Released by Him [Dark Temptation Book Two]

Chapter 6

Venus

I slowly opened my eyes, finding a handsome man with blond hair and a pair of blue eyes. Wearing a black trench coat with blue shirts underneath. 

“Are you okay?” I blinked when he asked me the same question again. I felt his hand on my face, wiping the tears. When the tears came out? He smiled. Oh, how gorgeous that smile was. “You got tears on your lovely face. I’m sorry but when I saw you shut your eyes, looking like you were about to cry – you look like in pain.” I was? Oh, right, I was. Because I was recalling the good memories I had with Micah. “There. You’re okay now?”

“Y-Yes. I’m sorry. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

“No, it’s not.” He stood up. Showing me how tall he was. Wow, he was probably approximately about Nathan’s height. He sat beside me with his elbows resting on his knees. His blue eyes kept attached to me. His eyes were beautiful, like the color of the river. And his smile…I thought I could faint any second because of how charming his smile was. And he smelled so good. So soft and warm. “Broke up with your boyfriend?” he suddenly asked.

I nervously laughed. “No.” Technically, I was. But I couldn’t tell him, a stranger, that I found out my ex-fiancé was an incubus and he murdered my real boyfriend and raped me hoping I would get pregnant. The last part hurt the most and I didn’t want to remember it again. “I was just thinking about something. Why do you think I just broke up?”

“Usually, a woman cried because of a certain man who had dumped her, or she found out her man was cheating on her.”

“Oh, classic.”

“You’re right. Your eyes are really beautiful, like a pair of crystal.”

“Yours too.” He smiled again.

“Do you live here?”

“Ye—” Hold on. How was I going to answer that? Yes, I lived here. But I wondered if I could tell him. Was I allowed?

“I never see you before. This town is quite small and everybody practically knows each other.” Okay, I should find a way to answer his question. Say something, Venus.

“I, uh, I wanted to move here one day so I’m looking around the city.” That was the best I could do. If Nathan was here, he would give out the best answer. Or in his case, lie.

“Really? Well, you came to the right city.”

“Why?”

“Crystal River is far from the crowded ones. New York. Los Angeles. You name it.”

“You live here?”

“Yes. Well, actually I moved here when I was sixteen. I fell in love with this town and decided to stay. My mother never approves but I like it here. I found myself by staying here.”

“That’s kind of deep.”

“I think it is. Oh, excuse me. I haven’t properly introduced myself.” He straightened his hand for me. “Steven Preston.”

I accepted his hand. “Venus Skylar.”

“Wow. A beautiful name for a beautiful lady,” he complimented, making me shyly smiled. He was so easy giving out compliments to a woman he just met. Was it in his nature? 

“Venus,” Nathan called behind me as both me and Steven looked toward him and let go of each other’s hands. He was standing quite close to me. I immediately stood up and looked at Steven.

I turned to Nathan again. “Have you finished?”

“I have.” He walked closer with his golden eyes on Steven all the time. Oh, no. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Steven was looking at Nathan and then he stopped beside me. “It’s been an hour. Time to go back,” he informed. Oh, an hour already? That was fast. 

I looked back at Steven. “It is nice meeting you, Steven. But I have to go back.”

“My pleasure as well, Venus. I hope we could see each other again soon.” I only smiled. I couldn’t promise him because maybe I would meet him again next month or next year or another five years. 

No one could predict the future.

I went with Nathan back to the truck. “Who’s that?” Nathan asked.

“Steven. I was crying and he saw me.”

“Be careful, Venus. You never know who he is.”

“I will. Sorry.”

“You don’t need to but good thing that man looks like a flirty man who couldn’t let a crying girl alone.” Yeah, I supposed. 

We reached the truck as Nathan opened the door for me and jumped myself in. He went behind the wheel. “Did Auntie Feli ask you to buy something?”

“Nope. She was at the beginning and when I was about to pick you up, she called again and told me that there’s still some flour left.” I nodded my head as Nathan lightened the engine, reversed the car, and left the park.

I would miss this place.

And for a second, Steven was still standing next to the bench with his blue eyes on the truck. Or maybe to me as I left.

