Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Annabelle's POV

His lips were so soft and warm. The kiss was passionate, wild, hungry, intense, and full of desire. It made me breathless. He bit onto my lower lip and I eagerly opened my mouth for him. He deepened the kiss, his tongue entering my mouth and playing with mine, probing and exploring, tasting my mouth in a rough kiss. He sucked my tongue and explored every recess inside my mouth. I kissed him back too shyly. I didn't have any experience but I couldn't help myself. I had wanted this for so long.

He groaned and kissed me more and a moan escaped my mouth. We kissed till we were totally breathless. He broke the kiss and we came apart for breaths. My inner core throbbed with longing. I had never imagined my first kiss would feel so good and passionate. It seemed that my body had a mind of its own when it came to Stefan. It was the first time that I had such an intense reaction to a man. In fact, I was too busy with my work and I never had time to explore such feelings with any other man. My heart desired Stefan and I had been unable to move on.

I looked into Stefan's electric blue eyes, they were dark with desire. "Rosy, I want you. I have always wanted you ever since I first saw you," he said in a husky voice, his eyes exploring my face for my reaction to his confession. His hot glance took in my lips again and again.

His words brought me back to my senses. Did he want me? It was news to me. But I wasn't his type, my mind reasoned. Then why did he want me all of a sudden? Maybe because he was now divorced and maybe I was a rebound for him. Someone who he thought was easily available for a brief fling, to satisfy his needs. I was furious at the thought and forced myself away from his embrace. After my bitter past, I couldn't trust people easily, even if I wanted to. My mind had a will of its own and it always ruled over my heart.

He was taken aback by my reactions to his confession, I could see. "What's wrong Rosy?" He asked, trying to pull me back again into his embrace. I resisted his attempts although my heart wanted it the most. I wanted to belong to him but I wanted my answers first.

"Stefan, I am not your type, remember?" I reminded him, sarcastically. "Please leave me alone. I can't be what you want me to be. I am not that type of woman. I'm sorry if I had led you on but it was totally unintentional. I want you to know that you are just gran's grandchild, nothing more. I would have left the moment I turned 18, but Gran's condition worsened and I couldn't leave her. She had done so much for me and I don't have anyone else in the world but her," I told him in a broken voice, trying to control the tears choking my throat. He listened to me intently but I could see the clenched fists as he tried to control his reaction to my confession. He was upset and I felt a little guilty.

I controlled the sob that tried to escape my mouth. I didn't want him to see my tears. I wasn't so weak. I tried to lessen the pain I felt as I spoke to Stefan.

"What do you think I want you to be?" He asked softly. He only caught that out of my lengthy speech? Seriously? I didn't know how to answer that. So I told him the truth. It was true that I loved him, but my self-respect came first.

"A rebound maybe after your divorce? A brief fling maybe? " I answered, avoiding his eyes. Why didn't he take the hint and leave me alone? I hadn't forgotten what he said to me, but for gran's sake, I was interacting with him normally. I might be overreacting, but I didn't care. He had hurt me and I wasn't letting it go so easily.

His jaws clenched, and his hands formed tight fists. "You are none of all those Rosy. You know nothing at all about my marriage, about my divorce," He said with brows knitted together in a scowl.

"Then tell me," I whispered. I was dying to know everything about him.

"I can't Rosy. I haven't talked about it in four years. It's too painful. I was stuck with an evil woman in a forced marriage. The only good thing out of it is Arielle," He said looking away from my probing eyes.

My jaw dropped to the floor hearing his words. He might have suffered a lot to make him so bitter. But still, it didn't answer my question. What did he want from me?

"I'm sorry for hurting you Rosy. I had no choice, I couldn't lead you or gran into hoping for a future with me. You were just seventeen, and I was married for God's sake. What could I do? I know what I said was untrue. It was just to make gran lose interest in us. I have stayed away from you for so long. I can't anymore. Please believe me,'' he said, earnestly.

I believed him but still, I was hurt. He could have told me the truth. I was dumbfounded, I couldn't think of a retort.

"I think we should get dressed and go down for lunch," I said, to escape the topic. I knew that escaping wasn't a way out but right now I felt claustrophobic. I needed to get away!

"Alright, but we're not done. We will continue this talk, " he said, turning and leaving, closing the door behind him. I locked it and changed into a pair of denim shorts and a white tank top, brushed my half-dried hair in a ponytail, and went down for lunch.