Chapter 49 - Leaving The Country Tomorrow (1/2)

Arianna had a comfortable sleep this time. There was no marrying the short man Big Joe in her dream nor the man she stole from coming after her.

If there was anything she dreamed about, it was of gorgeous blue eyes. Hence, it came as a huge shock to her when those gorgeous blue eyes stared back at her when her eyes finally opened.

”Aah!” Arianna screamed, falling from the bed because, in her bid to come down quickly, she had somehow tangled her legs with the sheet.

”Oof,” She fell on her stomach and it hurt like shit. This was not funny at all.

”Shit!” Elijah cursed, coming over to her side to her feet. Arianna didn't dare to reject his help and clung to him like an octopus as he lifted her back to the bed, his powerful muscles rippling with the effort.

Carefully placing Arianna on the bed, Elijah leaned over her and that was when he made the mistake of staring into her eyes.

Arianna gulped when her eyes connected with his and it seemed like it was just the both of them at that moment, nothing else mattered.

Her heart pounded in her throat and she was so scared that he might hear the sound. Arianna wished she could shrink into her bed but there was no way to go anymore.

Her gaze fell on his face and she discovered he had a different face paint this time. Arianna wondered if he somehow had a company that customized his paints because of how readily he applied them to his face. Wasn't he scared they would damage his face since he wore them excessively?

Unlike the Phoenix wing on his face yesterday, today's painting was in white entirely and was unique. The painting covered only the bridge of his nose upward and was drawn in such a way that it looked like he wore a thin transparent mask when it was only a painting.

”It's beautiful,” Arianna said to his painting, ”You draw them on yourself?”

”Yes,” He answered without cutting contact with her gaze.

”You are insanely talented,” Arianna chuckled in a bid to lessen the tension between them.

It was obvious Elijah came out of the bathroom since he carried a trace of the sandalwood-scented soap he used. Moreover, his hair was a bit wet and was sexily tousled, the curls spreading messily over his face. She was tempted to run her hand through it. Gosh, he was an epitome of manliness.

Aside from that, Arianna was acutely aware of half of his body pressing down on hers since he sat on the edge of the bed while hovering over her. It was pretty much uncomfortable, his presence was messing up with her ability to think straight.

”Thank you,” Elijah said, still staring at her.

”So, you sleep with the paint on your face?” She inquired out of sheer curiosity.

”Of course not, I take them off at night,” He said to her, and Arianna's brows raised as she realized that this man slept with his face exposed.

The fact that his room was just opposite hers tantalized her with the crazy thought of sneaking into his room to see his identity.

”I know what you're thinking,” Elijah stopped her right there, ”Never take that dare as far as you're not ready to belong to me, body, mind, and soul,” He told her.

A crazy thought entered Arianna's head, what if she wanted to belong to him? Think about it, she had nothing now. Her family betrayed her and she has nowhere else to go. Elijah was the only one keeping her from being discovered by Big Joe's and did she forget to add that crazy man named Marcel. Gosh, why did she bring this up?

Arianna was still lost in thought when Elijah pulled away, rousing her. He stood to his feet just as she sat up, the attraction between them dissolving away - not entirely though. Now, her brain was back and functioning to make a clear decision.

”I'm sorry to have woken you up. I didn't mean to,” Elijah apologized to her.

”It's alright,” Arianna shrugged, ”I'll just have to put a bell on you to alert me of your presence,” she joked.

Elijah laughed, staring at Arianna who stared back with a smiling expression. It was obvious that both of them were insanely attracted to each other yet were holding back for reasons best known to them.

”This,” Elijah said, lifting bags that he dropped by her bedside, ”I wanted to keep it in your bathroom before you woke yet you caught me like a cat trying to steal its owner's fish,” He scratched the back of his head nervously which was kind of cute in her eyes.

”Wow,” Arianna breathed, staring at the shopping bags in disbelief. All of them must have cost a lot.

”I should pay you for...” Arianna said, already reaching for the wallet she stole from Marcel.