21 : Kitchen intruder

**Evelyn :**

Time stopped for a moment, there was invisible energy in the air that raised all the hair on my skin. It was much colder in the water but inside everything was burning, as if my veins were made of lava instead of blood. I started to tremble from the unknown sensations caused by the powerful man close to me but the moment was ruined when we heard the phone ring.

My heart started beating faster as I discovered something.

*Holy shit. We almost..* What would have happened if the phone hadn't interrupted us? Raphael would have kissed me?

Throwing that thought out immediately, I saw that Raphael's eyes were even darker, his face in a furious grimace. What would he be angry about?

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, gripped me tighter, relaxed, and opened his eyes again to lean back. For a moment I had a feeling of disappointment in my heart but I immediately shook off that feeling like a disturbing mosquito, not understanding what was happening to me. Then I realized that the phone was still ringing, we were still in the pool, in the water, completely wet and he was naked all over, hugging me.

As if coming out of a trance, I made a startled sound as I pulled myself out, only to find that I couldn't swim and if he hadn't caught me, I would have drowned.

"Take it easy," he muttered softly. Raphael calmly held me and helped me get to the edge so I could finally get out of the cold water. Shivering, I looked away from him as I heard him get out of the pool to go get his clothes. After putting on his pants as far as I could tell, his phone call was cut off when I heard him answer.

"You just picked the right time," he growled through clenched teeth. Risking a look in his direction only to see his wet back and wearing only his pants, the rest gave me a good view of his muscles and tattoos, which flashed with the rest of where we were.

The world we were in, which was like his previous planet, was now illuminated in blue lights and everything had darkened.

Running his fingers through his wet hair, which was much blacker than before, he slowly turned to me, sighing heavily as he listened to the phone. Catching me staring, I immediately turned sharply away so that he wouldn't think I was watching him with interest.

"Now? You know I can't leave these rooms unless something really serious has happened," he explained, and trying to understand what it was about, I hugged myself tighter so as not to lose some of the warmth in my body.

There was silence for a moment, I heard a low murmur, although I did not understand a word, the answer was clear and bright.

"Okay but don't make me regret it. It has to be something serious, otherwise, I won't risk it the same way next time," Raphael hung up the phone, growling.

There was energy in the air again but this one was uneasy because I wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible. There was no more air to breathe. Feeling him much closer, I held my breath as his touch on my hip almost made me fall but I stayed standing at the last moment.

"You're shivering. Put my shirt on before you get sick from the cold," before I could even protest, his hands took my piece of clothing, pulling it off me, and in that place, his shirt was pulled over my head and I had no strength left to protest so I allowed myself to put my hands inside and get some warmth, even though I knew I needed a shower soon and completely dry clothes.

Avoiding his gaze, I blushed, "Thank you..."

I felt his intense gaze as his burning touch on my face made me look at his flaming eyes.

Caressing my cheek gently with his hand, his gaze followed his movements as he finally turned back to look at me.

"I'll have to leave you for a few hours. There happened...something urgent and I have to be there, unfortunately.''

I asked without thinking, "Who called you?"

He gave me another long look, I couldn't quite figure out what it meant, what he sees and thinks when he looks at me.

"He was a good friend of mine for a long time, we have helped each other in times of need. He is, as they say, my right hand. Don't worry, dear, if I wanted to, I would just leave everything aside just to be with you but I also have my duties as a king," eyes flashing, I had no choice but to shudder from his words and nod in understanding.

The sooner we part, the easier it will be for me to breathe and think better. With him by my side, it was impossible, knowing that the feelings he gave me made me question my entire existence. His touch didn't make it any better, now feeling him more and more lately.

I wasn't allowed to fall in love with him, it wasn't right but I was afraid it had already started.

"Evelyn? You with me, love?" my thoughts were interrupted when I saw him dangerously close, his hands now on my face, caressing my hair as well, which was wet all over.

Cheeks burning, I barely took a breath, trying to ignore his proximity, but it was impossible.
"Y-yeah of course," I had to stutter, and it seemed like he knew what he was doing to me because almost cracking out a smile, Raphael remained serious as he studied me.

