Chapter 194 - The Islet Mystery 10

"The warm bath will ease your muscle pain a bit," Ryan said, ignoring her last statement. "Close your eyes and relax. I'll pick you up when I'm done."

Done what? She felt a stinging pain again, and she hated herself for that. She tried to close her eyes and promised herself; she would no longer let Ryan feel that she was hurting. She didn't want to get a share of only pity from him if she couldn't have all of him.

While her mind went over to the wild scenes she imagined him with Jullien, she slowly opened her eyes, and in her peripheral vision, she caught him taking off his boxers. He then turned on the shower, and when he slightly turned to his side, he saw his manhood in full length. She hurriedly closed his eyes; his mind was surely on Jullien. She should no longer listen to him. He was so full of lies. She put a lather on her face, thinking it would conceal her hurt expression.

For what seemed like an eternity, she felt the water in the tub slowly draining. She opened her eyes and looked up, and she realized Ryan was hovering over her.

"I'll have you washed up so that Jane can now come in," he said, and Shiela wondered why he never asked her why she tried to escape.

A refill of lukewarm water covered her once more, and the temperature felt good to her aching muscles. Ryan then bent down with a sponge in his hand and began to rub it on her skin, removing the soap in her whole body while the water continued to drain and refill. Her body stiffened at his touch as she was afraid she would lose her defenses once again.

"I'm not a tyrant, sweetheart. I won't touch you today."

Today. So, it meant he had plans for the next day. This was foolishness. While he wouldn't have her today, he would be with her sweet Jullien. Damn it, Shiela, why are you so vulnerable, she thought. She was already dying of jealousy.

Ryan must have seen the change of her expression because he bent down and kissed her forehead.

"Nothing has changed, Shiela. It is still you in my heart, whoever I may be with."

Shiela took in a slow breath. So, it meant there was not a single thread of chance for both of them. Anyway, even if one day he would ask her hand in marriage, she could never accept him. Not if his parents were still alive. She may have initially decided to tell him the truth, but his indirect revelation sealed her decision not to. If he couldn't have her, what sense there was to make him hate his parents?

Her mind was still hazy with poignant imaginations when she snapped back from his train of thoughts as Ryan lifted her into the air. She wrapped an arm around his neck and looked into his eyes and sighed. How could she ever forget him?

"What is it?" Ryan's voice broke into her ears.

"Nothing."

"Baby, talk to me! Tell me everything that is in your mind. Your silence is killing me." Ryan knew she couldn't fully grasp since he, himself, was keeping many things to himself.

"You still make me crazy just by looking at you like I used to do."

Ryan knew she was telling the truth, but he also knew she was only diverting the topic. He laughed and planted a kiss on her lips as soon as she laid her down on the bed. "Before I forget, I don't want to see you wearing bikinis without me by your side."

She furrowed her brows and glowered. That's maybe why Jullien wore almost nothing and she was by his side. "Do you want me to wear pants on the beaches?"

"It's simple, sweetheart. I don't want others to go crazy while looking at you," he replied and cast her a warning look before he went over a drawer and pulled out a set of lingerie.

She watched in horror as he bent down to put it on her. "I don't want any of Jullien's clothes on me."

"Who said it's Jullien's? You have not obviously opened the closets. Every feminine thing you see is yours. I bought them for you."

She felt her heart tightened with a band of thorns. "Stop it, Ryan. You're breaking me apart. How could you talk about all those sweetness and thoughtfulness when she is here?"

"What I am plainly saying to you is true, and those that I don't, means I'm not ready to talk about yet."

Ryan continued when she did not say a word. A pained expression was written all over her face, and she looked away.

"You don't know who I am, Shiela, and I'm afraid you'll be scared in my world. There's one thing I ask of you. Please, let me love you while I'm here. Please cherish the moment that I am with you. These could be the only moments I could be truly happy with."

Shiela answered him with her silent tears. If only she could tell him that she knew many things about his world!

"And please don't ask me yet about those things I am not ready to talk about. I know it hurts. I know it's unfair. But someday, I'll make everything clear to you."

"Don't talk about tomorrow, Neil. We have no future to look forward to."

Ryan's face twisted in concealed agony. "I'll find a way, sweetheart, and I pray that you can wait."

The next minutes that followed were wrapped up in silence. Ryan changed her into a set of shorts and a blouse before wrapping her into a cotton jacket. He also changed into short pants and a white shirt.

"I'll let Jane in, now."

"Take me there, instead. I don't want them to suspect that we are sharing a room."

"I don't care."

"I don't understand you. I am talking about Jullien."

"Then stop talking about her."

"Neil, I really don't understand you..."

"I just told you that there are too many things you can't still understand about me, but I hope you'll open your heart to understand this."

"What is it?"

"This," Ryan then cupped the back of her nape and bent his head, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. Just then, the door to their room opened.