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  He bend down so our faces were only inches apart. Our lips too.

  "Are you nervous?" He asked.

  "Umm no" I lied.

  "Good," he said, and he kissed me. Soft, gentle at first and then I returned the kiss. Oh, my goodness this felt incredible. I was finally able to kiss him. After all this time. He was kissing me and I him. It felt so good. Like flying on the air good. I was in heaven. His lips were so soft. He slipped his tongue inside my mouth and I pulled away due to a very unpleasant memory.

  "Did you tell Monique we are getting married?" Why was I asking this? I had to know.

  He pulled back.

  "What a way to ruin the mood Eden," he said.

  "I'm sorry but all the excitement didn't even let me think of that detail. Did you break up with her?" I just had to ask. No, I had to know.

  "What do you think Eden? Seriously. I'm marrying you. Do you think I'm going to be with someone else while you are my fiancé what kind of man do you think I am?" He sounded upset.

  "I'm sorry Ross this is all so new for me. I never had a boyfriend before. Let alone a fiancé I don't know how to behave"

  He got close again. I could feel my heart race and my blood boil inside me. But not of anger. Of passionate heat.

  "I know love, but you have to trust me. You have to just be your wonderful self. Allow yourself to fell babe, feel me feel this" he placed my hand where his heart was beating faster and faster.

  "Ever since I laid my eyes on you 7 years ago. When you was 12, I knew I will always protect you and I always will" He sounded sincere. He was looking deep in my eyes.

  My stupid insecure self will ruin this moment with more stupid inappropriate for the moment questions but I... I didn't want to ruin it. I had to keep my mouth shut. He was everything I ever wanted and more. I just still couldn't believe this.

  "I'll give you time. Time to come to terms with our new reality. I have to adjust to the fact that you will be mine in every way now." He said with a huge smile looking at me up and down.

  "I love you Ross" I meant it.

  "Baby you need time to get used to the fact that we will be husband and wife soon and I... well, I need time to say those words back ok. Please, just give me time" he said. He gave me another kiss on the lips and left.

  I was disappointed and a bit hurt, to be honest. Did he say he loved Monique? My insecure voice was speaking again to me.

  "Of course, he did Eden, and don't you think this is all too fast?"

  I had to shut that voice up once and for all. It had gotten me into so much trouble already, but it was right. This was all too fast. Did he feel guilty someway? Like he owed it to me to marry me. Did he feel pressure? But from who?

  Okay. I was being too negative, and nobody wants to be around a negative downer all the time. But it was true. Ross was so full of life and adventure. I was so down and negative. Life had made me this way. But maybe his life wasn't an easy one either and yet he was always full of it. He was an adrenaline junkie. He was alive and I better start being the same or else he will leave me and this time for good.

  ROSS POV

  I knew that I wanted to marry Eden badly. But I had my doubts, to be honest. Not about marrying her. But about everything that we both represented for one another.

  She was always so full of doubts and me well... I was so full of guilt because of everything I had done to her. But I knew that I loved her. That love was more than a brotherly love I would know the difference. I just wish that she was the way she was. Before I secretly destroyed her.

  I destroyed her and she didn’t know it was me who made her that way.

  But no. I wasn't marrying her because of that. I wanted to make her my wife.

  But will I be able to share all of my dirty dark secrets with her? No. I couldn't.

  I couldn't tell her I loved her. Not with words not yet. I had to prove it to myself first. I didn't want to lie to her or make her believe something that wasn't true. Deep down I knew it was, but I want to know that is for the right reasons. She had to prove to me that she can be the woman I initially fell in love with. The happy, spontaneous upbeat girl. And not this downer she had become. I guess that's what I was waiting for. Maybe with the gift I was going to give her it would change everything. Maybe it will help her be happier and see things better.

  I just wore a black suit with a white shirt underneath.

