The Mysterious Betrothed

A Passionate Kiss

"Oh, father, I didn't see you there." He stares at her, concerned. "Are you alright?" he asks. Sephera nods. Then his demeanor changes. "Do Not let what happened tonight happen again. Do you understand me?" For a minute, Sephera thought he was honestly concerned about her, but then the anger in his voice was back. She looked down at the floor. "Yes, Sir. I'm sorry, father. It won't happen again." Simon looked her over once more. "It had better not. You may go now."

Sephera quickly nodded her head and scurried past him up the stairs to her room. She did not even want to think about tonight's events, but she couldn't help wondering if she had seen Sevastian at least once. Since she had never seen his face, she had no clue if she had or not. This frustrates her. Ugh! Why does he have to be so elusive!? She thought.

She peels off her shoes then takes off her dress. After that, Sephera goes over to her drawers and pulls out a pair of shorts with a teal blue tank top. When she puts them on, she sighs, "So glad this night is over with." As she says this, she flops onto her bed. Then she curls up under the covers and falls to sleep.

As it does every day, morning comes through her window. Sephera is nestled under the covers to where she cannot see through it. She is lost in a dream that she does not want to be disturbed from. A knock at the door and then a super happy cheerful voice says, "Oh Sephera, it's time to get up and start the day!" Sephera knew all too well whose voice that was. She buried her head under the pillow. Someone really needs to knock that girl out. It is too early in the morning for this. Sephera thought to herself. She yelled at the door, "Can't I sleep just a little longer, Anabella?" Sephera knew, however, there was no reasoning with her. Anabella just says, "I'll see you in the kitchen in half an hour."

Sephera grumbled as she climbed out of bed. She threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Sephera sighed, "I can't wait until I can sleep in again." She got up and rummaged through her closet. Thinking to herself, what to wear. Should I wear a dress or shorts? Sephera just could not decide. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she chose to wear a yellow-flowered sundress with some light brown platform sandals. She then braided her hair into pigtails. She still was not used to the idea of wearing makeup, so she did not even bother with it.

She left her room and began down the stairs to the kitchen. She could hear Anabella singing in the kitchen. It kind of reminded Sephera of when her mother would sing while making breakfast in the mornings. Sephera walked past her father's office. She could hear two people talking about something, but she was not interested in finding out what. She made her way to the kitchen.

As she walked in, she could see Anabella singing and swaying in front of the oven. "You know, sometimes it is okay to let me sleep in." Anabella stopped and then turned around. She squealed with delight and rushed over to where Sephera was standing in the doorway. "Good morning; how did you sleep?" Not letting Sephera get a word in edge-wise, she continued. "I slept fantastically. I just can't stop thinking of what my brother did last night, rescuing you like that. It was like a scene out of a movie." Sephera continued to let Anabella babble while she pulled the cinnamon rolls out of the oven. Sephera somewhat envied how Anabella gushed over her brother. Sometimes being an only child can be lonely. Seeing Anabella light up when she talked about Sevastian always put a smile on Sephera's face.

After breakfast, Sephera and Anabella went to the ballroom. They did their regular warm-up routines before practicing the first dance of the day, the Foxtrot. Sephera was tired of the ballroom dances she had to learn, but she knew there was no way out of it. She was just happy when lunch rolled around. Anabella would leave, and it left the whole afternoon open to do whatever she wanted. It did not use to be that way, but Simon said since she did so well with etiquette lessons, she did not have to do them anymore.

She let Robert know where she would be for the day, hoping her father would not be too upset. The last time she went to the bookstore, she lost track of time, and chaos ensued. Instead of having Robert drop her off like he usually does, Sephera decided to walk. She walked down the street, feeling the warmth from the sun on her face. It felt good to get away from the wedding responsibilities occasionally.

Sephera decided to take a shortcut through Scott's backyard. She climbed over the back fence like she had done many times before. The only thing she did not count on, he was home. Just as her feet touched the ground, she heard, "You know what you are doing is called trespassing, right?" She looked up to see Scott standing in front of her so close she could smell his cologne. "You know, Honeybee, if you wanted to see me that badly, you could have used the front door." Sephera froze. The smell of his cologne, an oaky bourbon scent with a hint of musk and mandarin oranges, lingers in her nostrils. Damn, he smells good, she thought. Sephera, stay focused!

