The Devil’s Bite

Chapter 34

The presence of him being on her back is what made Sofia blush. She could not focus on the thing what he teaching her about riding a horse, instead she was focusing and more aware of his presence behind her. “Are you okay?” Demire asked her when he noticed how much tensed the woman in front of him.

Sofia gulped and looked away when he tried to search for her face. “Y-yes, where are we already?”

It made his forehead frown. “On top of the horse?”

She blew an air and tapped her cheeks.

“You’re not feeling well? Do you want to rest?” He felt her sudden tension he was not aware where it was coming from. It’s been thirty years from now, since the last time he was with a woman, nearly closed to him. He has no idea now what should they have feel. Or was he had done something wrong to them? He was about to take his arm out of the rope and jump down when she held his arm firmly.

“I’m okay.” She sighed. Should I practice myself being comfortable of his hot presence? It’s what bring her flare inside. “I’m okay, Demire.” Clamping her lips and tightened her hold to his arm is what made Demire unconvinced. “What I mean is where are we about the horse-riding lesson—” She was cut off when his arm climbed up to his should. It made her gulping her own saliva. What’s on the weather today to made Sofia feeling hot whenever his skin touched her’s. Isn’t it normal being him closed to her and his palm touching her shoulder?

“Lean your back on my chest and breathe.” It seemed he found what things made her tensed. Was it because it was her first time to ride a horse? And she was so scared? He thinsk that make sense. His palms lowered down her dampen palms. He covered both her fists with his’s and moved closer to her back. His warm breath touching her nape was tickling.

Sofia wanted to scape his touch but there is a part of him that refusing it. She decided to do what he said. Leaning her back on his hard chest, closed her eyes and started to control the hardness of her breathe—is not just what helps her, but because of her heart learned how to be comfortable with his arms. The same arms, chest and the man that keeping her out of danger and saving her.

“Open your eyes, sweetheart,” he whispered to her ears.

She opened her eyes and stared at his hands against her’s. They were holding the rope together. A smile drew her lips and she found her heart beating loudly as if it was her first time to live again. To be in his arms his what made her feel like a princess riding a horse with handsome prince. He could be more than just a prince but her king. But she has to throw those thoughts of her away. Demire would never be her prince nor her king. He was just a good man who is seeing her as his little sister or worst is just a friend of him. “D-Demire…” there were something left on the tip of her tongue, doubting to release it and tell it to him but the question… does she had the guts to tell it to him?

“Hm?” He could not think of anything else as of this moment. He’s enjoying her being in his arm and wanted to bring her on his embrace but he has to control himself, if he does not want Sofia’s palm leave a mark on any of his cheeks. There is no regret that he invited her to come with him to this very important place and very important day for him. It’s not that he wanted to erase all the memories of his past lover Angelique inside this farm or ruin the memory he had with her. It’s not his intention. He wanted to keep those memories in him and prolong it, but he was just doing the things that he was sure about, he would never be the same melancholy person that visiting the farm, the past thirty years. Then if that’s the case, is he ready for another commitment and heartbreak? Does it mean, he is ready to replace Angelique inside his heart?

“Do you have friends?”

Her question woke him up of his deep thoughts. “Friends?” he murmured. For a hundred years of living alone, he got nothing to define the word ‘friend’. He never had one. And he has no plan to have one. He got friends before, they are vampires like him. But when they gone, he forgotten the word and the definition of it. “I don’t have friends.” He would never be ashamed to tell anyone he has no one to recognize as his friend.

Sofia looked up to meet his gaze. “No, friends? Are you serious?” She’d became more comfortable now having him behind her. In fact, she wanted to sleep on his broad chest.  

Demire pulled the rope to stop the horse. “Yes,” he said and met her eyes. “I don’t have one. I am too busy.”

“At least have one? You’re meeting different person in business, right?”

He sighed, gave her a curt smile and nodded. “But we only talking about business, nothing more. Besides, I’m avoiding any disagreement, argument and whatsoever it was between your so called ‘friends’. I am happy being alone.”

Sofia staring at him, her eyes full of amusements. She nodded. “I see.” She gave him a smiled. “But would you consider me as your friend?”

That question stunned him in silence. His eyes searched for something in her eyes, down to her parted lips. He shook his head. “I rather consider you more than it.” He lowered his head and claimed her lips. His lips surprised Sofia and froze her.