I instantly catch his hand to stop him from removing it. His fingers are quivering. I know he is afraid, and it isn’t the best time for him to reveal everything. Maybe later, or tonight, or perhaps another day.
“I would love to see you, Brandon. I just don’t think now is the right time.” I kiss his mouth softly. “But I did mention that you are beautiful, right? Whatever happened to your face doesn’t reflect how great a person you are.”
His eyes soften. “This is what I love so much about you. You lift me all the time. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you.”
I smile. “You make me happy. What else should it be? You are mysterious, but you’re kind, you’re generous, and you’re honest. But you are hurting too, so I want to take care of you.”
“I should be the one who’s protecting you and taking care of you, but I can’t if I’m like this,” he murmurs.
“But you are getting better,” I remind him.
“I am, but it’s not enough.” He sighs, staring back at me. “I think I should give you a tour first. I’ll show you our room.”
“Of course. I’d like to see it.”
Brandon and I go upstairs, and he leads me to an open bedroom. I’m not exactly sure if it is a bedroom; it has no walls or doors, but it is so spacious. At the center stands a king-sized bed.
On the right side, there is a glass room containing a massive CD and music collection, while the other side has an abstract mural and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. I can’t believe no one was using the house.
“This is stunning. Are there other rooms? This space almost occupies the whole floor,” I ask while walking to the glass enclosure.
“There are other rooms, but this is the best.” Brandon appears behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. He smells my hair and kisses me softly. “Would you like to unpack before our afternoon snack? I’ll give you time.”
“I’d love to shower first.” I gaze into his eyes and put my arms around his shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“I was just thinking. I can’t imagine myself anymore without you. It’s like you’re already a big part of my life.”
“Likewise,” he whispers, but there’s a heaviness in his voice. “You don’t know how much you changed me.”
“But why do I have a feeling that I won’t be seeing you for a long time?” I ask. “All of this means something, I know, but you’re not going to leave me, right?”
Brandon hurls out a sharp breath, but his expression hardens. “I will always belong to you no matter what.”
I nod and tiptoe so I can reach his height. I rest my head on his shoulder, embracing him so tight it hurts. I start the kiss this time, and he returns it by cupping the back of my neck and just breathing.
He is slow at first, teasing my lips, sucking them one after the other. His other hand trails down my waist, slipping it inside my shirt and then gives my back a soft squeeze.
He pulls back a little, leaving me cold and with lips still wet. “Why don’t you take a shower now?”
“Ugh!” I moan in protest. I haven’t even recovered from the kiss yet. “God, you are such a tease.”
He chuckles sweetly. “Do you want me to join you?”
“You can’t do that.”
“What? I will let you peek.”
My eyes grow wider than they already are. “No, you won’t!”
He laughs at my reaction and kisses my forehead. “You’re so cute. Maybe next time. Go on.”
Eventually, I obey and make sure I’m clean everywhere, just in case he makes such a move again. I come out wrapped in a bathrobe and find Brandon sitting by the window, holding a book.
By the look of his glistening hair, he’s already had a shower. He’s changed into a white shirt and charcoal-gray sweatpants.
“I thought you’d be waiting downstairs,” I say, approaching him.
“I changed my mind,” he says, his eyes still on the book. “You’ve been in the bathroom for an hour.” He reaches for my hand, brings me close to him, and sniffs my hair. “I love how you smell.”
“I love how you smell too.”
“I want to spend more time with you, but I might not be able to stop myself the next time you show up wearing nothing underneath,” he mutters almost harshly. He leans over. “And your nipples are peeking out.”
I look down at my chest and see that one of my breasts has spilled out of the bathrobe. I feel my cheeks burn and cover myself.
He moves me aside and stands up. “I’ll wait for you in the living room.” He gives me another peck on the lips, then marches to the stairs.
The rest of the day is perfect. Brandon and I have the house to ourselves. We talk a lot about his childhood. We binge on food and shows, with our legs tangled together like a normal couple. It feels too good to be true. I wish for the day not to end.
