We arrive home after a long drive. Apparently Stefano was going to be staying with us a couple of days. I was exhausted so Raul helped me into the house. We walk to my room and he locks the door behind us. I think less of it until he stands behind me and moves my hair to the right.
"Wh..wh.. what are you doing Raul." I whisper.
"Shh..." he says.
His tone sounds lazy, as if he was slowly going to sleep.
"I promise you that I will not hurt you. I just want to cancel out Stefano's effect on you."
I give in to him. he caresses my arms as he breaths on my neck. I feel literal shockwaves run through my body and all my strength leaves me. He slowly turns his hands across my arms and I shut my eyes to digest what is just happening. He slowly kisses my neck and I stand still, not because I couldn't, but because I wanted to.
"You are so pretty, you know that?" he says as he turns me to face him.
"Have you ever kissed before?" he asks.
"Well no."
"Let me do the honors."
With that, he slowly lifted my chin as he bends to reach me. Then I shut my eyes, and he presses his lips against mine.
I felt butterflies run everywhere through my entire body and instinctively, I move my arms around his neck and somehow pulled him to me. He responded by putting his arms around my waist. I opened up and I tasted mint in him. He savoured every moment and he took control immediately I opened up. I let him show me how to move. I was in technical heaven. I never wanted to let go. As our lips moved in sync, I tried to get deeper, but he pulled away.
"Iris, it has taken me an immense amount of strength to control myself. I don't want us to go past there untill you're ready." Raul says.
"Sorry, I thought I didn't know how to kiss...I have never tried kissing before." I reply shyly.
"That was what I loved. I taught you. In my case, you're a perfect kisser, because I have personally taught you." He replies and I jokingly hit him on the chest.
"Come here you." he says and pounces on me. We land on the bed laughing really hard.
"Raul, why don't we sleep in your room tonight?" I ask.
His expression changes but he quickly shifts it to a smile.
"It's not prepared yet. Besides, that is for our wedding."
I nod and brush it off.
"Well, what was that feeling?" I ask Raul.
"What feeling?"
"The one I got when we were kissing?"
"I honestly don't know what to call it."
"Well if I didn't know you, I would say it was love."
"But ..."
"I know better."
He sighs disappointedly and I smile nervously. We then tuck into bed and he puts me on his chest. I can hear his heart race and his cologne fills my lungs.
"Raul," I call him softly, with doubt in my voice.
"What is it principessa?" he asks with a strong determination.
"What we just did, for me is a really great deal. It was my first kiss ever."
"I know Iris. And I thank you for giving me the chance to carry that honor."
"Did it mean something to you, or was it just me."
He stays silent for a while then shifts a little.
He then looks me straight in the eye and I could tell he was searching for doubt and he found it. He then took my hand and placed it on his chest.
"Iris, it didn't mean something to me."
I felt my heart sink and tears burned in my eyes. I turned to face the other side, but he pulled me to him.
"It meant a lot to me. When my mother died I promised that I would never love another woman, that is why for me falling in love is out of subject. But that doesn't mean I don't have feelings for you Iris, because I do. I feel something for you. And with that, he leaned over and our foreheads touched.
His aura was different now. It was warm and soothing. I purr at the warmth of his chest.
"I have never told you, but that is a complete turn on."
"What?" I half say half purr.
"The way you purr. why do you do that?"
" I guess I do it only when I feel comfortable and safe." I reply.
"So you feel comfortable and safe with me?"
"Yes." I say.
He smiles and I admire his facial features. For the first time, his cold eyes become warm and he starts to open up. I shut my eyes and I almost forget,
"I need to pray." I say, jumping up. I head to my closet and take out my rosary.
I sit down and Raul joins me.
"Iris, I don't know how to pray. Will you please teach me?"
"Let's start with the hail Mary, shall we?"
"Okay."
After a while of teaching him , Raul finally learns. We pray and then tuck ourselves back into bed. I lay on his chest and I slowly drift to lalaland.
**********************************************
I wake up to Elizabeth tapping me, but this time, Raul was not beside me.
"Morning Elizabeth."
"Morning Mistress."
"Where is..."
"The master is getting ready to go shopping for tomorrow."
That's when it hit me. Tomorrow is my wedding day. I am so excited I rush to the shower to freshen up. Once I'm done, I do not apply ang make up. I just run down to meet Wallace and Raul sneaking out.
"What the hell are you boys doing?"
"Well according to Accardi tradition, the bride and groom are not supposed to see each other before the wedding." Wallace says.
"Sorry, principessa, we will meet tomorrow." Raul says.
He smiles at me and I smile back. He leaves and we are left here with Elizabeth.
"Well ma'am, I might not be Raul, but I would love to take you to have everything done. Shall we?" Elizabeth requests.
I nod and Elizabeth takes me to one of Raul's expensive white Porsches. The trip was not as interactive because Elizabeth was in a call with some managers. I on the other hand was busy flirting with Raul over the phone.
When we arrived, paparazzi were everywhere, but our bodyguards were able to chase them away. We walked into the mall and we attracted some serious attention. Through struggling we were able to squeeze our way through the crowd.
We arrived at the parlor and the wonderful woman untied my hair. She stood for a complete minute, speechless, staring at my hair.
"You're hair is magnificent lady. Where do you get it?" the artist asks in a French accent.
"Genetic, I guess. My mom had similar blonde hair but green eyes, while my dad had black hair. So I guess biology speaks." I reply shyly.
"Wait, you studied?" Elizabeth asks obviously surprised.
"Have a masters in nursing." I reply. Now the whole parlor gets interested.
I sigh and they all start to murmur amongst themselves. I laugh and explain how I performed really well and I was given a scholarship to study abroad due to my perfect grades. They started praising Raul and his good looks, but people view him as a villain. Most people thinks he is dreamy because he has a quiet devil mentality and is super hot. I almost get jealous when they spoke about him, but then he texted me severally asking if I was okay.
I replied to all his texts with emojis and he started telling me to FaceTime him. I wanted to refuse, but the girls begged and I had to. Apparently, they were having a bachelor's party and I was going through some painful make overs. the girls said hi to him and by the time we were done Face Timing it was late. Anyway,I was way too tired to Cook so Elizabeth ordered food and slept with me that night. I felt peaceful, knowing he was going to be mine.
He was all mine.