Taboo: Bittersweet Revenge (Sequel)

Roll the Dice

I study him inquisitively as he sits on the back porch, admiring the snow with Raeven. He all smiles around Raeven. The love for his son in immeasurable. But there something lurking deep in his mind. The wheels are constantly turning, but with a few screws loose. He's here physically, but his mind is elsewhere. I see it in his eyes, I feel it in his presence.

His son smiles back at him, always eager to break into laughter in front of his father. His son loves him, and he loves his son. He is alluring, he is enigmatic, but I never know what he's thinking.

What's going in his mind? Why is it that everytime I look at him, I always feel like there more. More to be said, more to be heard. What if there's a darker past he's trying to conceal from me? Darker secrets? Everytime I try to figure him out, I get too lost in his eyes, shutting down my confidence with an enchanting glance. It's almost like I'm under a spell everytime his eyes connect with mine.

The feeling is electric. It's pure fire between us. I've shared everything there is to know about me. He knows my almighty strengths, but he also knows my flawed weaknesses. So why hasn't he trusted me to do the same? What is it that seems to be haunting him?

What is he hiding from me?

I am still so caught up in his captivating presence; by his effortless smile that I can't even pay attention to my surroundings. My hand was resting on top of the open flames from the stove I was leaning against. The rogue flames scorched my left hand and I let out a painful, powerful scream of pain.

Clutching my blistering red hand close to me, I hear Christian immediately rush to my aid, with Raeven still in his arms. He pulls out my hand to expose the gaping wound, and just as quickly as he does, I pull it back closer to me, not of sheer shock and excruciating pain. "Jesus Christ! What the hell did you do?".

He rushes me over to the sink and turns the water on, placing my hand directly under the cold water. Through the searing pain and my hair-obstructed, teary vision, I see him mouth moving, but I can't hear anything. What have I done to myself? How could I have become so detached for that long? How could I allow myself to be completely distracted by this man that I don't even feel the heat until the damage was done.

His large fingers comb away the hair blocking my face, and wiping away the tears of pain. I was left speechless.  Then it hit me; that all too familiar feeling. I still felt his unshakeable control he has over me, whether I wanted to admit it or not. It's still haunting me to this day. I tried to suppress this feeling, trying to convince myself we were far past that point in our lives. But I guess my subconscious wasn't ready to let go so easily.

His eyes buried deep into mine, with that all too familiar scar just burning hole in me. The slightest of snow particles are sprung across his hair. I had no idea what to say or do. And it wasn't even my hand that mattered the most at this point. This man has the overwhelming ability to tranquilise me, and leave me vulnerable.

I couldn't hear anything, and nor did I want to. Because my wild thoughts were speaking loud enough to overshadow everything. I see his lips moving, waiting for my answer, but I was still in shock to even respond.

For the first time in a long time, I was afraid; not of Christian, but the underlying yet unintentional control he has over me. And this all started with my curiosity, unsurprising getting the better of me.

I just want to know what he's hiding from me......

.......................................................

I felt the antibiotic seep through the open wound. The pain is numbing, but nowhere near as throbbing as earlier. Cringing only off pure instinct, I keep a straight poker face as Austin continues to treat the wound.