Chapter 19: Chapter 19

"Now this....this is a break." Ronnie moans as I watch the masseuse dig her palms into the valley between Ronnie's shoulder blades.

My masseuse is working on the length of my legs and the soles of my feet, relieving so many tight spots.

With just a towel draped over my body and another wrapped around my hair, I should feel exposed...but I don't.

I feel relaxed and carefree.

"You should do this more often." Ronnie says to me, blue eyes sparkling and I scoff.

"You say it like I have the option to do it." I say and she giggles.

"But you do. Come on, you can't tell me your weekends are completely occupied."

"Sadly, yes. I have a goddaughter, a brother, a father in a Nursing home. And Mr. Robinson's weekend laundry to do on Sunday." I say and sip the margarita next to me.

Ronnie is staring at me with studious eyes, just as Mr. Robinson does sometimes.

"It really doesn't bother you, does it?" She asks and I blink at her.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Calling my brother Mr. Robinson like some school girl and doing all this chores for him." She says and I just look away.

"I try not to let it bother me. I have enough on my plate already, so what will it cost me to just do these things? Atleast my family is okay." I say with a shrug and she just smiles.

"I wish I had your strength at the time Kyle and I left our foster home." She says and it reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask.

"Speaking of which, I don't mean to upset you but...did you guys ever keep in touch with your mother?" I ask and she just stares at me for some time.

"You know about my mum?" She asks finally.

"Uh, yes. Mr. Robinson told me last night." I say and her brows shoot up in surprise.

"Are you serious? He has never mentioned it to anyone." She says and tilts her head a little, observing me.

"Hmm. But to answer your question, no. After child services got a hold of what was happening in our home through our school teachers, they took us to a foster home but we never seemed to fit in. There were always too many rules or too many kids with their own special routine. We were teens when we finally just left." She says with a shrug and sips her margarita.

"And then you guys continued schooling? By yourselves?" I ask.

"Kinda. My dad's sister came to get us. Apparently she hadn't known we even existed till she saw my dad's will in the house. He left us a home in Texas and we stayed there until I won a lottery." She says and it's my turn to stare in surprise.

"Are you serious?" I ask and she laughs.

"Ofcourse. Where do you think all this came from? I won the lottery and helped Kyle get through school and college. He worked as an engineer for some time under some company, before he came up with 'The Robin' as a remote car, started his own company and here we are." She says and it's only then I realise we're done with our massage.

"Wow. Thats some story." I say and she smiles.

"We're thankful. Now come on, we have to do our facials. Then we'll go to the salon, go shopping. It's a makeover day." She says as we leave the room and I laugh.

*****

Kyle's P.O.V

What was she going to say?

'Mr. Robinson, I--"

And then the knocking interrupted. But I still cant get it out of my head, the way she looked at me, the way she hesitated to stand up.

Almost as if she was thinking what I was thinking.

Almost as if she wanted to remain in that couch with me for as long time permitted.

Almost as if she knew I was up 15 minutes earlier, but I just enjoyed watching her sleep.

Enjoyed hearing her murmur a little while she slept.

Enjoyed the soft sighing of her sleep.

More than anything I wanted to pull her aside and explain. That I was only in a hurry to leave the couch because that was my sister at the door.

That I never intended to keep restricting her from eating at the table.

That I'm calling her Marcella now because I love everything about that name...I always have.

And finally, that I want to kiss her one more time.

"Hey, Kyle." Holly says as she walks in, biting her lip and presenting a file holder to me.

"We scored the sponsors. The Robin is going international." She says and I nod, too busy examining the files that I don't realise she has walked round my oval table and is now standing directly in my front.

"Ahem." She says, clearing her throat and I look up to see her pouting face.

"Are you still mad about my fit the other night?" She asks and I frown.

"Fit?"

"The whole Marcella stuff. I'm sorry, Kyle. If you want,..." She begins and bends a little to whisper in my ear.

"I can give you a treat tonight at your place to make it up to you." She says and then her hands travel down to my belt buckle.

"Or I can give you now." She whispers in that sultry voice that never fails to get me turned on.

When I don't reply, she takes it as a yes and her hands start unbuckling my belt.

I quickly grab her wrist, stopping her. She looks up at me with a confused expression and I'm sure I can relate.

What the hell am I doing?

I'm not just stopping her because I'm not turned on....but also because I'm not interested.

Not here.

Not at my house.

Not anytime with her.

"No, Holly. You should get back to work." I say and watch her jaw drop as she stands upright, her eyes staring daggers.

"Screw you Kyle. This is the last time I'll take such embarrassment from you. Gray was right, you are a selfcentered peice of crap." She says and storms out, slamming the door.

I stare at the door, rethinking what I've just done.

And what I should do.

I should get back to that couch with Marcella.

I should pin her against the wall and watch her big, bright violet eyes stare back at me with need and eagerness, just like the other night.

And then I should kiss her like it's spell-breaking.

****

The living room smells like chicken when I walk in and I head straight for the kitchen still, having just one motive.

I have to taste her.

It was all I could think of at work and I was all but jumping into my car when it was finally 5.

She has her back to me,  observing two bottles of wine.

As I near her, she turns around, eyes wide.

"Oh, Mr. Robinson, you're back.  I was just wondering..."

The more words she is saying, the closer I get to her and the farther she shifts until her backside collides with the counter.

"...if you would prefer white or red wine." She is still saying and I take the bottles of red and white wine and drop it on the table.

Her bright eyes are trying to keep up as she stares at me while I just sweep my hands around her small waist, eager to taste her lips.

"Mr. Robinso--"

I don't let her finish. I dip my head and take her open lips as an invite.

Then I kiss her like I can't get enough.

Like I need to remind myself of how soft her lips are and how heavenly it is to feel her respond.

