The Couple

Chapter 16: Be mine

Celia

I can’t stop thinking of what happened in the evening after I brought J back to the house. I keep tossing

and turning in my bed. I tried counting sheeps or reading books, I sketched for some time but I can’t fall

asleep.

I couldn’t help but think about the kiss I shared with Christian in his room. It was sudden but not a Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

surprise, I couldn’t push him away when he put his lips on mine. I didn’t want him to stop but we both

were out of breath when we pulled apart.

Till the time we were kissing each other passionately I didn’t feel the need to breathe.

I asked him about Jeanne, how insane brother he is, his sister was on fire and there he was kissing

me. He told me she is fine and Greg can take care of her, before I can talk to him about Greg and J and

their arrangement. He dragged me out of his room.

From where we stood I could see everyone else in the living room pacing around waiting for us

nervously. I got my hand from his grip and moved forward leaving him behind. I don’t want anyone to

know what happened when I am not clear of the situation myself.

I don’t know what we meant when he told me I am the only one. No, the person who avoided me for the

whole week and just teased me one way or another. He can’t like me to have something with me for

more than one night and one night won’t do any better when we are going to be around each other.

Plus I still want to figure out my own feelings and desires before this thing proceeds. I don’t want to

make any mistake which might make me lose my best friend.

The way he asked me to forgive him for bringing up the topic of another girl made my heart flutter and

when he said I am the only one made my heart skip a beat. The thought of him having other girls made

me flinch.

I knew it beforehand but hearing it from him was driving me insane. I felt jealous, possessive for him

having another girls before me. I wanted to warn him that if he had anyone else now on he might lose

his balls. It took my all strength to stay put and not make an embarrassment of myself.

After 15 mins, Greg came out and informed us that J is good now, her temperature is down. He took

their food in her room.

Mary told me she just got the heat after all the change in the weather here from New York and a busy

week, she just needed to calm down. Greg had made her stand in the cold shower all naked which she

suggested to him herself. And since she is okay after the shower no need to worry.

I also had my dinner and excused myself to my room. I deliberately avoided Christian since I needed

my own time. Laying here in bed, I am having many thoughts like how I desperately want to get in his

pants or be around him. I feel a strong pull to him and am already obsessed with him.

I just need to avoid him for tomorrow and then I will shift to my apartment and will rarely see him at

home. And since Tyler will be handling all the matters with Dante Company about the project, I will not

see him at work as well even when we are working together.

It sent a relief to my head and let me sleep with the thought that we might not see each other much

after tomorrow but filled my heart with sorrow.

Next morning, I was on time to have breakfast with everyone else. It was good to have a family waiting

at the dining table for you to have food together but I will not have all this after tomorrow. I told them I

will be moving tomorrow.

“Don’t worry, you have my strong arms at your service.”, Ethan said excitedly.

“And I will help you pack and move as well.”, Mary agreed too.

“I will be there but won’t carry a box. Telling you beforehand.”, Jeanne replied innocently with her both

hands in the air which made everyone laugh.

“Do you really need to move out, it was good to have you here? Stay for another week and think again

about moving out.”, grandma looked at me with love in her eyes.

I hate it, I have to break her heart but I can’t stay here after tomorrow. I can’t be near Christian

anymore, it will just complicate things between me and Jeanne. I wish he had not been her ‘broda’ then

maybe I might have thought about having something with him.

“Christian, you will be helping her.”, before he can open his mouth to oppose the thought, “No

arguments son” and he shut his mouth and continued eating after winking at me. I wonder what evil

thought he is having.

At the office I completed my sketches and showed them to Harris, he told me he needs to discuss a

few things about the Houstons project at dinner tonight. I agreed I don’t want to refuse him again. And

since he wants to discuss the project, Tyler and others will be there too.

But as I reached the restaurant, I realized he invited only me. It is weird he only wants to discuss the

project with me. Did I make a mistake agreeing with him? No, I can’t deny him for too long and risk my

job.

We ordered our food and discussed a few things about the project until we got our food served. He

started asking me about my experience here and if I liked this place. He wants to give me a tour of

town this weekend.

I told him I will be moving my stuff to my apartment, so I will be busy this weekend. And since Jeanne

and Mary already gave me a tour of town he doesn’t need to bother. He was disappointed as I turned

him down.

I don't understand why he is being so generous to me.

I just don’t want to hear what he has to say, or want with me. I just want to go home and spend as

much time as I can with Jeanne, Mary, Ethan, grandma and grandpa before I leave tomorrow. I know I

can visit them anytime but still I want to make most of it with them.

We leave soon after he makes me promise to hang out sometime with him. We are near the car in the

parking lot when he said it as a joke.

“I hope I didn’t bore you at all or did I?”, I tried to give him a genuine smile as I could and shook my

head.

“No, I wasn’t bored at all.”

“Well, see you on Monday and don’t forget our plan to club next weekend.”

“Yeah sure”, I don’t know about his intentions. I don’t want to go alone and I don’t know how to

approach Christian to accompany me. Damn girl, you’re not even friends with him and you’re already

thinking of him in need. “Can I bring my best friend? You might know her Jeanne Dante, Christian

Dante’s sister”.

He gave it a thought before agreeing with a smile.

We left after waving each other bye. It is definitely weird that the CEO of a company wants to hang out

with a newbie in just a week of joining. My mind is on high alert and I can’t avoid him being my direct

mentor.

As I reached the house, I called Jeanne and Mary in my room and told them everything about dinner

and his proposal to meet again at the club. They both have disgusted looks pasted on their faces. They

both are leaking abuses to that man whore.