  I went down the stairs and greeted all the guests. Eden was not down here yet. I talked to her parents and her siblings and my parents. The food was awesome Eden had prepared it herself. Lots of different Spanish dishes as well as some Australian ones and burgers and just happy food.

  Everyone turned their eyes to the staircase and there she was coming down. She only looked at me. Her eyes were focused on me only. Her smile was for me. I smiled back. She came down and I for sure thought that she was going to run to her parents first but what she did really surprised me.

  She walked to me put her arms around my neck and kissed me. She kissed me. All her lips were on mine. I kissed her back. We kissed for a long time and it felt like it was just us. When she pulled away, she whispered

  "I promise to be better". I smiled at her. Then she held my right hand and lift it up with hers.

  "Everyone. Ross and I are getting married."

  Everyone was silent. No one said anything for a while. Then Eden showed everyone her diamond engagement ring and that's when they all started applauding and shouting "congratulations" she was smiling so much. She was truly happy.

  "I'm going to go say hi to my family will join you soon. I love you" she said gave me a kiss on the lips and went to talk to her family.

  Did she read my mind? That's the Eden I fell in love with. Self-assured and confident. Happy and relaxed. Maybe this was going to work after all. I just had to tell her I felt exactly the same way and that I love her too just as much.

  Chapter 20

  Eden Pov

  I danced. Talked to my family. They were all doing great. My parents were in the process of buying a house and my siblings both had jobs and Joseph enrolled at the University of Sydney. They were all happy. Ross's proposal couldn't come at a better time.

  But my heart still had doubts and tons of insecurities. I had to take a minute to compose myself or else I was going to faint. Was all this too good to be true?

  A week ago we were just...friends pretty much with him controlling me and telling me what to do and now...now we were engaged out of the blues. Did he even love me? Like really love me or did he feel bad for me because I had nothing. I just couldn't stop thinking about it.

  "I believe congratulations are in order" A woman's voice with a thick accent that wasn't Australian said. I turned to see a beautiful older woman probably in her late 30s early forties.

  "Thank you," I said a bit confused as to who she was. She looked familiar though like I've seen her before somewhere.

  "Are you Ross's friend?" I asked.

  She smiled.

  "You can say that" she said. Showing all her teeth. What did that mean?

  "I'm Olivianna, I am Norman's assistant" she extended me her hand. I shook it back.

  "Ross's dad's assistant. Oh, nice to meet you" I said. This made sense now.

  "Yes, Norman Ross's dad. I met him in Italy he brought me here to be his...assistant." She said taking a huge drink from her champagne glass. There was clearly more to all of this.

  "Oh, you are Italian?" I asked didn't know what else to say really.

  "Yes...and you?" She asked me.

  "Spanish from the south of Spain," I said.

  "Oh, Andalusian region. Where the flamenco was invented" she smiled.

  "Yes, correct" I smiled back.

  "Do you know how to dance it? I bet you do it wonderfully"

  "I'm a little rusty haven't danced it in seven years but yes, I practically was born dancing it. Is in my blood"

  "Nice. I see why Ross likes you." She said.

  I blushed.

  "
I like you more than the blond he has or...had" she laughed.

  I stayed quiet. I didn't know what to say to that.

  "Just be gentle. Men like Ross don't stay with just one woman for too long. He's like his father. Passive like the waves at first they show you the world and make you believe you belong in it with them and then...then they turn into a storm of waves strong enough to surf on them and drown!"

  Her words we're frightening did she and Ross have something? I didn't dare to ask. I was afraid of what I might hear. But she clearly had something with Mr. Lyner but isn't he married to Ross's mother? There was so much about his family I still didn't know.

  As I was getting ready to ask her more questions Ross shows up.

  "There you are love," his expression changed completely when he saw Olivianna.

  He went from happy to a bit nervous.

  He looked at her with a serious expression. Then he looked back at me.

  "We are about to cut your cake and sing you happy birthday. I still gotta give you your gift too so please, come downstairs".

  "Hello Ross," Olivianna said with a huge smile on her face.

