SCOTT
Do you... Do you love me too? If yes, my second question is ``Can you be my girlfriend?" I asked, holding her stare. Her face suddenly turns red, and she tries to pull her hands away from my hold, but I don't let go and tighten my grip.
"I...I." She stuttered, avoiding my eyes. I know she was nervous because her hands were trembling a little. I took her hand on my lips and planted a lingering kiss on the back of her hands.
"I love you. I know we have only known each other briefly, but I'm sure of what I feel about you. I know I am older than you, but I hope you don't mind. I love you, Lara, this is the first time I fell in love with a woman, and I can't sleep properly until I know what you feel about me."
"I... I." She stuttered again, biting her lips. I squeezed her hand, hoping it could calm her down. "I... I love you too." She muttered, then buried her face in my shoulder, embarrassed. She just whispered it. Maybe she didn't want me to hear it, but sadly, I heard it.
A smile quickly appeared on my lips, and I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the crown of her head.
"I'm so happy," I whispered. Lara's arms wrapped around me, and she didn't utter a word.
We stayed like that for about fifteen minutes, with her arms wrapped around me and mine around her. She buried her face in my chest without uttering a word. Words were not needed between us to show how we felt about each other. We know now that the feeling between us is mutual.
I run my fingers through her hair and lightly rock our bodies. She slightly shifted in my arms and looked up at me but quickly buried her blushing face back in my chest. I just chuckled and kissed the side of her cheek.
"I'm embarrassed to look at you." She murmured in my chest.
"Why? There's nothing to be embarrassed about."I said, playing with her hair. It's so soft and smells like lavender.
"I haven't had any relationship with the opposite sex before, and I don't know how it works and how to react." She murmured again. She distanced herself from me, twiddling with her finger. I noticed she always did that when she felt nervous, uncomfortable, and shy.
"Do what you normally do and act like you always did. No need to force yourself to be someone you aren't comfortable with. Just be yourself. I love you the way you are. No need to change." I said, assuring her.
Slowly, she looked up but quickly lowered it down, twiddling her finger again. I held her chin and made her look at me, but she avoided my stares.
I smiled and pecked her lips, which made her look at me briefly, then looked away again, blushing. I kissed her right cheek, then her left cheek. I smiled when she glanced at me again. Her face was now like a beetroot.
"Why are you so shy now?" I cupped her face with both hands and finally, she looked at me. I smiled at her and poked her nose softly. God, this girl, can she be redder than this? It seemed like all the blood in her body gathered all over her face, and she looked so adorable right now. Her whole face was red, as well as her ears.
"Stop blushing. I'm afraid blood will come out of your nose later." I said it to mean a joke, but it embarrassed her.
"Lara!"
"Just let me. I think my heart is pumping too much blood, that's why. It's pounding on my chest so hard." She said. I laughed this time but earned a smack.
"Stop laughing. It's not funny." She said, glaring at me. I let out a sigh of relief. Finally, she's back.
"Give me a kiss," I said, grinning.
"I don't want to. You already got a lot of kisses from me. It's enough for now." She scoffed. I smiled and softly poked her nose. She glared at me, but I smiled in return, cupped her right cheek, and softly caressed it with my thumb.
"What?" She pouted and pulled away, standing up. I also stood up and wrapped my arms around her, and kissed her cheek.
"Yah!
"What? I can't kiss my girlfriend now?" I chuckled when she blushed again. "You're so cute and adorable, you know?" I said and softly swayed our bodies.
"What are you doing?" She asked. I put both of her arms around my neck and my arms around her waist.
"Dancing," I answered shortly. There is no music." She pouted. I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket and scanned in my stored music, and I played Perfectly by Ed Sheeran.
I found a love for me
Darling just dives right in
And follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
I never knew you were someone waiting for me
'Cause, we were just kids when we fell in love?
I smiled when she leaned her face on my chest, her arms now wrapped around me. I sway our bodies slowly as the music continues to play.
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you're holding mine.
She looked up at me, and I smiled and kissed her forehead. She smiled back. I tightened my arms around her and rested my chin on her head. I closed my eyes, savoring and engraving every moment in my mind. I love this girl. I love her so much, and I'll shelter her away from the mafia. I will do everything in my power to protect her.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight?
Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
We are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes.
She looked up at me again. I chuckled when she put her feet on top of mine and wrapped her arms around my neck. I just smiled at her and continued to sway our bodies, all her weight on me.
