Sneak peek:

"W-what are you doing?" I asked, my breathing getting heavier as his warm fingers inched towards my bikini bottom.

"You called me a coward earlier, remember?" He asked, his other hand wrapped around my throat and lips torturingly brushing over mine "So let's see how much you can handle if I break the boundaries."

"I haven't said anything wrong," I breathed out, the collision of the heat of our bodies made the wetness between my thighs build more

"Oh really?" He hooked my legs around his waist leaving me surprised

I opened my mouth to say something but before any sentence could leave my mouth, sliding past my bikini bottom his fingers were there on my bare clit and the next second they thrust inside the very tight hole of mine leaving me to scream.

But everything went silent as he pressed his hot lips upon mine just as I had been wanting since the first day I had ever seen him.

****

I always knew the things I felt for Jacob Adriano were wrong in so many ways. He was my dad's best friend, totally out of bounds but I couldn't stop wanting him. And once in the event of my dad's destination wedding, I came across him after years...I lost every one of the boundaries I had and surely I planned to make him lose his ones too.

After all Jacob Adriano, the sinfully attractive Italian was not unaware of my obsession with him.

But little did know that forbidden relationships always bring havoc and demolition.....

Destination

Warning/ Trigger warning

This book contains strong mature content and illicit language, read at your own risk.

*****

A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he leaned closer, his warm breath grazing my ear, causing a shiver to run down my spine. "What's your reason, may I ask?"

I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper as I confessed, "I... I had a hangover."

Jacob's lips brushed against my earlobe, "People only drink for two reasons, Evelyn," he murmured, the sensation sending a jolt through my body and I clenched my thighs together, "Either for pleasure or pain."

If I wasn't in the pool, surely my arousal could have proven to be enough of a good reason for my dampened panties.

"What is your reason?"

"Both." I unknowingly confessed and A smirk curved on his tempting lips, his eyes glinting with a knowing spark.

"I see. You appear rather stressed. Is there anything I can do to help you relax?"

That suggestive tone.....

******

A few days ago:

Evelyn

"You have no right to look this beautiful, Clara," I couldn't help my excitement, "Dad will faint if he sees you in this on the wedding night!"

Currently, Clara, my dad's fiance, was looking through the shopping we'd done since the morning, it was nearly evening when we'd returned to our house.

"Evelyn, you have a way with words," Clara chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She sifted through the shopping bags, her fingers grazing the fabric of the black lacy nightwear she had pulled out, "Seriously though, how about this one?" she asked, holding it up for me to see.

"Well damn! You're surely going to look like a whole damn meal," My eyes widened, and I couldn't help but let out a whistle.

"You and your dad have a similar way of giving compliments, no wonder why he is so fond of you-- you are just like him," Clara burst into laughter, her infectious joy filling the room. She playfully slapped my shoulder, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Whatever you say, after a few years of marriage, I want a sibling. Do you get that?"

Clara's cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and she let out a gasp, clearly caught off guard by my comment. "Evelyn..."

Noticing her furious blush I burst into a fit of laughter. Clara and I had developed a close bond from the beginning. After my parent's divorce, I hadn't seen my dad as happy with anyone until Clara came into our lives. She was genuinely kind-hearted and a better person than my mom, who had left my dad in his most vulnerable moment when he needed her the most—a business loss that led her to abandon him and me.

Amidst my laughter, I pulled Clara into a tight hug. "I love you, cutie pie."

"I love you too, Evie, " A smile softened on her lips as she hugged me back, "Thank you so much for accepting me in your and dad's life, it really means the whole world to me." She sniffled.

Knowing Clara for years, I was aware of her tendency to become emotional even at the smallest things. And at that moment, she was having one of those heartfelt moments again.

"So, you're unlocking the waterfalls again, huh?" I teased, a playful grin on my face.

A chuckle escaped her lips, and she nodded. "No, I am not," She smiled through her tears and looked at me before wiping away the moisture that had gathered in her eyes.

"How many times do I need to tell you that you don't need to thank me for anything? Clara, you're the epitome of perfection for Dad. A thousand times better than my selfish mother, of course."

"Don't speak that way, Evie," she pleaded. "Remember, she's still your mother."

"As if I care," I scoffed, throwing myself onto the bed, heedless of the mound of clothes struggling beneath my weight.

"But, Evie..."

"No lecture for today my soon-to-be mother," I cut her off, "You better arrange that there'd be a whole lot of hot guys for me to fuck with. This virginity is tiring as fuck."

"Yeah yeah, so that your dad divorces me before we can even get married," She rolled her eyes causing me to burst into a fit of laughter. She was right, Dad was super protective about me, he had scared away multiple dates of mine in the past.

"Can we just pack Dad up in a suitcase and ship him off for a few days so that I have some freedom and fun?" I asked suggestively.

"I highly doubt your dad would fit into any suitcase," she shrugged.

Suddenly, without warning, Dad strolled into the room, catching both Clara and me off guard.

"Ah, so what exactly is the master plan here, ladies?" Dad inquired, his impeccable timing never failing to surprise us.

Dad and his uncanny knack for showing up at just the right moment!

Fuck my luck, oh well Clara's too.

"Nothing, Dad, we were just going over some wedding details," I stammered, trying to mask the obviousness of our prior conversation with a forced laugh. Yet, his expression betrayed what he saw through my feeble attempt.

"I happened to overhear the plans you two were discussing," he said, crossing his arms defiantly. Behind her hand, I could see Clara struggling to suppress her laughter.

My glare in her direction seemed to jolt her brain into action, and she quickly chimed in, "Samuel, it's not appropriate to eavesdrop on our conversation. It's downright...um..." She searched for the right word, "disgraceful, to say the least."

"Yeah, yeah," Dad rolled his eyes and took a seat on the sofa nestled in the corner of my room. "And I must say, it's incredibly considerate of you two to discuss the logistics of packing me into a suitcase. Bravo!"

Clara's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She was at a loss for a suitable response.

"Then maybe you should stop scaring away my dates!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my frustration any longer.

"And maybe you should start finding decent guys instead of little rascals," Dad shot back without missing a beat.

"They weren't little!"

"Do you agree with the fact that they were rascals?" Clara laughed out and my cheeks burnt red in embarrassment at the realisation, well...I didn't actually bring any nice guy till now but that doesn't mean I was going to accept defeat in this argument.

"I mean, they were not rascals!" I glared at Dad.

"Of course, they were, "Dad spoke confidently, "Each of those boys was, none of them had good intentions."

There's the thing, I didn't want the good intentions....

"Why do you always meddle in my relationships, huh? I'm twenty, and I have the right to choose who I want to date."

"Of course you do, but if you consistently choose the worst among them, I reserve the right to intervene."

Damn, Dad and his logic!

I was left tongue-tied at my place and I found myself heaving out a defeated sigh.

"Well then, I suppose that concludes our little disagreement for today," Dad declared, rising from his seat. "Now, my dear daughter and my fiancée, how about we put aside the idea of packing me in a suitcase and focus on actually packing our clothes for the trip? We need to leave early for the flight."

Clara interjected, "By the way, when is our flight?"

"We have to be at the airport before 9 pm," he checked his wristwatch. "So, we'd better start getting ready."

"Can't the flight be delayed? We just came back from shopping," I groaned, stretching my arms lazily above my head.

He shook his head. "Nope. We need to prepare the mansion for the arriving guests. They'll be here starting tomorrow."

"No rest for the weary, I guess?!"

"Probably not," Dad clicked his tongue, "And the destination wedding was your plan so you can't blame me."

"Ugh! You are so cruel!" I groaned burying my face into my hands

"Thank you," With that grin being flashed at me, he walked out of the room.

"Don't worry, once we get to the mansion, I'll figure something out," Clara reassured me, her words filling me with a glimmer of hope. "You won't have to lift a finger."

"I love you, I love you, I love you!" I exclaimed, throwing myself into her arms. She chuckled in response.

"I love you too, now go and get ready before the demon side of your dad wakes up," she teased.

"You're absolutely right," I laughed, before darting into the closet to start preparing for the journey ahead.

The Arrival

Evelyn.

