Page 54 of Arturo's Temptation

Was it wrong to want more?

I must have stood beneath the spray for over thirty minutes until I knew where I needed to be, until I knew what I wanted to do.

After drying off, I pulled on an oversized t-shirt that covered what I needed it to, and headed towards the door. My feetseemed to work on their own as they led me towards the one man’s room I knew they shouldn’t.

It was wrong. I should have turned around and gone to bed, right?

But if it was wrong, why did it feel so right?

I kept walking, my feet tiptoeing across the marble floor, the coolness causing goosebumps to break out across my legs. I knew my father had gone to bed, all the lights were off and there wasn’t a sound to be heard throughout the house. With each stair I took, my heart thumped harder and louder than before.

I turned down the corridor where the men resided, including Arturo. His door was at the very end, the one that was beneath mine, and that overlooked the same lake mine did.

I tapped as quietly as physically possible.

Nothing.

I tapped a little louder.

Again nothing.

I needed to grow a pair and just go in there and tell him what I wanted.

I didn’t bother knocking for the third time, I tried the handle and much to my surprise it was unlocked.Didn’t he lock his door at night?I teased the door open and stepped inside. I felt like a thief in the night and I hated it. I glanced around, my eyes already adjusted to the darkness from the walk down here, but I couldn’t see him. I couldn’t hear the shower running either. Where was he?

“Arturo?” I whispered, but the answer was the same as before. Nothing.

I knew I shouldn’t but I couldn’t help but look around. Earlier when I had snatched his keys I kept my eyes to myself, but now I wanted to snoop. I needed to know this man… understand who he was. Over on the vanity, an array of pictures sat proudly near the mirror. One of a stunning woman with silkydark locks who looked just like Arturo. I picked it up to take a closer look.

That must be his mother. The one he warned me not to speak about.

I winced as I remembered my words to him in the office. Why had I said it? It was something Luca had told me the second week Arturo was here, when Arturo suddenly decided to stop flirting with me.

Dismissing the line of my thoughts, I focused on the other photo. This one must have been his parents and Arturo as a child. He wore the same cheeky grin Theo would give me and it warmed my heart to see him like this.

“What are you doing here, Isabella?” A voice came from the doorway. Embarrassed to be caught in the act, I dropped the photo..

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come in without your permission. I was just, uh… looking for you.” I turned to face him as I toyed with the hem on my shirt.

“Why were you looking for me?” He asked as he closed the door behind him, holding a bottle of water in his hand.

I peered up at him, drinking him in. He towered over me, his tattoos illuminated by the same moonlight that danced on the lake. Grey sweats clung to his hips, his torso on full display. He threw the bottle on the bed as he inched closer to me and this time I didn’t move. This time I didn’t cower away from him.

“I asked why you were looking for me. Don’t keep me waiting,hermosa,” he whispered as his arm snaked around my waist drawing me closer. My breath hitched as he pressed my body against his. The thin layer of fabric may have been non-existent at this point as it did nothing to act as a barrier between us. “Did you need something?” He asked, his tone soft and gentle.

“N-no, I just wanted to thank you,” I managed.

“What do I deserve a thank you for?”

“For standing up for me earlier,” I breathed shakily. “It meant a lot,”

“There was no way I was going to let your father talk about an arranged marriage for you,” he ran his thumb across my cheekbone as the rest of his hand cupped my neck. “The only man you’ll marry will be me, and that’s not up for discussion.”

“Arturo, you know that’s not something that could ever happen,” he guided my body to the wall behind us with every word I spoke.

“I wouldn’t sound so sure about that,mi princesa,” he smirked, the cockiness oozing from every non-existent pore. “Are you only here to thank me, or was there somethin’ else you needed?”

“I don’t know,” I finally gave him my full attention, my eyes meeting his in an instant. “My feet led me here. I don’t know why.”Liar.

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