Rella woke up the next morning cocooned in the warmest and soothing embrace. She must be dreaming she thought but she knew she wasn't. She's been awake for a while now and although she had been appalled at the fact he ended up in her bedroom it was a lovely feeling, a comfortable warmth that tempted her to stay put for another couple of minutes. Even though he was forbidden, it wouldn't hurt to relish in his embrace because that's all there was to their relationship and even though she knew that already it didn't stop her mood from turning sour. She sighed warily and untangled her limbs from his but then she couldn't stop herself from looking at him. Stefan had called the night before as she was getting ready for bed but he never once hinted his return he must've been really tired she thought, briefly wondering what time he came in last night. He must've been very quiet because she was a light sleeper.
He was lying on his side and although she was disappointed to not feed her eyes on his naked torso she'd take whatever she gets.
He looked so peaceful laying there, his firmly sculptured face and a prominent jaw smattered with dark stubble, the mouth underneath his wide nose was firm and sensuous not forgetting how soft they were because she had tasted them. Her fingers consciously lifted to her lips a ghost of a smile caressing them at the memory.
Long lashes tapered down his closed lids and Rella found him more alluring than ever.
Stefan exuded such power and authority which he carried in a cool air of arrogance. His dark hair was dishevelled from sleep but it hadn't quite lost its sleekness, she reached out only to pause midway knowing that if she just reached out a bit further she would be threading her fingers through its silkiness but she stopped herself for fear of rousing him or starting something she couldn't finish. This beautiful man has ensnared her and she's caught up in his web that it's hard to break free.
Shaking her head lightly, she swung her feet off the bed and unto the carpeted floor. She padded softly to the door, twisted the knob and pulled it open an inch when his voice drifted off to her, hoarse and filled with sleep but its effect still the same.
''Coward.'' Her fingers froze completely against the knob but she didn't dare turn around partly because her limbs won't budge.
Her heart picked up pace both at the confidence in his tone, because she knew that he's right and the fact that he's awake, he must've been an incredibly light sleeper seeing as he was able to hear the soft squishing of the carpet underneath her feet.
Rella swallowed hard as her fingers tightened nervously around the knob, she only needed to pull the door a bit wider and she'd be out of the room but how wrong she had been to think it'd be so easy when suddenly she was ambushed by his proximity and only a barely audible gasp left her lips. How did he get here so fast?
''Got you.'' Stefan whispered huskily, his hand snaking out to cover her hand against the knob in a slow caress at the same time his bare chest pressed against her back in an excruciatingly slow seduction; that musky scent of him assaulted her senses making every rational thought fly out the window as her eyes drooped automatically. Stefan had such devastating effect on her and he knew that much to be smug about it. It certainly didn't help that his warm breath was tickling the skin at her nape and ear sending delicious tingles down her spine.
"Why do I get the feeling you can't wait to get out of this room and away from me? Someone might think you married an ogre.'' Her eyes flew open and she shivered as he grazed the back of her ear with his teeth.
He was right, the thought registered at the back of her mind only she shouldn't be the one leaving the room he should because he invaded her space and she was magnanimous enough to not want to interrupt his peaceful sleep.
"I think you should be the one to leave." She said getting the words past her closed up throat.
"What was that?"
Stefan paused his ministrations, his eyes narrowing.
"In case you haven't noticed you're in my bedroom." His momentary confusion bolstered her confidence. "I don't know what was going through your mind last night but a little warning would've sufficed."
Stefan looked back scanning the room then he slowly turned back to her a smirk ok his lips.
"Oh really? Somebody was sleepwalking last night and it sure as hell wasn't me."
Rella's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Look around you my sweet."
And as Rella looked around her heart plummetted down to the pit of her stomach. She flushed brightly when she realised she was the one who had invaded his space. What was she thinking?
She gulped. She should leave now, run Rella!
''I-I think some breakfast would be n-nice.'' Rella stuttered spunning back to the door.
''Liar.'' He growled and she gasped when he suddenly turned her around, her back flushed against the door.
