The moonlight is the only source of light in the hot spring, but the beauty of the clear water still stands out. The spring water falls into a rectangular marble pool. Around it are bamboo parapets and cherry blossom trees. The lights are warm and almost solemn. It’s so peaceful here.
Brandon walks close to the water first, then he pulls off his shirt, revealing his broad back. Gradually, he strips off his pants. My throat dries up, but oddly my mouth salivates at the sight of his immaculate buttocks. I remember seeing him the first time this way, and his body is exactly the same as I remembered.
He slightly shifts his body to face me, preventing my eyes from looking down. “Come, Alayna,” he invites softly and steps in the spring water.
I take my clothes off, letting them drop to the ground before I stride into warm spring water. I blow out a breath of relief, shutting my eyes as the soothing liquid touches my skin. I follow Brandon to the middle of the pool.
“Beautiful, isn't it?” Brandon says in his deep, soft voice as he walks behind me and touches my bare shoulders. He wraps his arms around my body.
“It’s wonderful,” I whisper, smiling.
He buries his face on my neck and kisses me. “I need to tell you something.”
“I expected that,” I say, knowing what he wanted to show me. “I’m ready.”
I spin around and look up at him, and to my surprise, his face is already bare.
The breath catches in my throat. My stomach churns. I shiver, the warmth of the water unable to stop a feeling of iciness. My knees feel frail, and my cheeks tremble.
Brandon’s expression is wounded... disgusted... dark.
“Your... your mask,” I murmur.
I tear my gaze away and look down. Honestly, I’m not sure how I should feel. I'm confused. I don’t want to offend him, but I don’t know if it’s all right to look at his face.
His face...
It has severe burn scars. A portion of the right side has irregular fibrous tissues. It seems to have been sliced several times. The cuts go from his forehead down to his right cheek. He doesn't even have an eyebrow there; it’s as if there's no more flesh but only dead skin. I remember him telling me about the acid poured on his face.
“Even I can’t look at my face in the mirror,” he croaks.
“It’s not like that,” I say breathlessly.
“Then look at me, Alayna...”
I swallow, and bit by bit, I look up. I haven’t noticed that I’m already crying until my tears stream down my cheeks.
“Oh, Brandon...”
“Doesn’t this monstrous face scare you?” He laughs bitterly. “Tell me, because I don’t mind. I’m scared of it myself.”
“No, believe me, no.” I shake my head firmly. “It’s the opposite. It makes me love you more...”
At my words, Brandon begins to sob.
I raise my hands but halt for a moment. “May I?”
He slightly nods.
And with his permission, I touch the side of his face that is damaged. Carefully, my finger trails his scars, and they are strangely soft. Brandon’s breath hitches.
“Does it still hurt?” I ask.
“Sometimes.”
“Is it hurting now?”
“No,” he says hoarsely.
“This doesn’t look that bad,” I say truthfully, smiling a little. “You’re still so beautiful to me.”
“Oh, Alayna.” He takes my hand and takes it to his mouth; he pulls me and presses me against his bare body, his skin to my skin. He continues to sob on my shoulder. “I can’t live like this anymore.”
I slide my arms around him. “Whoever did this to you, they will pay dearly,” I promise. “How could someone do this to you and still live with themselves?”
“I think I already told you why I had to hide,” he reminds me, probably referring to his illness—the illness that caused him to detach himself from the world, afraid that someone would harm him again.
“But you have to fight back.”
“Yes, but this is also why we are here, Alayna. And why I’m going to tell you this. Listen to me...” He pulls away a bit and gazes intently into my eyes. “I have to go back homeI frown. “What?”
“Because you are right. I have to fight back, and I can’t be like this forever. I have to go and fix everything, Alayna. It’s so hard for me to say this, but I have to—”
“Leave“Yes, I need to go to Athens. Where my mother came from. I wouldn’t be able to protect you if I’m like this.”
“Until when?”
“I’m not sure. Cassius said it may take a year.”
“What? That’s a very long time—”
“Alayna, I want to love you in every way. I want to give you more, but I can’t if I’m still like this. And what happened today isn’t something I can take lightly. They already did it once, and I lost my family. I cannot afford to lose anyone.” He cups my face. “Not you.”
“It’s not your fault, what happened before. You didn’t know.” The tension building in my chest finally bursts out. I finally cry. “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow. Cassius will come here to take you back to Manhattan, and we will leave as soon as I know you’re safe.”
“That’s so soon...” I know I can’t do anything about it anymore. Brandon is going to leave. And I can’t be the one who stops him from achieving his goals, even if it’s painful for me.
“Wait for me.” He wipes my tears away. “I’ll come back to you. So please, Alayna, will you wait for me?”
“Y-Yes...” I sniff hard. “I love you, Brandon, and if you think this is what’s best for you, I will wait.”
“I love you.” He brings me back to his arms and kisses my temple. “I love you so much.”
“How can I do my job if the Master isn’t even there?” I ask.
“You can still stay at my house and do your job, even if I’m not there. What happened today can happen again, so I have to keep you safe.”
“You still haven’t told me what happened. I was going to meet Betty in town.”
Brandon grunts. “Oliver and Cassius received photographs of us when we arrived at the villa yesterday. The sender is anonymous and can’t be tracked. Then Betty said her phone was stolen today—if that really is the case. But I have a suspicion, though I hope I’m wrong for Oliver’s sake.”
I frown. “You suspect Betty?”
“I don’t know much about her, but she’s Oliver’s fiancée, so I let her come with us. But that’s what I’m going to find out. It could be one of the housekeepers. I don’t know.” He blows out a worried breath. “But whoever sent you that“You won’t lose me.” I tighten my arms around his body. “I’m not leaving your side unless you tell me to. Even if you’re away, I will still be here. Just come back to me no matter what.”
