Natalia's POV

I cocked an eyebrow at him. Does he want a parting kiss? Disappointment sagged through me. He's giving up on me. Thought that's starting to suck all the energy left in me. My shoulder slightly slumped from disappointment. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced a small smile as I straightened my shoulders. "If you insist, Your Grace. A parting kiss indeed!"

The words spilled out like dark chocolate, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Swallowing it down, I stood on my tippy toes, and tilted my head, puckering my lips to give his right cheek his parting kiss, but he stopped me before my lips touch his, grabbed my shoulders in a gentle way, and pulled himself away, a little, so our eyes met. Recognition slowly dawned on his handsome face. "A goodnight kiss, Iya." —his forehead wrinkled, drawn eyebrows lifted upwards — "Not a parting kiss, pumpkin, but I'm glad to know that William is not a threat to me anymore," he softly muttered, brushing the stray curls away from my cheeks and tucked it behind my ear. Relief suffused his features, so were mine. His mouth curved into a tender loving smile, and my heart melted. I couldn't even find my tongue as happiness overtook me. I thought he already gave up.

Stifling my happiness, I put on my straight face a look. He dropped his hands to his sides, his eyes holding my gaze, his orbs shining like the sun at midday. A small smile on the corner of his lips.

He looked visibly relax, too.

He ran his fingertip along the ridge of my nose, then tapped the tip of my nose gently.

"You just made me happy," he grinned.

I raised him an eyebrow, fighting my lips not to curled up into a smile. Biting my inner cheek, I faked a frown.

"How so?" I asked.

"For giving me a chance," he gave me a coy smile, lifting his shoulders in a shrug as he cocked his head sideways. And my heart made another flipped.

If he keeps acting like this, I'll be giving up so soon. My heart picked up its pace, I couldn't even think.

I faked a yawn. It's all I could think of to escape his hypnotizing eyes. My hand flew to my mouth as my lips parted wide, and drew in a long deep breathe through my mouth, and felt the air hit the back of my throat.

His face softened and had a thoughtful look. "We can talk tomorrow. I will let you rest now. Goodnight, pumpkin." He said in his gentle tone, and hope kindled from within me.

He placed a kiss on my nose, my eyelids shut in response, reveled in the feeling of his hot lips, then his lips dropped to mine. It was quick but full of passion, of deep longing I couldn't resist. When his lips left mine, a soft groan escaped my throat in disappointment.

I snapped my eyes open, meeting his. He gave me a slightly wolfish grin. "When we get married, you will get lots of it. I'm glad to know that you long for me as much as I longed for you, pumpkin. But I've got lots of things to do that I created myself, and you need a deserving man. I hope by then, I'll be the man you wanted me to be." He released me, then stepped back once "Sleepwell, pumpkin." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

My heart stuttered in panic as I watched his back retreating. I don't want him out of my sight yet. Just then I found my voice when he's several feet away. "I thought we are going to talk?" I exclaimed, my hands flung over my hips with my eyebrows down and drawn together.

He stopped mid-stride and turned swiftly. "Aren't you tired?" he asked. A small smile dancing on the corner of his lips. He looked visibly relax.

"Well, after what you've revealed, do you think I could sleep?" I shot back, frowning deeply at him.

He quickly narrowed our gap. When he stood next to me, I lost my confidence. Everything I wanted to say, it vanished. "You are right. Should we go inside?" He drawled sexily, cocking his head towards the door.

Just then my brain switched back on to work. Turning my face away to hide the blush that's creeping over my cheeks, I turned the knob and pushed the oak door open. He helped me push it wider by flattening his palm against the door, then followed me inside. He shut the door behind him.

The spacious room felt smaller with Raffy's presence. He always managed to make everything shrunk in his presence. It seemed that even the room got intimidated by him.

Tonight, the tension was thicker than ever. I could feel Raffy's eyes burning on my back, but I held the urge to turn and face him. My eyes lingered on the bed, and my body's temperature suddenly rose up. My body sizzled as our passionate rendezvous flashed in my head.