He gathered both of her hands and had them pinned above her with his. ''Tell me something else.'' Rella's tongue snaked out on their own volition to moisten her lips but realised too late what a bad idea it was when she saw Stefan's eyes darken with desire.
Stefan's eyes lingered a little too long on her lips before they blazed a path down her length with a glint of appreciation, a ghost of a smile touched his lips. ''If I had known that I'd find you in something as enticing as this I would've never left in the first place.''
Rella flushed down to her toes, only now realising that she had on the sexiest and sheerest nightie. Last night was hot and she had ditched her pyjama pants which she had been using for the past few weeks so as to avoid any surprises and last night when she'd let her guard down for a moment Stefan had showed up unexpectedly and out of nowhere, ambushing her.
Her traitorous body wasn't the least bit offended in fact it had sprang to life at Stefan's lustful appraisal.
''Beautiful.'' He breathed throatily. And then his mouth came down on hers so suddenly she was knocked out of breath and that slow fire which had begun to burn in her veins suddenly became a searing inferno.
Stefan tasted, devoured and explored. Rella kissed him back with as much fervour.
Stefan released her hands which automatically entangled in his hair running through its silkiness. His hands ran erotically along her side before he picked her up. Her back was suddenly against the silky sheets but she didn't care, all she felt was the wonderful feeling that had taken over her entire being. Rella found herself wanting more —even though she shouldn't want him—she wanted so much more that his mouth and hands were not enough, she wanted to feel him, touch him, caress him until they were both mindless with desire. "Stefan I want...I want...oohh!" She lost track of her thoughts as his hot mouth closed against one hardened bud covered by the sheer nightie as he worked to get the straps off her shoulders and frame completely.
"Yes, tell me my sweet Cindy what do you want?" Stefan murmured huskily against her skin and that one word was all it took to make Rella crash back down to earth. She was completely still, she blinked rapidly to clear the fog from being intoxicated with desire but that hadn't changed the fact that now that she was completely taken over him Stefan had said a name that wasn't hers and it made her heart hurt.
Rella's eyes burned and her heart was beating out of rhythm. Sensing her lack of enthusiasm Stefan stopped to look at her and she saw a look of confusion and worry. Probably worried about how she had gone from a burning coal to an iceberg in a matter of seconds.
"Is something on your mind?" Rella opened her mouth to reply but his cell went off, effectively shattering the moment.
Stefan groaned and reluctantly extricated himself from her warmth. "Just give me a sec Okay?"
In a flash Rella heed her common sense which told her to flee and she did the moment he placed the phone against his ear.
It was a telephone conversation that lasted all afternoon and he had to relocate to his office.
Rella couldn't be more pleased. After she had showered and changed into a green blouse and dark jeans Rella decided to tour the house for the second time memorising every room, it was quite grand, too grand for a man such as Stefan to live in all by himself. From the little she had gathered from the butler, Stefan travelled a lot and is always busy being on top of one deal or the other jumping at every opportunity that presented itself to even be around for a decent meal.
She ventured into the study like she had the other day, a smile curved at her lips at the sight of the books on the shelves.
''I see you found the gold mine.'' Stefan drawled.
Rella twisted around to find him leaning against the door frame with his large arms folded across his broad chest. He looked so calm and mysterious and un-businessman-like, Rella never imagined she'd see him in anything but custom made suit and tie but she was a little caught off guard at the sight of him in a white shirt and chinos pants, his muscles bunched up at his pose. His hair still wet and sleek from the shower.
''If you continue to stare at me like that we'll never get to where we're going.'' Rella swallowed nervously, her insides quivering at the thought of what his words implied but she wasn't going to let him see the effect he had on her.
''Don't tell me you got that from one of the romance books on the shelves.''
''Those aren't mine.''
''Oh yeah? Why don't I believe you?''
''You'll just have to take my word for it.'' He said. ''We leave in an hour.'' He informed her.
''Where are we going?''
''To New Caledonia for our honeymoon.''
''H-honeymoon? But what about your work?''
''You see that's the beauty of being CEO of your own company. Business can wait.''