She is still for a moment, then makes a soft moan before her hands sweep round my neck and she kisses me back.

I deepen the kiss, savouring every passionate taste of her and her heated response.

"God, you taste like sin." I groan, lifting her by the waist to sit on the counter.

Her whimpered responses are driving me insane and I divert my lips to the crook of her neck, kissing, biting and sucking hard enough to leave a hickey when she suddenly pushes me away.

"Oh, God." She murmurs, trying to catch her breath as she comes down the counter.

"You can't....I-I can't..." she stutters, running her hand through her bouncy locks and then she looks up at me.

"We have to stop." She says, still trying to catch her breath.

"Marcella--"

"No, Mr. Robinson." She says, hands outstretched to stop me.

"What are we doing? You just got back from work and the first thing you want to do is have a make out session with me?" She asks and I frown.

"Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Because it's impossible. You don't want me. Admit it. When you woke up with me on the couch this morning you could barely look at me. You practically jumped out of the couch."

"My sister was at the door. I didnt want her to think that--"

"That you could have anything to do with me." She completes immediately with a hurt look in her eyes.

"I get it, it's fine. You deal with ladies with a six figure salary, a gold star resumé and more than one professional degree."

"Marcella--"

"Like Holly. I bet she gave you a cocktease at work." She says matter-of-factly and I briefly recall Holly's attempt at work today.

Marcella studies my silent expression and realisation dawns on her face.

"She did, didn't she?"

"It wasn't like that."

"And then when she leaves you hanging, you go through your numerous list of women to find the most irrelevant that you can just pour your passion on. Then you remember your maid and you just feel you can barge in and have your way with me."

She says, eyes fierce with anger.

Okay, this has gone long enough.

"Okay, stop. Yes, Holly tried something stupid at work but that has absolutely nothing to do with my kissing you." I say and she just walks past me.

"I can't stand and listen to this. You're dinner is on the table." She is saying, walking away and I hurry after her.

"I couldn't stop thinking about this morning, on the couch." I say, following her up the stairs when she whips around with her eyes blazing.

"Just stop, Mr. Robinson! Enough!" She yells and it's good enough to stop me in my tracks. Then I watch helplessly as she runs up the staircase and the sound of a slamming door follows after.

Marcy's P.O.V

'I couldn't stop thinking about this morning on the couch.'

Mr. Robinson's voice echoes as I take off my clothes, intending to take a shower and forget this day ever happened.

Forget him and his mixed signals, sexy-as-sin appearance and passionate kisses.

Why would he even attempt such with me and then lie about it?

I walk into my wardrobe in search of my robe when I catch sight of the shopping bags near the dresser, reminding me of the ecstatic day with Ronnie and the swimwear she made me buy, because;

'Why would Kyle have a pool and only he gets to use it?'

I take out the two peice swimwear with the Hoaka logo on the bottom. It's definitely tempting to wear and I try it on. The cute high waist turquoise shorts grip my waist and butt like a second skin.

And the bikini top is a strapless perfection.

God, it's beautiful.

Try it in the pool.... Try it in the pool.

Kyle's P.O.V

"You moron. You couldn't find a better fucking excuse." I curse at myself as I set the treadmill in the gym for a little run.

The last thing I want, while eating the food she prepared, is to remember the rage in her eyes.

How much of an asshole will that make me?

Sighing, I take off my shirt and set my gym towel on the edge of the treadmill when I catch sight of her.

She hasn't exactly noticed me since I didnt bother turning on the lights to the gym.

But the lights from the house are  bright and I can see her clear as day.

I watch as Marcella stands at the shallow end of the pool,  observing the water. Then she looks around a bit, as if trying to make sure no one is watching.

In a slow, cautious and precise move, she takes off her white silk robe.

Fuck.

Is she wearing a....swimsuit?

It looks more than that. The damned thing looks like it was designed to kill.

A seducing contraption of all things forbidden.

Desire, pleasure, passion, seduction, sex.

The swimsuit should be harmless, but attached to that sexy, stripper body of hers....it looks like a trap.

The way the highway shorts cling to her small waist, outlining her gorgeous legs that seem to go on forever.

And that top. Strapless and unforgiving.

I don't realise I'm already walking towards her until she turns around to face me and her face immediately flushes red.

Marcy's P.O.V

Staring into Mr.Robinson's blue eyes, I still cant decide whether to pick up my robe and make a run for it or pretend that what I'm doing is absolutely normal.

Even though I can't swim.

"What are you doing?" He asks calmly and panic wins over my reaction.

"Something abnormal." I say stupidly and he laughs.

A real laughter.

A deep, real laughter.

"You can say that again." He says and his eyes slowly sweep over my body, from my legs up to my eyes.

"Nice suit." He says, eyes dark.

"Thanks...your sister...She...we bought... It was your sister's idea." I say in a panicked rush and he laughs again.

I've completely forgotten why I was angry with him earlier and I just revel in the enchanting sound of his laughter.

"Sounds like Ronnie. But then again, you don't know how to swim." He says as he steps closer to me.

"Do you want the same experience of last time to repeat?" He asks, maintaining eye contact and I can't tell if he means my 'near-drowning-experience' or his 'breath-taking-kissing-experience.'

"I....I just wanted to play in the water for a bit." I admit and he smiles. A clear, honest smile.

"I can show you how." He says, voice deeping dangerously low.

"How to play in the water?" I ask and he sweeps his hand round my waist.

"If that's what you're asking for."

Then he sidesteps me and enters the waist deep water. Before I can speak, he holds my waist and gently lifts me up from the side and into the pool.

"Mr. Robinson--" I begin, raiding  for an excuse.

"Marcella. It's just water. What's the worst that could happen?"