"It's cold, we better go so you can warm up," agreeing with him, Phoenix led me out of paradise and mirrors when we were back in the maze of corridors and we both found ourselves in the bedroom.

"Take a hot shower, I'll put warm clothes on the bed for you. Don't be shy to come out, I'll be gone," he told me, with one last look at me and a kiss on my temple, he gently pushed me towards the bathroom. I willingly ran in there, even if it looked comical from afar, how impatient I was to escape from his presence.

After grinning at me, I closed the door behind me with redder cheeks and locked it in an instant. Pushing against them, I sighed heavily and tried to start breathing more evenly.

There will be a day when he will finish me completely.

****

After coming out of the shower, which I had heated up like in the sauna, I calmly wrapped a towel around me, unlocked the door to take a look and made sure that there was no one in the room, quickly went to the bed, where was already put a warm home tracksuit. Casually smiling to myself at Raphael's concern, I put it on only to fall into a whole new and different paradise.

The outfit was soft and too warm, it gave me so much comfort. It was white in color, pants and a high-neck sweater. There were thick white knit socks but that was all I needed.

After drying my hair, I went to the bathroom to take care of my small needs and then put my hair in a messy bun. Also, I was only at home and no one saw me like this so I didn't care how I look. Then I discovered that I already considered this place as my home. I don't know when and why but for a moment the feeling and that revelation seemed right, that it was destined to happen a long time ago.

Not knowing what to do, I fell into bed with my phone and started surfing the Internet.

Not even half an hour passed when I heard a noise from the kitchen. Frowning, I tried to listen for what had caused it when I heard it again but this time it sounded like a person running into a chair, causing it to push further away, and then someone cursing what sounded like "shit."

With my heart pounding, I instantly put my phone aside and got out of bed with fear but I tried to do it quietly so that I wouldn't be heard.

Grabbing the first weapon that I found, which was a decorative bottle, I grabbed it tightly and slowly crept up to the door, and thank God it was a little bit open, otherwise I would have had to open it with noise. Opening it, I slowly left the room and entered the hallway. Since the kitchen was downstairs, I had to go down the stairs, which creaked a bit but hoping they wouldn't reveal my location, I quickly walked to them and started to climb down. There were moments when they started to squeak but when I changed the direction of my step at the last moment, everything stopped and I could continue walking.

When I finally made it downstairs with difficulty, I cautiously approached the kitchen, where it was quiet but then there was the noise again. It was much louder the closer I was. The pan fell, or so I thought.

When I opened the kitchen door wide open, my jaw dropped when I saw what was really going on and what was causing the noise.

It was Raphael's brother. **LUKE.**

He looked quite terrible. His clothes were torn, and his hair were dirty and disheveled but that's not what shocked me, but the fact that he was completely drunk and tried to fry sandwiches and eggs on a pan. Shells landed on the oily surface but after looking at it for a moment, Luke shrugged and continued what he had started. Swallowing at the weird sight in front of me, he elbowed the bowl by accident on the counter directly in front of him to his right, and it flew down to the ground. Everything that was inside fell out on the floor and it sounded like something heavy but I had to get closer to be sure.

Relaxing and lowering the bottle I had in my hands, I stared at him in confusion.

What was he doing here, in Raphael's home, if he knew full well that he shouldn't be here without his permission?

I heard him groaning and cursing for what he had done.

"Stupid meat," growling at the place where the bowl fell, I barely stopped the laughter that wanted to burst out of my mouth but calmed down at the last moment, not even noticing that I had let go of the bottle and it fell out of my hands with a bang and as it hit the ground.

Grimacing at the sound, I swallowed hard to find that I had revealed myself and when I looked at Luke, his gaze was already on me. After staring blankly for a moment, he finally gave a crooked smile.

"Hey, sugar, you're here again," greeting me in a low voice, I pursed my lips when I heard him call me by some pet name.

*Way to start a conversation, great.*