Angel of Mine (Completed)

Chapter 11

 

 “I can’t be your friend anymore.  I want you in my life Cerise.  Nothing could make me happier if you just consent to becoming my girlfriend.” 

“Lathan.”

 I was breathless.  I held his arms and let his warmth envelope me like it was a piece of heaven --my piece of heaven.  I turned to look at him and put my palm against his face.  His eyes say it all and I truly felt his love.  How can I not embrace it?

 “How did I get so lucky, to have a man love me so?  How I wish it were that easy Lathan but it’s not.  Your mother and Calixta will not go quietly and accept.  There is also that part where people will talk.  I’m just a regular college girl, swimming my way through scholarship at a university YOU own.   I can’t put you in that position where you would have to take a side.  I will not allow myself to pull you down as you associate with people like me.”  She dropped her hand and looked down.

It pains me how little she thinks of herself.  I held both her hands and kissed her knuckles.  She slowly looks up again with a strained smile.  She means the world to me.

“Angel, you can never be so wrong about things.  It is people like YOU that I want to be associated with.  That was the whole point of pretending to be poor.   I will not deny that the money was a means, an instrument for me to touch people’s lives.  To finally have a purpose and share them with you.”  I held her face willing her to see my regard for her. 

“But Lathan I…”  I crashed my lips to silence her protest.  I felt her tense up but slowly relaxed and gave in to the kiss.  Kissing her has become my drug.  I need her like I need air to breathe.  Heck, I would marry this girl now if she wants to.

Coming up for air, I kissed her forehead and wrapped her in my embrace.  “Now what say you to my question earlier?  Please Cerise. No more of these thoughts of being unworthy.  Because for me, you’re exquisite and perfect.  I’m never letting you go.  So let me ask you again, Angel --be mine?”

My throat was all clogged up with these overwhelming emotions.  I can’t deny it anymore than I would have wanted.  I wanted to keep things simple.  I never wanted to draw any attention to myself.  But I do love him—with all my heart.  I didn’t realize a lone tear escaped my eye as I could only manage to nod my head in affirmation.  He lovingly brushed my tear away as he brushed his lips to mine.  I didn’t wait for him to beg entrance as I allowed his tongue to caress mine.  His left hand dropped down to my hips to draw me closer.  His right hand that moved from my face to my neck, it sank into my hair. 

I broke the kiss and whispered to his lips.

”I Love You Lathan Anders Worthington – be mine?”  I felt him smile and deepened the kiss till we were again breathless.

*****

Calixta’s smart phone vibrated in her Prada bag while she was looking through the shops.  She smiled at the sight of Dominic’s name and photo flashing on the screen.  “Hey, what’s up?”

“I have everything set up.  I promised you I’ll take care of it right.”

“Nothing too messy.  Make sure it is clean and no trace to you or me, you hear?” 

She smiled as she hung up the phone.  Lover boy does have his uses.  He was playing right into her ploy.  She didn’t think he would be that stupid to even think she will hang on to him after she gets her hands on Lathan’s fortune.  She hates long relationships.  She was never one to be so mushy about love.  To her it was just sex.  She had it all planned out and Lathan cannot be distracted with that mousy Olympic swimmer wannabe.  Ugh!  All this love shit is making her sick.

*****

Lathan and I spent time after practice.  He stopped cleaning the pool and an Asian guy took over his job.  The pain on my shoulder has somehow ebbed to a manageable pain level where I was still functional.  My dad has been ecstatic about my time and he is almost sure I was going to win this.  With the way I have been feeling lately, I could almost believe I could possibly win the competition.

“How’s the shoulder been angel?”  Lathan asked me while we were walking along the beach hand in hand.  It is so wonderful to watch the sunset with him, to look at the splash of colors on the horizon and just be held.

“It’s not completely gone but with the recommended exercises and the physical therapy, I think I should be fine.”

“I’m worried about you.  Maybe we can go see a specialist or something.”  We stopped walking and he turned me so I was facing the sea with my back to his chest.

“Will you stop worrying.  I have been competing for a long time now.  Besides, Dr Cayman has given me the green light with a promise that I go intensively for therapy after the meet.”  I assured him.

“Baby, I will always worry about you.  You’re my world now.”  He brought me closer to him.

“Ahhh.. choking here, can’t breathe!”  I joked and got a tickle punishment until we found ourselves rolling in the sandy shore.  We were laughing as he bent down and kissed me.  It has become a habit lately like we just constantly need the connection all the time.  The kiss was slowly becoming more passionate every time.  My breath caught when I felt his hand go under my top and managed to slide up the side of my breast.  I tensed up, my abdominal muscles tightened.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry angel.  I..I didn’t mean to go so fast.  Oh baby, please forgive me.” 

What the hell Lathan!  I mentally cursed myself.  I was so caught in the moment that I didn’t realize I was going too fast.  I suddenly sat up and ran my fingers through my damp hair.  I felt her hand on my shoulder as she sat up.  I couldn’t look at her.

“Hey, Lathan.  Look at me.”  He slowly turned but his eyes were downcast.  I tilted his chin so he can look at me and I could see he was so embarrassed.  “I was just surprised.  I am as guilty as you are but I wouldn’t say I’m sorry.”

He suddenly jerked his head with a questioning look.

“I won’t say I’m sorry because in this moment, I love you too much not to understand.”  A smile broke into his face and a relieved laugh escaped his lips.

“And I love you more, angel.  God knows how much I love you.”

“I’m relieved to know that, otherwise we are going to have a problem.”  I felt him stand up and offered his hand to me.

“C’mon, I’ll take you home.  I don’t want your dad to worry.” 

He helped me up and pulled me against his chest and bent down for another kiss.  I could definitely get used to this.  I thought.