ARIEL POV
Summer is one of the best four earths seasons that foreshadows Autumn. The days become warm, hot, and long, nights shorter.
Everyone loves summer. I love it too. It was the best time to go on a vacation, especially spending more time closer to the sea.
Plenty of leaves on trees and numerous plants to admire. It was always a beautiful day to observe creation.
And that was how I had been spending my days, yearning for Ryan to be beside me. Occasionally, I imagine us going for a vacation – just the two of us.
Maybe Eva's question really got me, making me reconsider going back to Ryan. I didn't have the perfect words to reply to Eva that very day she asked that question, and I was grateful the doorbell came to my rescue once again.
But now, the right answer was on the tip of my heart. Most times when I glance outside, it was always as if I felt Ryan's presence.
Every gift he always sent was full of graceful and sweet words that often melt my heart. I really missed him, and yearned for him every time.
My joy knew no bounds when I realized that Ryan had divorced Evelyn legally. I must be selfish to want Ryan all to myself.
The doorbell rang, breaking my thoughts, as I stood up to open the door. I tried guessing the possibility of who might be by the door, as I took slow strides to the door.
It was either Eva or the delivery man who brought Ryan's gift to me every single day. I smiled at my second thought, each part of me yearning to read the beautiful, and well written verses that leaves my heart yearning for more.
I opened the door, as the smile on my face slowly flattered. Stormy blue eyes roamed over my features, making my heart pounding, pounding so hard I felt it in my stomach, my toes. I felt it in every inch of me.
"Hello Mi Amor.”The deep, smooth timbre of his voice sent a warm shiver down my spine.
How I had missed that voice.
I should really stop staring and ask him to come in, or lock him outside.
But I find myself taking in more of his physical features. He was putting on a blue tailored suit, dropping smoking hot. Except for his eyes, which looked sullen, his hair messy.
I ran my hand down the back of my hair, rubbing off the tension building in my neck.
"Please come in.”I said quickly, as I moved back gently, not taking my eyes off him.
My inner mind is shouting to hug and kiss him.
I closed the door behind, facing him. We stared at each other, a comfortable silence in the four corners of the room, each one lost in their thoughts.
"I miss you.”His melodious masculine voice stated, my legs almost wobbling from the sweetness of his voice.
What was I supposed to say? I was still angry at him, right?
My face flushed, as his hand suddenly brushed against my palm, as he slowly locked eyes with the back of my fingers.
His smile widened, as he noticed the ring in between my fingers.
' He shouldn't be too cocky,' I thought as I turned abruptly, folding my arms.
He let out a sigh, as I hoped I wasn't doing too much by pretending to still be angry at him.
I felt his presence closer, a wisp of the familiar cologne tingling my nostrils, having me frozen in my place. My heart stuttered, as I felt his body heat behind me.
"I'm sorry, Ariel. You loved and cherished me, but I didn't put in the same energy you did. And when Evelyn came into the picture, I didn't balance things. I neglected you, which was wrong on my part. I'm truly sorry. Please forgive me.”
My heart skipped a bit, as my lips lifted a bit to form a smile. I was happy to hear those words from him. But why does it feel as if I still needed to hear more words from him? More words to reassure me that some things have changed between us.
Words to show he really cares for me as his only wife. I wanted more words of consolation and comfort.
His hand met with my shoulder, a tingling sensation suddenly clouding me.
I turned back, as if being controlled, still unable to raise my gaze at him.
"I have forgiven you a long time ago. Thanks for those beautiful notes and gifts. They gladden my heart.”I stated truthfully, as he chuckled.
"I'm glad they do. Meanwhile, I have something to say to you.”I nodded at his words, sensations outward from my chest to my limbs.
We were silent for a brief moment, during which a deluge of apprehension fought for dominance in my forebrain.
I shook my head, bringing myself to slowly meet his eyes, which gleamed with something different.
His brows arched. "Well, I have been thinking about you a lot recently”He said, tone soft with emotions as his eyes raked over my face with tenderness.
"I love you, Ariel Peterson.”My chest squeezed until I thought it would burst.
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically flustered.
"This wasn't how I had planned to say it. I wanted to tell you on the day of our anniversary.”He muttered, before breathing out gently.
"I hope you still love me too.”He asked as it was my turn to burst into laughter.
