Love over Desire

Chapter 2 RAKAS

SADIE POV

I slightly opened the door, peeking out with just my head. "I WANT YOU GONE WHEN I COME OUT!" I shouted at him, "WHOEVER YOU ARE!"

"Markku Mattila," he said with a smile, completely ignoring my yelling.

"GO OUT!" I commanded. "I have my brother's permission to stay here," I said, trying to shoo him away.

"Oh," he said with a smirk, as if he were mocking me.

In annoyance, I slammed the door shut. "That guy is a real jerk," I muttered to myself.

I was relieved to be safely back in my clothes. Jeans and a shirt suited me. I stared in the mirror for a moment, checking myself out. "Why are you trying to impress Markku?" My inner self teased. "Of course not!" I hissed. "I'd much rather he be gone when I come out."

"Your coffee will get cold if you stay in there too long," his voice came from behind the door.

I sighed. "He hasn't even left," I whispered. I took a deep breath and opened the door. "Move aside," I said gruffly.

Thankfully, he stepped aside. "Your coffee," he said, handing me my cup.

I took the coffee. It was almost half empty. "You should have finished it," I retorted.

"You Asians don't know how to make coffee," he said, shaking his head. "It's too sweet. Less sugar next time."

"Then make your own coffee. You're talking too much," I snapped at him.

"You know, rakas, I love your temper. It suits me," he said with a smirk.

RAKAS!! What does it mean? I ask myself.

"I'm Finnish," he said. "What's your name?" he asked.

"He's Finnish so that explains his English has a different accent compared to the white people I know." I said in my mind.

"Sadie Gonzalez."

"Oh, nice name," he said, stroking his chin. "Your Alex friend?" he asked.

"He's my brother," I corrected him. "I told you earlier."

"You two don't look alike," he said, frowning.

"I'm his adopted sister, actually," I said, blurting it out.

"Oh, I see," he said, smiling.

"Aren't you going to leave?" I asked.

"Why? The bed's big enough for both of us." He smirked, gesturing to the bed.

"Oh, come on!" I hissed.

He chuckled as he started to unbuckle his belt.

"Wait... wait! What are you doing?" I said in shock.

"Taking a shower, unless you have something else in mind," he said. He pulled me close to him, towering over me.

I was about to protest when his strong hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. His touch was a mixture of rough and tender, sending shivers down my spine. It was a strange combination, this feeling of being both threatened and oddly captivated by him. He leaned in, his warm breath tickling my ear. "You're tempting, rakas," he whispered, his voice husky and filled with an unsettling charm. His free hand touched my chin, and he lowered his lips. His lips almost touched mine, but I pulled back, so his lips landed on my cheek instead.

"Let me go," I said, trying to steady my voice.

"Are you sure?" he teased.

"Yes," I said. "I am sure, sure eno---"

My words were cut off as his hand shot out, sliding to my nape. He forcibly claimed my lips, leaving me breathless. It was a searing, urgent kiss, his mouth pressing against mine with an almost desperate intensity. For a moment, I felt a surge of panic, a desperate need to break free, but then something shifted within me.

His tongue found its way into my mouth, a bold invasion that sent a jolt of surprise through me. The kiss was rough, demanding, yet a strange heat bloomed in my chest. His taste was a sharp contrast to the way he looked, a kind of forbidden fruit that I found myself wanting to both savor and reject. My body responded instinctively, a wild, chaotic dance of resistance and reluctant surrender. It felt wrong, yet I couldn't stop myself.

Suddenly, his phone sang its urgent song, demanding attention.

And it jolted me back to my senses. The kiss broke, and I shoved him away, my hand connecting with his cheek in a resounding slap.

"s**t," he cursed, touching his cheek.

"Serves you right," I yelled. I grabbed my bag and rushed out of my brother's apartment.

I was now in my van, panting, my body still tingling from his touch. "That was almost Sadie!" I scolded myself. "I hope he's gone when I come back later." I prayed silently, hoping to banish the memory of his kiss, the unsettling mix of fear and forbidden desire that it had awakened.

Sadie rested her chin on her hand, slumped at an empty table in the waiting lounge outside the hotel management office. She had delivered the milk and vegetables to the hotel and had been waiting for almost an hour to get paid. Her eyelids felt heavy, sleep threatening to pull her under, when the door suddenly swung open. Her heart skipped a beat as the hotel owner, Mr. Gomez, emerged, accompanied by a man she desperately wished to avoid. "What's he doing here?" she wondered, her gaze fixed on the man, a wave of unease washing over her.

He must have noticed her staring because he gave her a suggestive smirk as they walked , his eyes lingering on her for a beat too long. Sadie was left stunned, a flush of heat rising to her cheeks. Then she heard Mr. Gomez say, "Happy cooperation, Mr. Mattila. Looking forward to more business transactions."

Sanya Hernandez, the hotel manager and her best friend, rushed out of the office. "Sorry, best, my boss had a business transaction," she apologized, her brow furrowed with concern.

"I-it's okay," Sadie stammered, her voice tight with a mixture of frustration and discomfort. "What's that guy doing here?" she asked, her eyes betraying her unease.

"Do you know Mr. Mattila?" Sanya asked, surprised.

"Huh? No... no... I was just curious." Sadie couldn't bring herself to tell her best friend about her encounter with the man at her brother's apartment. She certainly didn't want to rehash what had happened between them earlier. She knew how inquisitive Sanya could be, and the thought of explaining the whole situation felt overwhelming.

"Uhm, best, I have some bad news," Sanya said, her voice laced with hesitation as if she were unsure how to break it to Sadie.

"W-what is it?" Sadie asked, a sense of unease creeping into her tone.

"M-Mr. Gomez said we won't be getting milk from you anymore, but the good thing is, your still the source root crops, grains, and vegetables " Sanya stammered, her words tumbling over each other.

"W-what? Why so sudden?" Sadie asked, her shock evident in her voice.

"Because Mr. Mattila will be our new supplier of milk and other dairy products," Sanya answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Damn that man," Sadie cursed him under her breath, the resentment she felt simmering within her beginning to bubble over.

"Sadie?" Sanya called out, noticing her friend's silence.

"H-huh?" Sadie responded, momentarily lost in her thoughts.

"I'm really sorry, best, but don't worry, I'll talk to my boss about occasionally ordering milk from you and I'll recommend you to my acquaintances."

"Okay, okay, don't bother. I still have plenty of other customers, but thanks, best, I appreciate it," Sadie said, trying to sound nonchalant even though a knot of frustration was tightening in her stomach.

"Here's the full payment for last month and the last delivery," Sanya said, handing her a brown envelope.

"Thank you."

"Alright, best, I have to get back to work," Sanya said, bidding her farewell.

"Okay, I'll go to the car repair shop too." Sadie replied, her voice a bit flat as she tried to shake off the sting of the sudden loss of a major client.

HAPPY READING ♥️

_TAGAILOCOSNAK