16 : Emotions

**Evelyn :**

"Raphael? Are you in here?" after knocking on the door of the study, I waited for an answer but one or two seconds passed, there was no answer. Pulling the handle, I realized that the door was locked.

Frowning, I uncomprehendingly took a step back and then smiled as I looked at the door.

"Okay! If you like being alone then don't mind if I go outside!" calling louder so that my voice could be heard through the door, I smirked and turned around to finally leave this place but my breath caught as soon as I heard the shower running in full force in the bathroom that was directly across from the study. The door was closed a little but not enough to see anything.

I didn't understand what was happening because there was a question, who could shower if the owner of the house is in his office? Stepping closer to the door, I gently pressed my finger on the smooth surface to peer inside. As soon as my sight realized what is in front of me, my mouth dropped open in shock.

**Death was definitely not in the study.**

The man was to blame for everything when I finally realized that he was in a shower cabin with half of the glass door open. Don't worrying at all about his naked body or about intruders who might secretly look at him.

He placed both hands on the white tile wall, spreading them out wide, letting the steamy water drench him completely as it dripped down his broad back which was covered in unique tattoos, from his muscular buttocks down to his strong calves.

My mouth became dry as a desert, I couldn't move from my spot in the doorway, seeing him in such a way when he bent his neck back, the vein muscles tensing.

With his head under the steaming water, his eyes were closed as his gruff voice startled me from my shameful staring,"You can join me if you want."

He hadn't even opened his eyes to look at me. However, I still couldn't move from the spot, mesmerized by his strong, masculine beauty - with scars that I was surprised to see for the first time when I looked closer, wounds that you wouldn't notice if you didn't look closely. What is wrong with me?

"I called you. You didn't answer me." Although I tried to hide the tremor in my voice, I couldn't. No way.

Taking his time, he turned off the shower faucet and opened the shower door, stepping out onto the white carpet. I couldn't breathe, my chest was rising faster than ever, yet I couldn't get enough oxygen into my lungs. Or maybe it was too much.

Stiffening, I stared at his magnificent body straightening to his full height. Even if it was an impossible, at that moment, it seemed that it was even bigger than usual.

Dark and shining eyes looked at me with such an intense look that there was no time to take a breath when he took a black towel from the wall which was beautifully hung, he wrapped it around himself, now hiding all the treasures, no matter how embarrassing for me it was. Covering the bottom, now tempting only with his bare chest, I watched as he slicked back his wet hair and walked over to the mirror, picking up some aftershave stuff.

"You know you can't play with me. It's not going to do any good if you threaten to leave me," his voice spoke again and I instantly blushed like a rose, instantly guilty but at the same time angry that he could easily order me whenever he want.

Holding back a curse, I pursed my lips,"Well, I had no other choice. You didn't respond when I spoke to you. I thought you were in the study," I explained, meanwhile Raphael had already put shaving cream on his face to carefully shave it off with a razor. I didn't understand why he needed it because his face was quite smooth enough as it is.

One eye glanced at me through the mirror,"I was. I guess you came right when I was taking a shower. I needed to calm down a bit. It's not good to be with me when I'm angry, trust me," turning his attention to his beard again, I crossed my arms and got the courage to enter the bathroom.

"So what? You're blaming Luke of that right away?"

The man immediately froze, I saw his hand clenching into a fist, as if he was trying not to hit someone,"Don't push me. It's better not to get involved if you don't know everything completely. My brother is definitely not what he pretends to be," he said through his teeth, not even noticing that he had already finished with his face and was about to rinse it off afterwards so he can clean it up.

Suppressing my thoughts, Raphael put the face towel back where it was hanging on the wall and turned to me. With a glint in his eye and a wave of his hand, I jumped when the door closed behind me and I heard a click, giving me a good sign that they were being locked with just a thought.

Swallowing, Raphael smirked evilly in my direction and took slow steps towards me, making me take an instant step back until I hit the wall with nowhere else to go. Coming right up to me, I closed my eyes tightly when I felt his hand caress my cheek gently.

"Same as before. Likes to get on my nerves to the point of maddness. What should I do with you?" sighing with sadness, I tried not to feel anything, tried to leave this emotional world of bubble but his touches wouldn't let me.

"That's why I fell in love with you. Because you can be quite a stubborn girl," after smiling, my eyes immediately opened to make sure I didn't heard it wrong.

*That's why I fell in love with you*

What? Is that really what I heard? My mind isn't playing tricks on me?

I wanted to see a smile on his face, that it was all just a joke but I saw only a serious and receptive expression on his face which expressed so much emotion that I couldn't tell which was which.

But you consider the idea that it might be true. How could the whole past life thing be a joke? You just remembered one moment when you lived before. Unless...

"If you remember correctly, there was a person who was after me when we first met, you know what he almost did?" the question was for testing because I don't know if he knows what happened to that guy from the party but before I could think more about it, Raphael leaned back from me and questioningly looked at me before answering, his eyes darkening as if he remembers that day.

''He almost raped you, Evelyn. You were scared when you runned into me so I punched the guy in the face and from the fear he pissed himself as I ordered him to leave you and never come back. I was mad that he almost hurt you.''

I took a sharp breath.

He knows. Exactly the same as I remembered.

Closing my eyes, I tried to grasp the truth, the terrible truth I wanted to escape. I really had a past with this man.

"Evelyn," after saying my name with a command, I forced myself to make eye contact with him as I waited for what he would say,"You saw something, didn't you? You saw your past life," the second was more of an statment than a question and I could only duck my head down.

Feeling his rough but gentle finger under my eyes, I realized that I was crying. After wiping my tears, I could only let my emotions out, reminiscing a bit about the memories and feelings with him. Everything was not perfect but I knew one thing - I am safe with him.

"Oh baby," he sighed, feeling his strong arms on my waist, wrapping around me to pull me close. At that moment, it didn't even matter that he was half-naked. I could only breathe in his divine body scent and feel protected in his embrace.

As crazy as it was, I had a bond with this devine God. Deeper than I can imagine.

****

The next morning I was already feeling a little better because of the rain that had already subsided and the clouds that were already starting to disperse so that the beautiful sun could shine through the large and wide windows.

Spread out on the bed, I could only yawn widely, not trying to hide the sleep that was still in my body. Turning my head, to the right and to the left, I realized that I was alone in the bedroom.

Knowing that I fell asleep in his arms yesterday, no matter how embarrassing it was, at least now I could think clearly.

Maybe I have Stockholm syndrome because I'm attached to my captor?

Smirking at such a stupid thought, I sat up and looked at my watch only to see that it was eight in the morning. At one point I noticed a suspicious note, pushed against a glass of juice which had apparently appeared unnoticed on the nightstand. Taking it in my hands, I opened it to see a neat handwriting.

**My presence was urgently needed outside the house, business related stuff so unfortunately I had to leave you alone. Feel safe at home, breakfast is already on the table, I'm just warning you not to leave the house without my permission. I promise to be home in the evening.**

**If you are a good girl, you will get a gift. I won't say what because it's a surprise.**

**Yours, sincerely**
**Raphael**

Smiling without even realizing it, I put the note back just to slap myself. I'm getting used to this whole lifestyle and I'm starting to dislike that fact.

With a sigh, I got up to went to the shower and finally eat. I was hungry like a wolf.