  "Hi, " he said.

  "Eden let's go "

  "Yes, let's go," Olivianna said passing her hand through his chest as she left the room. I looked at him but said nothing.

  I made my way downstairs he stopped me mid stairway.

  "did she say anything to you?" He asked.

  "No, just that she was your dad's assistant," I said which was the truth.

  "Okay," he said.

  He grabbed me by my hand and took me down the stairs pretty fast. Olivianna was already there.

  Everyone sang me happy birthday. We cut the cake and passed it around. Ross took my hand and lead me to the side.

  "Are you ready for your gift?" He asked me.

  "What more could I possibly want. All I want is you. You are my gift" I told him. I desperately meant it.

  "I know, but you'll like this one too," he said.

  "Close your eyes" I did.

  He took my hand and put a medium-size blue box in it. I smiled as I saw the box.

  More jewelry I thought. I loved jewelry. But when I opened the box it wasn't jewelry. It was a key.

  "A key?" I asked.

  "Not just any key. Is the key to this" he took out a card?

  "Eden's Village Andalusian Restaurant"

  "What?" I asked surprised.

  "Yes, my love this is the key to your own restaurant," he said kissing me.

  I was in shock. I stood in place. What? My own restaurant? What? I just couldn't believe it.

  "Ross..." I looked up at him. Tears filling my eyes.

  "You always said you had nothing to do. You always said you couldn't find a job and that nobody would hire you. Well, I say fuck them now you have your own job. Now you have your own stuff. This is yours and you can do what you love which is cooking"

  I still couldn't believe it. I still couldn't grasp this whole thing. My own restaurant. My very own restaurant. My own stuff. Oh, my goodness it was too good to be true.

  Everyone else came in the room with us. They all congratulated me some more. Everyone was so happy for me. I was so happy.

  Ross stepped out to allow everyone to congratulate me in person. But I wish he hadn't. I understood he wanted to give me time to talk to everyone else, but I just wanted to be with him. By his side all the time. Like before. But now it was different. Now he was mine and I was his.

  I saw him walking out the door with Olivianna. I couldn't help but feel a burn inside my stomach.

  I know I should be focused on being happy with my guests, but I couldn't stop wondering why they stepped out together.

  Was I being paranoid?

  I didn't want to be the jealous type but with a man like Ross, it was hard not to be.

  I talked and mingled with people, but my mind and my heart were with Ross wherever he had gone too.

  Ross POV

  "Yes, Rossy?" She was flirting with me. Olivianna didn't care who she flirted with to get back at my dad.

  "Did you tell him, what we did?" I asked.

  "Does it matter?" She said grabbing my shirt and pulling me closer to her.

  "It was amazing I can't stop thinking about it. Your touch your..." She reached down my pants where my manhood stood. I pulled away.

  "What's wrong?" She asked smiling her wicked smile.

  "I'm engaged now," he said.

  "So... that didn't stop you before when you were with the blond," she said again smiling.

  "I wasn't engaged to Eden like I am now"

  "I must admit Ross it really surprises me how you are with such a plain boring looking girl. Not the kind of girl I would imagine you falling for"

  "Life is full of surprises you should know that by now," I told her.

  She smiled and tried to get closer. I kept pulling back. She stopped.

  "You did something to me Ross Lyner. I've been with many little boys your age but none like you. You can get married but we can still have our fun"

  "I don't think so. I must admit Olivianna were it anyone else I was going to marry I would take you up on your offer, but not Eden I would never betray her"

  "funny," she said.

  "But you have betrayed her so many times, she just doesn't know about any of it. What do you think she would do if she knew?"

  That grabbed my attention. What the hell was she talking about! who had she talked too? I would kill any of my men who opened their mouths about anything.

  "Are you threatening me Olivianna? because I warn you now." this time I got closer to her so she can hear me and see that I wasn't playing any shitty games with her or anyone.