Oh, this is a terrible idea.

My heart skittered, and my knees are starting to feel numb.

"Iya?" Raffy's gravelly voice only electrified me further. My thoughts went running wild. It flew to Raffy's wet lips discovering me down below where it ached the most. Oh, how marvelous his tongue.

Cut it out, Iya! Letting out a deep sighed, I straightened myself and whirled. I must have been lost too deeply in my thoughts I didn't notice him narrowed our gap. Yeah. Definitely, my thought was far gone. I almost collided into his broad, hard chest. I stepped back before I stumbled backward, regaining my balance. Raffy's hands flung outward, in an attempt to catch me, but hung in the air when I gained my equilibrium.

"Let's talk in the sitting room," I said, swallowing hard as I tried to meet his eyes without giving him anything away. I'm hoping he won't see that desire percolating through me just by his mere presence.

He just nodded, his burning gaze seems to get intense each passing second, and it never left me. "Okay." It appeared that he also lost his tongue as he followed me like a puppet.

I furtively drew in a long deep breath, trying to calm my nerves and motioned him the Victorian couch that matches the armchairs. He sat on the sofa, and I occupied the adjacent armchair just to keep our distance before my traitorous body would betray me.

I tried to focus on the matter at hand, but Raffy's gaze dropped and lingered on my thigh. The dress split, and exposed my right leg, way past mid-thigh actually. I sent him a sharp glare, collecting the hem together, and tried to cover the exposed area. Unfortunately, the dress wasn't cooperating, so I gave up. "Raffy!" I hissed with a huffed, and he quickly snapped his eyes back to mine, and he gave me a lopsided grin. I ignored the heat pooling low in my belly and fought hard for that sliver of sanity that is desperately abandoning me.

"Sorry, I can't help it, Pumpkin. You look ravishing tonight," he said, barely above a whisper.

Collecting my wits together, I put on a hard face, ignoring the changes of his mood. "How did you know that you were drugged, Raffy?" I asked, grateful for my steady, firm voice.

He clenched his jaws, too tightly, a vein popping out of his neck. He sat straight; his shoulders turns rigid. "As I've said, Ms. Smith invited me to attend the Gala. It's an event for a cause, and all proceeds go to the Little Angel's Foundation. I cannot say no since it's a charity event." I nodded, my hands clasped on my lap as I listened intently. He looked deeply troubled, and that oozing confidence had abandoned him. "When I entered the ballroom hall, the host, together with Ms. Smith welcomed me. Ms. Smith handed me a flute, and I didn't suspect she slipped something in the drink. She looked so calm and unsuspicious. And I've never thought she would go that far." He shook his head, his face hardening. "Several hours later, I felt suddenly different. Those women became fascinating to me..." he paused and gave me a hesitant look. I just gave him an understanding nod, encouraging him to go on. "I tried to fight it. I decided to go to the washroom, but Ms. Smith followed me and provoked me. I was blinded by rage, together with that sudden animalistic lust that's taken hold of my body, and I fell into her bait." At the end of his words, his face marred with regrets and at the same time fury. His cerulean eyes glinted with rage, so sharp it could slice a glass.

I don't know if it is rape. He did it, he admitted.

Yes, because he was drugged.

Ugh. I'm confused. I felt so bad for refusing to believe him.

I dropped my back on the backrest, and my hands rested on the armrests. I frowned. "Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked, feeling sorry for him. This could have been avoided if he was honest with me from the beginning.

Will that lessen his ego?

My heart tightened for him. He drew in a frustrated sigh as he looked away. "I didn't know I was drugged until now? It crossed my mind once but chose to ignore it. I'm not even sure if I was. I decided to just hide it from you until she resurfaced again and started calling you and me." He retraced his gaze back to me. His shoulders sagged as he leaned his back against the backrest. "Would you believe me if I told you I was drugged?" he asked, his elbows resting on the armrests, fingers laced with palms apart, while his right thumb, stroked his left palm, in a circular motion.