“Of course, Alayna.” He kisses my forehead and smiles. “I’ll come back to you.”
After that promise, he lowers his head and kisses me. This time, his lips aggressively coax mine. I groan as tiny bolts of electricity rush inside me. His kiss grows demanding. I tighten my arms around his neck, and my nails dig into his back. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth, and his mouth devours me... possessing me.
He grips my waist, and leisurely he slides his hand up to my breast, pinching my nipple softly.
“Ahh...” I can’t help but moan loudly.
“Shh...” He laughs. “Come. Let’s get you out of the water.”
I shiver with the anticipation that he wants this to lead to something more. He takes my hand, but I stop. I cover myself with my arms. “I’ve never walked in this state outside.”
“No one will come here. I promise,” he assures me. “Come on.”
Brandon emerges from the water, and his erect shaft stands before me. I had no idea he would be this big. I feel the space between my thighs moisten. “Brandon...” My throat dries up, and my eyes widen.
He takes me again, heaves me out of the spring, and presses me against his large frame. His eyes assess me, and he frowns when they travel down my belly.
I gasp as I realize what he is looking at; I had completely forgotten about it. I try to cover the imperfection on my body, but Brandon grasps my wrist.
He asks angrily, “What is this?”
He sees it now—my own insecurity...
“What happened to you, Alayna?” he insists.
These are my scars from cigarette burns. I’ve had them since I was eighteen. “It seems we’re not so different,” I say bitterly.
“Is this...” He pauses. His expression darkens to fury. “Is that what I’m thinking? Who did this to you?”
“I don't want to talk about that.”
“Oh, baby.” He suddenly bends down and touches my waist, then starts kissing my stomach.
“Brandon!” I hold his head to maintain my balance as my arousal increases.
He presses soft kisses on my scars, making sure his lips touch each of them. We stay that way for a long time, but I need more of him. I’m willing to give all of myself to him now.
“Brandon, please... Please come up here, please...” I beg, and he complies.
“No one will hurt you again, I promise.” Brandon claims my mouth again in a deep kiss. We sigh and pull on each other’s mouths as if we can’t get enough.
I have fallen on him like a ravenous madwoman. I’m touching him and grinding myself against him. I have never felt so good with a man, given my issues in the past. His expert hands and touch have only made me want him more.
My head is spinning, and I’m still gathering my thoughts when he gradually glides his hand between my legs.
“Brandon, are you—”
“Shh. Do you trust me?”
“Yes...”
A playful smile curves his lips. Carefully, he lays me on the tiles, and without warning, he cups my cleft. His thumb presses my clitoris gently, then he thrusts his finger into me.
“Oh gosh...”
Round and round, he hits my spot as if he knows my body better than I do.
“You’re so wet... Look at how your pussy throbs.” His grin is playful as he continues to thrust his finger into me.
He has never spoken to me like this before; so raw and rough. I bite my lower lip hard, and my eyes flutter with each stroke. He moves so slowly inside me, massaging me.
“Ahh...” I moan. I’m ready to beg for more, but it’s as if he knows my body; he softly touches my very sensitive spot.
“Oh gosh!” I cry in pleasure, but as I’m on the brink of orgasm, Brandon pulls his fingers out again and brings them up to his mouth, licking them with his eyes glued to mine.
Damn. That’s insanely erotic.
“How could you do this to me? Making me lose myself, mm?” he whispers, his voice raspy.
“Please...” My body arches with yearning. I’d be willing to give more if he asks me to. I’ve suddenly become too greedy, but I can’t force him to do something he might not be ready to, given his complicated condition.
“What, baby?” I sense the amusement in his expression.
“I want more...” I whisper.
“Are you sure?”
I nod. “Y-Yes... but if you are... if you want to...”
His gaze softens. “Of course, I want to. You have no idea what I want to do with you right now.”
“Then I’m sure... I want this, Brandon.”
My throat dries up.
But as fast as he moved seconds ago, it seems like forever before he lowers himself on me, so I part my legs farther with him between them.
“Now, please...”
And he answers my plea without hesitation. Brandon thrusts his beautiful cock into me. At first, I feel slightly sore because of his size, but it’s like my whole body has fallen into a pool of pleasure. His shaft is throbbing inside me, filling me and hitting every sensitive nerve. He feels so firm, so powerful... so perfect.
“Fuck! I knew you’d feel this good,” he murmurs harshly, and at his next fierce thrust, his mouth savagely claims mine again. I tangle my fingers in his hair, and I feel his muscles working.
“Brandon...” I call, but he rams into me relentlessly... fucking me.
He groans in response, sounding rough. “You feel so fucking good.”
I shut my eyes, relishing the boundless pleasure he’s giving me. It has been a very long time since I felt genuinely aroused. I have been in senseless relationships where sex didn’t give me much pleasure at all—more like a dull act couples do to kill time.
However, sex with Brandon for the first time makes me feel so alive. It makes me feel that I’m wanted... that I’m loved.
At the back of my mind, I want to ask him if he’s okay, but I keep my words unsaid because I don’t want him to feel differently about himself. I’m only worried that our actions might be hard for him. He has never fully recovered, and he has not been this intimate with someone in ten years.
Nevertheless, he was right when he told me he can satisfy a woman. Brandon tenses up, quickens his pace, and grips my waist tighter so he can pump me. I cry as my orgasm finally takes over me, and the tremors spread to my toes. After several more thrusts, Brandon pulls out of me and spurts on my belly.
At that moment, I wish I wouldn’t ever have to get up; I wish I could just stay like this with him forever, but my heart warns me of an uncertain future. It’s as if Brandon has read my mind; he hoists me up so my legs wrap around him. In one ferocious thrust, he pulls me down and is inside me again.