"I love you, Scott." She whispered, looking straight into my eyes. A broad grin appeared on my lips, and I pecked her lips.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight.
"I love you too, Lara," I whispered back. She leans her head on my shoulder, smiling. I continued to sway our bodies with a smile on my lips. This is the best night of my life.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight?
When the music ended, she distanced her body a little from me, with her feet still over me and her arms wrapped around my neck. She looked straight into my eyes, and slowly her face leaned closer to me. I didn't wait for her. I quickly claimed her lips with mine.
My heart pounded when she parted her lips for me, and I didn't waste a second exploring it. She let me do what I wanted and just followed my lead. We pulled apart when we felt the need for air, both panting.
"That was...
"Amazing." She finished. I chuckled, and I was so glad when she giggled and did not hide her face.
"This is what dates are like? If I knew I should go on a date before, it feels so magical."
"Only our date will feel magical, but the other not." I scoffed. The thought of her going on a date with the other guy makes me jealous.
"And why is that?"
"Because you love me, and they don't." She pursed her lips, then grinned.
"What?" I scoffed.
"Nothing." She murmured and buried her face in my chest.
"Hey! Are you sniffing me?" I chuckled when she nodded and sniffed me again, her eyes closed.
"I love your smell. You always smell good."
"It's rude sniffing someone," I said, chuckling.
"It's not when I'm sniffing my boyfriend." I chuckled and scooped her up in my arms. She giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck, with her legs around my waist. I settled back on the blanket with her on my lap, straddling me.
She leans her head on my shoulder while I run my finger through her hair, looking at the falls. I felt so content and happy. I couldn't ask for more, only one thing: freedom from the mafia and this girl, and everything would be alright. I hope God will grant that single wish of mine.
"Scott, it's late. We need to head home." She whispered.
"A few minutes more," I whispered back. She pulled back, smiling, arms on my shoulder. I chuckled when she kissed my cheek. I smiled and pointed to my lips. She quickly smacked a kiss on it and pulled away, but I pulled her back and captured her lips. She grinned when we pulled apart and pecked my forehead, both my eyes, my nose, and, lastly, my lips.
"My girlfriend is so sweet and adorable," I whispered to her lips when she pecked my lips again. She smiled and just kept smacking a loud kiss on my lips.
"I like it when you smile." She said after a minute of smacking my lips.
"Really?" I asked, smiling. That earns a peck on my lips.
"Yes!" She replied, smiling."
"I like your smile too because it's contagious. It makes me smile too." I said, running the back of my hand onto her cheek. She smiled, pecked my lips one last time, and stood up.
"Let's go home. It's midnight already." She said and pulled me up. I don't want this night to end, but it's getting late. We gathered the things we had brought and put them back in the trunk.
I held her hand and led her to the passenger seat. I waited for her to buckle up before I went to the driver's side and drove off.
"Scott!"
"Yes, Love." She giggled and covered her face with her palms, blushing. I chuckled and poked her forehead. " Do you like it when I call you, love?" She nodded her head, still covering her face with a smile on her lips.
"Love, stop covering your face, and stop blushing," I said, eyes focused on the road.
"Stop being sweet. You're making me giddy. It caused my heart to pump more blood again into my chest."
"You know, I want to smother you with kisses and hug you very tight now. Why are you always so adorable, like a baby? Huh?"
"I'm not a baby." She whined.
"You're my baby." I laughed when it stopped her from retorting back at me. Instead, she buried her face between her legs, like a teenager complemented by her crush for the first time.
"You can scream. It's fine for me," I said with laughter. I didn't expect her to do it, but she did, causing me to laugh again. She screamed while fanning her blushing face. But I was caught off guard when she unbuckled her seat belt and leaned at me, capturing my lips for a few seconds. I cursed inside when I noticed we were already on the opposite lane of the road when I regained my shock.
"You want us to run into an accident?" I scolded her, but I didn't mean it.
"You make me feel so giddy, and I just want to confirm if you are my boyfriend now."
"Just warn me next time before you do it. I'm driving here. Luckily, no cars were on the road, or we had already had an accident."
"Okay!" She grinned. I chuckled when she ran her fingers on her lips, with a smile playing on them. I shook my head. I hoped she would snap from her giddy, daydreaming mood when we arrived at her house.
I glance at her occasionally, and I shake my head to see her smiling while still holding her lips. Sometimes, she'll cover her blushing face with both palms, giggling, and bury her face between her knees. She looks amusing right now, but I won't tease her. I'm sure she'd hide because of embarrassment if I did.