Well, to be honest, I might not.

Staring at him intently, I noticed the exhaustion marring his handsome face. The sincerity in his words is evident in his face. He really meant everything he said, but I still have a little doubt in my heart. I love him, but I'm scared, someone will start calling me again, telling me she had sex with him.

I let out a long sighed, shaking my head unconsciously as I blocked any negative thoughts out of my head. I looked away, staring at the sliding door leading to the balcony. "Pumpkin," he called, his voice is low and pleading. He was silently begging me to believe him.

Dragging my gaze back to him, I cooed. "I do believe you, Raffy," I said, and the worries etched all over his face disappeared. The worry line smoothened as he let out a sigh of relief.

"I'll be out, perhaps all day tomorrow, trying to solve this case and hoping after this, you'll accept me again, without a doubt of my intention," he said as he rose to his full height.

I slowly got up, and Raffy closed our gap. I tilted my head to meet his gaze; he stared at me with full of love, I've never seen it in his eyes before. I felt it real. The intensity of his gaze, I felt like he couldn't live without me, just as I am. There's also a hidden hunger in it, like a tiger wanting to devour me whole. It only made my most private part to ached in need. Unconsciously, my legs squeeze tight. "I love you so much, Pumpkin." He leaned in and gave me a kiss on my forehead. "Dream of me tonight," he whispered against my skin, and my bottom lip jutted out in a sulky pout. He leaned his forehead against mine for a fleeting second. "Sweet dreams, Pumpkin."

I stifled the groan of disappointment that's bubbling up in my throat. I don't want him to leave yet. I missed him so much.

Holding back the burning desire to feel his lips on mine again, I nodded and watched him turn on his heel and strode off towards the door.

When he reached the door, I remembered how I acted a while ago when he told me he was drugged. "Raffy!" I called out.

He stopped from reaching the door, turned his head and look at me.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," I said. His forehead drew together. "I'm sorry for acting like a brat a while ago when you told me that you are..." I swallowed hard, couldn't say the word and be reminded again. "that you are—"

"It's alright, Pumpkin. I understand. There's nothing to be sorry. Get rest," he smiled, then pulled the door open, then stepped out.

As soon as he closes the door behind him, I let out a long, deep sigh, then strode towards the washroom.

All that emotions build up in my chest; I need to get it out. I feel drained, and a warm bath felt tempting.

....

Raffy's POV

I woke up before six in the morning. I spent my time planning my next move, and it was past two when I went to bed. I quickly swung my legs out of bed, just then a knock on my door.

"Come in," I answered as I got up and put on my flannel top. The door open and Osvaldo walked in. "Good morning, Your Grace." He bowed respectfully before relaying my routine for the day.

"Ms. Belsky will be pick up in half past six, Your Grace. Your meeting starts at seven," he reminded me.

"Press conference will starts at 2 in the afternoon at the Baltic Hotel. And the Petropoulis is on their way, Your Grace. They called last night, His Highness mentioned me."

Petropoulis?

"FUCK!" I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Pardon me, Your Grace?" Osvaldo looked baffled.

"Nothing," I responded, my fingers reached my temples and massaged it as I paced back and forth. My hand on my hip.

I stopped and dropped my hand on my hip; both hands dug into my hips as I face, Osvaldo. "When are the Petropoulis arrive?" I asked, eyebrows lowered and drawn together tightly.

"Midday, Your Grace." Osvaldo tilted his head down apprehensively.

"Alright, I should be here when they arrived," I said, swallowing the fear down.

"Wait for me outside," I waved my hand off as I turned on my heel and made my way to the washroom to have a shower.

"Your Grace." Osvaldo's hesitant voice stopped me mid-stride.

"Yes?" I scowled at the washroom's door a few meters ahead.

"Your parents are coming, too."

I slammed my eyes shut, and clenched my jaws. Great!

.....