  "I am not one to play games with" my expression was deadly serious. I wasn't going to take any manipulation from her or anyone.

  "Relax Rossy, relax geez you care more about this girl than I thought you did. Okay, tell you what. I just want something small. Something that won't cause you anything"

  She was starting to piss me off badly.

  "what?!" I said angrily.

  "I want to be the head manager of Eden's restaurant."

  What?! Why the hell would she want that? to be closer to Eden? to spy on her and get in her head filling it with stupid thoughts. No. Hell no!

  "Fuck no!" I told her. plain and simple.

  "Fine, then I will cause a scene right here at this party. Right now. I will tell everyone that you and I fucked and I will tell your mother who has a bad heart that your father and I are together and that we have been together for a very long time, that sure will send her straight to the hospital with probably no return back"

  I wanted to choke this woman and send her to the hospital with no return.

  "And don't you dare attempt to do anything to me. I left a disk somewhere in your mother's house. She will know the truth eventually. so even if you get rid of me, she will still find out"

  "Why the fuck do you want to work with Eden at her restaurant to spy on me? to keep me close to you?"

  she smiled. This was really a wicked evil woman I had no idea what my dad saw in her. But the same part was that I did know.

  "Let's just say I like to keep my friends close and my enemies closer. I want to do something productive with my time and helping Eden settle into her restaurant is just the thing I want to do. Plain and simple."

  I didn't trust her. I didn't trust her at all. She was up to no good. But did I have a choice? If she made a scene here about everything, she knew it would cause a whole world of trouble. Eden will no doubt cancel our engagement. She wouldn't want to marry me after knowing that I slept with my father's girlfriend all while I was dating Monique. She hated Monique but she wouldn't forgive a betrayal like an infidelity. She believed in that so much. Not to mention that my mother did have a bad heart and finding out about my father's infidelity would really destroy her. I couldn't do that to my mother.

  "FINE! I will talk to Eden" I said and started to walk back in
side. She grabbed my arm.

  "No, Rossy. This is a done deal. You do whatever it is you have to do with that little mouse of yours I don't care if she is on board with this or not, but I will work there." She said giving me a kiss really close to my lips and went inside.

  This woman was trouble and unfortunately not as easy to get rid of as other people.

  EDEN POV

  I saw that woman Olivianna walk inside. Followed by an angry Ross. What happened between them? why were they outside for so long? I saw him going up the stairs.

  I excused myself and headed after him. Something was wrong I knew it. I saw him go into his room and slamming the door behind him. I waited for about ten minutes trying to decide what to do. Should I just go in there without knocking? or should I just let him be?

  He was my fiancé he wasn't just a friend anymore. I had certain privileges when it came to him now, I thought.

  I decided to swallow my insecurities and went to talk to my fiancé. I knocked once or twice I heard nothing. So, I opened the door and walked in.

  Chapter 21

  Eden pov

  The room was dark. All the lights were off except for a small little night table lamp. The lights from outside were also in view but they weren't as bright as other nights. It was a cool cozy night.

  I walked around and sat on his bed. He wasn't there. But I did hear his shower on, so he must've been in there taking a shower. I had so many thoughts in my mind. Number one being that I wanted to jump in the shower with him. I wanted to take off all my clothes and go in there with him. But I couldn't. I was to of a chicken to try anything like that. Not yet.

  I couldn't believe that he was my fiancé. Soon he would be my husband. It was all too good to be true. The man I had loved since that day that he saved my life seven years ago was going to be my husband. I could go in there, but I didn't.

  I sat on his bed and placed my hands on the silky bed sheet material. Soft and silky and comfortable. Black bed sheets and comforter. His room was huge the bed sat across from the terrace and the bathroom was to the left with the walk-in closet next to the bathroom.

  I laid down on his bed many times with him. I had even slept in the same bed with him a couple of times but never as his girl. Now I was. I laid down on the bed and just spread out allowing the silky material to brush my skin and wondered what it was like to be here naked with him.