Catherine couldn't believe it. A soft gasp broke free from her trembling lips. Her bewildered mind was dumbfounded. The man standing in the hotel room's living room was nothing more but a phantasy.
Is he just a pigment of my imagination?
She immediately took several steps backwards obliviously as she saw him approaching through the crack of the bedroom door. The white towel wrapped around her head slipped away from her hair unnoticeable and fell on the floor with a light thud.
He opened the door forcefully and their eyes connected instantly. His stunning blue eyes rounded in astonishment as well. Catherine forgot that she was almost dangerously unclad. Unaware that the bathrobe she wore opened up provocatively to her navel due to her sudden movements, revealing her deep cleavage and her flattened abs.
Why is this fair, god-like man here? I didn't see him raise his hand to bid for me tonight...
Her confusion was eradicated when the gorgeous man suddenly smiled at her, showing his perfectly, pearly white teeth.
"You're so... beautiful...", she uttered her thoughts unconsciously in a whisper that didn't elude his earshot.
He slowly sauntered over to her, as if he was entranced by her nearness as well. His deep, penetrating eyes boring into her restless soul.
He raised his right hand and touched her small face as his thumb gently traced her shaky lower lip.
Her heart felt like it was going to explode into millions of pieces as his face slowly descended towards hers. Her trembling eyelashes lowered. Her heart thudded dangerously. Her mouth automatically slightly parted, awaiting for the inevitable touching of their lips. She knew now that he desired her.
He was about to kiss her...
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Aaron couldn't believe it himself. The woman he designed as his in his mind stood like a lovely, seductive Goddess before him.
At last she's here, almost within my reach.
As if mesmerized, he found himself reaching out for her. Wanting to touch her to ascertain by himself that she wasn't an apparition.
He was about to kiss her when promptly he heard something.
A growl?
That sound shook them both from the dazzled state they were enclosed in.
Her empty tummy rumbled loudly.
Aaron laughed at himself. He found it so comical.
She blushed fairly. Her fair skin painted crimson with embarrassment.
Here he was craving for her while she was obviously hungry for food.
It's about time to feed my woman.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
"Would you like to try the steak next?"
Aaron inquired as he conformed her eating quietly.
Catherine was reluctant at first when he guided her to the dining area. She was so shy and timid, slightly nervous and obviously embarrassed. Her blushing face and red ears were the validation of her demeanour.
Aaron fancied that about her.
Is there nothing about this fair lady that doesn't make me feel like I'm being held captive?
As he offered a seat for her beside him at the head of the rectangular dining table, she sat and bit her lower lip as the smell of the delicious food finally reached her nostrils.
"You may sample them."
He gently coaxed her to eat and Catherine reached for the set of fork and knife and began eating the chocolate cake before her. Not knowing that she was eating the dessert first instead of an appetizer or the main dish itself.
Aaron stared at her, delight lacing his refined features.
Catherine was so hungry but she controlled herself from pigging out the cake. However, she couldn't resist from slicing a huge piece with a fork. She brought it up into her mouth almost shoving it down her throat.
"Care for a drink?"
Aaron asked her.
"J-just plain water, please."
Catherine has no idea what kind of alcoholic drinks were laid out on that large table and water was the only safe answer she could offer him.
He poured her a glass of cold water and handed it over to her. She took the tall glass with both hands and drank it. Some of the water escaped her lips and dribbled down her chin and throat. The sweet cake made her so thirsty for more.
"Would you like another?", he inquired. His perfect eyebrows set up high. The pitcher of water still held by him.
Catherine nodded her head as she wiped her chin with the back of her right hand. Aaron poured her another glass of water and she accepted it immediately. Draining the glass of water, washing the sugary taste out of her system.
Aaron observed her quietly. Noticing every awkward moment. Wondering if she knew how cute and appealing she actually looked.
His eyes scanned her flushed face, and unconsciously he reached out to her and wiped small crumbs of leftover cake at the side of her lip that she missed.
Her eyes balled in disbelief. His touch sent waves of delightful energy into her pounding chest. Aaron must have noticed it because he smiled at her tenderly and that made her redder in the face.
"I suggest you eat the steak now. Eating sweets in an empty stomach might make you sick."
Cather nodded her head and reached for the steak knife in front of her but her trembly hands made it impossible for her to slice the meat with the blade.
Aaron noticed everything and before he could stop, he caught himself taking the knife and fork from her thin hands and started slicing the meat for her.
"Let me help you. You must have been tired from tonight's... dance performance. You did great by the way. You caught everyone's attention from the start."
Catherine drew a sharp indrawn breath.
He's praising me for that?
"I-I wasn't much of a dancer. I... I just did it because I... I—"
Catherine stopped herself before she could blurt out her problems to this handsome stranger. She shouldn't burden him with her life situations. He was only here because he won the bid to bed her.
