TAINTED HEARTS (ENGLISH)

TAINTED HEARTS 11

Chapter 11

It was dark, and only the light of the sky could be seen. The whole group stayed in one house. Since there was only one bedroom, it was decided that the men would sleep in the living room while the women would stay in the room.

Their bathroom was separate, so I had to go outside to use it. I planned to give half-bathe myself before sleeping. I was holding my clothes and bathing things when I went out. It was dark, but I could still see the path.

“Where are you going?”

I gasped and held my chest when Lennox spoke behind me as I was closing the door. I didn’t know anyone was still awake. All I heard when I passed by the living room were snores. Apparently, he was outside, maybe just getting some fresh air.

“I’ll just clean myself up a bit.”

He looked at what I was holding. Without a word, he grabbed them from my hands.

“I’ll come with you.”

“You’ll come with me? Why?”

He started walking toward the bathroom. As I followed him, all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind.

The night was cold and dark. What did he mean by coming with me? Was he going to go inside and keep me company while I cleaned myself?

I squeezed my eyes shut. I hurried to catch up and snatched my things back from his hands.

“I can handle washing myself! You don’t need to come inside!”

His steps halted. He turned to me. The night air was cold, and no one else was outside—just the two of us. He chuckled softly when he saw my blushing face.

“You’re thinking I’d help you wash yourself? Do you think I can help you wash your body if I go inside? If I go inside, I’ll be doing something else to you.”

He laughed again and snatched my things back.

“Clean yourself. I’ll wait outside. Tell me when you’re finished. I’ll hand you your things after you take a bath.”

He leaned against the wooden bathroom door. I nodded and went inside. Biting my lip, I undressed, feeling a little self-conscious knowing he was just outside. The water was cold, but I was used to it. My long hair was tied up so it wouldn’t get wet.

“Lennox,” I called softly after rinsing and washing.

“Hmm?” His voice was husky. “You done?”

“Yes. Hand me the towel.”

I opened the door a little to peek out. He was looking straight at me the moment I did. I raised my hand to ask for the towel, but he only stared at me.

“Lennox, give it to me . . .”

His lips parted, his eyes dropping to my wet lips. I had also washed my face, so water was dripping from my face down to my neck.

“Lennox—”

My next call of his name was cut short. Instead of handing me the towel, he gave me his lips. My chest raced with something wild. One of his hands grabbed my nape, almost pulling me outside. I was naked, so I pulled him inside.

He pinned me against the closed door. When he realized I wasn’t resisting the kiss, he slid his hand from my nape down to my wet body. He cursed against my lips before trailing kisses down my neck and further to my chest. His hand squeezed my breast, then his mouth closed over the tip. The heat of it tickled me intensely.

“Ah . . . Lennox . . .”

He took each of my breasts into his mouth alternately, over and over. I trembled and almost cried at the sensation. His lips returned to mine. He bit down hard on my lower lip. He seemed ravenous, and he poured it all onto my lips. I felt like it broke the skin. He stopped kissing and rested his forehead on my shoulder. His breathing was heavy, and his grip on my waist was tight.

“Hurry up and get dressed,” he whispered, then quickly went outside.

I couldn’t move right away. I swallowed and exhaled repeatedly. Electricity coursed through my entire body. I shut my eyes and reached for the clothes he had placed on top of the large blue drum.

I touched my chest, remembering how his lips had been there. The sensation of his heat lingered. I felt something strange—and I liked it.

I came out dressed. I bit my lip when I faced Lennox. Even at night, he could surely see my blush. He took a deep breath when he saw me, tilted his head back, shut his eyes tightly, opened his eyes and walked ahead.

I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t stop recalling what had happened. I kept biting my lips because I could still feel his kiss. My eyes felt heavy when I woke up the next morning. Millie, her hair still wet from bathing, was there.

“Get ready, Xena. We’re leaving.”

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. She looked at me, grinning.

“You look like you didn’t sleep. You weren’t in the room when I woke up in the night. Did something happen last night?”

My blush answered her question. She laughed. I left her in the room to bathe and get ready to leave, also to avoid her teasing.

At our next stop, the path was easier. Not so steep, though mostly wet. What we gave them was the same. I brought candies and handed them to the children. I laughed as I sat with them. They all stared at me without speaking.

“Shall we go?” Millie asked as she came closer. “We might get caught in the dark!”

I nodded and looked back at our companions, who were ready. Lennox was leaning against a tree again, staring at where I was. By his appearance, he didn’t look like the kind of man who went to places like this. He really only came because of me. I smiled.

“I’ve got so many pictures of you and it's making me blush!” Millie said.

“What pictures?”

She raised her camera and showed me some selected shots. There were so many of me and Lennox, and in all of them, he was either looking at me or touching me. My cheeks burned. I glanced at Lennox as he came closer.

“Let’s go?”

I smiled and nodded. Millie smirked as Lennox took my things. He walked ahead toward the vehicle. I felt light as we traveled. My heart felt light every time I looked at him. He kept glancing back and forth between me and the road, grinning whenever he caught me staring.

“Why are you staring?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me playfully.

I laughed and shook my head. He slowed his driving and reached for my hand.

“Are you thinking about the kiss?”

Our hands intertwined, smiling at each other. In the days that followed, he often visited the house. He brought popular video games for Along, so now the two of them were in the living room, focused on the screen while playing.

No one at home knew he was my professor. Mama only thought he was my classmate. That’s what I told her because I didn’t want her to worry if she knew the truth.

I came closer, bringing snacks for them. Lennox’s attention shifted to me, and because of that, Along beat him. I laughed when he gave me a look.

“Did you do that on purpose? Did you distract me so your brother could win?” he accused, which only made me laugh harder.

“I just brought food! It’s not my fault you’re bad at video games!”

He burst out laughing.

“No. I knew it! You did it on purpose!”

“I did not!”

We both laughed.

The days passed smoothly. For the whole December semester break, he was with us. If he wasn’t playing with Along, then it was with Rico and Mena.

I also noticed how close Rico had become to him. Just hearing the sound of his car at the gate, my brother would already be waiting by the door. Like a dog excited every time its master came home.

He came one Christmas night. I asked if he didn’t have family to spend the important celebration with. He only smiled, shook his head, and said it was us he wanted to be with.

“I’ll celebrate my new year here too.”

Noche Buena was over. He’s gonna sleep here. We were outside the house while Mama and the kids were already asleep. My feet rested on the chair, my knees hugged to my chest against the cold breeze.

“Won’t your family be mad because you’re here?” I asked curiously.

He had been here every day, then spent Christmas here, and now he was saying he’d celebrate the New Year here too. He showered my siblings with expensive gifts. I never stopped him, especially when I saw how happy the kids were.

“No . . .”

He shook his head and held my hand. Over the past days, my feelings for him had only deepened. More so now, seeing how he made my family happy. Even Mama had nothing bad to say about him.

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the insides of both my wrists. His dreamy eyes stayed on me as he kissed me there. I bit my lip and gave him a soft smile.

“I really like you, Xena.”

I smiled, my eyes warming. I leaned toward him and hugged him gently. His warmth felt so comforting, and I didn’t want to let go. It was too fast, but I loved what I was feeling. If I delayed it, I felt like I’d regret it.

“I like you too, Lennox.”