You should not be thinking about how sexy this guy is. She was lost in thought. "Hello, earth to Sephera." Scott leans in and closing the distance between his lips and hers. Sparks ignited in Sephera that she did not even know existed. His lips were so soft and warm. She could feel a force field pulling him in closer. Did he just!? Oh my… this is really happening. What do I do!? This was the first time she had ever been kissed. Sephera was fighting with herself whether to push him away or kiss him back. But after a minute, she pulls herself away from Scott. "What the hell was that for!?" she yelled as she wiped her lips. He just grinned. "Got your attention, didn't I?" Sephera is fuming. "I don't know where you come off trying to kiss me like that, but." She doesn't get to finish her sentence because he kisses her again.

This time Sephera just melted into his arms. Sephera deeply kissed him back. Suddenly, she pulled away from him. "I'm sorry, I can't do this. I have to go." "But you just got here. I promise to behave if you stay." He grabbed her by the arm, "Please?" Sephera thought about it for a minute; she wanted to stay, but she knew what she was doing was wrong. "I'm sorry, I really have to go." Scott watched as she climbed over his side fence, and then she was gone.

Sephera's head was spinning after she left Scott's. I can't believe that happened. We kissed! And how amazing was that? I have never felt like that ever before. Yeah, but we both know that can't happen again. You can't let me have one thing, can you!? Sephera was beginning to argue with herself mentally. Sephera sighed. She knew all too well that kiss could not happen again. She was engaged, and it is frowned upon to be caught with someone else. But she could not stop thinking about Scott or that kiss. She blushed at the idea that she and Scott, in another lifetime, could be something together.

When she got to the bookstore, she went right to the coffee shop inside. She ordered her usual drink and then headed towards the fantasy section.

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A month had passed since that day when Scott kissed her. Anyone would have thought she was on cloud nine the way she acted. She had Anabella believing that she and her brother had finally met in person. At least, that is what Anabella has come to believe since Sephera never corrected her. Sephera didn't have the heart to tell her that her brother was avoiding her. Plus, Sephera was not sure how she would handle that conversation if Anabella had known. It was just another secret she had no one to tell.

Sephera didn't have any friends she could talk to; being homeschooled made having friends difficult. Instead of friends, she had her art and music to keep her company. But after her mother died, it seemed pointless to make art or write music.

Later at dinner, "Sephera, are you listening?" her father asked at the dining table. He slams his fist on the table. Sephera is startled. She looks up at him, "I'm sorry, father. What were you saying?" Simon gave her a stern look. "This Saturday, you are scheduled to make your wedding registry. You are to start at Harrods. You may choose whatever you like according to what Sevastian has told me." This catches her off guard. "Wait, Sevastian!? Did he speak to you? When?" Simon continues, "His exact words were let her decorate our home the way she likes."

Sephera was mad when she heard this. She stood up and looked at her father. "Well, you can tell Mr. elusive that I am not interested. Why should I do anything for this wedding when he isn't even putting any effort into meeting me!?" Before Simon could even reprimand her behavior, she stormed out of the room.

When she goes to her room, she yelled to no one in particular. "That irritating thorn in my side wants me to be his personal decorator. Who the Hell does this guy think he is!? She was so infuriated that she had to scream as loud as she could into a pillow. She had still not calmed down from that fiasco at dinner, so she decided to go for a walk.

Before she knew it, she was standing outside his door and knocking on his door. She didn't understand why she had come there, but she didn't want to leave either. What are you doing? You can't be here. You need to go. You will ruin everything if you don't leave now. No stay. Just talk to him; what will it hurt? Her mind was swirling. She knew she had to walk away. Right as she tried to, the door opened. And there he stood in a pair of dark blue jeans and no shirt. "Sephera, are you okay? What are you doing here? Damn! It's too late to leave now. Who said anything about leaving!? He looks so damn fine without a shirt. Oh right! Say something, you fool. "I-I." She forgot how to speak. Scott looked at her with concern. "Did I make you forget your words?" he said cunningly. Sephera shook her head just to shut up the voices. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I came here. I should probably go." As she turned to leave, two hands grabbed her waist and pulled her close. "Always trying to run." "Come in, and I'll put on some tea. I promise to be on my best behavior."

Sephera contemplated if she should leave, but it was so hard to think with his breath on her neck. A chill ran down her spine. "Okay, I'll stay." Scott grabbed her by the hand and guided her inside. "Have a seat on the couch in the living room, and I'll get that tea for you." Sephera walked into the living room and sat down on the light blue sofa. She looked around the room. There were a lot of photos of different places sitting above the fireplace. Beautiful landscapes, castles, and architecture, but very few had people in the pictures. No one Sephera could recognize either. There were no baby pictures or childhood photos anywhere.