The morning sunlight infiltrated the room through the window, its warm rays rousing me from my slumber. I reluctantly pried my eyes open, only to have them promptly shut again in protest against the intrusive light.

Letting out a disgruntled sigh, I buried my face in the pillow, hoping to shield myself from the unwelcome morning.

Mornings. Ugh! I despised them with a passion.

Even more than my periods.

Groaning, I finally dragged myself out of bed, deliberately averting my gaze from the blinding sun, I stumbled my way to the bathroom. As usual, I brushed my teeth at a tortoise's pace, trying to delay the inevitable start of the day.

As usual, I brushed my teeth at a tortoise's pace and took a shower. I made sure to scrub away any remnants of sleep, unwilling to risk looking like a ghost amidst the uncertainty of potential guests.

While the gathering had mostly been arranged amongst family members, I vaguely recalled my dad mentioning a few of his friends being invited, too.

I included a few of my friends who would come a day before the wedding day.

I dried my hair and threw on a casual spaghetti-strap tank top and shorts before venturing out of the room. The mansion seemed eerily quiet, signalling that no guests had arrived yet. However, as I made my way towards the kitchen, I couldn't help but overhear fragments of conversation between Dad and Clara, their voices carrying through the stillness of the house.

"Good morning, lovebirds," I greeted with a smile as my eyes fell on Dad and Clara .They were preparing breakfast, with Clara seated at the counter and Dad taking charge as today's chef.

"Good morning to you too, sweetheart," They responded in unison.

"So, what's on the menu, Mr. Chef?" I playfully inquired, walking closer to them and stealing a glance at the pan.

"Pasta, apparently it's the only thing I know how to cook well," Dad replied with a hint of self-deprecating humour in his voice. This remark elicited a small chuckle from both Clara and me.

"Well, that's not a problem at all. You're still the best," I giggled, hugging him from the side.

"Finally, you're admitting it, huh?" Dad chuckled, returning the embrace and planting a tender kiss on my forehead.

"I've never denied it, though," I giggled, "By the way, I'm sorry for joking about packing you in a suitcase the other day. I didn't mean it, really." I kissed his cheek, and he let out a gentle laugh before reciprocating with a smooch on my left cheek.

"I know," He ruffled my hair, "You are still too childish to commit a crime like that."

This made another laugh tear from my throat.

"All love for Dad, huh?" Clara's dramatically sad voice interrupted and my eyes shifted to her direction, "Nobody loves me."She melodramatically declared, averting her eyes from me, as if to express a hint of resentment. I could notice the small frown that'd appeared on her lips.

Unable to resist the opportunity to tease her, I walked over to Clara with a grin on my face. "Oh, come here, my drama queen," Laughing I wrapped my arms around her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

I watched as she tried to maintain an unruffled expression, but a smile inevitably made its way to her lips, and she hugged me back.

"You shower all your affection on Dad and call me a drama queen, huh? That's not fair, Evie," Clara playfully protested, shaking her head in mock disbelief.

"He's a little childlike you know, he needs affection," I mused and she burst out laughing.

Dad, always knowing how to play his cards, responded with a teasing threat, "Remember, little lady, that's definitely going to affect your allowance."

I chuckled, realising the slight difference this time. With a month full of functions and travels to various locations, I did not need an extra allowance.

"That's why I called you childlike, Dad. You seem to have forgotten that I don't need any money for this entire period," I pointed out, reminding him of his own wedding experience with Clara.

"Then I'll adjust it next month." He deadpanned.

"We both know you'll forget about it till then," I couldn't hold onto my laughter anymore and the same went for Clara, she too deluged in laughter.

"We'll see about that," He rolled his eyes and focused his attention on cooking again but this time with a small frown that took its place between his brows.

My dad was indeed adorable.

"You're just too cute, Samuel," she giggled as she pinched Dad's cheek playfully

Dad looked at her in disbelief, rubbing the spot where she left a slight pink tint. "What the heck!"

"Aw, shut up, you cute little bear," She tapped Dad's nose and this only seemed to increase Dad's irritation, evident by the small frown that deepened between his brows.

"Don't get on my nerves, Clara," Dad groaned, trying to maintain his faux sternness, though a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"What will you do, huh?" her voice brimmed with mischief. It was a familiar dynamic between the two of them, one that I had grown accustomed to over the years. However, at this moment, with the hungry rats in my stomach causing a commotion, I needed them to focus on preparing breakfast.

I was well aware that if they continued their playful banter for too long, I would be left hungry and food-deprived, something I couldn't handle properly.

"Okay, guys, enough of the family circus for today," I decided to speak up, "I'm starving, and if I don't get food now, I'll go crazy!"

Clara crossed her arms over her chest, asserting herself. "You heard that, Chef? Cook for Evelyn."

Dad's glare lingered on Clara for a moment, but he soon shifted his attention back to the task at hand, resuming his cooking duties.

When I was confirmed that the situation was under control, I made my way to the refrigerator to grab some orange juice. As I raised the bottle to my mouth, I took a satisfyingly big gulp, allowing the tangy flavour to awaken my taste buds.

"So, none of the guests have arrived yet?

"Not really, except for..." Clara's voice trailed off as a familiar yet foreign voice resonated from right behind me, sending chills down my spine.

"Good morning, everyone," the voice said, unmistakably the voice of the Italian man who had invaded my every dream.

My entire body froze, my heart racing in my chest, and the room suddenly felt devoid of oxygen, despite the gentle breeze coming in through the open window.

I could hear his footsteps as he approached, his presence looming behind me. I was too petrified to turn and face him, my grip tightening around the juice bottle in my hand.

"Good morning, Jacob," Clara greeted him with a smile.

"Did you have a good sleep, mate?" Dad asked casually, not bothering to look up from his cooking, unaware of the turmoil brewing inside me.

"Yeah," He responded, I could feel his gaze on me as well as Clara's, who seemed surprised by my sudden stillness.

"Who's this young lady?" Jacob's voice broke through the tense silence, and my worst imagination became a reality—he didn't recognize me.

I couldn't entirely blame him; the last time he saw me, I was just fifteen years old. These past five years had transformed me in ways I never could have imagined.

"You can't recognize her?" Dad chuckled, finally glancing at Jacob. I, too, mustered the courage to look at Jacob Adriano, and... well, damn it!

He hadn't aged a day since I last saw him. The same devilishly handsome jawline, the full, tempting lips, and those bewitching green eyes that had ensnared me for as long as I could remember.

A few strands of his luscious chestnut brown hair, which I had imagined running my fingers through countless times, fell casually on his face. And that same maddeningly attractive face that had haunted my dreams, and I had visualized between thighs, now stood before me.

Wearing a simple t-shirt that accentuated his sculpted muscles and paired with trousers, he could easily outshine any supermodel with just a single glance.

I had to hold my breath so that the gasp didn't slip past my lips.

"It's my daughter, Evelyn." Dad's voice made his lips part in what I could identify as astonishment.

"Wait really?" He asked, looking heavily dumbfounded," She was so little then."

Yeah, little but still capable enough to imagine your gorgeous face while masturbating......

"Yeah, time flies. Doesn't it?" Dad began," Evelyn, did you fail to recognize Jacob too?" He looked at me and asked.

I forced a smile and shook my head. "No, I recognized him. Unlike me, he hasn't changed even a little bit. He looks the same as before." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I tried not to let my gaze linger on Jacob for too long, but my eyes seemed to have a mind of their own.

There was a flicker of something in Jacob's green eyes upon my words, and perhaps because of my gaze, but he quickly masked it with a smile.

"You have grown up a lot, Evelyn," he added with a small chuckle. "I can still remember you running inside your room every time you saw me. For years, I wondered what it was about me that made you so scared, but in the end, I gave up." He walked towards the counter and poured himself a glass of water.

Decent of you to think that I did that because I was scared of you. The only reason I used to do that was to stop my poor heart from jumping out of my chest.

"Even I often thought about it and every time I'd ask her she'd just ignore me." Dad seemed to find it funny and apparently Clara and Jacob too.

I was the only one who had that red shade of embarrassment covering her face.

