Chapter 2
POV Jack
The intercom rang, and I went to the door. I was expecting to see anyone but a beautiful girl I had never seen before. I studied her delicate face, and she resembled a shining star. Her large eyes had a greenish tint, her lips were well-shaped, and her hair was the color of the sun. She smiled shyly, and my heart raced. With every sentence she spoke, my eyes couldn’t help but follow the movement of her lips, feeling desire. I had never experienced a sensation like this, of looking at someone and having everything literally disappear. There’s something enigmatic, a charm in her voice, and for a second, I forgot everything around me. I returned to reality as if I’d been kicked in the stomach. The girl had just told me she was looking for Liana and that she was her daughter.
“Are you my stepfather?”
Her wide eyes were fixed on mine, waiting for an answer.
“Yes, I am!”
“I can’t believe Liana didn’t tell me her daughter was a grown woman. A beautiful, sweet woman, and damn, there’s more to it.”
I stood there like an idiot, staring at her, while internally fighting my carnal instincts to not admire her beyond what’s acceptable. Liana and I have a stable relationship and an amazing friendship; she’s the woman I want by my side. After all, she’s mature, and even though she has her flaws, she’s a caring person. She never mentioned much about her daughter, and during the six months we’ve been together, I forgot she even had one. When I saw a message on her phone from her ex-husband mentioning that the girl was moving to Miami, I just said that it was fine for her to live in my apartment. Liana didn’t reveal her age or the reasons behind it.
I don’t think about having kids, but if I did, I would certainly provide all the support. According to what she told me, she had to distance herself from her daughter due to family disagreements, but I never brought it up, seeing her hesitation. I chose her as my fiancée mainly because she doesn’t want to have kids, which allows us to have a relationship full of endless travels and no monotony. Our relationship works well, and we have a lot of affection.
“Welcome to your new home.” I open the door wide, and the girl steps in shyly, with soft steps, pulling her suitcase with all the delicacy in the world.
“I thought you were a child. By the way, how old are you?”
She smiles shyly and looks away.
“I’m 18…”
“Now we can play at making babies… Damn, what am I thinking.”
I run my hands through my hair, trying to disguise it.
A breeze flows through the open windows of the living room, bringing a unique and striking scent to me. I tilt my face, seduced by the perfume, and admire the human being in front of me, realizing that the scent is hers. A delicate, velvety mix of rosé champagne, peach blossom, with a light woody and sensual note. I’m a brewer, a distillery producer, and scents and tastes never go unnoticed. However, what this girl exudes is aphrodisiac and humanly inexplicable.
The girl isn’t short; she seems to be 1.65m tall, but her face is delicate, and her body is shaped with noticeable curves. She awkwardly tucks a strand of her golden hair behind her ear and avoids looking at me. I return my attention to the hallway and guide her through the house. It’s exactly one month since Liana has been staying permanently in my apartment.
POV Clayre
Jack guides me through the house, and my eyes fall straight to his butt. It’s impossible not to admire him. When I was behind that wooden door, I imagined he was an old, deaf man, but now all I can see is that he looks more like a sensual calendar model.
“Ah, Liana is contradictory! How could she never want to take care of me but arrange a fiancé who’s extremely young? This guy could be her son. Although he has good taste, this doesn’t make any sense; it’s revolting. The truth is simple: she wanted a man to raise her, but not the daughter!”
The way he swings his feet as he walks makes a perfect movement in his hips. The short shorts leave me with doubts because I don’t think he even realized what he’s wearing when he answered the door! His leg muscles contract with each heavy step, and I believe that if I could look at my own face, I’d be with my mouth wide open. Jack stops in front of a door, and we enter the room together.
“Well, I’ve set up this room, feel free, it’s all yours.” I place the suitcase on the floor as I walk to the balcony overlooking the beach.
“Do you like it?”
His question catches me off guard.
I turn my attention back to the room and examine the space closely. The walls are white, the central chandelier is black, the furniture is made of natural fine wood, and the double bed looks extremely comfortable.
“It’s perfect, I love it! It’s rustic and the right size.” I step out onto the balcony and admire the ocean, sighing in awe.
“Wow, look at this place, it’s amazing!” I say, fascinated.
Jack walks over and stands beside me, resting his hands on the iron rail. Instantly, I get nervous; being next to him makes me feel strange. How can I feel this way about someone I just met?
“I can never think of anything inappropriate about him.”
My eyes instinctively move to his body. The blue silk shirt contrasts perfectly with his green eyes. The hair on his chest moves with the wind, his flat abdomen is marked by firm, toned muscles. My heart proves it’s alive within my ribcage, and something else, like a small flame burning, emerges where it shouldn’t.
