Chapter 6
I've been pacing back and forth pondering on that one mind-blowing kiss. It's the best I've ever had. Well, it's the only kiss I've ever had. There's no denying that I'm attracted to Eros and especially after that kiss it makes me think it's more than just a petty crush.
But what worries me is that if he's not in the Mafia, then what is he in? There must be a reason why he's the most feared man in town. It can't just be him wearing a leather jacket and breaking hearts left and right. I frustratingly ran a hand through my hair as I glared at the stuffed Panda. Annoyed and bested by my little traitorous heart, I stormed out of my house and over to the Carmichael residence.
As I climbed the steps to his porch I noticed the front door was slightly ajar, just like last time. Déjà vu hit me like running into a brick wall, and I started panicking. Wondering what state Eros would be in this time. I marched into his house but this time there was no shattered glass or wet footprints. But I did hear shouts and groans which seemed to be coming from the basement. Thinking the worst I dashed for the entrance of the basement and walked down the steps.
The lights were dim but I was able to see that there was a hallway with four doors but only one door was slightly open. I hesitatingly walked down the hallway and heard the groans of a person grow louder and louder. A bloody and beaten Eros appeared in my mind which gave me the courage to open the door but nothing prepared me for what was actually happening.
A man who looked to be in his late thirties was tied to a chair. Four men in black hoodies stood to the side while Eros started punching the poor guy. Eros' hands covered in blood, and I doubt it was his blood. His eyes held a certain danger to them and his aura was so intense I felt like suffocating. I expected myself to shed tears but instead I was filled with a boiling rage.
"Stop!" someone said but I didn't know who it was till all eyes were on me. It was me. Once Eros' eyes met mine, the dark fury from his eyes disappeared and was replaced by the look of horror. "Grace," he gasped.
"What are you doing to this man? You're killing him," I said, astounded by the amount of courage I have. "And for good reason," was his excuse but I wasn't having any of it. "Good reason? What good reason is there to beat a man who can't even defend himself," my voice raised.
The men standing at the sides were trying to keep their eyes away but they seemed shocked as if they've never seen Eros being this soft to someone. They say that kindness can get you anywhere, anywhere except with me. "You frustrate me to no end, Carmichael," I told him, my anger totally turning into tears. You know why women cry when they're angry? It's because murder is illegal. And what he’s doing is definitely illegal.
"You've been on my mind ever since you got back. I don't know whether to trust you or not and here I am entering your home because I'm concerned because I have these unknown feelings for you," I added.
"You have feelings for me?" he asked in disbelief. Out of all the things I've said, that's all he got?
"Too late scumbag, they're long gone now." I lied. "Because you're a monster," And it infuriates me that even after I saw him brutally beat a man still the feelings I had for him were strong. Eros bowed his head in defeat as he said something that people barely heard "Get out,"
His men looked at him in confusion until he yelled out angrily "Get out!" His men jumped as they started walking out carrying the injured man. Even though I knew he was talking to his men I spun around and walked out of the room not wanting to see Eros. But before I could leave the basement I felt arms wrapped around my waist and without turning around I told him "Let me go, Eros."
"No," he sounded like he was crying. "I told you I'm a selfish man."
I turned around then he leaned his head against my stomach, hugging my waist as if his life depended on it. "Please give me the chance to explain myself," he begged and before I could reject him, he looked up and my heart jumped into my throat. His intense eyes filled with tears that held an aching sorrow to them. My heart reached out to him as he bared his soul to me. I couldn't exactly say that he also cried to his other girls because Eros didn't seem like the type to cry. And I had a strong urge to hug him and kiss the tears away.
I didn't want to hear any of his excuses and I had a hidden desire for him to fight for me. To never give up on me even if I'm stubborn. To ignore my rejection and sweep me off my feet. It was a desire every girl dreamed of. I wanted so badly to hate him but as I said before my heart is a traitor. The heart wants what it wants even if I tried fighting it I knew my heart would win in the end. I slowly nodded expecting him to be all happy and flirty like he always is.