"Okay, I think we should stop discussing Evelyn's childhood," Clara seemed to be the first one to notice my furious blush," She is turning red."

This sentence of hers seemed to manage to bring the focus of those green eyes back on me, there was a barely noticeable twitch at the corner of his lips and I didn't know if it was intentionally flashed at me or not but the wetness between thighs began rising anyways.

Shit, Evelyn! Get hold of yourself!

"Evelyn is still as cute as she was," He took an apple from the basket and raised it to his mouth, taking a bite as he leaned against the counter staring at me, "Still somewhere the same....little girl."

Holy!

At this point, it was hard to tell if it was my mind that was acting weird or if it was his words that were strange.

"Yeah, you won't believe she still acts like the kid she was before," Dad seemed to find very nice entertainment in embarrassing me, "Her childish habits are still there."

"Old habits are hard to let go just, of course," Jacob made a thoughtful noise while still looking at me. His gaze was not receding at all.

I could feel my restraints breaking one by one.

This was not going to go well if I stayed here much longer.

"I'll...I'll just go to my room," I quickly spluttered and turning around, I began walking out of the kitchen.

"But your breakfast..." Clara began.

"I'll take it later, Clara," I interrupted, tucking a piece of my hair strand behind my hair And stealing a quick glance at her before I walked out of the kitchen.

"Wait, Evelyn..." My dad's voice trailed after me, attempting to reason, "You said you're hungry."

"Just bring it to my room," I hollered back, my footsteps quickening as I ascended the stairs and sought refuge in my own locked room.

Finally, alone, I released the weighty breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. A solitary bead of sweat traced its way down the side of my forehead, evidence of the tension that had been building up inside me.

"Calm down, Evelyn," I said to myself," Calm down."

Jacob Adriano made me feel the same things again. All these years I had thought my attraction for him had faded but one gaze at him and all my decisions had flown away out of the window.

Surely it wasn't good news.

Today.....There was something in his gaze that I hadn't seen five years before or maybe it was my own hallucination that made me want to think such things. But I doubted it was just a hallucination.

Poolside Party

Evelyn.

Leaning against the balcony railing, I took a sip of my coffee, its bittersweet flavour providing a much-needed respite from the stress that threatened to consume me. By conveniently feigning a headache, I managed to escape the formalities of greeting the arriving guests one by one, effectively dodging any encounter with Jacob.

Damn, that man seemed to defy logic with his ever-growing handsomeness.

From my vantage point, I could see the gathering around the poolside. It was like a scene straight out of a poolside party movie. Handsome men were aplenty, some being Dad's business partners' sons, while others represented their fathers' interests.

But amidst this sea of attractive individuals, my eyes only craved stolen glances at the green-eyed Italian male perched on a chaise lounge. Unlike the others, he maintained a certain air of casual elegance, leaving only a few buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of the gold chain around his neck. Every now and then, I caught a tantalising peek at his tattoo—a masterpiece that seemed to originate from the left side of his chest and undoubtedly extended down his arm.

What was God thinking while creating this masterpiece? He is too good to be true.

I tore my gaze away from him and looked at the sky. The weather was nice today enough to make me want to go for a walk, which was pretty rare for me to do.

"Evelyn...what on earth are you doing out here?" Clara's sudden loud voice jolted me, causing me to gasp and spin around. My hands instinctively tightened around the coffee mug, preventing it from slipping through my fingers.

"Clara...you scared me half to death!" I placed a hand over my chest as my heart continued to pound erratically.

"For heaven's sake, everyone's by the pool having a good time, and here you are, acting like a lone ghost," she rolled her eyes and strolled towards me, clad in a swimsuit with a poolside robe draped over her, "Go on, change!"

"I didn't bring any swimwear," I shrugged, hoping my little white lie would hold some weight.

"Oh, you little liar. I packed your suitcase with you so don't like your flimsy excuse will work on me," Of course, she saw through my ruse. What was I even expecting?

"B-but..."

"No buts," she cut me off, "Go and get ready, otherwise I might, unfortunately, have to drag your ass there."

Realising that further resistance would be futile, I finally exhaled a defeated sigh. "Fine, I'll get ready."

A victorious smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she nodded. "Good. Be downstairs in a few minutes, or else I'll have to come back up here to check on you."

"Alright," I rolled my eyes and made my way into the closet.

Thankfully, I had unpacked my luggage the previous night before going to sleep, so locating my swimwear proved to be a relatively hassle-free task.

I opted for a black triangle bikini, pairing it with a flowing white chiffon sheer robe. Pulling my hair back into a loose bun, I intentionally left a few strands framing my face. After slipping into the swimwear, I draped the robe over it, stealing one last glance in the mirror to ensure I looked presentable. Satisfied with my appearance, I made my way toward the poolside.

I wished my perverted mind would stop making me look at Jacob again and again. It had only been a day since his arrival, yet he had already managed to send my sanity teetering on the brink.

Amidst the cacophony of guests' conversations, the sound of their laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the air. The waiters were serving everyone drinks and other delicacies.

Familiar faces started to emerge from the crowd, including some individuals I despised from the depths of my being. One of them happened to be associated with my dad's company—a woman who stirred an intense irritation within me: Gloria Henderson-- A fucking wicked bitch. She embodied everything despicable, a cunning and promiscuous woman who shamelessly pursued any man within her reach, regardless of her marriage to a military husband who likely believed her deceptive facade of unwavering love.

The mere sight of Gloria's conniving ways triggered a surge of irritation within me. How could she brazenly manipulate and betray her husband, all the while pretending to be a faithful and loving wife? It disgusted me to witness her deceitful actions, and my disdain for her reached its peak.

My jaw clenched in anger.

Fucking bitch!

"Don't give her that death stare, Evie. People will start thinking you've got some personal vendetta against her," Clara whispered into my ear, breaking my intense gaze. I had been absorbed in glaring at that woman, who was shamelessly flirting with an unknown guy.

"I hate her, Clara!" I groaned under my breath.

"Me too but you know where your dad had to invite all of his colleagues, so he couldn't just exclude this one bitch from the list." She sighed, "Anyways, ignore her and enjoy the party. There are plenty of attractive boys around here." Her voice took on a mischievous tone.

"I don't need just any boy, Clara," I chuckled. "I need a real man."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Thank goodness you didn't say that in front of your dad. He'd probably ground you for days, forgetting all about the wedding plans and whatnot."

"Yeah, yeah, as if I care," I rolled my eyes and made my way towards the bar set up in the corner.

"One cocktail, please," The bartender began preparing my drink with a friendly smile.

Well...he was cute. However, my eyes wandered around the party, and as expected, they settled on Jacob. But, this time, the sight that unfolded before me, made my skin crawl in a whole new way—Gloria, that fucking bitch, was now making blatant advances towards Jacob, trying to get into his pants, of course.

My jaw clenched involuntarily, and my teeth ground together as I observed her witch-like nails trailing up and down Jacob's arms. His sleeves rolled up to his elbows giving her easy access, and she was clearly trying too hard to appear seductive or maybe to convey just how easily she could be taken to bed.

Jacob, on the other hand, looked anything but pleased. I could see his uncomfortable laughter and his body language inching away from her touch, yet she persisted, reaching out again and again.

Why was I even paying attention to this? He was a grown man perfectly capable of handling himself and dealing with women like her.

I tried to keep my focus on the drink but one sip and everything felt tasteless.

God, Evelyn! He's not your husband, nor your boyfriend! Calm the fuck down!

Taking another sip, I continued to send daggers with my eyes in Gloria's direction, her shameless flirting still in full swing. Jacob appeared visibly irritated, though he maintained his composure, politely responding to her seemingly pointless questions.

"One Negroni, please," I found myself requesting the bartender, ordering the very drink that happened to be Jacob's favourite.

As the bartender prepared it, I untied my robe, leaving it open but still draped over me, and held my half-finished cocktail in one hand and the Negroni in the other.

Before I even realised it, I was walking towards Jacob, propelled by an inexplicable force. His eyes fell on me sooner than I had expected, and they lingered, taking in my figure. Gloria, sensing Jacob's attention shift away from her, followed his gaze and noticed me walking over to them.

