Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas) >>
His face was powdered and from his nose upward was the elegant painting of a Phoenix, actually its wings. It was a perfect blend of red and a golden palette with shines on it. It perfectly hid his identity without being disturbing to look at.
Rhea actually envied him.. Why were the men in her life so handsome? Well except a certain husband, Big Joe that would be pissed as hell over her disappearance.
“You must really like me that much,”
“Huh?” Rhea was roused from her thought by that his voice and upon turning around to meet his smug look, understood what he meant by that and went red in the face instantly. He caught her staring at her.
“It’s alright,” Elijah said, sitting up at once and it pleased Rhea to know that he could walk properly now. She didn’t even know what to do if she had crippled the source of his future generation. She had to review her kicking instinct from now on.
Elijah went on, “You can stare all you want, I know I’m handsome,” He smirked at her, causing her heart to skip a beat.
The arrogance of the man, Rhea sighed.
Honestly, she didn’t like Elijah that much, although she was physically attracted to him. She means, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t? Even though she hasn’t seen the rest of his face, the way he stared at her with those electric blue eyes was enough to light her body up. His eyes were attractive and compelling, it was a hot combination.
However, Rhea would be the last person to stroke his already inflated ego, “Well, who knows if you’re indeed handsome with your face always covered,”
That question prompted Elijah’s brows to raise and he glanced up at her, holding her gaze. They stared at each other for a while until he said confidently, “You confirmed the other day at the clinic that I was handsome,”
“I can say anything to comfort a man in pain,” Rhea retorted with a lift of the corner of her mouth.
Their petty contention was fun and Rhea was enjoying every bit of it. And did she forget to add the fact that she was becoming fearless – she doesn’t even know why he brought her here and for what purpose. Hopefully, it isn’t to breed, for as much as she crushed on him, she wouldn’t accept any relationship against her wish.
“The mask I put on is to protect you, you’re much safer when you don’t know what I look like,” He finally gave her the explanation she wanted. But even at that, Rhea was not satisfied by that. She couldn’t explain it, but she had this urge to want to know him better.
“You must have too many enemies,” Rhea said, feeling for him. She couldn’t imagine living with her face hidden all the time. Yes, life was pretty much fucked up but there were many things to learn about it.
“A man always has enemies,” Elijah only said, his back turned to her. She wondered what was going on in that head of his right now.
“Why did you save me? Was it Ruth that sent you? I know she couldn’t stand and watch something bad happen to me,” Rhea was sure of that.
Ruth might be strict and mean and sometimes selfish, but she had a heart of gold. Rhea figured out that was the façade she uses to chase people away in order not to get hurt just like she did when her husband died.
“No,” Elijah said yet added immediately, “And yes,”
“What?” Rhea was confused by his answer. What’s he talking about now? He’s puzzling.
However, her gaze caught his sudden movement towards her and her heart accelerated. Rhea gulped, and she took a step back until her back hit the wall.
Such a cliché move, Rhea thought in her head but her body had instinctively sought the wall for protection against this enticing predator. She then glanced up at him and saw the sly smirk curving his mouth and that was all it took her to back further into the wall, sadly, there was nowhere else to go.
No, she had to leave now. The man was too hot for her to handle.
But the instant Rhea made a move, his hand blocked her path and she quickly turned to the other side, the way one would seek a last resort. But then, as if he enjoyed seeing her in a tough spot, his hand came down at the last minute and blocked her only source of escape.
Yep, he successfully caged her in. Great move Rhea, her mind chided her.
Rhea refused to meet his gaze, having a feeling that she might end up doing something she would regret – like kissing him.
“Why did I rescue you?” Elijah asked back as if amused by the question she asked.
Rhea kept on staring down, even when she felt the heat of his gaze on her. At this rate, he would bore a hole in her head soon. However, Rhea felt a soft touch on her skin, and her face was lifted gently to meet his charming eyes, and she released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding in.
“I came back to the clinic to look for my little girlfriend and Ruth told me that you were taken by some assholes. I knew at that instant that I had to get my girl back,” He told her.
Rhea’s breath hitched, did he just call her his girl? That was the first time a guy ever called her that and it looked good coming from his lips.
His lips?
Rhea gulped when her gaze fell on his pink, luscious lips. Her heart began to pound harder and for some reason, she felt light-hearted while her legs didn’t feel like her own anymore.
Her heart pounded like some drum at a carnival when she met his gaze and they flickered down to her lips. It was as if all the air in her lungs vanished, the sexual tension between them so thick it was beginning to suffocate her.
His arms wrapped around her waist and she was really thankful for that because her legs nearly gave out. But that gesture brought her closer to his body, especially his chest and she felt how taunt and firm his muscles were. He must really work out every day.
Rhea made the mistake of staring into his eyes and saw the way his eyes darkened. Yes, this was the first time she has been this close with a man yet her body hummed with approval.
His hand tracing the curve of her back sent shivers down her spine making her nipples harden, straining against the material. Rhea was glad she wore a bra.
Her breath was uneven and deep as if she was running out of oxygen, her chest heaving when Elijah leaned down. Her mouth parted slightly on its own, ready to receive him.
Her hands that were on his chest felt clammy and Rhea stood on tiptoes to meet his lips. Her body was shivery with excitement as she wondered what he would taste like. This must be some sort of drug because her mind was hazy and disoriented. She needed him to make her better.
Staring at Elijah with his painted face was an exquisite experience as if she was about to kiss a creature out of a storybook. However, just as their lips were about to meet, Elijah took a turn at the last minute, resting his forehead across hers instead, their lips barely inches away from touching.
Rhea gasped, the tension heightening even as his lips hovered above hers. It was like reaching for a treasure that was far from touch and she was determined to have it. So she tried everything to feel his lips on hers but Elijah did a good job of avoiding her as if they were playing a game of cat and mouse.
Frustrated with him playing hard to get, Rhea grind against him and he groaned and she planned to take advantage of that opportunity to kiss him but Elijah was faster.
Just as her lips were about to connect with his, he pulled on her hair, averting her kiss and as well, exposing her neck to him. Elijah gulped, he has never seen a neck as attractive as hers.
Then he leaned down and kissed from her collarbone upward. Rhea cried out in pleasure, her hand on his chest tightening while the other wrapped around his neck, urging him closer.
But that was it, Elijah made no other move.
Frustrated yet stunned, Rhea was about to ask the reason he stopped, only for him to whisper into her ears, “Sorry, but you’ve not agreed to be mine yet,”
“No, don’t go -!” Rhea wanted to beg him but the words were only said in her head. It was as if cold water was poured over her body when he said those words and she recovered some form of clarity.
“Oh my God,” Rhea gasped, stepping away from him at once. What the hell did she do?