"Are you off to work now?" Indiana inquired, setting her toast down on the plate. She turned to Iridessa, catching Nathaniel's attention as he paused, flipping his pancake. His gaze fixed on Iridessa, he noticed a change in her appearance. She looked unusually pale, especially around her eyes. It struck him as odd since Iridessa was not one to wear makeup. Nathaniel knew she was hiding something, prompting him to remove his apron and turn off the gas stove. Placing the apron on the table, he made his way towards Iridessa.
"What's this? Why are you wearing makeup?" he asked, gently caressing her cheeks. Iridessa instinctively moved back, forcing a fake smile onto her face. However, Nathaniel saw right through it.
"Oh, I just felt like putting some on. It's not a big deal," Iridessa replied, patting her face as if trying to conceal something. Indiana approached them, standing by Nathaniel's side.
"If you were trying to hide those red marks, you should have done a better job. I can still see them," Indiana said, her smile tinged with sadness. She took Iridessa's purse from her hand and rummaged through it, retrieving a beauty blender. Gently, she began blending the makeup around Iridessa's eyes. Nathaniel watched, wanting to say something, but Indiana stepped on his toes, silently urging him to stay quiet. He understood her intention - not wanting to make Iridessa feel worse - but he also knew that self-harm was not the solution. Nathaniel wanted to help her see that, as it pained him to see her like this.
"Thank you, Indiana," Iridessa said, appreciating her friend's efforts. Indiana smiled at her handiwork, patting Iridessa's cheek before returning the beauty blender to the bag.
"You're welcome. Now, it's time for you to head to work and make a great impression on your boss." Indiana said with a smile, and Iridessa chuckled before planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. Iridessa looked up at Nathaniel, her face blushing, and smiled. Nathaniel felt his heart race, feeling a rush of excitement whenever she smiled at him like that.
"Have a wonderful day, my love." Nathaniel said, wrapping his arm around her waist and giving her another kiss on the cheek. In a tender gesture, he took her wrist and gently rubbed his thumb over it. Iridessa didn't think much of it, not understanding its significance, but Nathaniel knew exactly what he was doing. After a moment, he released her and they both watched as she left the house, the door closing behind her.
Indiana turned to Nathaniel, her expression serious. "You need to stop what you're doing, Nathaniel." she warned, staring at him. He simply smiled and walked towards the stove, putting his apron back on.
"What am I doing?" he asked innocently, removing a pancake from the stove. Indiana rolled her eyes and took a seat, clearly not in the mood for his games.
"Stop marking your territory, it's not right and you know it. You could end up hurting her..." Indiana started to say, but Nathaniel growled and turned to face her.
"There's nothing wrong with it, Indy. I do it to protect her, and maybe it's time we tell her the truth." Nathaniel suggested, surprising Indiana. She couldn't believe that Nathaniel, of all people, would suggest such a thing. But she knew it was better for Iridessa to remain in the dark.
Nathaniel proposed once more, "I understand your thoughts, but watching her struggle daily is becoming unbearable. We need to tell her." Indiana suddenly stood up, frustrated. She had been attempting to coax Iridessa into sharing her hidden past, the one she kept guarded within her tormented soul. However, the more they pushed, the more Iridessa withdrew into herself.
Indiana crossed her arms, her frustration evident in her voice. "That's it, end of the discussion. I tried to get her to talk, and you witnessed how it all went downhill." She pointed towards the spot where Iridessa had been standing, emphasizing her point. Nathaniel nodded, feeling the surge of anger within him slowly subside as he took a deep breath.
"Well, if that's the case, then I won't stop marking her with my scent," Nathaniel declared firmly. Indiana let out a weary sigh, muttering under her breath as she walked out of the room. She couldn't help but express her disbelief at being paired with someone she considered an idiot. Meanwhile, Nathaniel chuckled and continued flipping pancakes, but his mind was racing with a whirlwind of thoughts.
Iridessa hastened her steps towards the bus stop, a sense of unease creeping up her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she sensed a presence behind her. Glancing back, she spotted a sleek black car following her, its headlights casting an eerie glow in the early morning. Determined to shake off the strange car, she quickened her pace, her eyes fixed on the bus stop ahead. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out her name, causing her heart to race. Turning around, she was met with the intense gaze of Idrus, standing just a few feet away. Emotions swirled within her as she struggled to process his unexpected appearance.