Completely ignoring her, I smiled at Jacob and positioned myself next to him, leaning against the bar. "Here's your favourite," I said, gesturing towards the drink in my hand.

His brows rose ever so slightly in surprise as he accepted the drink from my hand. Our fingers brushed against each other, sending an electric shiver down my body.

"Oh, Gloria," I turned my attention to her, noting the strange expression on her face. "It's so nice to meet you. How's your husband? Is everything alright?"

My carefully aimed words hit their mark, causing embarrassment to flood her features. She fumbled with her words, glancing at Jacob, who appeared shocked by this newfound discovery.

"Yeah, he's fine," she hesitantly let out, "Excuse me, I'll get a drink for myself and be back." With a flimsy excuse to mask her embarrassment, she hurriedly made her way towards the bar I had previously occupied, despite another bar being conveniently nearby.

As Gloria disappeared, I saw Jacob visibly relax, relief washing over him... and me.

He turned to look at me, his green eyes now filled with a different intensity, stirring up a jumble of thoughts and emotions within me. At that moment, a surge of courage washed over me, empowering me to take a daring step.

Just when he was about to say, I found myself leaning closer to his ear and whispering the next words, "Thank me later, Jacob."

With those words hanging in the air, I walked away, advancing towards Clara, dropping my open robe onto the chaise lounge where Jacob had been seated moments ago.

I could feel his intense gaze on me the whole time, so intense that the hair on my neck stood up but I didn't let it affect me much for him to notice.

I joined Clara in the pool and a few other women who were now talking about the wedding plans. Though the conversation was uninteresting, I couldn't help but be drawn back to Jacob Adriano's piercing green eyes that never seemed to divert their gaze.

My own eyes trailed to look at him, I saw him slowly raising the drink to his mouth and taking a sip as he stared only at me as if the sight of me was more savouring the drink itself.

Well damn...it was not going to be easy to stop me from getting hauled towards him.

Secret Or Not?

Evelyn

"Evelyn, get the hell out of the pool....you'll catch a cold!" Dad's voice echoed across the poolside, but I chose to ignore his yell and swam to the other side, determined to enjoy the water.

"I am not a kid, Dad!" I shouted back, my voice laced with defiance as I leaned against the edge of the pool. "Go and get some rest!"

The party had ended an hour ago, and the once lively poolside had now emptied, revealing the vastness of the mansion Dad owned. It was nothing short of a palace, capable of accommodating over a hundred people, though there weren't nearly as many guests invited. But I had a feeling the wedding day would be an exception.

"Evelyn, I said get out right now!" Dad ordered but once again, I paid no attention to his words.

At that moment, there were only four of us left by the poolside: Clara, who was struggling to suppress her laughter; Dad, who was determined to spoil my swim; me, defiantly sticking to my decision; and Jacob, silently observing the entire spectacle from one of the plush chaise lounges scattered around the area.

"Grow up, Dad," I didn't know why I loved getting on Dad's nerves, "Let me enjoy my swim."

As expected I could see Dad's face turning different colours and he yelled again, "What did you just say? You are me telling you to do what?"

"Grow up, Dad," I repeated and Clara burst into a fit of laughter. Even Jacob couldn't hide his amusement, attempting to stifle his own laughter behind his hand.

"Evelyn Fernandez, get the hell out of that pool right now!" Dad barked,

"Samuel, let her enjoy herself," Clara interjected, coming to my defence as Dad and I competed in the mini glaring contest, " She just started swimming a few minutes ago."

Dad's glare remained fixed on me, "She has a tendency to catch a cold easily, Clara. She shouldn't be so careless."

"Dad, the water is very warm. You can check it if you want," I chimed in.

His glare faded, replaced by a frown of contemplation.

Knowing my dad, I could almost see the internal debate happening in his mind. Ether he'd continue this argument or let it go.

There was another chance of his to confirm if....

Before I could even complete my thought I saw Dad crouching down and checking the temperature of the water by reaching his hand inside the pool.

The laugh tore from my mouth automatically but Dad, being himself, seemed unfazed. He slowly stood up after confirming the temperature was safe for his daughter's health.

"Fine, you got an hour, and after that, I want you back in the mansion, and if not then I'll drag you out from the pool by myself." He spoke still keeping his stern voice and I nodded trying hard to not laugh again.

He still treated me the same way he used to when I was a kid, apparently for my dad I'll always remain a little kid no matter how old I get.

"Jacob; Clara and I are expecting some guests who will likely arrive in a few minutes. Could you please keep an eye on her and let me know if she starts sneezing or experiencing any discomfort?" He looked at his best friend and I had expected Jacob to look surprised or say anything but he only nodded.

With that, my dad left the premises, and Clara, blowing a kiss my way, soon followed suit, disappearing from my sight.

No sooner had they departed than the atmosphere around the pool area grew inexplicably heavier.

It was just the two of us in this vast expanse, and there were no signs of any guests yet. This section of the mansion facing the pool primarily consisted of rooms reserved exclusively for us. Some remained unoccupied, awaiting the arrival of my friends and family members.

"Need something, Evelyn?" Jacob seemed to notice the stillness of me and my unruffled gaze that was staring at the reflection of him that fell on the water.

"I'm afraid you won't be able to assist, Mister Jacob," I replied, swimming closer to the pool's edge and settling on the submerged blue-tiled steps. This position allowed half of my body to remain above the water, with only my hips and legs immersed.

To my surprise, he questioned me in return, "And why do you believe that, young lady?"

There was a subtle shift in his tone, almost imperceptible, yet it made my skin crawl with something new. Damn it, even watching him without being able to turn my wildest fantasies into reality right there by the pool was sheer torture.

"It's not a matter of belief; it's a certainty," I asserted, resting my elbows on the steps behind me and leaning back, basking in the gentle caress of the sun's rays on my face as I closed my eyes.

Even with my eyes shut, I could sense Jacob's gaze tracing the path of water droplets gliding down my skin.

Of course, I was deliberately putting on a show for him, although I couldn't quite fathom why I desired such a response. Perhaps, for now, the sensation of his eyes on my skin sufficed.

"You have indeed grown up..." I heard his deep voice remark, almost resembling the suppressed growl of an unhinged beast.

"And you have become even more handsome than before," I let out, still avoiding direct eye contact as I casually tousled my semi-wet hair to remove any excess water.

"I thought you were afraid of me back then," His words this time caught my attention, compelling me to finally look at him. The devilishly handsome face adorned with green eyes and features reminiscent of a Greek god... was now fixed upon me with a blend of confusion and amusement.

"It's kind of you to assume that I used to flee out of fear," I chuckled, unable to contain the mirth, "Because the real story was quite different."

"And what is the real story, Evelyn?" he inquired, his voice rendering my name in a way that sent my thoughts into disarray, mind at sevens and sixes and heart on the verge of jumping out of my chest. I had to restrain myself from squeezing my thighs together, attempting to quell the fire that his mere voice had ignited within me, particularly in that one sensitive area.

Sudden heat was sown deep into my body.

"Why don't we keep it a secret, for now, Jacob?" I found myself uttering as I rose to my feet. "After all, secrets have a way of making everything more interesting."

"You seem to be keeping a lot of secrets from childhood huh?" He rose on his feet as well, in his right hand, there was the robe that I had left on the lounge before entering the pool.

"Unfortunately, it was only you who saw me as a child, because I vividly recall engaging in activities that are beyond a child's realm," I sighed, shaking my head, and approached him. His eyes tracked my every movement with unwavering attention as I stood before him.

His gaze locked onto mine, and I held his stare for a moment before extending my hand towards him. "Would you mind returning my robe?"

A half-smirk crept onto his face, his pearly white teeth gleaming as he released a soft laugh and handed me the robe. "You're a different breed, Evelyn."

"Thank you for the compliment, Jacob," I smiled and slipped into the robe. However, as I attempted to tie it, I discovered that the tie was missing.

Confusion etched itself across my brow as I looked at him. "You took the tie?"

Amusement danced in his eyes, and a chuckle escaped his lips as he bent down, his warm breath grazing my belly, causing an involuntary intake of breath.

