The Replacement Bride (CURRENTLY REWRITING/ON HOLD)

Chapter Ten

||Liliana Magnusson||

The next morning she had to remake the porridge again as the previous one from last night got a bit too soggy and gooey, and because she wanted him to have a fresh heated cooked breakfast, as it wasn't good for a sick person to consume a meal that has been sitting in the fridge for a few hours. She added more salt as the porridge was a bit bland and prepared it on to a wooden tray along with some medications. She carefully brought the tray of porridge and medications up the stairs to his room. It was impossible to knock as she was busy holding each side of the wooden tray so she used her elbow to open the door. As the door swung open a cold flash of blaze struck up her skin. It was freezing cold in his room. She quickly placed the tray down on his desk and closed the window that she opened last night. Damn it. She thought while locking the window shut. It was blaring cold here last night and it was all because of her. She was planning on coming back to close the window last night but because her thoughts got to her she completely forgot about it. She power walked to Eugene's bed and sat next to him. He was burning hot. She felt bad and horrible for letting him suffer through this cold weather. "Mr.Roussos, you have to take your medications, or even better let me take you, to have a proper check-up." The only response that she received from him was a low mumble. "Mr.Roussos?" Once again she only received a low mumble. She touched his forehead lightly and his hand shot immediately clasping her wrist like fire. His eyes slowly fluttered open as he tried to sit up, releasing her wrist in the process. "At least take the medications." She handed him the medication and a glass of warm water. "You need a proper checkup, I don't think you look okay enough to be resting in bed." She said while putting the glass of water on the nightstand beside the bed. "What do you say?" She sat back and looked at him for a response but his eyes were shut close. She took a long sigh and pulled the covers over his exposed shoulders while standing up leaning downwards. He was blazing hot and needed proper care but if he didn't care enough about his health then she couldn't possibly force him. Right before her hand left the blanket as she turned away, he quickly grabbed her left arm and dragged her into his bed. He pulled her waist close to his blazing hot body while she let out a squeal. He hugged her body in a nook position—resting his head next to her left shoulder while his body rested half on top of hers. "I say let's sleep like this for a while since you decided to leave the window open last night even though you knew I wasn't feeling well." She struggled to stay in the position as it was uncomfortable but decided to relax as she realized she was stuck. " This is unfair Mr.Roussos, How can you possibly say that, when your room was drenched in the scent of alcohol." She can feel his hot breath as he let out a deep sigh right by her neck. It sent lightning bolts throughout her body making her feel a long heated feeling. He tightened his arms around her—invading all her space. "Let's just sleep okay, glykiá mou." His hot soft lips grazed against her neck clouding her brain with his heated touch. She grabbed the satin cover and pulled it over his exposed shoulder blades, trying as hard as possible to keep him warm. She closed her eyes shut as she tried to get some rest but his hot skin on top of hers was setting her insides on fire with excitement that she couldn't understand. What is wrong with me? She thought while listening to his breathing that eventually became even as he had fallen fast asleep—hugging her while sleeping in the nook of her neck. A smile crept onto her lips as she lightly turned her head to see him sleeping like a baby except that he was half on top of her body. She slowly tilted her head to rest on top of his and closed her eyes shut.

||Eugene Roussos||

His eyes fluttered open as he smelled a strong sweet rose scent with a hint of masculinity in it. The smell was very exotic with sweetness all over. Making his mind addicted and craved to know where the scent was coming from. He focused his eyes while they were adjusting to the sunset lightning that was shining through the curtains. He felt breathing near him as he shot his gazed focus on what was beneath him. How did Liliana end up here, he thought while touching her messy hair. He had a quick flashback of their conversation this morning and was surprised that she stayed in this crazy position with him. The scent that drove his mind out of control was her. The sweet masculine aroma was coming from her making him addicted to her body. Something about her scent drove him mad with passion. Why am I acting this way towards her? He thought while running his fingers in her hair—removing the few strands from her face so that he can see her. She was even more gorgeous up close. Her long lashes, with her perfect cute small nose, and her plumped lips that his eyes lingered on longer than it should have. Her breathing became uneven as he slowly touched her soft lips with his thumb. Half his body still laying on top of hers. He looked at her eyes as he could see her eyes moving as she tried to keep them shut, tightening her eyelids. So she's pretending to be asleep again as he was amused that she still thinks that he would fall for this trick, again. " You do know that there are punishments for lying, right?" Her eyes shot open to face his. Their faces were only a few inches apart as he now caged around her with his well-defined body. "I don't know what you're talking about Mr.Roussos." She turned her head, facing the other direction, not wanting to meet his eyes. A smile formed on his lips as he lowered down towards her. "Pretending to be asleep is not such a good idea, glykiá mou." He said seductively into her ears. He very much liked her company and her sweet scent that was driving him mad, like insane mad. Her uneven breathing intensified as his breath got closer to her soft skin. "Drop the formalities, glykiá mou." She took a long deep sigh. " I want to sign the marriage contract, Eugene." There was a silent pause. He got off the bed and ran his fingers in his messy hair while standing up. She got up and fixed her dress that had shifted due to their sleeping position. "Why,? What made you change your mind?" He asked, irritated. He thought that by her agreeing to the contract, it would make him happy and relieved but a part of him was confusingly in pain. "I know that I said no, but I don't want to be stuck in a marriage, where my husband is secretly having another woman because he doesn't want to be with me." This time she stood up and looked straight into his eyes. "Let's just agree on the marriage contract and get this over with as soon as possible. Our path was never meant to be crossed." He felt like hell hit him all over again. Has she been reading too many tabloids about him and his past mistresses? Or did she have a lover back home who was waiting for her? He stood there staring into her brown eyes that were filled with hurt. He sensed a pain slowly striking into his chest but this time it felt wrong like he was wrong, the whole thing confused him. "No, we will talk about this once we both are in better condition." He didn't know if he was more pissed at her for actually accepting his proposal or that he created this mess and now he's somehow regretting it. He walked away, heading straight for the bathroom. " I'm in love with someone." He stopped as he stood in his place, dead silence. So, the real reason why she wanted to sign that marriage contract was just so that she can go back to her lover? So, when she said that she didn't want to marry a husband who was secretly seeing another woman, was she actually talking about herself instead? What was with this stubborn woman he thought while still not facing her. "So, you're going to cheat on me with some other guy while we are legally married?" He asked her in his most death tone voice. That's it. He thought. All women were the same, there was no difference in any of them at all. For a split second, he had hoped that she would have been different but she was the same as Melissa. Was he ever going to be enough for anyone? She looked away, not meeting his gaze. " You will be doing the same as well, having other women pleasuring you day till night, you wouldn't even remember that a person like me exists." That's it. He wasn't going to deal with this argument that would leave him in more pain later. What was with this dense woman. Can't she clearly see that the only one who was cheating in the relationship was her and not him? He walked over and lifted her up and threw her on top of the bed. She screamed and was trying to fight him but it was useless.He got on top of her and held both of her arms down. If she thought that she could cheat on him during their marriage then she could start dreaming because it was not going to happen anytime soon, not now, not ever.