Emerging from the sleek black car was Josef—his sharp features shadowed by the morning sun. And, to Bella's silent dread, her mother, Elizabeth, followed closely behind.
She had been hiding in the tree near the manor for nearly two hours. Her butt was already aching from sitting so long, but she dared not move. She planned to stay perched there until Elizabeth finally left the estate, giving her a fleeting moment of safety.
Finally, Elizabeth stormed out of the manor's entrance, her face twisted with fury. She stomped her feet loudly, slamming the car door behind her with a deafening clang. Bella watched as the car disappeared down the driveway, out of sight.
A long, shaky exhale escaped her lips.
"Thank God, the evil has finally left," Bella whispered, relief washing over her like a tidal wave.
But then, a familiar voice, low and steady, called from below.
"You finally come down, or are you planning to stay up there forever?"
Bella froze. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected to hear anyone—least of all, Josef.
She looked down cautiously, her eyes widening in surprise.
"I never thought I'd miss a normal human conversation," she murmured to herself, a strange ache in her chest.
Josef looked different—thinner, more worn than before. The lines of age and hardship etched deeper into his face. His stubble was grown out, giving him a rugged, almost tired appearance.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice softer than she remembered.
"You better get down now. The sun's high, and you don't want to burn up there."
For the first time, his tone wasn't demanding or commanding. It was more of a caring reminder—an unspoken concern buried beneath the veneer of his usual sternness.
In a panic, Bella suddenly forgot how to get down from the tree. She had done this three times already this week, but her mind was a jumble of fear and uncertainty.
"Are you sure you know how to get down?" Josef's voice broke through her thoughts, calm but tinged with concern.
"Of course!" she responded quickly, trying to mask her hesitation, even as her stomach clenched.
"Then… how about you jump, and I'll catch you?"
Bella froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Catch me? Are you crazy?" she managed to whisper, her voice trembling.
Josef's expression softened, almost gentle. "I'm not the one up here," he said quietly.
With a resigned breath, Bella decided to take the leap. It wasn't just the fear of falling—it was the strange, unwelcome anticipation of what might happen next.
She closed her eyes briefly, then jumped.
In that split second, Josef's arms closed around her, catching her just below her buttocks.
A shiver flooded through her, igniting something deep within. She felt Josef's breath against her bare belly button—rough stubble grazing her skin—and then, unexpectedly, the soft press of his lips.
Her insides clenched with a confusing ache as a sudden warmth radiated through her.
She instinctively held onto Josef's head, crumpling his short curls against her upper stomach for support.
"I… I can't breathe," Josef muttered softly against her skin, his voice strained.
Slowly, Bella loosened her grip, letting go of his hair.
Josef carefully lowered her, his face trailing upward from her belly button, past her crumpled shirt, along the space between her chest and chin, and finally to her cheek. His gaze lingered on her forehead, a silent, complex expression crossing his face.
The moment stretched between them, fragile and charged, as they both stayed rooted in the quiet, unspoken tension of what had just transpired.
Something deep inside Josef stirred, an awakening he hadn't known was possible. As he looked up at Bella nestled in the tree, a surge of pure, unfiltered happiness washed over him—an emotion so stark and free of conflict that it startled him.
This woman—her presence—had always been a calming force, a balm to his troubled soul. She never failed to put his heart at ease, even in the darkest moments.
It was only a week ago that his world had tipped into chaos. Panic had gripped him like a vice for the first time in his life. The haunting images of her on the bridge, her near-death at the hospital—they replayed in his mind like a cruel obsession.
He had sworn then and there, in that fragile moment of desperation, that he would do anything to protect her. All his rage, his vendettas, his darkness—had momentarily been forgotten in that fierce, unyielding resolve.
He avoided her in the days that followed, convinced he might fall again—fall into love so deep that he'd lose himself entirely.
But fate, as cruel as it was unpredictable, had other plans.
Now, in this vulnerable moment, he was close enough to feel her soft, sweet scent—like spring blossoms—wafting around him. Her flesh against his lips, the warmth of her skin, was etched into his memory forever.
He took his time, savoring this fleeting, forbidden closeness, knowing it might be the last. When he's on the verge of ravaging her, he had told her he couldn't breathe, it was a lie—an excuse, a desperate attempt to mask the truth of what was awakening inside him.
His dear friend—his desire—had been stirred, and he knew they might not be able to hold back much longer.
As she descended on him, Josef made a silent vow to etch this sensation into his soul—her skin, her scent, the way her body felt pressed against his lips—before the storm within him threatened to break free.
Bella's breath hitched as the weight of emotion threatened to overwhelm her. She knew she couldn't stay in Josef's embrace any longer—her heart pounding, her mind swirling with confusion and longing.
"Uh... I, uh, need to—" she stammered, desperately searching for an excuse. "I have to pee," she blurted out, shooting a quick glance away. Josef let out a low chuckle, the sound warm and unexpectedly soothing.
Once alone in her room, she leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. Her body still hummed from the closeness, from the taste of Josef's lips against her skin. That memory lingered like a forbidden secret, something she dared not dwell on too long.
But her body betrayed her; she couldn't help but indulge her thoughts. She imagined Josef's lips—not tender, but hungry, like a beast devouring her—taking what he wanted with fierce, unrelenting desire. The fantasy was reckless and intoxicating, satisfying her urge in a way that felt both dangerous and desperately needed.
Meanwhile, Josef returned to his room, every step heavy with restraint. He shut the door behind him and turned on the shower, steam billowing out as hot water cascaded down his body.
He had to let go of the boiling urge inside him—had to purge the storm raging within.
As the water pounded down, he closed his eyes, etching every detail of that moment into his core memory—the softness of her skin, the scent of her, the way her lips had felt against him.
He knew, with brutal clarity, that those stolen moments would haunt him, fueling his desire and his resolve all at once.
And so, in the quiet aftermath, both of them grappled with the same unspoken truth—each holding onto a secret that threatened to consume them both.
For the first time, a sense of normalcy settled over them. They sat just behind the open patio, the cool breeze whispering softly around them, refreshing and calming their restless minds.
Above, the sky stretched into a deep, velvety blue, dotted with stars that twinkled like diamonds—each one reflecting a thousand unspoken thoughts. The manor was nestled outside the city's hum, in a place of quiet serenity, where the only sounds were the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chorus of night creatures.
Bella was surprised when a staff member quietly informed her that Josef had requested her to dine with him. Her brow furrowed slightly in curiosity—this was unusual, especially since he resided on the far north wing of the manor, opposite her own quarters.
He greeted her with a warm, genuine smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he gently ushered her toward the table. They both sat in silence, sharing their portions of steak and mashed potatoes, the soft clink of cutlery punctuating the quiet intimacy of the moment.
After a pause, Josef broke the silence, offering her a slice of pavlova.
"I can't stand sweets," he said softly, almost apologetically, "but I thought you might like it."
Bella looked at him, puzzled. "You don't like sweets," she echoed, tilting her head slightly.
He diverted his gaze away from her, a faint shadow crossing his face. "But you liked it," he murmured, almost to himself.
Bella's lower lip caught between her teeth as she studied him, sensing the layers beneath his words, the unspoken emotions lingering in the air.