part I know of you, I have fallen in love with. Trust me, Alison, you can bring the worst in you and I would still love you."

Love? Slowly she jerked away from her wrist from his hold, he seemed a bit surprised by her actions.

The last time she accepted love from someone, he broke her into irreplaceable fragments.

Called her ugly, fat.

He left her and her daughter.

Just give yourself the chance to love again...

Paige's words rang in her ears. She raised her gaze to Leonardo, tears streaming from her eyes.

Love, whenever she hears those words it flashed back to how hurt she was when Richard decided to turn his back on her. How she cried herself to sleep with Samantha sleeping by her side, the agony she passed through.

During the first month, she passed through denial, then the realization hit her hard, that Richard is never coming back.

Her habit of waiting by the window, checking if she would see the headlights of his car. Or have a sniff of the familiar scent of his lingering in the house his light jokes that seems to bring her alive each time she is with him.

Love destroyed her, love broke.

No matter her heart yearns to love back, she is scared.

Scared of losing it for the last time, scared of being the one suffering.

She flicked her gaze back to Leonardo, "You can't love me Leonardo. You shouldn't," she replied softly.