Don 3: Heart's Desire

Chapter 41

After Roma took in a few deep breaths upon seeing Don's majestic master bathroom, she proceeded to take a shower, then got dressed and headed out of the steamy bathroom.

As soon as she stepped out she let out a scream 'Good God!' she started panting and tried to calm down while looking at Don leaning right next to the door.

'You startled me! What are you doing?'

'Why did you lock the door for, Roma?'

She frowned hearing him sound so serious about it 'Matlab?'

He slammed the bathroom door behind her in one swift motion causing her to shudder again 'Never lock the door behind you. You know a stupid lock wouldn't keep me away if I wanted to reach you. . Don't provoke me'

She just looked at him, puzzled. Where was all this coming from 'You got this all wrong'

'Did I?' he arched his brow while still frowning at her 'How so? When you're deliberately testing my temper'

'I just like my privacy, that's all' she defended herself

He laughed one of his cold laughs 'Don't insult me, Roma' then wrinkled his nose in disdain, turned around and left the bedroom.

But Roma wasn't about to let this pass 'How did you even know it was locked then?' she followed him

He stopped but didn't turn around 'Where are you going with this?'

She went around to face him 'I'm trying to prove a point' she tried to say it as calmly as she could

He didn't even blink 'If you must know, I entered the bedroom just when you locked the door to the bathroom'

She lowered her gaze 'I still don't understand why you had to make such a big deal out of this'

He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, calming down 'You're right. I overreacted. I think it's because of all the adrenaline today' he rubbed his forehead

She looked up at him. He looked much calmer. That relieved her 'You still scare me, Don' she surprised even herself for saying that

He placed a lock of her hair behind her ear 'And you should fear me, sweetheart. But not for the reasons you're imagining'

She frowned questioningly. She really didn't know what that meant. He gave her a peck on her cheek and then gave her a dimpled smile 'Look. I brought your groceries. I'm dying to see what you bought'

'What is it with you and things you can't reach or know of?' she smiled and tried to make a joke but he looked at her funny. She immediately regretted having asked that

'I don't like it. I like to control everything, Roma. When I lose control over something it can get really... really ugly'

Just then Don's phone rang. He gestured he'd be right back with her and proceeded to pick up.

Roma leaned against the kitchen counter, her mind racing. "What the hell!" she thought. What happened, all of a sudden? She suddenly felt angry. Really angry. Angry at herself for some reason. She began taking the groceries out of the bag, furiously, and accidentally dropped an egg from the carton and that just infuriated her even more. She slammed the whole carton onto the floor.

Don came rapidly and saw her on her knees, sobbing nervously.

'Kya hua?' he bent and held her by her shoulders, but she was trembling and crying so hysterically that he actually knelt next to her and tried to hug her but she kept pulling away

'I'm such an idiot!' she uttered

'It's just eggs, Roma!'

'It's not the eggs!' she shouted looking him in the eye 'It's this, us, whatever this is!' she cried 'I've been so stupid thinking... God, I don't know what I was thinking!' she was shaking uncontrollably now, as she was hiding her face in her palms

Don tried to pull her hands away 'Roma, listen to me...' he said calmly yet he sounded worried

'No... no...' she shook her head 'No more, Don... I can't take it anymore...'

'Roma, please listen to me'

She kept pulling away but he kept on trying to get her to look at him 'Listen to me, damnit!'

She just swallowed her tears and looked at him frightened, although he hadn't shouted at her.

He searched her eyes and waited for her to be fully attentive 'I love you. 'She gasped but he tightened his grip on her shoulders 'Listen to me. I love you, Roma. And I've lost control. And I'm a mess. I don't know how to handle it. I'm sorry'

Tears were rolling down her eyes but she was silent, soaking up every word he was saying

He wiped them away gently 'I'm sorry, I know what this means and I know what impact this must have on you. I'm sorry for everything, Roma, everything. But I love you and I'm not apologetic about that. It's scaring me to death, though, and I've never been afraid of anything in my life'

Roma just couldn't stop crying

'I hate myself for doing this to you' he furrowed his brows as if in pain as he wiped away her tears with his thumbs but she caught his hands in her palms and held them over her cheeks tightly, closing her eyes.

He pulled her head onto his chest and caressed her hair and back lovingly and reassuringly. She was no longer crying. Then she hugged him tight and his body stiffened, as if surprised.

She looked up at him and smiled widely, her eyes wet and reddened

He looked down at her puzzled

'I was going crazy. I never thought you'd say this to me, ever. Never even dared to think about it. But suddenly I feel so free, I feel happy. I haven't been happy in a long, long time, Don'

He kept looking at her, searching her eyes carefully

'You don't know how I needed to hear those words. Even I didn't know, till now. And you don't know how I hope it's true...'

He cupped her cheeks urgently and brought her closer to him 'It's true, Roma. Please don't let there be any doubt in your mind. There isn't any in mine' he said as he searched her eyes

She then kissed him. Passionately, urgently, with all her heart, for the first time. He embraced her tightly as he responded to her kiss and they only parted as she said 'I love you, too'