Callea's cousin was overprotective. He had no problems intimidating her suitors when she was a teenager because he was tall and had a nice physique. And Lee also teams up with him to scare her suitors.
Deieve didn't look intimidated on dealing with them. He looked chill. He was able to sneak off her cousin's back and into her heart.
"Your cousin doesn't trust me. I have an unsavory reputation. But I am willing to show him the new Deive. He said the rules would be dissolved once we are formally engaged or married," he explained.
"As if they could guard me twenty-four-seven. Holding hands for five minutes. And I can't kiss you?" It was driving her crazy. She liked kissing Deive. And she wished she could get a kiss from him tonight. "He doesn't have to know."
"Don't tempt me, Callea. I want to prove that I am worthy to be your groom. I won't do anything to jeopardize our relationship. This is not a game anymore. This is for real."
She hugged herself after she let Luna go. "Well, I had a little chat with your grandfather. He apologized for judging me right away because of how I look."
"Oh, we had a long talk about you. He told me that if you are good for me, he has no complaints." He lay his head on her shoulder. "They thought we were a perfect match at first. Then they were dismayed because they thought we are a mismatch. But we are working things out, right?"
Based on their first meeting, it was madness. Nobody would think that they would get along - the weirdo princess of the dark and the life of the party that everyone adored. Considering his track record of gorgeous, alluring, and sophisticated women, he would rather live with the penguins of the South Pole than be with her..
Funny how he got used to her horrific taste. It was normal for him to see her wearing dresses with fake blood while playing the piano. And she was used to hearing him say that she was pretty even without make-up.
"I am just wondering, your grandfather offered to help you with business. You don't have to marry me. Problem solved. You don't have to sacrifice anything. Why did you decide to stay with me?"
He gazed at her. "Why did you choose me even if you will lose Villa Celesta?"
She didn't expect that he'd throw the question back. She twiddled with her fingers and looked up at the sky. "Well... I asked the question first." She was not ready to confess her feelings for him. The realization was still fresh and she didn't know how he would feel about it.
"I think you are in love with me."
"What?" Callea's eyes widened. He knew. Is she too transparent? What gives?
When she looked at him, she gasped because his face was an inch from hers. She couldn't move and she couldn't escape his gaze. He had no plans to let her escape from her feelings. From him.
How would she reply to that? He dropped a bomb and she had no idea how to answer him. And she couldn't divert her gaze away from him or he would think that she was really in love with him.
She couldn't move because he knew what would happen next. He was about to kiss her and she couldn't say no to him. She couldn't stay away. After the roller-coaster of emotions, she experienced that day, all she wanted was to be enveloped in his arms and taste his lips again.
She closed her eyes while holding her breath. She could feel her heart beating wildly. Maybe if he'd kiss her, she'd admit that she was in love with him. Just one kiss and she could forget about the rest of the world. Even her cousin's ridiculous rules.
He smoothed her lower lip with his thumb. She opened her lips when air rushed into her lungs. He leaned in close and brushed her lips over hers. Just what she needed but she wanted more.
The kiss was starting to become hotter when he suddenly pulled away from her. "What's wrong?" Callea asked nervously. Did she do something wrong?
"Five seconds. That's all your cousin allowed."
"What? So, you have a time tracker on your lips?"
"I am sorry. Our next kiss would be on the engagement party."
"Engagement party? And when would that be?" she asked in an exasperated tone.
They haven't discussed the engagement party. Sure they discussed the wedding but they wanted to enjoy a normal relationship. As if there was no deal or arranged marriage between them. They could woo and date as normal couples do. And when they finally liked each other, her cousin would limit their intimate moments. That was not fair.
He shrugged his shoulder. "There's nothing we can do. He is the law. He said he would guard our every move while we are here at Villa Celesta."
Her hackles rose and she felt like there were eyes looking at them. When she lifted her gaze to her cousin's room which was at the second floor of the mansion between her room and Deive's the light was on and there was a shadow on the window.
She groaned. Her cousin was seriously monitoring them. She felt like she was living in Big Brother's House. And even if they hide at the back of the acacia tree, she was sure that he had x-ray vision and could see right through it.
If she was in a horror story, perhaps her Kuya Torque could be the lord of Villa Celesta and there were eyes on each thing around them that would act as spies. It was good material for a story but it was not funny in real life, like right now.
"There was a limit to our kiss and to our holding hands. And what else is in that nonsensical rule list?" she quizzed.
Deive held her hand. "Our time is almost up. It is past ten and I have to take you to your room."
She felt sadness as they walk back inside the mansion. Their happy days are over. No more flirting. No more intimate moments. She hated those rules!
"You know what? Your life would be easier if you will date a normal girl. No rules, no time limit, no curfews, and you don't have to put up with the weirdness."
He laced his fingers with hers and smiled dreamily. "I intend to have you despite the odds. I am here to hold your hand so you won't be alone in the dark. And if you decide to step into the light, I still want to hold your hand. So that when the light blinds you, I am here to tell you that it is okay."
"That is an immense task, you know. My life was not simple. I went through a lot. I have so many fears that I can't confide in you yet."
They were so dreadful; she didn't want to rehash them yet. She was not strong enough to face her fears.
"It's okay." He pinched her chin. "Marine told me that you haven't confided much in her either. I am not forcing you to tell your story, Callea. I will patiently wait for that day that you will trust me enough."
"Thank you." She'll work on her fear. She didn't want to live in the dark forever. And all she needed was Deive's patience and understanding. She had to tell him someday.