Red

CHAPTER 32.

"Sorry, but I'm not here to entertain your opinions so sucking your cock is out of question." I said with my arms folded.

He rub his thumb on the tip, tighten his hold around the length and then began to rub it up and down while walking towards me.

His dark eyes pierced through the strands of hair falling over his face, burning into me with a force I could barely withstand.

"Mmh... that hesitation, it's right there behind your eyes, dolce. Don't deny it."

Trembling under his overpowering gaze, I stumbled backward into the water and before I knew it, my foot caught on something, and I tumbled in with a splash.

I closed my eyes as the water soaked my face, ears muffled as it slid in. It wasn't too deep, so I quickly stood, shivering from the cold, and pulled my eyes open.

Lorenzo loomed above me, hands clasped behind his head, a deep chuckle escaping him.

I narrowed my eyes at him and threw my hands up. "This isn't funny, Lorenzo. And I swear karma's coming for your ass after this."

"Blaming me for your clumsiness is a low blow, dolce." He smirked and then launched himself into the water.

He hit the surface hard, sending a wave of rough ripples rolling straight into me. The surge shoved me backward, dragging me under for the second time.

I shot up again, sputtering, annoyance rising hot in my chest. I shoved my hair out of my face and sent the asshole a murderous glare while he kept chuckling like this was the best show he'd seen all week.

We were waist-deep in the water, and with my hair plastered to my face, I pushed it back and decided to pull off my wet shirt, annoyed at how it clung to my body.

I felt him watching and I felt the heat of his stare before I even looked up.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, curiosity burning through my voice as I lifted my chin to him.

"Why do you always ask questions?" Lorenzo eyebrows rises beneath the strands of wet hair dripping over his eyes.

"You can't answer my question with another question, Lorenzo." I bit my bottom lip without meaning to, his body heat brushing along my side.

He tilted his head, studying me. His thumb dragged across his lower lip as his eyes scanned over my face like he was trying to read something I wasn't saying out loud.

Before I could blink, he stepped closer. His forearms brushed my shoulders, warm and solid. I tipped my head back automatically, caught under the weight of his stare.

His hand slid around my waist, pulling me in until my hip rested against his. His eyes locked onto mine, deep and heated, and my lips parted on instinct.

"Honestly..." His voice dropped, rough like gravel. He paused, still searching my face as if something on it had the answer he needed.

He leaned in. His breath grazed my neck and his lips brushed my ear.

"I don't know," he muttered, voice low and raw. "This place is a secret. I've never brought anyone here. Not even Xamuela. So tell me, Miss Aurora..."

His lips ghosted my ear again, hot and unsteady.

"...why did I do that?"

"I...I don't know," I whispered. "Maybe... you feel comfortable around me."

He hummed against my skin, the sound slow, deep, and dangerous. He took a step back , taking with him his body heat and then settles on his back. Stretching his arms on either sides, he let himself float gently on the water.

I did the same beside him, and he turn his head to the side with his eyes closed and I pushed the guilty feel as it resurface.

He looked so peaceful and I knew he was starting to trust...he brought me to this personal space and I appreciate it. Fuck, but I still felt guilty about using him last night for my own pleasure to forget about River?

And even though he was the one that killed my fiancé, some where deep inside, my subconscious pleaded me to remember that he was human. He had feelings.

"You know when I was little, my mom always takes me to the river. She washes here every Sunday from morning to sundown. We didn't have much and my father was absent most of the time so I pretty much didn't know him. Silent river runs deep, she would say..."

He pulled his eyes open and I listen as he spoke, his gaze going back in memory.

"And as I grew older I understood what she meant which allowed me to draw a conclusion about you."

He connected our eyes together and I couldn't help the small smile that came up on my lips from the intensity it brings.

"What do you think?"

"You're holding back..." He trailed off and then pulled his body towards me, I felt my heart pick up speed as he drew closer and I swallowed.

"Holding back from what?"

He lick his lips and roamed my face with his eyes. "You're still holding unto the past that you can't see what's infront of you dolce."

He clenched his jaw and I frowned at his words. I sighed and turn my head, my eyes staring up at the stars above the arched trees.

"You don't understand Lorenzo...River was my all. He did a lot for me and I can't bloody forget that."

I heard the rush of the water which ripples it and moves me a bit as Lorenzo stand.

"You do realize that the more you hold unto the past, it's the more your future is going to move past you. You're gonna wake up one day asking yourself why the fuck you didn't try harder to let go. Trust me time is of the essence and it is also cruel when you're bounded by your past."

He shook his head, got up from the water and left. His large back expanding as he walked up the bank and towards his clothes on the hammock.

My guilt returned full forced from what he said. About Nava. About River. Wanting justice. Wanting freedom. Wanting him...and I couldn't do anything about it because I felt stuck.

It felt like if I moved on I was cheating on River and I felt like if I didn't heal...I'll be killing my chance at freedom. I couldn't help as tears sprung up at the corner of my eyes and I closed them.

The rushing of the waterfall flows with my tears, my lips trembling with my quiet sob as the cold water soaked over my floating body.