Page 67 of Arturo's Temptation

Nodding to myself, I raised my phone and started typing a reply.

You got what you wanted. I’ve left her alone. Now, stop fucking around.

As much as I would love to, I can’t. Strict orders and all that. You know how it is.

What do you want?

I bet it’s just torture, being so close and not being able to have another taste. Tell me, Arturo, how sweet is that pussy of hers?

Listen to me, you pathetic little cunt, you touch a fucking hair on her head and I swear I will find you and I will end you.

You’ve been unable to find me so far. Remember, we’ll be watching.

My heart hammered in my chest as I shoved my phone in my back pocket. Just the mere thought of someone hurting her was too much to bear. As I watched Bella, I debated again for the millionth time whether to just come clean with her and set the record straight.

But I knew I couldn’t. The risk was too high. What was becoming clear was that those shitheads were watching me day and night. And if they could get that close to me, they could get that close to her.

No. I wouldn’t do it. As much as it was killing me to keep my distance and push her away, it was the only choice. Fact was, her life was far more important than mine.

Four tortuous hours later,after Bella had spent time with pretty much every person in the building, she finally gave the go ahead for us to leave. But if I’d thought watching her from a distance had been torture, being in the car with her was even worse. Her perfume made my body tighten and my heart pound. Everything inside of me urged me to take her and claim her as my own. The need for her continued to grow each day and the more I squashed it down the more my body ached. Not even running was scratching that itch any more.

What I hadn’t expected, however, was to realise how little I actually knew about her. It was clear she was in her element at the care home. Taking care of others was something that brought her joy. She was also good at it.

I hated how seeing her that way made my heart swell. I wasn’t supposed to feel things like that.

“Hello? Earth to Art,” her angelic, irritated voice sang.

“What did I say about that nickname?” I glanced over at her as she stared at me intently. I wonder if she knew she had that longing look in her eye, or if she let herself get lost in whatever moment was replaying in her head.

“Got your attention though, didn’t it?” she sighed, turning her attention back to the passing countryside.

“Dios, estoy asombrado de ti.” Without my consent, it all began to tumble out of my mouth. “Lo siento, pero es lo mejor en este momento, solo desearía poder decirte por qué,”

“Arturo, what are you saying?”

I trained my eyes back on the road and slapped my blinkers back on, blocking out Isabella as best as I could, “Nothin’, forget it.”

“What is it?” She was the type never to sound hurt or bothered, but I heard the hurt as clear as day as she spoke.

“What d’ya mean?” I damn well knew what she meant.

“That night at Logan’s you told me this wasn’t a game and that you had wanted me since you first saw me.”Princesa, everything I said was true.“But then the second I allowed myself to get close to you, you made it feel like it was a one-night stand. Why? Is that how you usually treat women?”

“It’s who I am,” I breathed. “Don’t get me wrong, it was fun, but that’s all it was. Now it’s over you should just forget about it. Besides, like you said it was never goin’ to work out, and you wouldn’t want to be with a geezer like me. Trust me.” The lies flowed out of me. I wanted to punch the fuck out of the steering wheel. Lying to scumbags came easy, but lying to her killed me inside.

I hoped she could forgive me. I wished I could tell her, fuck I wanted to scream it, but I wouldn’t risk her life. I wasn’t worth it.

She didn’t speak. Instead she adjusted herself in the seat, her posture elegant and reserved. That was it. Her last ditch effort to get me to talk. And with everything I had just said, there was no danger she’d try again. And I didn’t blame her. I deserved to be the miserable sod I was.

The rest of the journey back was painfully silent. There were so many things I wanted to say, but couldn’t. I couldn’t even make small talk because she’d probably want to cut my damn tongue out the moment I uttered a word.

“We’re home,” I managed as I parked up in the garage.

“I can see that, thanks, Sherlock.”

She hurried out of the car, slamming the door behind her. I waited and watched as she paused at the door for a split second before heading inside.

It would be so much easier to just leave. Then we could both just pretend like the other had never existed…

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