I told them how scared I was that I invited Jeanne as well with me, she agreed happily. Mary even

suggested to us that she will convince Ethan and Christian to go to the same club the same day and

will make it look like a coincidence. I am thankful to have them.

We hugged and Mary assured me that Ethan and Christian won’t let anything happen to me. Just a

mention of Christian made my heart flutter and reminded me of the kiss that happened yesterday.

They left my room after that. I went to sleep thinking of how Christian talked sweet to me and hugged

me after the kiss. I can’t stop thinking of him and his words, I hope he meant them.

I woke up early in the morning and went to have breakfast with the rest of them. I was helping

Grandma and Mary setting up the table when Jeanne jumped over me and I screamed unintentionally.

“Well, well girl, I am not a monster. No need to scream that loud.”

“Sorry, I was just startled by the dream last night.”, I told her as I took my seat beside her.

“What dream? Did you now start dreaming of wolves in the forest?” she laughed.

“Don’t make fun of little girl, Mary.” grandma scolded her.

“Hey I heard a wolf howling, even Christian confirmed their sightings.” Greg entered and sat on the

other side of J. The thought of this family trusting him so much but he doesn’t have a good relationship

with J made my heart ache.

I just want good for Jeanne whether he is with her or not, but if she is happy I am okay with it. I haven’t

talked to Christian, Ethan or even Mary about them and their cold relationship. Even if they are in an

arranged relationship, they should be happy otherwise I will help J out of this toxic relationship.

“Child, what dream scared you? I think you should not move out so soon. Look you are having

nightmares and living alone won’t be healthy at all.”, seeing grandma worried for me made me sad. I

don’t want to leave them but I have to. I can’t stay around Christian for long and not jump in his bed.

“Grandma, it was nothing. Don’t worry I will be fine alone.”

“Last night I was in deep sleep when I turned and saw someone standing on my balcony looking inside.

As it registered in my mind after a few seconds, I checked but there was no one.” as I told them my

dream, Jeanne frowned while Mary and grandma were looking at each other with wide eyes and then

pressed their lips as if trying hard not to laugh.

“What don’t tell me now there are ghosts in this town too?”, I asked her if she would nod and agree.

“No, no, we were just thinking what it could be? I am sure it was just a dream. Who could have been

watching you sleep late at night from your balcony, right.” as she said it, I felt like she was hiding

something from when she knew a lot. I tried to get her open her mouth but I failed.

After breakfast, we went to get my stuff back downstairs and get all the boxes in our cars as we moved

towards my new apartment. Greg accompanied us and helped in shifting.

I showed them the apartment and discussed the arrangement of my things around the apartment with

Mary and Jeanne while men brought boxes up here. Mary and Ethan took the living room while J and

Greg took the other room to decorate. I started fixing my room.

I was left with Christian to help me fix my room. I tried my best to avoid him given I was alone with him

in the room. I couldn’t help but notice how his white tshirt fitted him perfectly and showed his strong

muscles which made me drool over him.

As my eyes ran over his body and moved down, they lingered around his waist. I wonder how it will

look with my legs wrapped around him. His strong arms will definitely help that position and will hold

me tight to his body. He caught me a few times looking in his directions and smirked.

We took a break for lunch when men went to bring some take away and we ladies prepared some tea

and coffee for everyone.

We sat and chatted around. I tried to bring up the topic of Greg and Jeanne but failed as each time one

or another changed the topic. Jeanne also avoided it and left soon after lunch as she was invited by

Greg’s mother for some help at home.

Mary and I were also done within an hour or so after J left. Until I realized the book shelf has less

books than I brought with myself here. There must have been another box of books and my photo

frames in it.

Christian ran down and found it in my car. Mary and I setted up the books on the shelf. I was about to

take the box in my room to place the photo frames there when Christian took the box from me and

gestured to move ahead and guide him.

As we were setting up the photographs around my room, suddenly we heard the door shut off. I ran to

it and found it locked. I shouted for Ethan and Mary. They replied that they can’t open the door either. I

told them to find the keys as I left the rooms’ keys in the living room. They are searching for them when

I realized two arms around my waist.

I turned as he kept me close between himself and the door with his arms around me. And before I

could say anything or push him away.

“Let’s not waste this moment.” He said and claimed my lips. I couldn’t help but send my hands in his

hair and pulled him close to me. I was savoring the taste of him while he massaged my tongue and

explored my mouth with his tongue.

He pulled away and I pushed him instantly. He pulled me to himself with my hand and we kissed again.

His kiss was filled with hunger and lust while it was soft with care. It was like he was telling me he won’t

leave me alone even if I want to.

I wanted to push him away and tell him to leave right away but instead I pulled him close to me with his

shirt and kissed him with the same passion. I felt his warm hands on my bare back under my top, he

didn’t move them but rested them there while keeping me close to him.

I broke away as I lost my breath and rested my head over his chest.

“You can’t kiss me every time we are alone. It will be weird for me, for us.”

“Why”

“You’re J’s brother and I am her best friend. We can’t keep messing around and act normal. I can’t risk

my friendship with J.”

“Why do you think we will be messing around? Be with me. Be mine.” I looked up into his eyes but

couldn’t find humor in them instead they were filled with love and excitement and fear.

“What about Jeanne? Does she know? What if you get bored of me? What if...” I was shushed as he

kept a finger on my lips.

“We will handle it together, don’t worry. And I will never get bored of you, we will make things work. Be

with me.” he said it simply. I couldn’t resist myself and nod.

We stood there hugging each other when Christian told me we can discuss how we want things and

they will only happen according to my will. He will not leave me even if I want to and will protect me and

keep me happy.