Chapter 22

" Okay, " I say. Then I sigh and shake my head. 

" The truth is, I want someone around to keep an eye on Arden. I'm just so scared that he might do something foolish. "

She turns to me. I might have bought her building, bht I still need her to say yes willingly, that way, once she learns of the evacuation she'll have no choice but to fully accept. 

" Why? he looks okay to me. "

" Of course he does. That's what he wants everyone to think. But trust me when I say that he's not okay. It's why he pretended to have an emergency. So that he could go home and keep drinking. "

I have to admit, I feel a little bad about lying to her again. But it's not completely false, knowing Arden he's definitely holding a glass of whiskey in his hand right now. 

" Really? "

I nod. Pulling in to the driveway of her, I mean my building. She has a terribly good heart, and that's a very dangerous thing to have in this world. It could get you hurt and land you into a lot of trouble. But because of it, she now feels concerned about Arden and promises to think about it again. 

" I'll go now. Bye, " She unlocks the door but then I ask her to wait. I still have something I need to discuss with her and I won't be at ease until I do. 

" What is it? " 

I ask her to look at me. She does so hesitantly and asks me what I want again. Clearly getting nervous about my intentions. But I won't be able to rest until I have the answer to my question. And whatever she chooses to tell me might just be the final nail on the coffin. 

" You're avoiding my eyes. I've realized that you do that a lot. "

" Is that what you wanted to tell me? "

" No. But it would help if you actually LOOK at me for once. "

I searched for her eyes until I found them. Then I held on to the gaze with everything I had. 

" Why did you refuse to kiss Arden? " 

She frowned. Then the frown automatically disappeared and that enticing blush returned. It wasn't a shade pink but rather a very noticeable crimson on her fair skin. She almost hang her head again but I held her chin up. 

" Just tell me. Why did you say no? "

She was struggling to find words. And I was willing to wait for as long as i had to until she found them. Because surely what I was assuming couldn't be true. If it was then I was done for. 

" I just.... I don't know how... " she huffed out a breath and shook her head. Then she looked me straight in the eye and just decided to let it out. 

" I've never kissed anyone before, "

That was it. I hardly even had the words to say. 

That meant that she was actually a virgin, I would have asked more directly but it might be too much. And clearly my assumptions are all true. It makes me want her even more. The knowledge that she has never before been touched!! 

Let alone kissed anyone. It's almost too much for me to actually take in. 

I looked at her, my eyes falling to her lips. And I imagined someone else being the first one to taste them, a thought I could not endure. And before I knew it I was leaning in till my lips were an inch away from hers. 

She was looking at me in the exact same way. She might not know it but I recognised that look extremely well.

" So, you've never been kissed before.... at all? " my voice was a hoarse whisper. And the innocent look she wore undid me. She shook her head slightly, still staring at me with that curious look. 

" And what would you do if I kissed you right now? "

We were breathing the same air. And somehow my hand ended up in her hair. 

" I... I don't know, "

" Then let's find out. "

I captured her lips with mine. I could tell that she was being truthful since she seemed a little inexperienced at first. But I took full charge of the kiss. Sucking on her soft lips before I dipped my tongue into her mouth. She was so willing, and when she returned the gesture, I almost pulled her out of that seat and onto my lap. 

I deepened it as much as I could, digging a hand into her hair. Savoring the moment, listening to her sweet whimpers and soft moans. And all we were doing was sharing a kiss. I didn't want to pull back, so I prolonged it for as long as i could. And when I did finally pull away, I saw how swollen her lips were and how bright her eyes had become, and I couldn't help myself. So I dived in and kissed her again. 

She was more courageous this time, more willing to share in the experience. And she was also a very fast learner. Her hand even went up to my nape. And I felt her digging her fingers into my hair. 

The kiss aroused me more than anything else ever had. And when it ended, I was extremely disappointed. 

She looked flushed. And I could tell that she couldn't believe that she'd just done that. But I intended for her to do more, especially now that I knew that it would be her first time to do it all. And no one else apart from me was going to ever touch her the same way I intended to. 

Without another word she opened up the door and walked out. A rather shocked look on her beautiful face. That innocence was what enticed me the most. 

Her shy nature was more alluring than if she wore revealing clothes. I was her first kiss. And I intended to be her first everything from now on. Because she might not know it yet, but she was now mine. 

All mine!! 

                               🌼💮🌼💮🌼💮

Layla's POV 

Oh my God! Oh my God! 

What's wrong with me? And what exactly just happened back there, and why on earth can't I seem to stop blushing! 

That was literally the best kiss I've ever had, well... technically it was the ONLY kiss I've ever had but still.... it felt so magical. And I didn't want it to end. And because of it I can't seem to stop thinking about Gabriel. 

But why would he kiss me like that? I know his reputation with women and I'm almost completely positive that he's simply using me for his his personal satisfaction. But maybe I'm wrong. 

Jeez! I can't believe I'm thinking like this. That kiss made me lose my ability to reason. I can still feel his lips on mine. And the way he looked at me.... it was so dreamy. And epic. And wild. 

But I can't let it happen again. I really like Arden and I'm terribly sorry that he's depressed but there's no way I can accept to live with them. Especially not after what just happened. The wedding might have been fake but it still felt so wrong. And yet so right at the same time. I don't know what's wrong with me but it has to stop. This craziness has to stop and one way or another I have to quit thinking about that man. 

And I hope I don't see him anymore. He makes me have the most impure thoughts imaginable, and that's not who I am. It's not who I want to be! 

And I had promised myself that my first kiss, if it ever happened, would be with someone I'm in love with so that it would be all the more special. And he basically just stole that from me. 

And why am I not as upset as I ought to be? He just kissed me without my approval and all I can think about is how amazing the kiss was. And I kissed him back like the stupid idiot that I am. Not once but twice. Throwing myself on the couch I curl up and squeeze my eyes shut. Those images are so persistent, they don't want to stop harassing me and messing with my head. 

But I've made up my mind, I'll do everything in my power to stay as far away from Gabriel Germaine as I can. And I mean it this time. Standing up, I head to my small kitchen area and decide to distract myself by cooking. 

It was my dream to go to culinary school and learn everything there is to know about food. But then I realised that even if I did, it would be next to impossible for me to get a job as a chef. So I settled for being a nurse instead. Though that was back when I had three jobs and a roommate to cover half the rent. And all my dreams have to be put on hold now until I can get back on my feet.