Chapter 36

Tingles spread all over me at the contact of his lips on my neck. The way he held me close with no space between us weakened my knees. We danced in rhythm with the slow old country love song. The sea of couples dancing around us was lost to me when I pulled back to look into his grey orbs. The look he gave me had my heart accelerating.

“I will make you my queen, treat you like a queen, and love you incessantly,” he whispered into my ear, his warm breath sending shivers on every inch of my body.

I parted my mouth to reply but found no words. He laughed, placing my head on his chest again as we reveled in the moment.

A thunderclap blasted in the dark clouds, gallons of rain falling shortly after. Everyone scattered for shelter but Lionel and I remained put, staring at each other with smirks on our faces. It’s like we had a mutual understanding when we started dancing to the rock song now playing, cackling like it was going out of fashion.

The heavy rainfall did nothing to stop our exhilaration, rocking our bodies at the cheers from the locals of the beach party. When it was clear that we were out of breath, completely drenched and exhausted, we waved the crowd goodbye and disappeared to the parking area.

“You had fun?” Lionel asked, a grin never leaving his lips as he buckled my seatbelt for me.

I bobbed my head up and down, smiling widely. “I had a great time, honestly.”

The rain was getting intense and it was past 8.pm so we opted to go home. Time did fly quickly whenever one was having the time of their lives. It was a reality everyone dreaded.

“We should pass by the store for a change of clothes,” Lionel suggested due to my constant shivering. I was freezing and could see a cold coming for me as my nose was already running.

After going around town looking for a clothing store and finding none, the only option left was to go home but the roads were beginning to get flooded. It was unlikely that we would make it but we kept driving.

We came to a stop to what seemed like traffic but it was the police urging drivers to turn back because the roads were too flooded and a tree had fallen on the roundabout a few meters away.

“We’ll have to find a hotel for the night,” Lionel’s declaration had me sighing and making a call home to notify my parents of the situation at hand. The next hour was spent scouting for hotels that were hard to find, closed or full. The road to the nearest town was also flooded, leaving us with nowhere to go because the remaining paths led to deserted areas.

“What will we do now?” I could barely keep my frustration at bay. I craved for a shower, hot coffee, and warm blankets.

“The only option left is to go to my summer house which is about two hours away if we go this way.” He pointed at the said road, giving me an empathetic look. “Maybe more if there’s traffic.”

I palmed my face and shook my head. “Well, it’s not like we have much of a choice. We should go now. I hope we don’t find the same predicament.”

The road was surprisingly better and with no traffic, it took us only an hour and a half to drive into his compound.

“I didn’t know you had houses out of Washington,” I said when my eyes took in the extravagant maisonette.

“My family likes to own properties for vacations and getaways, seems like I’m following the same criteria.”

Once he was parked, he lead us to the doorway and fished his aloe vera pot plant for the house keys. I cackled at that as he unlocked the door and said, “Ladies first.”

My laughter died in my throat, a scream escaping my lips at the figures before me. Lionel was quick to jump in front of me, to protect me from the duo who were as stunned to see me as I was them.

I was stiffened in place, staring wide-eyed at the full-grown teenager now cuddling Lionel, then at the barbie doll lookalike sizing me from head to toe. Un-fucking-believable!

“Claire sweery, could you please go to your room for a minute?” He bent over to her level and pecked her on the forehead. She scurried away within a second, oblivious of the tense situation.

She had a room and he called her sweery? Damn, it was as real as it could get. Just when I thought everything was working out fine, life had to throw this at me. A married man. I will be damned.

“I wanted to tell you-“ He began but my piercing voice wouldn’t allow him.

“Tell me what? That you have a wife and a kid?” I yelled, jealousy and guilt eating me up. I was not supposed to be but I couldn’t help it. Why did he have to be married?

“It’s not like that, Shannon,” he protested, taking a step towards me but stopped at the raise of my hand.

“I guess I got the answer I was looking for. You were too good to be true after all.” I bent to pick my phone that had slipped from my grasp and spun to leave but Lionel grabbed me, pulling me flush against him.

“You’re not going anywhere, she is. I am not married and never have been,” he whispered.

“Stop lying to her, she’s just the other woman and you know it.” She sat herself down and crossed one leg over the other, a smug look on her face.

Say what now? I smacked my palm against my forehead and huffed out air. I was seconds away from whacking the living daylights out of her.

“Just shut the fuck up, Leslie.” Lionel roared, his eyes were so red it scared me. I’d never seen him even the tiniest bit angry. I didn’t want to believe he would deceive me. He was not the married cheating husband type.

“Why would I? Don’t lie to the girl, you’re only wasting her time.” She giggled, clapping her hands like she was in a comedy show.

“How did you even get in here? My father told you about this place, didn’t he? You know what, just get the fuck out.” He walked towards her, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her towards the door before shoving her out and slamming it close.