As he straightened back up, I saw the white tie delicately held in his hand. "It must have fallen when you put on the robe," he explained, presenting the tie to me. My mouth formed an 'O' in realisation.

Before I could gather my thoughts or find the words to respond, Jacob leaned closer, encircling me with his presence. He deftly wrapped the tie around me, gliding the ends through the loops and securing it at the front of my belly.

My heart raced, quickening its pace, and my breath grew heavier as his cologne enveloped my senses.

His warm fingers brushed against my cool skin as he slowly knotted the tie, his gaze never faltering from mine.

"Be cautious, little girl, because the notion that a secret may remain undisclosed might be illusory. Perhaps... it is something that someone discovered long ago," he whispered and with a gentle gesture, he tucked a few strands of my hair behind my ear, igniting a rush of goosebumps across my body.

Holy hell! He just did not say that, well damn he did!

A devilish smirk played on those full lips that I longed to sink my teeth into.

I stood there speechless, his words momentarily rendering me unable to gather coherent thoughts. I could only gaze at him, bewildered and captivated.

"Go to your room, darling," He lightly brushed my cheek with the back of his fingers causing the warmth to pool my veins and the surreal need to rise, "You'll catch a cold."

I mustered up the courage to ask the next question that had been burning in my mind as I watched him begin to walk away, "Which secret are you referring to, Jacob?"

He paused in his tracks, turning to face me. The same glimmer sparkled in his green eyes, sending a wave of tension rippling through my insides.

"The secret you believe I am oblivious to," he responded with a smirk, his words hanging in the air like a tantalising promise. With that enigmatic smile lingering on his lips, he walked away, leaving me alone by the poolside, my mind in disarray.

Fucking Devil!

I had assumed that Jacob remained unaware of my intense infatuation with him.

Well, I had thought Jacob was clueless about my obsession with him, but today he had shattered that belief, revealing that he likely knew far more than I had ever anticipated.

Igniting Fire

Evelyn

Currently, I found myself seated in my dad and Clara's room, surrounded by a mountain of clothes on his bed. They were gifts he had purchased for his friends and relatives attending the event, and now, after sorting and packing everyone's presents, there were two identical shirts in different sizes remaining, intended for my dad's best friend.

The very same person whose words from the previous day continued to echo in my mind.

"Why is there an extra shirt?" I inquired, placing the magazine I had been flipping through onto the nearby table.

"Oh, I bought two different sizes for Jacob since I wasn't sure how muscular he might have become," Dad chuckled, drawing closer and settling himself on the bed. "He certainly has built himself like a giant."

I couldn't help but disagree with the notion that Jacob's physique resembled that of a giant. In reality, his physicality was far more subtle and captivating. There was a remarkable balance to his muscular frame.

Even though his muscles remained concealed beneath his clothing, it wasn't hard to discern the perfect male form beneath.

"Both sizes don't seem to have much difference. I suppose either one of these will fit him," Clara commented, examining the shirts.

"I need him to try these shirts and see if they fit," Dad groaned, stretching his arms in an attempt to alleviate the strain from walking to multiple stores. "My spine is killing me."

"Hey, Evelyn, why don't you go and ask Jacob to try them on? You haven't lifted a finger all day," Dad suggested, his gaze turning to me. I furrowed my brow at the end of his sentence.

He always had this perception of me being lazy, and while I wasn't sure if it was entirely true, I wasn't about to decline this task now. No way in hell!

"Perhaps you could have asked me properly instead of calling me lazy, don't you think, Dad?"

"But you are lazy, it's a well-known fact," Dad chuckled, causing a scowl to settle on my face.

"Well, I didn't realise you had a personal vendetta against me enjoying a little relaxation," I grumbled, my annoyance growing as his amusement persisted.

"Leave her be, Samuel," Clara interjected, attempting to control her own laughter. "If she decides to ignore you in revenge for a day, you'll be the one wandering around like a lost soul."

Dad's expression shifted at the reminder, and I noticed him clearing his throat as if the thought itself troubled him.

"I can't believe I'm about to do this again after so long, and Dad is just making sure I have another go at it," I remarked, crossing my arms over my chest. The tug appeared on my lip on its own knowing that this plan of mine was going to work.

For a moment, Dad fell silent, seemingly contemplating whether he should continue to push my buttons or relent.

Apparently, he made up his mind quicker than I expected.

"Fine, I apologise," Dad sighed, conceding defeat. "Now, please...would you go and give these shirts to Jacob?"

I wanted to refuse, to say no, but...

How could I say no to the beautiful view of Jacob's face?

Perhaps others could, but Evelyn Fernandez certainly couldn't, not even in her wildest dreams.

"Fine, hand them over," I rolled my eyes, feigning annoyance on my face. The underlying excitement remained hidden.

I took the bag from Dad's hand and made my way out of the room, passing through the long corridor until I reached Jacob Adriano's designated room.

The thought of going to his room triggered so many dirty imaginations to stir awake. Well, the ideas they were conjuring up weren't half bad, they were kinda...

Evelyn get your virgin ass together!

I shunned my thoughts away and yanked myself out of the daydreams before I finally knocked on the door, but there was no response.

I knocked again, growing slightly impatient, but still, there was no answer from the other side. The door wasn't locked either.

What was he doing?

The door was not locked either.

Impatience mingled with scepticism, and I found myself contemplating whether I should take a peek inside the room or not. It wasn't as if my intentions were entirely impure. Or maybe they could be...Damn it, I didn't know!

"Jacob?" I called out, knocking on his door once more, but still, there was no response from him.

Was he not in the room?

As low as my patience level was, my curiosity was the complete opposite. And in a moment of impulse, I decided to do the most logical thing that came to mind—yes, anyone could have guessed it. I cautiously cracked the door open and peered inside the room.

Well, this was odd—there was no sign of anyone in the room.

Should I go inside?

That'd be totally wrong, but hey, it's my dad's mansion anyway. I couldn't care less about what's appropriate or not. Besides, I had a plethora of excuses ready if anyone, especially Jacob, caught me in his room right now.

Without giving it a second thought, I pushed the door open wider and cautiously stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of him.

To my surprise, there was no sign of Jacob, but there on the bed lay a pair of trousers and a plain black T-shirt.

'Was he in the...'

Before I could even complete my thoughts, the bathroom door creaked open, shattering the silence, and Jacob's voice pierced through the air.

"Evelyn?"

I gasped, caught off guard, and spun around to face him, but damn...

The sight that met my eyes made me wish I hadn't.

Water droplets cascaded down his sculpted body, highlighting his rock-hard abs. Damp strands of hair fell gracefully across his face, adding an air of mystery. And the most intriguing part of this whole image of Jacob standing before me was that he stood exactly like my dreams, with just a towel hanging dangerously low on his waist. Fuck!

And that tattoo... God! I didn't know if I was going to faint or lose myself at that very moment.

Never in my entire existence had I imagined that the face of a freshly showered Jacob could be this delicious.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, a sheer confusion etching his face, though I couldn't help but detect a subtle hint of something more as his tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip.

My thoughts spiralled into chaos, and naturally, my brain decided to take a vacation right at the most crucial moment.

"Uh, I-I..." It was nearly impossible to focus on anything else with him standing there, half-naked, in all his glory.

"I came to give you these shirts." I finally blurted out.

"Shirts?" His eyes drifted to the bags in my hand, and recognition sparked within his gaze.

"Actually, my dad bought matching shirts for all his friends and family for tomorrow's party," I explained. "He wasn't sure about your size, so he got two different ones."

He chuckled. "Your dad and his quirky habits. Even on my birthdays, he always brought two sizes, just in case one didn't fit."

"I know," I replied, a small laugh escaping my lips this time. "He never quite managed to choose the right gifts for you. It was always me who had to struggle to help him pick something suitable."

"So, all those gifts...you were the one behind them?" he asked.

"Yeah, otherwise your best friend would have never been able to give you a fitting present on your birthdays. I always wondered if you actually liked any of those gifts I chose for you, and if so, which one was your favourite..." I chuckled. But as our eyes locked and silence filled the room, tension began to build, and I found myself blurting out, unable to resist the moment.

