Vast endless of calm darkness, gentle blowing cold breeze, and a peaceful, tranquil rocking of a yacht.
The mood and surroundings made me sleepy . . . if not for the intense gaze of Cain Fay, who was slicing meat and serving it on my plate.
I was in a trance for some time, and when my brain recovered from lag, I found myself on Cain Fay's yacht in the middle of the ocean with candlelight dinner prepared for the two of us.
I'm amazed by how this guy does things.
"I heard that it's your last day in New York and you'll be going to New Haven tomorrow."
"Mmm . . . ," I mumbled between munching.
Mmm? Really?! That's all you can master?! Where did your courage run off?!
Leaning closer to me, Cain rested his chin on his interlocking fingers. "I'll accompany you to New Haven."
I finished my food and met his eyes.
"No need, I remember you have meetings for VIOS presentation of example software this weekend, right?"
"I can always make time for you," Cain said, voice serious as his face.
". . ."
Ahhh . . . How much did I want to hear those words in my previous life?
I breathe a laugh.
"Cain . . . , I appreciate you doing all of this. But it's alright. I can––"
My breath hitched when his hand held my cheek. His thumb caressing my lips.
"This is the first time that you called my name . . ."
His pleasant voice turned horse, and my body flared. My cheeks were hot as I avoided his gaze. Afraid he would see my burning desire for him.
"Repeat my name . . . ," he whispered.
My heart did a mad scramble of pounding as he stroked my lips in a gentle motion.
"C-Cain . . ."
"Louder," he commanded.
Instead of taking offense, my body shivered, couldn't refuse his voice.
"C-Cain . . . ," I moaned.
My eyes closed in embarrassment. It was like making love with just our voices.
". . ."
". . ."
Cain withdrew his hand, and all my heat went with him. I almost cried in protest.
"Leanna, you saying that you appreciate what I do, can I take it that you're no longer against me in pursuing you?"
His voice was soft and gentle, but the faint trembling of his tone broke my heart.
Is he afraid? Afraid that I'll reject him again?
My trembling hands tightened into fists, drawing strength from the force as I met his gaze.
"Cain, I'm telling you now. I want my man's body and heart to belong only to me. I don't want others to touch what's mine whether intentional or unintentional, nor I want it to share with anyone else," I told him in all seriousness as he listened with the same intensity.
I continued, "I-I don't want you to do all these wonderful things at the start, knowing you have no intentions of continuing them once I . . . f-fallen in love with you." My voice quivered at the end despite my will.
I bit my lower lip and stared down on my clasped hands.
I was scared. Scared that if he found out about my possessive nature, he would have second thoughts. Scared to know the reason that he was doing all of this was to make me fall for him, and once I did, he would change. No longer the man I have once fallen in love.
. . .
. . .
Cain stood from his seat and stopped behind me. Before my brain realized what was happening, his hands were already enveloping me in a warm embrace. His chin was resting on my shoulder. His nose was stroking the length of my neck. He sniffed my hair many times like he was intoxicated.
I should be afraid and uncomfortable by his actions . . . but I was not. There was something familiar about him that was beyond any logic.
"Leanna," he said, slow and low. "I'm also an extremely possessive and territorial person. I don't want others to touch what I marked as mine, whether intentional or unintentional," he said, repeating my words.
He bit my earlobe, and I gasped for air.
"What I'm doing for you is not to make you fall in love with me. It's me being selfish. I want to see you happy because of me. I want to see you excited because of me. I want your life to be full of me because it makes me happy and contented when I see your face changes expressions because of me."
My eyes stung, and I could no longer hold the tears that soon followed.
"I-I'll trust you . . . I don't give my trust to just anyone, so don't make me regret it . . . ," I said between sobs.
"Mmm . . ." Cain smiled and kissed my eyes.
He tilted my chin and captured my gaze. We stared at each other, lost in each other's warmth –– before my eyelids closed.