Instead, he scooped me into his arms making me yelp and carried me towards the kitchen. He sat me down on the counter of the kitchen as he put his hands on either side of me. "Little Grace," he started out "You mean a lot to me. And I want you to stay in my life for the long term. But I know for a relationship to work you have to be honest, and the skeletons in my closet isn’t something easy to tell."
The worst thoughts came to mind. Secret assassin, murderer, and Mafia related stuff. "I get my money from my businesses. Nothing big or illegal just a few stores I own but I have a side job but this particular kind of job doesn't earn any money just respect and satisfaction." I felt sick to my stomach. Did he beat people up just for satisfaction?
"But before I tell you about my side job you have to know the whole story," he nervously said. I couldn't help but reach out and caressed his face with my hand urging him to go on. "As you know that my parents used to fight a lot. But it's usually just my dad. He wasn't exactly the perfect father nor was he a normal father. He'd come home almost every night drunk out of his mind and..." he trailed off and as he explained, I couldn't help but beat myself up for thinking the worst of him.
"Eros... You don't need to go on," I told him sincerely. But he shook his head and said "I have to... I want you to be in my life little Grace and for that to happen you have to know everything." he swallowed the lump in his throat as he continued "It was only me at the time. Being the rebellious child I was, didn't settle well with my father. So he'd take out all his rage on me but my mom... she's kind and caring. She's like every mother should be and because she loved me with every ounce of her body she took the beating for me," my hands flew to my mouth holding in a gasp.
"But one night, my father went too far with my mother by pulling out his gun. This happened sometime during my senior year in high school. I was able to take on my father and call the cops. But ever since then my mom hasn't been the same. Those years were the worst years of my life and I was tempted so many times to run away but there was one thing keeping my feet grounded... you,"
My eyes widen at his words. How can I keep someone like Eros strong? We barely even talked before. "I was nursing my wounds one night and then I saw you. You were in your room doing your homework and it looked like you were tired because your eyes kept drooping shut. Your head kept falling but you'd always catch yourself but after a few minutes your head fell forward and you hit your head on your desk. You bolted right up thinking someone hit you or something but as you realized that you just fell asleep and hit your head on your desk, you laughed. You were so innocent and so full of life and that was the moment I knew that I was in love with you. The more I got to know you the more I fell in love with you." he confessed.
I felt exhilarated and terrified at the same time. My heart felt like soaring through the sky. My stomach filled with angry butterflies and my legs shook involuntarily. It scares me how Eros has this much effect on me.
"I moved away, leaving you was the hardest thing I had to do. I got a business degree and opened up a few businesses but my side job. I call it my own personal rehab for people like my father," he spat out. "Relatives who lash out on their own blood. I take them in, beat them a few times and make sure they're sober before they go back to their families. But if ever they can't change then they face my beatings and I hand them over to the police." it was silent for the next few minutes. I was still processing what he said.
"I understand if you'll leave a monster like me. My mom is at a nursing home. Ever since dad's beatings, she's never been the same. She lost her mind and the will to live. I blame myself every day for what happened to her... if only I was stronger," he had a longingness in his eyes.
I tried processing what he said and come to terms with what he is but my feelings for him were still strong. I pushed aside all thoughts and let my heart take the wheel. I grabbed his face and pushed my lips upon his. He was shocked and didn't respond at first but after a while, he gripped my waist and kissed back. Unfortunately, we had to pull away to catch our breaths. I leaned my head against his and told him softly "What happened to your mom wasn't your fault. You’re a hero Eros if not to others than to me. And no matter what you do, I don't have the will to walk away from you. I'm here to stay."
Who knew that love could feel like soaring and melting all at the same time? I was nervous today because Eros was taking me on our first date. Claiming that he could sweep me off my feet. I have no doubt he would.
Like the gentleman that Eros was he picked me up from my home, even though we lived right next door to each other. Still he picked me up and started driving towards dinner. “Where are we going?” I asked him. He looked even more handsome today wearing a white button-up shirt with black jeans. His hair was carelessly brushed on his head giving him a bedhead look.
“It’s a surprise,” he said with a wink. I frowned and told him “I hate surprises.” All of a sudden he leaned towards me and stole a tender kiss from my lips leaving me flushed. “From the looks of it, you love surprises. Trust me on this little Grace, you’ll love it.” He said obviously he was in a chipper mood.