"Um...would you mind checking if any of these shirts fit you?"

Something in his gaze once again stirred feelings I knew I shouldn't entertain.

"Sure," he replied, grabbing a spare towel from the top of the wardrobe and wiping away the water trailing down his physique.

His eyes remained fixed on me, as if transfixed.

"Here, hand them over," he said, taking the bags from my hand and placing them on the bed before he pulled out one of the shirts.

Well... I certainly hadn't expected him to try them on right in front of me.

But could I complain? Not at all.

He attempted to slide his hands into the sleeves, but the fabric constricted around his biceps. Despite all the exaggerations, my dad made about his size, his muscles were never truly gigantic. On a scale of one to ten, anyone could easily give him an eleven in terms of perfection.

He was flawless, and so was his body, but this shirt size? Hell no!

I felt the urge to go back and ask my dad if he had been drunk when he picked out this size for a fully grown man.

"Samuel will never change," His manly chuckle caused goosebumps to cover my skin.

"This won't fit, but maybe the other one will," he murmured, struggling to extract his hands from the sleeves. The slight dampness on his skin made it even more challenging for the fabric to separate.

"Damn!" he muttered under his breath, attempting to remove the shirt.

"Let me help you," I blurted out before I even realised it. I moved closer and took hold of the shirt's placket, pulling gently on the edges. But as I did so, I couldn't help but realise what a foolish decision it was.

I had unintentionally moved too close... so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath and the heat radiating from his skin.

I tried to maintain a composed facade as I began removing the shirt from his body, but my fingers inadvertently grazed his skin, causing my breath to hitch.

Calm down, Evelyn!

I worked quickly, delicately peeling the fabric away, avoiding any further contact with his skin.

"Here, try this one," I said, picking up the other shirt and handing it to him. I purposely avoided meeting his gaze to preserve what was left of my dignity.

"Okay," he replied, taking the shirt from me. As he put it on, even without buttoning it up, it was impossible not to notice how perfectly it fit him.

"So, this is the one," I stated, mustering the courage to finally look at him. "You can wear it to tomorrow's party."

"I guess, yeah."

"I should get going. See you later, Jacob," I said, a sigh of relief almost escaping my lips as I made my way towards the exit. However, his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Evelyn..."

My feet froze, and I held my breath for a moment. I turned around to find him walking closer to me.

"The custom watch with my initials," he leaned in, his voice a soft whisper in my ear. His cheek brushed against mine, sending a jolt through me. "That one was perfect."

It took me a few seconds to register that he was referring to the gifts.

As he pulled away slightly to meet my gaze, all the air in my lungs seemed to vanish the instant our eyes connected.

"Thanks for putting in the effort to choose those gifts for me," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. Then, he gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

OH. MY. GOD

The single touch set my body on fire.

"Y-You are welcome," I managed to stammer, my face flushed with embarrassment. Without wasting another moment, I turned on my heels and hurriedly made my way out of the room.

Well, I could have sworn that I heard his chuckle when I had taken off, blushing like a mess.

A Dance With The Seduction

Evelyn

As I scanned the bustling dance floor, my eyes followed the spirited movements of everyone, each finding their groove with partners and friends. But it was my dad and Clara who truly caught my attention, twirling and swaying at the heart of the floor. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

They looked absolutely adorable, and more importantly, my dad looked genuinely happy.

Since my mom left, my dad had endured countless hardships, yet he never wavered in his role as the perfect father. He was the epitome of what it meant to be a dedicated parent. I yearned for his happiness, and it was evident that Clara would be the one to ensure that infectious smile never faded from his face.

"Hey, Evelyn."

A deep, melodious voice shattered my trance, pulling me back to reality. I turned towards Jacob, who walked over and perched on the neighbouring stool, his eyes locking with mine, momentarily suspending time in its enchanting grasp.

Oh... hi!"

It took me a second to notice his attire, momentarily captivated by the way his red shirt accentuated his features. As always a few strategically undone buttons revealed a glimpse of the tattoo on his chest, and this sexy tattoo of his drew not only my attention but also the admiring gazes of numerous ladies.

Curving his lips into a small smile, Jacob inquired, "May I know what's bringing such joy to your face?"

I shifted my gaze to my dad and Clara, the smile on my face remained unyielding, "Nothing much. It's just that my dad has finally found someone who brings out the best in him. It makes me happy to see him genuinely joyful and loved."

“You love your dad a lot.” It was not a question, instead, it was a remark that showed more admiration than anything else.

"He's all I have,” I began, “But now, thankfully, I'm gaining Clara as a family too. And that means the world to me."

Curiosity tinged Jacob's voice as he probed, "You never talk about your mom. Why is that?"

The mention of my mother veered my mood in a different direction, causing the smile on my face to fade away.

Beneath the surface, the old grudges and anger stirred, threatening to break free. Yet, as always, I suppressed them, bearing the weight of those emotions within me.

"She's not my mother," I retorted, my words laced with bitterness. "Sure, she gave birth to me, but she was never there for me. My dad, on the other hand, has been the one taking care of me since I was five. If there is anyone who’s always been by my side, that’s my dad and I know he always will be." The sharpness in my tone conveyed that my harsh words were not directed at Jacob, who was well aware of it.

"I prefer not to dwell on those who left me long ago," I continued, my voice betraying a slight tremor. "Sometimes, it's better to cut certain people out of your life."

A heavy silence hung between us for a few moments, as I absentmindedly stared at the dance floor, at the shadows of the people dancing the evening away.

However, Jacob decided to break the silence soon.

"Red wine," he offered, extending a glass toward me. "Your favourite."

I blinked in surprise, my gaze shifting to the wine glass he presented.

"How did you know?" I asked, stunned by his keen observation.

A barely noticeable smirk played at the corners of his beautiful lips.

"Just like how you knew Negroni is my favourite," he replied, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

Memories of the time I rescued him from the clutches of the insidious Gloria flooded back.

"So, you used to stalk me too?" The words slipped from my mouth impulsively, regret instantly washing over me.

His captivating dark green eyes met mine, a flicker passing through them.

Damn! It was too late to retract my words.

Stupid Evelyn! Why couldn't you keep your mouth shut, for God's sake?

"Not really," Jacob dismissed it with a chuckle, opting to brush it off. "But I have caught you sneaking away with bottles of wine late at night, more than a couple of times.”

The mention of my late-night wine escapades coloured my cheeks with a rosy hue.

After our picnics, there were nights when I would stay awake, stealing away to the cabinets, indulging in stolen sips of wine.

And sometimes, in those hazy moments, my mind would wander to fantasies involving Jacob Adriano, though I desperately hoped he hadn't heard any of the embarrassing sounds I made...

Before I could dwell further on my wandering thoughts, an annoying voice shattered the tranquillity.

"Hey, handsome."

I turned my attention to the approaching figure—a woman encased in pink plastic rather than a dress, none other than Gloria, the nastiest bitch of all time. She stood far too close to Jacob, invading his personal space.

Discomfort etched across Jacob's face and in his body language as he instinctively moved away from her intrusion.

"Hi, Miss Gloria," he awkwardly replied.

"I must say, you look extremely... delicious today," she purred, trailing one of her overly long nails along the side of Jacob's face, a gesture that made my skin crawl. The nail continued its unwelcome journey, descending down to his neck.

This fucking bitch!

Agitation wrote itself across Jacob's face, mirroring my own rising anger as I witnessed this woman shamelessly pursuing him, seemingly determined to get into his pants.

"You're a fucking married woman, Gloria," I seethed, my teeth grinding together in frustration.

She had the audacity to speak back, "Well... can my husband be seen anywhere near?"

The effects of alcohol must have erased any semblance of shame she possessed. Although I highly doubted that she possessed any.

"No, but that ring on your finger certainly can be," I retorted, my desire to slap her intensifying, though I had to settle for verbal retaliation. "So, I suggest you stop acting like a trashy woman already."

"Listen, little girl, what we grown-ups do is none of your business. Okay?" she slurred, clearly intoxicated to the point where she might end up getting herself beaten; By me of course.