"Why are you running from me, mi corazón?" Idrus's voice broke through the tension, his expression a mix of worry and impatience. Before Iridessa could respond, he closed the gap between them, his hand encircling her waist and pulling her close. Caught off guard, she found herself staring into his eyes, searching for answers.
Iridessa's anger flared at the sight of him, a familiar ache settling in her chest. "Why am I running?" she shot back, her tone tinged with bitterness. "Maybe because you vanished without a word after our... our night together." The memory of their passionate encounter lingered in her mind, overshadowed by the pain of his sudden disappearance.
Idrus's words echoed in Iridessa's mind, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions. "Work called, but I'm sorry if I have hurt you," he had said. But his apology felt hollow, his absence leaving a gaping hole in her heart.
Iridessa tried to mask her hurt with a forced smile, but the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. "You think a simple sorry will fix everything?" she replied, her voice tinged with disappointment. "You can't just disappear and expect everything to be okay, Idrus."
Idrus's expression softened, regret flickering in his eyes. "I know I messed up," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I couldn't bear to be away from you any longer."
Iridessa's resolve wavered as she looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in his gaze. Despite her anger, she couldn't ignore the longing that tugged at her heartstrings, drawing her closer to him.
Before she could protest, Idrus closed the distance between them, his lips capturing hers in a tender kiss. At first, Iridessa tensed, her mind reeling with conflicting emotions. But as his touch ignited a fire within her, she found herself melting into his embrace, her heart racing with desire.
The kiss was a silent confession of the feelings she had been suppressing, a raw display of the passion that simmered between them. As they parted, Iridessa's eyes were filled with a mix of longing and uncertainty, her heart torn between anger and love.
"I shouldn't have left," Idrus murmured, his voice filled with remorse. "But I can't stay away from you, Iridessa. I need you."
Iridessa's heart ached as she struggled to make sense of her emotions. Despite the hurt he had caused, she couldn't deny the pull she felt towards him, the unspoken bond that seemed to transcend time and distance.
"I'm not sure what to do," she confessed, her voice barely audible. "But I can't pretend anymore that it was just a one night stand. It meant more to me than that."
Idrus's expression softened, a glimmer of hope illuminating his face. "Then don't," he urged, his voice filled with sincerity. "Let's work through this together, Iridessa. I promise, I won't leave you again."
With a heavy heart, Iridessa nodded, her anger fading as she allowed herself to be pulled back into his embrace.
As Idrus planted kisses along her neck, Iridessa couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "We're outside," she whispered, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Idrus growled in frustration, his desire evident in the intensity of his gaze. Without a word, he swiftly lifted her into his arms and carried her towards his car, desire etched on his face.
As they settled into the car, Iridessa found herself seated on Idrus's lap, his arms wrapped tightly around her. She looked up at him, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and apprehension, not about what she was doing, but about what lay ahead. But she pushed those thoughts aside.
"I should go," she murmured with a seductive smile, kissing his lips slowly, teasingly. Idrus shuddered, feeling like an inexperienced boy who had just tasted a woman's lips for the first time.
"I'll be late for work," Iridessa continued.
Idrus's eyes darkened with longing and unadulterated lust as he gazed down at the alluring creature on his lap. "Then I'll take you," he declared, his voice husky with desire.
As Iridessa settled into the passenger's seat, a wave of elation washed over her. Despite her doubts and uncertainties, being with him made her feel alive in a way she hadn't experienced in a long time.
As they drove away from the curb, Idrus reached for her phone without taking his eyes off the road. Curious, Iridessa raised an eyebrow but handed it over without hesitation. She watched with a gentle smile as he effortlessly navigated through the menus, his fingers moving with practiced precision.
After a moment, he returned the phone to her, a satisfied grin playing on his lips. "There," he said, nodding towards the screen. "Now you have my number."
Iridessa's smile widened as she looked down at the screen, her heart fluttering at the sight of his contact information. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
Idrus returned her smile, his eyes filled with affection. "Anytime, cara," he replied, his voice soft and tender.
As they drove through the bustling city streets, a sense of contentment settled over Iridessa. In that moment, she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she had found someone who truly made her feel alive, a guiding light in the darkness of her past. And as they disappeared into the horizon together, she couldn't help but feel hopeful for the future that awaited them.