I leaped at him, engulfing in his arms, taking in his cologne. We stayed like that for a while, before releasing each other from the embrace.
His eyes dropped to my lips, and I'm speechless for 3 heart beats. Desire filled the hair like smoke, thick and heavy, almost making it difficult to breathe. He leaned slowly as he took my lips for a kiss. It felt good, the taste of his lips reckoning in my mind as they always did.
The doorbell rang, jolting me out of the kiss. I groaned slightly as Ryan chuckled. With one last breath expelled, I opened the door as Damien and Eva came in.
My cheeks heated as they stared at me, their eyes casting from me towards Ryan.
"If it isn't the man who planned for my wife to leave me because of his obsession with her. Yet, still having the audacity to date my sister.”That was Ryan, and I was forced not to laugh a bit at his words.
Getting all jealous now, isn't it?
“I do not have anything to do with your wife. And it wasn't an obsession. It was a high school crush, which Eva is aware of. Quite a long-time now. It was true I wanted to cause a disunity between you and Ariel because of a grudge I had against you at that time, but that is all in the past. I hope you will treat her right this time.” Damien interjected and I felt the need to come in a bit to prevent things from going to frenzy.
"It's true Ryan. My friendship with Damien is platonic. He likes your sister now. And you should be grateful to Damien. On different occasions, he had guards save me from attacks from my stepmother. He simply made advances at me at first because he thought our relationship was a forced one.”I explained as he let out a groan.
He took steps closer, and I could not help but wonder what was going on in his mind.
“It's fine.”He said, his gaze slowly fixated on Eva who had been quiet, her fingers clamped together, an anxiety plastered smile on her lips.
“Kathleen and Nick were dating behind my back. Now they are engaged. You are slowly following the same path. You are dating him secretly.”Ryan shook his head.
Eva held Damien's hand, as she pulled him.
"We better get going, or we will be late for our date. See you later.”She dragged Damien'as they left the house.
"You are not a good elder brother, Ryan.”I stated, plumping into the chair.
"Oh really now? I am just trying to protect her. What if this was one of Damien's ploys. What if he sees this as a game. Eva is a sweet girl, even if she can be sassy generally.”
I watched as Ryan drew out his point with exasperation. He really loved his sister.
"It's fine. Or better still, just calm down, watch gently and see clearly that Eva is making the right decision.”I stated, as he gave me a thumbs up.
He glanced around the living room, and it hit me that we were conversing so easily now.
It's weird but Ryan confessing his feelings to me seemed like a dream come true, something that will keep replaying in my memory lane.
*So, can you show me your room?
His question came, making me lost for a few seconds, before I quickly stood up, directing him to my room.
He stopped at the door, as I sat on the bed, suddenly feeling rather too warm at the presence of him in my cozy bedroom.
He rested his hand on the door as he ran his fingers on the love notes he sent. I always had them stuck to the doors for quite weird reasons. I love it there.
Just waking up and seeing it there brings me happiness. I watched as his shoulders tensed slightly before walking to my side, as he sat beside me.
He slowly kept the strands of hair on me behind my ear, his fingers having slight contact with my face, as I felt heat and warmth down my body.
"I miss you Ariel and I really meant it when I said that I love you. I don't....''And just like that, I shut him up with a kiss, my hands on both sides of his neck.
It was a long kiss, as my hands brushed into his hair. A moan escaped my lips, at the touch of his hand against my laps, bringing back to reality as I broke the kiss.
I readjusted, quickly looking away.
"I am sorry."He apologizes as I shoot him a playful glare.
"Don't be. I am just not in the mood. I'm sorry I turned you on."I lied, as he pinched my cheek.
"It's fine. Can I at least cuddle you? I would like to nap."I smiled at his request as we readjusted on the bed, each one in an embrace.
My heart beat at the close thought of us almost having sex while I was in my first trimester of being pregnant. And the thought of keeping the news of the pregnancy from him weighs me down.
I glanced slightly at him, as his eyes were closed, eye bags under them. He looked stressed and thinking about it makes me wonder how he coped while I was gone.
How he coped with the betrayal of his dad and Evelyn.It wasn't something easy to move on from.
Throughout that day, my mind battled with different thoughts about Ryan. But the most difficult one was deciding whether to keep the pregnancy hidden from him.
But for how long?