Scott walked into the room with two cups in hand, "I see you found my photos." Sephera did not stop looking at them; she just said, "Yes, and they are beautiful photos." Scott set the cups down on the glass table and walked over to her. "I took those on a trip across Europe." "Wow, you have been to so many different places," she said. 

Scott walked into the room with two cups in hand, "I see you found my photos." Sephera did not stop looking at them; she just said, "Yes, and they are beautiful." Scott set the cups down on the glass table and walked over to her. "I took those on a trip across Europe." "Wow, you have been to so many different places," she said.

Scott grabbed her hand and pull her away from the photos. He then pointed to the couch and told her to sit down. After she was seated, he said, "Now, Honeybee, tell me the real reason why you came here." He hands her the tea. Sephera breathes in the aroma of sweet green tea. "Honestly, I am not sure why I came. I was angry at something my father said, and the next thing I knew, I was here." Scott looked at her, concerned. He pushed Sephera's hair behind her ear. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Sephera was surprised by this side of Scott. She had never seen him so calm and serene before. Usually, he was very arrogant, but not tonight. Sephera had this calming feeling blowing up inside her. It told her that he could be trusted and that she could tell him anything if she wanted to. Sephera sighed, "Have you ever been stuck in a situation that you couldn't get out of? Scott tilts his head as if he doesn't understand. "I don't understand what you mean by that. Care to elaborate?" Sephera put down the cup of tea. "You wouldn't understand even I did tell you." Scott intervenes, grabs her by the hand, and looks deeply into her eyes. "I'm sure, whatever it is you are dealing with, will resolve itself in time." He didn't push the topic or force the issue. He thought it would be better to change the subject.

They talked for what felt like hours. They spoke mainly about Sephera and how she wished her father would see her for who she is. They spoke about Scott's trip through Europe. Before they knew it, they were laughing and joking around as if they had been best friends for life. Sephera looked up at the clock. "Wow, it's nine o'clock already. I should probably get home." As she went to stand, Scott was already getting up too. "Here, I will walk you to the door." When they got to the door, they stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like forever. "Well, I guess this is goodnight," Sephera said. Scott frowned, "Do you really have to go, Honeybee?" Something was taking over Sephera's mind, and she just could not control herself. She threw her arms around his neck and kiss him. Scott was shocked but did not pull away. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a very passionate kiss. They were so into the kiss when they finally pulled away, they were both gasping for air.

When she finally caught her breath, she said, "I really should get going." She pulled away from Scott, leaving him standing in the doorway, smiling as she left. OMG! What did I just do? I just kissed him! But it felt so right. She walked home, daydreaming about that kiss. There was so much passion in it. She didn't know what was happening, but she doubted if she could stop it at this point. She decided that whatever was happening, she wanted to find out more, and she did not care anymore about the wedding.

When she got home, she went straight to her room. She showered and threw on some sleep clothes. Then she went to the window and climbed to the roof like she had done many times before. There was only one person that she knew she could talk to about what was going on, even if it was a one-sided conversation, her mother. She felt the crisp breeze flow through her as she spoke to her mom. It felt as though a weight was being lifted off her shoulders as she talked.

"Mother, I wish you were here. I wish you could tell me what to do. I've read your letter, and I know what it says, but I have no idea what I should do." Finally, she gave up hope that her mother would send her a sign or something and sat quietly on the roof. She laid back on the rooftop and watched the stars. She thought about Scott while she counted the stars. She was still lost on what to do. Would she ever know what was best? Would she ever meet the mysterious Sevastian? Only time would tell, but Sephera did not know if she could wait that long.

Finally getting tired of counting the stars and thinking about her future, she climbed down from her roof. She went back inside to her warm room and pulled a book off her shelf. She sat on the bed and read her book until her eyes were barely open. Then she climbed off the bed and switched off the light. She pulled back the covers on her bed, then crawled between the warm sheets, and quickly fell asleep.

Saturday Morning was finally here, and Sephera could not have hated it more. A day of chirpy Anabella was not what she wanted to hear right now. She was so angry that she still had to keep doing all these wedding plans without even knowing who the Hell Sevastian was. She really could use a distraction right about now. Anabella goes on about how the plates needed to match the napkins and the flowers needed to complement the tablecloth. Sephera was barely listening when outside the window who should pass, but a drop-dead gorgeous young man with messy black hair.