I could drool, so I close my mouth, swallowing the saliva that’s gathered.
Nervous!
Excited!
When he turns his face toward me, he notices my lustful gaze fixed on his body.
“Do you like what you see?”
“Ah, damn it, he noticed…”
“You’re handsome, of course I like it! You’re not my type, but it’s impossible not to see all of this.” I declare without thinking, as Jack smiles.
“I was referring to the city and the sea out there.”
“Oh, yes…” I murmur awkwardly, feeling my cheeks warm up and turn red with embarrassment.
“Well, it’s… blue, really blue.” I analyze, lost.
“The city or the sea is blue?” he asks, confused.
“No... it’s strong, really strong…” I mumble, concluding that my thoughts are all jumbled and disconnected.
“Can you excuse me, I need to take a shower.”
He opens a genuine smile that moves his whole face.
“You’re funny!”
“Funny? Okay, right, great. Why am I wishing he thinks of me as more than just funny? I need to pray!”
“Excuse me, I’ll leave you alone.” Jack enters the room again and walks toward the door.
“Wow, I almost forgot about my mom.”
“Wait, where’s my mom?” I ask, following behind him, and Jack stops, tilting his body to look at me again.
“Oh, yes, of course, I forgot to mention. She’s working, she’ll be here later.”
“Is the coffee shop far from here?”
“No, it’s about twenty minutes away. If you want, I’ll leave at 7 PM to work and give you a ride. You can check out the place, and then you two can go out together.”
“Yes, that would be great. I accept your ride.” Jack leans his body against the wall next to the door, crossing his massive, muscular arms.
“Do you want to ask anything else?” I don’t breathe and try in vain to think, letting my mind speak for me without calculating anything.
“Yes…” I respond immediately.
“Who are you?”
Jack narrows his eyes at me.
“Well, my name is Jack Bourbon, my parents are Kurt and Alexia Bourbon. I have a twin sister, Barbie. I’m 27 years old, and my record is clean.” He finishes with irony, adjusting his shorts at the waist.
My eyes drop down to his body again.
“How long have you two been together?”
“We’ve been together for about six months.”
“Why did you decide to live together?”
He smiles at my question and answers calmly.
“Because your mother is a stable, mature, calm person and perfect for a relationship.” He rests his hands on each other.
“Is the interrogation over, or do you want to know my secrets too?” he asks with a flirtatious expression.
“I don’t have any more questions. You seem like a good man!” I say shyly.
A wicked smile escapes his full lips as his lascivious gaze reprimands me.
"I’m not a good guy. Don’t be mistaken, Clayre, I’m a bad man."
My body shudders at his statement, and I remain trapped in his intense gaze.
Jack moves, breaking the tense atmosphere, and leaves through the door, taking all the air from the room with him. I stand frozen for a long five minutes. I felt a very strong attraction when I saw him.
Inexplicable. Absolute and burning.
But, I can’t cross that line; there would be no going back. I avoid the libertine thoughts and open my suitcase.
"Alright, I need to take a shower and be ready before 7 PM."
I briefly lie on the bed and send a message to my best friend.
"I just arrived, I’ll miss you here."
Rebeca responds instantly.
"How’s the old man? Don’t tell me he’s a grumpy one. No one deserves that." She’s my childhood friend. We grew up together in every way, and since I never had a blood sister, I adopted one in spirit.
"He’s not an old man, he’s 27 and looks like a model who could easily pose for sensual calendars. He’s perfect, and my thoughts were sordid."
"What? Girl, he’s your stepdad, that’s a dangerous area, a forbidden zone."
"I know, I feel bad for looking at him differently, I’m a bad person," I confess, feeling sad.
"Don’t feel like that, sometimes we can’t control who we’re attracted to, don’t freak out. Just do everything to avoid him and soon you’ll get used to having a hot stepdad."
"I’ll rest now because later I’m going to my mom’s workplace. I want to check out the coffee shop. I’ll text you tonight!"
"Alright! Enjoy, and remember, we have our meeting every day at 9 PM!"
"Got it! Love you!"
"Love you!" I turn off my phone screen and snuggle my head into the pillows.
"I won’t look at Jack anymore, I’ll avoid him at all costs. This attraction is temporary, tomorrow everything will be normal. When you avoid something, you stop thinking about it. There, the problem is solved, and everything will be fine. This is just the surprise of the moment, especially since I thought he was a rich old man. I can’t and shouldn’t develop dirty feelings for him, I was just surprised by the beauty of that man."