"And if you have such a problem with this ring," she sneered, removing the ring from her finger and carelessly tossing it into her purse, "There you go, it can no longer be seen."

Her brazen display of defiance only fueled my anger further, but I fought to maintain my composure, refusing to stoop to her level.

The amount of insanity, arghh!

Rage surged through my veins as that wretched woman just shamelessly removed her wedding ring, hoping to seize her chance with Jacob. Bloody hell, I was dangerously close to pummeling her to a pulp.

Just as I was about to unleash all the curse words in my vocabulary upon her, Jacob gently took hold of my hand, offering me a small smile. Beneath that smile, I sensed his plea—to avoid creating a scene.

"Let's find another place to sit, Evelyn," he suggested, standing up and guiding me away from the toxic presence.

"Wait, let's have a dance," She brazenly reached out, attempting to grab Jacob's hand. That was the final straw for me.

Swiftly, I positioned myself between them, blocking her path.

"Don't you fucking understand that he is not interested in you?" I spat, “Now, before I toss you out of this party for causing a scene, just get lost."

Her arms crossed defiantly over her chest. "He didn't say that yet.”

"If hearing it from my mouth will put an end to this, then yes," Jacob interjected, his tone harsh and annoyance etched across his face. "I am not interested in you, and I have better things to do. Now, please leave."

As the weight of my insult sank in, I couldn't help but notice the shock that flickered across her face. It seemed she couldn't fathom being rejected so blatantly.

"Now, did you hear him?" I taunted, it was just oddly satisfying to watch her face turn different shades, “And as for the dance, he has already promised it to me. Better luck next time." With that, I firmly grasped Jacob's hand and led him to the dance floor, deliberately ignoring the presence of that despicable woman.

My anger had yet to subside; if anything, it continued to simmer within me. Every time I laid eyes on her, my blood boiled, raising the temperature of my indignation by a hundred degrees. From this moment on, I had another reason to despise her.

"Fucking bitch!" I muttered under my breath, as I absentmindedly placed Jacob's hands on my waist, my own finding their place on his chest.

God damn my anger! I couldn’t even realize what I was doing. Getting those enticing hands on me? A big no for the last few drops of my dignity!

My gaze shifted to Jacob after a few moments, and to my surprise, his face was adorned with an amused expression.

"What's so funny?"

"You get angry very easily," he chuckled.

"You're a grown-up man, Jacob. It's high time you learned how to protect yourself from the clutches of such women," I remarked, a touch of frustration exuding from my words, “This is the second time I've had to save you!"

"Well... I am thankful for that," He pulled me closer by my waist, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. It was at this moment that I became acutely aware of our proximity.

Though we were surrounded by a sea of people on the crowded dance floor, an inexplicable sensation began to crawl beneath my skin. It wasn't nervousness; it was something entirely different, something I couldn't quite put into words.

I knew none was going to notice us, then why this strange feeling and goosebumps?

"The colour red suits you, Evelyn," he whispered and slowly he started to move our bodies in sync with the rhythm.

"But I'm wearing black today," I replied, perplexed by his compliment. After all, the dress I had chosen for the evening was black.

"I'm talking about the colour on your cheeks. They turned quite the shade of red when you were angry.”

A furious blush threatened to overtake my face, but I decided to dismiss it, determined to maintain my composure.

"Haha! Nice joke!" I replied sarcastically, earning a laugh from him.

"Well then, tell me, what compelled you to come to my rescue not once, but twice?" he asked after a while.

"You should know, considering you seem to be aware of all my secrets," I retorted.

This time I didn’t regret my decision of allowing the words to slip out without reservation.

"You do like to keep a lot of secrets, don't you?" His voice deepened.

"Or maybe it's you who overlooks the signs.”

His challenging green eyes pierced through mine. There was an unspoken intensity that caused a shiver to travel up and down my body, jolting my senses and alerting me.

And then, in the blink of an eye, he uttered words that shifted the atmosphere entirely.

"Sometimes, things are better that way."

Fuck his philosophy!

"You know what? I should have left you with that Gloria," I snapped, frustration coursing through my veins. "At least then I wouldn't have to endure these cryptic philosophies of yours."

He seemed to sense the intensity of my anger, but he remained silent, leaving me to decipher the meaning behind his expression, but I had the least amount of interest to read him right now because he’d already made me pissed off enough.

"Go back to that bitch and dance with her," I exclaimed, my exasperation palpable. "I'm done."

With that, I turned on my heel and stormed away from him, my footsteps resolute as I made my way off the dance floor, refusing to spare him another glance.

Burning Desire

Evelyn

Frustrated and overwhelmed, I leaned against the kitchen counter, trying to calm myself down. I took a deep breath, attempting to push aside the swirling emotions that threatened to consume me. I couldn't deny the truth, though. My feelings for Jacob ran deep, and his obliviousness to them only intensified my frustration.

Oh, how I loathed it! His enigmatic ways. His riddles and ways of overlooking the very things I wanted him to understand.

It was solely intentional, a calculated choice. He was not a damn child to be clueless about the fact that I have liked him for years and I still did. I was fucking obsessed with him and this dude simply couldn’t care less to give a fuck about that.

Enough was enough! I was done.

Fuck Jacob Adriano!

"Guess there's one thing you can't..." The bitch inside my head interjected, maliciously aiming to worsen my already frayed mood with her offensive remark.

"Well...to hell with you too, you little snake!" I snapped back, silencing the conversation inside my head.

God! I hated these mood swings and my life even more!

I was well aware that I was overreacting, yet I couldn’t help myself. One moment, he'd shower me with flirtatious charm, and the next, he'd transform into a bloody philosopher.

Bloody devil!

In a fit of frustration and anger, I snatched a cold water bottle from the fridge, slamming the door shut, hoping it would quell the boiling rage within me.

Attempting to twist open the bottle cap, I found myself engaged in a ridiculous battle with a minuscule piece of plastic. Yes, you guessed it—this damn thing refused to budge. Once again, I strained to open the stubborn bottle, but it remained resolutely sealed.

Am I this weak and stupid?

"Perhaps you are, or else who’d consider banging her dad’s best friend?”—That bitch dared to speak again.

My attention wavered, now fixated on yelling at that inner voice, until I heard heavy footsteps drawing near.

I knew who it was so I did not bother to glance back to reconfirm.

He approached and positioned himself beside me, but I refused to meet his gaze. I found it to be unreasonable to engage in a conversation with him.

Instead of acknowledging his presence, I redirected my attention to the next seemingly impossible mission—opening the bottle cap. It became my sole focus, my own personal Everest.

I could sense his eyes fixed on me, observing my every futile attempt.

"Let me help you," he finally offered, after witnessing several minutes of my fruitless struggle, attempting to reach for the bottle.

"No, I can handle things on my own," I snapped curtly, swiftly withdrawing the bottle from his grasp.

I could have sworn I heard him stifle a chuckle, an infuriating cherry atop my kingdom of useless anger.

"If you're here to mock me, then kindly leave," I seethed through clenched teeth, still refusing to meet his eyes and unwavering in my determination to conquer the task at hand.

"Evelyn... I wasn't laughing at you," he said, his voice softer than ever.

Fuck it!

"I don't believe you!"

"Fine. I confess I did laugh," he sighed, "Now will you please look at me?”

"No.”

"And why is that?"

"I have more than just one reason to keep my distance, Jacob," I said, my voice not remaining as loud as it was at the start, "Because, let’s face it, you never seem to understand anything."

"And why do you say that?" His voice grew quieter, a hint of seriousness colouring his words.

"I am not saying it for no reason at all. I say it based on what I've observed," I asserted, feeling a surge of courage urging me forward, "You have a talent for avoiding reality, while I prefer to confront it. So, it's better if I stay away from you... to...,” I paused for a second, debating whether or not I should say the next words, but then my courage kicked in, “To keep you out of my thoughts once and for all." I let out.

I had no clue what kind of response I was anticipating from him. Maybe silence, or perhaps something entirely different. However, what Jacob said next was beyond my wildest expectations.

