I use the arm of the bench to stand up. Then, while facing him, I make a bow, as graceful as I can manage with an injured leg.

"I'm grateful," I say, my teeth chattering. I am freezing more than I thought. I swallow hard and in a more controlled tone, I say, "but I must decline."

I give him a half-smile, hoping that it will tell him that he missed his chance. He fixes his eyes on me, not saying a word. Annoyed. My attention goes to my crutch, leaning on the arm bench beside him. I reach for it, but he suddenly grabs my wrist.

He exclaims at the contact. "You're icy cold!" But he didn't make a move to let my wrist go.

Or is he not referring to my hand? But rather, on my attitude towards him? He might have seen my confusion, and he takes the opportunity to pull me towards him. Then he winds his arm around my shoulders so that I am sitting on his lap.

I struggle ineffectively. Injured and with only a few weeks of training, I realize that it won't make me as strong as he is. I pause and breathe heavily. Fighting him is laborious.

He laughs at my attempts, and I give up.

"Can you please not bully an injured person?" I wheeze.

"What's the rush? I am just warming you up," he whispers and then completely covers me with his blanket. I find the warmth satisfying. When I did not respond, he adds, "You've been very accommodating the last time I saw you." To make his point, he licks the side of my neck.

I tremble at the contrasting temperature of the cold air and his tongue. I wrestle against him. If I let myself be swayed now, I won't be able to run away from him in the future. He did not give me that option, though. His arms imprison me against his hard body.

"Let me go," I plead this time.

Instead of letting me go, he leans his forehead on my shoulders. I am immobile. He did nothing more, but I am half wishing he would. I feel myself falling deeper and deeper. I shake my head and search for my voice.

"What's the Rajah doing here?" I ask, hoping that I hide the breathlessness that his proximity is causing behind my words. And besides, this topic might make him want to let me go. Or make me forget this growing feeling. Either way, I win.

"The usual," he answers, his breath tickling my shoulder.

"Your usual is to stroll in the garden, in the middle of the night, with a woman on your lap?" I ask.

This time, he didn't laugh. His arms tighten even more around me, pulling me closer still. I panic and grab at his arms. I feel like a small child in his arms.

"That's enough. I'm warm already," I say.

This time, I can't hide the insistence in my voice. This man feels dangerous, at least, the effect his nearness is causing on me. My attraction to him is undeniable. Maybe Aian is right, I am as perverse as Migo to love a man and yet get attracted to another.

"How old are you?" he asks. He waits. When I did not answer, he lifts me, as if I am a little child, and turns me towards him. My hands go automatically to his shoulder. I feel him shiver under my touch. I scowl at him. Probably my delusion?

"Where were you before you came here?" he asks another. His eyes linger on my face.

"Doing a project," I blurt out, even I am surprised for my honesty. But it's too late to take it back when his lips possess mine. He pulls back suddenly. I flush when I hear myself groan. Why am I not fighting back? Why am I groaning in frustration when our lips separate?

"Open your mouth," he whispers. His voice is hoarse.

There is an intensity in his eyes that I feel being engulfed by him. Obediently, I open my mouth, and he pulls me back into another kiss. It's a bewildering kiss, exploring and devouring. My heart thumps wildly in my chest. I am drowning, but all I want to do is to pull myself closer to his body.

Unable to breathe, I pull back to catch my breath. I am giddy. He lets me but his tongue trails down my neck and his hands massage my back. I moan and my eyes flew open, ashamed that he's making me feel this good. When his hands reach under my shirt to my chest, I pull back sharply that I stumble backward and fall from his embrace, my behind hitting the ground. Thankfully, it's my butt and not my injured leg.

He seems as shaky as I am when he looks at me on the ground. I grimace at the pain that my fall had caused. He kneels before me and his arms go behind my knees and carries me back to the bench. I am entranced. Silently, he holds me to him, making sure that the blanket is covering both of us, keeping the cold out.

"I'll be damned if I say I do not desire you," he whispers.

"Why?" I ask. My voice is still trembling from the intensity of his kisses. He tilts his head in question. "Attraction is not inexplicable," I add. "Surely, you can explain to me why you desire me? Especially when you threw me out before."

He smiles, and I am annoyed. I hate it when he smiles playfully while I am being serious. "Physical attraction, hmmm," he mutters. He pauses for a while and answers, "You're unique."

Aghast, I stare at him. He likes me because I am weird? Strange? I calm myself down. It is natural for him to think like that. Besides, what kind of girl would knock at a Rajah's door to offer herself to him? Only me, the strange one.

"How about you? You are clearly attracted to me," his voice sounds so certain. No doubt at all in his tone.

"You are the Rajah," I answer, hoping to cause a chink on his confidence.

"Oh! So my position is enticing. I didn't expect a very ordinary answer from you."

"You're the only one who labeled me as strange."

Rajah Sinagtala laughs and says, "Now, tell me honestly. What's the main reason?"

How could I not be attracted to a tall, handsome, well-built man who kisses me as if I am his world? Someone who allowed us into his island and did not throw us out into a prison? I thought, but instead, I respond, "Other than your position?"

He grins. "In order to continue holding you, I must keep my position?" I nod. "Fair enough," he mutters. "Then tell me, when shall I see you again?"

I widen my eyes to fake my surprise. "You want to see me again? I thought you said you'd forget me the next day?"

He touches his forehead to mine and says, "I thought I could, but you've been in my mind since then."

I smile. Should I thank Bagwis for this? Maybe, if he didn't limit his sexual activities, he'd be too busy with another woman than to pay any attention to me.

I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a peck on the corner of his mouth. "Maybe tomorrow night?" I say before I could even think about the repercussions.

I want to curse myself for digging my own grave. If I am going to get away from this, now is the time.

But his pull on me is too much that when his lips seize mine once again, and our tongues tease each other, I know it's too late.