By the time we arrived at a restaurant that was on the outskirts of town, it was raining lightly. Eros parked the car and quickly made his way to my door, and Eros being tall and all his body shielded me from the rain. When we entered the restaurant he wrapped a possessive arm around my waist. “Reservation for Carmichael,” he told the waitress. The waitress checked her book while Eros looked at me lovingly. I could definitely get used to this.
“Sorry sir, but there’s no reservation for Carmichael,” the waitress said making Eros’ head snapped dangerously at her. “What?” he seethed. “There’s no reservation under the name of Carmichael.” She stated. “I called hours ago reserving the garden table.” Clearly, Eros was irritated. This won’t end well.
“Sorry sir but our garden table is unavailable at the moment. If you’re willing to wait—” But the poor girl didn’t get to finish when Eros literally growled at her and he sounded menacingly. “Look here wench, I’m here to impress my girlfriend,” I couldn’t help but blush when he called me his girlfriend. “And clearly, you’re ruining it. I’ve made my reservations. Check. Again.” He hissed, his face red from anger.
The waitress panicked as she quickly scanned through the book in hopes she’d find his reservation but by the time she looked up, it was obvious on her face that she didn’t find it. Eros unwrapped his arm from my waist and pushed me behind him. I could feel his aura getting more dangerous by the second. “I want to know who’s responsible for the reservations! I will kill—” I knew where this was going so to calm Eros down I wrapped my hands around his bulging biceps.
He looked down at me with an intense gaze but I looked up at him with a small smile. “Eros,” he shut his eyes as if saying his name calmed him down. “We can go somewhere else.” I suggested. He opened his eyes and I can tell he was a lot calmer now. “Are you sure little Grace? I can pull some strings.” He said. I smiled widely at him, appreciating that he valued my opinion. “Yes, maybe we can go to your house and I can cook for you.” I suggested and he beamed with happiness by the suggestion.
As we walked out of the restaurant, Eros glared at the waitress. But I quickly tugged him out of there before he can change his mind. By the time we got outside it was already raining hard but still Eros shielded me from the rain using his body as we got back to the car.
“We could’ve got the reservation back there. I could’ve talked to the manager and get things straight,” he offered one last time before heading back to his house. I scoffed “Talk? Yeah right, more like talk with your fists.” He looked at me amusingly. Probably, because I was so sweet back in the restaurant and for good reason too. I didn’t want to cause a scene.
By the time we got back to his house we were drenched from head to toe. I blame Eros, I started running towards the house to not get any wetter than I was but Eros caught up with me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and spun me around in the rain making me squeal with glee as he carried me to his house.
My eyes betrayed me as I stared at Eros whose shirt was soaked making it cling to his muscles. He caught me ogling at him painting a smirk on his face. “Like what you see little Grace?” I rolled my eyes at him. He gave me a towel to dry as he headed towards the kitchen.
Eros groaned as he cussed out. I slowly walking towards the kitchen to see him hitting his head repeatedly on the refrigerator. “Anything wrong?” I asked. He looked at me with a pained expression. He then kneeled in front of me and hugged my waist again. “I’m the worst date ever. I haven’t gone grocery, so there’s no food.” he explained. I tried cheering him up by saying “It’s okay. I wouldn’t know since I have nothing else to compare it with,” But I chose the wrong words.
His eyes widen “This is your first date? Ever?” I slowly nodded. He groaned and said “Today is such a failure. Not only am I a monster but I can’t even take my girl on a proper date. You must think very low of me,” Sadness filled every single pitch of his voice. Even though things didn’t go as planned today, not a single thought crossed my mind that today was an utter failure.
I smiled as I kneeled down in front of him and caressed his sad face. “Eros,” I said with a smile. “Today wasn’t a failure at all.” Without a warning Eros pushed his lips upon mine but I didn’t hesitate to kiss back. It was a kiss full of passion and desire. His lips started trailing along my jaw making me forget how to breathe.
“You’re so beautifully perfect,” he said through kisses.