"And you expect me to believe that distancing yourself from me will make you forget about me? That you'll somehow, miraculously accomplish what you couldn't achieve all these years? Get me out of your mind when I am all you can think of?”

Holy...!

Those questions obliterated every other thought from my head. The intense heat seeped into my skin, causing my determination to slowly crumble whilst he simply watched.

He knew. He knew it all.

Without explicitly stating it, his words, within the solitary boundaries of these questions, were all the answers, clear and unmistakable.

The bottle cap miraculously twisted open, the sound of it echoing through the silent kitchen. Perhaps it opened due to the conflicting emotions that had caused me to apply extra force. But at that moment, I no longer had the desire to drink anything anymore.

"So you knew it all along... you knew... that..." I couldn't finish my sentence as he cut me off.

"Yes, I've known it since the very moment your eyes began to speak volumes, your feelings. It was the instant you started to look at me differently, the way you would hurriedly avert your gaze to avoid exposing your emotions— I knew it, I knew it from the day you laid your eyes on me,” he admitted, his voice drawing closer.

I could feel his breath gently caressing my exposed shoulder, the delicate strap of my black midi dress providing minimal coverage.

His presence felt predatory, yet there was an undeniable allure to being his prey. Never had I imagined that being pursued could feel so intoxicating.

"Then yes, I want to believe that staying away from you will help me achieve what needs to be done," I spoke, my emotions becoming a tangled mess as I answered his previous questions all at once, “Especially since you have such a talent for overlooking signs and disregarding everything."

Without looking back at him, I turned, intending to make my way toward the exit. However, I did not succeed.

In the blink of an eye, my feet were no longer on the ground. The cold marble surface of the counter greeted my skin as my back slammed against the wall, and an involuntary gasp left my mouth.

It took a moment for me to register that Jacob had lifted me effortlessly by my thighs, placing me on the counter. Now, as I became acutely aware of how close we were, my heart pounded relentlessly, showing no mercy.

His hips were dangerously brushing against mine as he stood between my thighs, his hands settled on both sides of my waist and they pulled me, even more, close so that my body collided against his rock-hard chest.

That was it.

Yes. That was it.

In that instant, all my senses were long gone, consumed by a primal heat that surged through my entire being as my eyes locked with his. The heat exploded in my lower abdomen, and the water bottle soon fell from my trembling hand but that mess on the floor did not concern me more than the one between my thighs, the pulsating heat and wetness.

The hunger in his eyes begged my body to submit to him. Let him ruin me already and not utter a single objection.

"Evelyn Fernandez..." His voice, a deep and suppressed growl, reverberated against my skin as his chest pressed against mine, creating a mesmerising vibration. "Just because I am restraining myself from the pleasure of having my way with you, doesn’t mean I desire anything in this world more than taking you here, right on this counter, hard and fast, all night long,” He lowered his voice, a smirk curving at the corner of his lips, “Till you can't take it anymore and I have had enough of you screaming my name over and over again.”

Oh. My. God.

I couldn't believe that this was Jacob talking to me right now.

The thoughts those words alone aroused were undeniably pleasing.

"Just because I have chosen not to take you right now when you look so incredibly sexy and tempting in that black little dress, doesn't mean I don't desire to take you to my room, bend you over and fuck you till the sun goes up." He wrapped his fingers around my throat and squeezed it, earning a breathy moan from me as he ground his bulge against my wet heat covered with only a thin thong.

"Fuck!" He cursed under his breath hearing my moan.

It was evident that he, too, was losing his control the way he was making me lose mine. Our heavy breaths mingled in the charged air. Desire clouded everything around us, blocking every escape route. Yet, I could sense his restraint, his determination to keep his composure intact.

I wanted his lips to press against mine. I wanted him to do exactly what he had said— I wanted him to ravish me without a care for this world, but I also knew he wouldn't do that. I just knew it before he even said it.

"But I can't do that. I can't have you," he breathed out. He pressed his nose against the delicate skin on my neck, inhaling my scent, and sending shivers down my spine.

The goosebumps rippled my skin. My hands clinging to his shirt to balance myself tightened their hold on the fabric for some reason thinking that it would be the only one that'd help me fall from the edge of this overpowering enigma of desire and…..the temptation himself— Jacob’s Adriano.

Jacob's hand around my neck moved to grab my jaw where he titled my face so that his lips could find their way to the sensitive skin there. Every inch of my skin was set on fire that will never deter. And as his lips landed more and more feather-like kisses, the desire for friction increased.

I was soaking wet down there and the worst thing was that I did not care.

I could not think of anything else other than Jacob and the things he made me feel.

He placed a lingering kiss at the corner of my mouth making me grip his shirt even tighter, his minty breath fanned my face and the collision of heat caused the need to grow even more.

Just when I thought his lips would finally meet mine, an agonising pause hung in the air— He stopped. His face hovered so close, his lips inches away from touching mine but….he just stopped.

He reached out with a gentle touch, his finger gliding from the base of my neck to the exposed skin of my bare shoulder. I involuntarily trembled under his touch.

"You are tempting as sin, Evelyn," he whispered, I could see the desire swarming in the green of his eyes, "The only sin I can't allow myself to commit."

There went all my hopes, shattered by his cruel confession.

He brushed away a few pieces of my hair strands away from my face and then after a long look at me he attempted to pull away but I refused to let him escape. I hooked my legs around him, stopping him from pulling away.

I craved his touch, his closeness, and I wouldn't let him deny us both what we truly desired—I was not going to give up.

"But you are the sin I am willing to commit in every way," I grabbed his hands and settled them on my hips, pulling him as close as possible.

"Evelyn...."

Before he could say anything else, I did not know where I got the courage but I slid my hand around his neck and pressed my lips against his. The warmth spread through my body rapidly.

Before he could say anything else, in an impulsive act of bravery, I reached out and slid my hand around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

And without a moment's hesitation, I pressed my lips against his.

Well damn. The sparks hit differently…

I did not give a fuck if there were over a hundred people around us and the chances of us getting caught, the tenfold. All I cared about was this man.

I was fucking obsessed. To the point it was insane.

In the beginning, he didn't simply fall into the motions. His initial reaction was one of sheer astonishment, as if struggling to regain his composure. But as I gently grazed my tongue over his lower lip, every last vestige of restraint he possessed shattered.

He yanked my body close so our hips came colliding against each other, my moan got suppressed by his mouth and my aching nipple pressed against his rock-hard chest as he ravished me.

God damn!

He thrust his tongue inside my mouth, the touch sending a zap of electricity to my entire body and causing the fire to ignite, even more, the feel of hardness between my thighs.

I reached out, my fingers trembling, to undo the buttons of his shirt. But at that moment, his senses emerged from the enigmatic haze. The realisation of what we were about to do washed over him.

He seized my hands, halting their motion before breaking the kiss.

"This isn't right, Evelyn," he sighed, shaking his head.

"Why?" My voice barely escaped as a whisper.

"We have our own boundaries, ones we cannot cross," he uttered. "We shouldn't do this. You're not that kind of girl, Evelyn."

I asked, the sting I felt from his words reflecting in my eyes. "Is this what was in your mind all along? To humiliate me?"

He must have sensed how I interpreted his words, for a flicker of realisation flashed in his widened eyes.

"No, that's not what I meant," he hastily interjected. "There's so much more to you. What I meant is, I'm not ready for any commitment. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't give it to you. And you deserve so much better than that. You don’t deserve to be treated like an object.”

"Jacob..."

"No, Evelyn," he shook his head, letting out a quiet sigh, “We can't continue to do this and you must understand why. It's simply wrong."

He paused, his gaze searching for the right words before he continued.

“And maybe you were right. Perhaps it's best if we start keeping our distance." As he uttered those words, I finally released my grip on him.

"Fine," I responded, my voice devoid of emotion, but inside, a fierce fire burned, an inexplicable pain lodged in my chest, unquenchable, “If you want to act like this then be it.”

Every fibre of my being longed for his touch, a part of me clung to the hope of changing his mind, but I forcefully pushed it all aside and stepped off the counter.

Talking to him seemed useless..

"Goodbye, Jacob." With that, I turned and walked out of the kitchen.