Nothing more and nothing less.
Aaron saw the drastic changes that played on her beautiful face. She looked pale now and withdrawn. So he tried to change the subject.
"Eat please. Before the meat turns cold, I want you to consume everything on that plate."
Catherine took a deep breath to calm herself and stabbed a piece of beef steak that he painstakingly cut into little chunks for her. As she took a bite, the meat's softness almost melted inside her mouth.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
It's so soft and delicious.
"This hotel serves some famous dishes prepared by one of the top Chefs in the country."
She nodded and continued eating every single piece of meat he cut just for her with enthusiasm.
Smiling from time to time to herself, enjoying this grandness of a blessing for the first time in her life after a long time.
Papa José and Miggy would have loved to try this. Mama Bertha would be dismayed because her famous Mexican barbecue wouldn't be the number one dish for our family anymore.
As her thoughts drifted away, the man that was staring at her intently like a spy went unnoticed.
Her smile makes her more prettier in my eyes. I wonder what lurks in her mind...
Aaron's eyes roamed around that small face then lingered on the pouting lips that were busy chewing a morsel of the food he painstakingly ordered the hotel management to produce. Heedless and uncaring that the hotel's kitchen was already closing down for the night. Furthermore, the main chef was already sleeping and was forcefully brought back to the kitchen just to concoct this edibles for one of the big boss' family.
As his own thoughts wavered, his eyes dallied as well. Observing her like a predator eyeing its prey intently, his eyes drifted low unto her body sheltered by the voluminous robe that looks as if she was bundled up by a duvet.
Is she wearing anything underneath?
His besotted, mischievous mind made him swallow hard repeatedly as he relived how she look wearing that scanty corset in the club.
Aaron poured himself a glass of water and drained it right away in mere seconds. His addled mind hazy by the alcoholic drinks he repeatedly consumed previously because he was busy fuming with rage towards the other men ogling her on that podium.
Catherine didn't discern his drunken stare because she was engrossed munching the food and daydreaming about her beloved family. Reminiscing the comical banters that occurred between them when Mama Bertha's barbecue was served on the dinner table.
"Damn it!"
She was startled when she suddenly heard the gentleman cursed. The fork and knife slid from her hands and made a loud clicking sound as they dropped on top of her now almost empty plate.
Catherine frowned as she saw him standing up and walking towards the huge balcony glass doors. With his back turned from her, she watched him as he raised both of his hands and pushed his blonde hair back with it.
She heard him took a deep breath consecutively.
"Just take the money and go." His whispered voice sounded rough.
What did he say?!
"You may leave now." He said in a much louder tone.
"Mister—", Catherine's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You don't have to do this."
"I-I can't. I made a bargain with you and the club. I—"
Catherine stood up abruptly. Her chest heaving in frightening agony.
No! It can't be! What about the money?! I need it so desperately.
"You don't have to force yourself and stay here with me tonight. No one will find out about this, I promise you." Aaron explained in a much gentler voice.
"Please sir..."
"You can take the money with you and go. Take it as a... accept it as a present from me. For sharing this dinner with me."
Catherine's eyes shook. She clutched the front edges of her bathrobe with her tightly clenched fists. This man even refused to look at her while commanding her those words. Her heartbeat pounced strongly. She just heard the most wonderful phrases in the whole wide world but why...
Why am I hesitating?
Why does it hurt to comprehend that he doesn't want me? Am I not good enough for him?
Without second thoughts, Catherine purposely rid herself of the bathrobe she wore. It landed on the floor quietly.
"Mister, please..."
She pleaded once more.
Catherine couldn't turn away now. She couldn't leave him without fulfilling their bargain.
She was afraid the club would find out and take the money away. The cash that she absolutely needed for her brother.
"Mr. Scott, don't you want me?", she asked him innocently in a naive and unassuming manner.
"What— are you talking about?"
At last he faced her.
She saw this beautiful man's blue eyes rounded in surprise. She regarded how his handsome features changed their manner.
From bewilderment to enticement.
Catherine stood there in raw nudity, visibly shaken by that hard, hot stare.
She took a deep, calming breath and gathered her courage then walked towards him. Her bare feet walked silently towards him, unfazed and uncertain but full of determination.
His blue icy stare transfixed on her as if he was mesmerized. That emboldened her. As she stood before him, she tiptoed and leaned forward. Her inexperienced lips caught his for her first ever kiss with a man.
A man she dangerously desired for the first time in her entire lifetime.
She was inexplicably clueless but she saw in romantic movies this was how kisses started. Her lips touched his. So light and tender like butterfly wings.
In a rough growl, she heard him cursed gruffly.
"I'm fucked."