***

At night, Auntie Feli made a lot of dinners. And by I meant a lot, they were a lot. She didn’t let me help her so when I got back with Nathan, I spent my time in my room, reading a book until she called me for dinner. I wanted to help her washing all the plates but again, she forbade me, so I escaped to the river near the cottage. Well, skipped a duty was not a bad idea at all.

And today was my birthday; I should enjoy it.

I sat on the large branch near the river. Letting out a sigh and I grabbed my necklace. “Grant…”

I missed him so bad.

Last year’s birthday was one of the most memorable moments in my life. 

Grant gave me this necklace. He promised me that next year, which was this year, that he would take me out just the two of us. A wish that he couldn’t grant me anymore. The hope that Micah had crushed.

…Venus…

And I heard his voice. Shocking me as I immediately stood up. Looking around to see if Micah was there.

No.

It couldn’t be.

Nathan had created a barrier from the outside world and nobody would find us living here. Humans even demons. 

…Venus…

His voice appeared again.

I muffled my ears. “Stop…”

…Venus…

“Please, stop…”

…I’m here now, baby…

“No, you’re not. You’re just an illusion. Please, don’t destroy what I have today.” I couldn’t hear him again. I slowly opened my eyes and detached my hands from my ears. Looking around again and I didn’t find Micah. He was not here. Another illusion? Maybe he was. I looked at the ring. Was this the cause? No, I shouldn’t be having this ring anymore. I was no longer Micah’s fiancé. I never was.

I grabbed the ring, still fighting with herself whether to take it off or not. 

My heart even beating fast and loud.

Swallowing hard, “I have to do this.” I closed my eyes. 

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. Exhale.

I opened my eyes. Reluctantly pulled the ring from my finger until it was out from my skin. I looked at the diamond ring first. Remembering how happy I was when Micah proposed to me again. Convincing me that he was serious. Now I knew that he never was. He only wanted me for his purpose. Not because I was his soulmate. Not because he loved me. And that truth…hurt. 

I walked toward the river. Seeing the clean water had darkened. I wonder how deep the river was. I looked at the beautiful ring again. I should do this. I must do this. “Goodbye, Micah.” And I threw the ring to the river. Watching the bond, I had developed with Micah before sank under the water.

I felt lighter. Satisfied.

This was what I needed.

Maybe I should do this faster but everything happened for a reason. 

Now I was officially saying goodbye to Micah and I hoped he won’t find me.

I turned around from the river and headed back to the cottage. Entering the house, seeing Auntie Feli just finished cleaning and Nathan was drinking a beer while sitting on the dining table. “Have you finished washing, Auntie Feli?”

“I have, dear. What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“You look…different.”

“I am?”

“Yeah. I don’t know but you look brighter.” Really? I was? Wow. I wonder by throwing the ring had changed me a bit.

“Well, I’m twenty now.”

“Still a brat,” Nathan teased. Oh, he’s so going to get it.

“You are an old man.”

He paused the beer, slowly turning his head to me, looking disapprove and pissed. His golden eyes were burning in slightly anger. Oh, that didn’t do a thing to me. “What did you just say to me?”

I folded my arms while facing him. “Old man.”

He smirked and gulped the last of his beer where he slowly stood up. “You’re so going to f*****g regret that.”

“Hm, no, I’m not.” A bad move, I think. Turning around, immediately running away from Nathan.

“It’s useless, you little punk!” He sprinted his long legs. I escaped upstairs to my bedroom. Shrieking when he almost caught me. I reached my bedroom but before I could enter, “Got you!” He held me and pushed me inside, making both of us fell to the floor. “Take it back.”

“No,” I laughed. And he tickled my sensitive spot from the back as I screamed and laughed at the same time. 

“Take it back, Venus.”

“No! Stop!”

“You asked for it.” He continued his torture on me. My laughs boomed inside my room.

“Nathan, stop!”

“You know what to do.”

“I’m only stating the truth.”

“Do I look like a f*****g old man to you?”

“No, you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever encountered.”

“Good.” But he didn’t stop attacking me and kept tickling me.

“Okay! Okay! I’m sorry, Nathan! I want to pee! I take it back! Please, stop!” He stopped immediately and let me go. I stood up in a hurry and headed to the bathroom. But before I entered, I turned around to him. “Meanie!” And I jumped inside. Nathan laughed as I shook my head.

“Dummy…”