Dangerously Tempted

Chapter 3 : More Bonding

Isabel

I probably took things too far. Probably was an understatement. I don't know what had come over me in the garden. The confidence that swept me up and held tight. The same confidence that had left me for the weeks leading up to today. There was something about Odile that I couldn't ignore. As much as I wanted to pretend with myself, it was no use. She was quite frankly... captivating. And for some reason I felt like I knew her. But I couldn't pinpoint where I knew her from. But I still despised her, and this entire situation. Even if her voice was alluring and stole my attention when she spoke, or her overwhelming presence that fell over me like a blanket, I despised her for being okay with this arranged marriage.

I should have asked while we were out why she agreed to it. My mind was playing tricks on me though, and making a game out of the entire thing. It was just so fun, seeing what made her tick.

After the garden, Odile followed me back to our room, watched me enter and turned and left. I found it peculiar though I was grateful that she wouldn't be in here with me so I could collect myself.

I expected Odile to have some form of reaction to my pestering. Yet she didn't really, she displayed the same habit Ramos had. Tightening her jaw. There had been a moment I thought that she would snap. When she closed her eyes and breathed in, the way her hair bristled as the wind blew through it. Her soft skin that I wanted to touch, just reach out and trace my hand over her prominent jaw. I almost did it, I almost grabbed her chin to make her look at me. It was infuriating but I don't know why.

"How was your time with your wife?" Jecko stood at the door holding a tea platter.

I hadn't been in the room more than five minutes before he had arrived. His gleaming smile made me curious.

"It was fine," I narrowed my eyes at him for the usage of the word wife as he walked in, kicking the door shut with that smug smile still plastered on his face

"Uh huh." Jecko placed the tea platter on the dresser top beside the bed. Gold wrapping lined the rims of the tea cups.

He knew something that he wasn't telling. And I was contemplating whether or not I should tell him that I knew her from somewhere.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

His smile grew in acknowledgement of my words but he granted me with no answer, mindlessly adding sugar and cream to the tea.

"Jecko."

"I have a great view of the garden, you know."

I looked at him dumbfounded at his remark. My head swiveled in the direction of my window, realizing that because Jecko was situated on this floor as well of course he could see the garden.

My cheeks heated up. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure Isabel." He teased and handed me my tea, it was lukewarm making me grimace.

Jecko pretended not to notice or maybe he truly didn't and folded himself onto the floor.

"What's she like?" He beamed, looking up at me like a young teenage girl eager for gossip.

"Interesting." I said bluntly, hoping to shy away from what I really thought.

"In what ways?" Jecko raised the cup to his lips, tasting the tea before screwing up his face and putting it down on the floor.

I didn't really know how to explain what I meant, she was not what I expected. For one, I was expecting a man. I never would have guessed that father knew of my preference. I never mentioned it to him, and I was never down right out about the whole thing. Though I guess mom was right in some ways about him doing simply what was best for me.