Finally, we arrived in front of her house, and Lara hadn't snapped it out until now. The blush on her cheeks was still there, and she smiled like a psycho. I leaned my back on my seat, put my hand behind my head, and just watched her, waiting until she noticed that we had arrived already.
I chuckled and laughed once in a while. Sometimes she will look up with her palm on her chest, smiling. Sometimes, she will cup her face, swaying her body left and right. Sometimes she'll hug her knees on her chest and then bite it.
I shook my head. I think she won't snap out of it until I do something to wake her up. I stepped out of the car and went to her side. I opened the door and unbuckled her seatbelt. I laughed when she shrieked, startled when I hauled her up from her seat and carried her in my arms. I smiled, looking at her wide eyes looking at me. I carried her bridal style to her porch, then set her on her feet in front of the door.
"We're here."
"Sorry, I didn't notice." She murmured shyly. I just smiled and wrapped my arms around her.
"Open the door, and get in. It's late." I said. She quickly keys in her code and pushes her door open.
"I want to invite you in, but it's late."
"It's okay, love." I smile when she blushes. " I had a great time tonight. I hope we can do it again."
"I love it too." She replied, smiling.
"Good night, love."
"Good night, and thank you for tonight. I have so much fun."
"Me too. I have to go. I love you."
"I love you too," She replied.
"Kiss," I said and pointed to my lips. She smiled, stood on her tiptoes, and pecked my lips, but I wrapped my arms around her and deepened the kiss.
"There, that's a proper kiss," I said, smiling when we pulled apart. " Now close the door, and lock it." I looked behind her, and I saw Ashley and Owen grinning a few feet away.
"Bye, love, good night," I said and pulled the door close. I had just taken three steps when Lara screamed in fright. I chuckled. I'm sure she was startled by Ashley and Owen's presence when she turned around.
I got in my car and drove home. I saw James and Mark before parking my car in the garage, and I wondered why they looked so serious right now. I'm expecting them to be hiding their smile. I know they witnessed everything that happened in the falls. They are just around, just in case.
I stepped out of the car and went inside. I settled in the living room, and they settled on the couch before me. Why is Aron not here? Where that kid goes again? I thought, waiting for them to say something.
"Boss, it's confirmed. Leo is doing human trafficking," James started. I frowned, wondering who Leo was.
"Leo is the man who employed an underage person in one of our clubs," James answered my unspoken question. "Adam called earlier that they had found a building where they keep all the girls, ages from fourteen to twenty. There are fifteen women they rescued."
"And they wiped them off, as I ordered."
"Boss, Leo escaped," Mark replied. I slammed my fist on the couch.
"And why is that? Why did they let him escape?" I asked furiously.
"Adam said there's an escaped vehicle waiting for him outside, and that vehicle doesn't have a plate number.
"Do they have any clue where he is going?"
"No, boss, he abandoned the escape vehicle on the side of the road," James replied.
"Set a meeting with Brent. I want to ask him about this. He's the one in charge of that club, I'm sure he knows about it, and once I found out he was involved, I wouldn't hesitate to end his life."
"When do you want to meet him?" James asked.
"Tomorrow night, at that club."
"Okay, Boss."
***
The following day, I went to Lara's house at around ten in the morning with breakfast in my hand. Today is Saturday, and I'm sure she is still sleeping, but I want to see her before I meet Brent.
I rang her doorbell four times before she opened it. I smiled to see her rubbing her tired eyes with a robe wrapped around her.
"Good morning." I greeted her, chuckled when she shrieked, and tried to hide behind the door when she saw me.
"Why are you here this early? I haven't even washed my face." She complained.
"I want to eat breakfast with you," I said, raising the paper bag before her. She hesitantly opens the door wider to let me in.
"Come in." She said, covering her mouth. Maybe she is afraid that she has bad breath. She leads me to the living room and lets me sit on the couch.
"I'll just wash up for a while." She shyly said, holding the knot of her robe. I smiled and nodded my head. I don't want to make her uncomfortable and embarrassed early this morning. She quickly runs back upstairs while I call James.
"Boss."
"Did you talk to Brent?"
"Yes, Boss and he agreed to meet you at nine in the evening.
Okay, let Aron know that he will be left behind to guard Lara and gather five of our men to go with us."
"Who're you talking about, and what men are you talking about?"