The following day, Betty is already in the dining room when Brandon and I go for breakfast. But she has a concerned expression on her face.
“Brandon, Alayna,” Betty says, forcing a smile.
“Hey. Where’s Ollie?” I ask.
“He’s making a call,” she says. “Come, sit, and have breakfast.”
“You go first. I’ll just check on Oliver,” Brandon tells me.
“Are you sure?”
“It won’t take long.” He kisses my temple before he leaves.
Betty smiles at me again when we are alone in the dining room. I sit and start putting food on my plate.
“So, what do you think of the hot spring?” Betty abruptly asks. “I’d like to go this afternoon.”
“Hmm.” I take a sip of my hot chocolate drink. “I’ve never been to a hot spring before, but it does look nice in the pictures.”
“Let’s go together, but of course, we’ll ask the boys—”
“You two should go first.” Ollie suddenly walks in and kisses his fiancée’s head. “Brandon and I will come after.”
I frown. “Why? Is there something wrong?”
“I’m sorry, Alayna. I know that this is supposed to be his vacation, but we just need to do something important... Some work that needs attention.” Ollie pulls a chair next to Betty and sits. “Oh, John will take you there, of course.”
“That’s fine, Ollie. But where’s Brandon?”
“He’s talking to Cassius,” he says simply and begins filling his plate with food. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious.”
“At least we can have some girl-bonding time, Alayna!” Betty suggests cheerfully. “I want to know you better, and I don’t have many girlfriends here. Besides, when we marry...” She holds Oliver’s hand and grins sweetly. “We’re going to be real sisters. It’s tiring to speak English all the time. I heard you can speak fluent Japanese.”
“Hai, dekimasu!”“Sugoi!”Oliver chuckles and feeds her the crêpes. “You speak too much.”
“Hey!” she complains with a mouth full of food.
I laugh at the sight of them. They look really cute together. Betty is pleasant company, after all. I already imagine myself relaxing under the spring water with her, probably asking her about Japanese cuisine because I love their food so much.
“Okay, okay. I’m going to the hot springs with you,” I say.
“Yes!” She raises her arms in victory. “I can’t wait.”
BRANDONDamn. This is bad timing. Just when I thought everything was going my way, another fucking issue arises. But this isn’t just any problem. This is about Alayna’s and everyone’s safety. I can’t believe they’ve tracked us this far.
I call Cassius, and he answers right away.
“Thank God!” he breathes out. “I thought you weren’t going to call. Have you read my message?”
“Yes, but did you find out who the sender is? Oliver got it as well. I’m freaking out right now, and we still don’t have a trace.” I rake my fingers through my hair.
“No, it was sent anonymously. Did you tell Oliver the plan? What the heck is wrong with you? You know that it is still dangerous for you to go out that far, and you went there with Alayna?” His tone is furious.
“I know, but I was planning to tell her about our plan—your plan.”
“I just got back home, Brandon,” he complains. “Mother’s going to kill me if I leave again. You know the risk. Alayna could be in danger too, and my brother and his fiancée. Tell Alayna everything tonight, and when you are done, you’re coming with me to Athens.”
I grit my teeth. I can’t imagine Alayna getting hurt because of me. What happened before can’t happen again.
“Whoever the hell they are, they know where we are! They know that I’m here.”
“Did you tell Alayna about the hot spring?”
“Yes, I'll ask the girls to visit the resort today.”
He exhales in relief. “Good. I’ll try to track the IP address again, but I have a feeling they used a private network. Listen... I’ll see what I can do to fly back there, and I’ll take care of the girls first. But stick with Oliver while I’m away, no matter what. Do you understand?”
I guess I have no choice but to follow his lead. “Yes, yes. Thank you. I understand.”
He hangs up.
I clench my fists hard as I scan the photos Oliver and Cassius received from an anonymous sender. It’s a picture of the four of us in front of the villa. It was taken yesterday.
Please, not again.
I could never forgive myself again if something terrible happened to Alayna.