Chapter Thirty Estera Roberts’ POV (Ten Years Before)

“Who are you and why are you here? Were you trying to steal something? How did you get past the securities? Wait, are you a bloody reporter? I don’t care what network you work for, trespassing is a serious offense, young lady!”
“A thief?! Seriously?!” Who does this… this… man thinks he is. Of all the things he could think of, he thought I was a thief first. That was insulting and the reporter thing was an afterthought! I could be a witch, a goblin, a spymaster or hired assassin! And he thought I was a thief. “I am not a thief!” I said, stretching upward to say it closer to his face. He was tall I’m guessing six feet plus. I was five feet eight inches and felt petite in front of him. He was still gripping me by my forearms and didn't let go. I glared into his face and watched as he silently studied me.
“Then who are you? And why are you here?” he asked with a dim gaze and since I couldn’t possibly tell him who I was without ruining everything I scoffed inaudible indignant nonsense and repeated
“Whatever or whoever I am, sir, it is insulting to think I would be a thief!” I said, still in my ridiculous stance, and realizing I probably look like Jerry in his diminutive size of a mouse, openly challenging Tom the cat in the iconic comic cartoon of the cat and mouse. I slowly lowered my heel. Then saw his eyes roamed my body settling on my chest. I held still, trying not to betray how scared I was of who he might turn out to be. I wouldn’t want to be the reason why Aunt Sophia loses her job.
“I would apologize if you tell me who you are instead of glaring at me.”
“You glared at me first!” I retorted, feeling silly, knowing I was sounding like an elementary school kid right now. But I couldn’t think of any intelligent reason why I would be on the Sterlings' estate, lurking about their mansion.
“Is that so?” he said. And if he wasn’t backing the light I would have sworn he found the exchange amusing only his icy tone didn’t change and his stance was intimidating. I haven't forgotten though that he was a half-naked man, holding on to me and my body was about two inches away from his. We were so close that I could feel the heat of his body. Or perhaps I was imagining things. Curse my over-imaginative brain!
“I would have felt so inclined to answer a polite query instead of being accused and condemned first.”
“Sorry, Miss, why are you bloody sneaking about and watching me in the pool then?” he asked in a condescending tone.
“Watching you? Please!” I scoffed and rolled my eyes then skimmed them all over his muscle chest and down his defined stomach muscles to the telling bulge in his swimming trunk shorts. I could feel not only my cheeks but my entire body heating up by just looking. The man was a work of art. I gasped when he jerked me closer and I felt my breast touching his skin. I quivered all over and I swore he did too. My eyes shot up to hold his gaze up close and saw the color of his eyes was the deepest of ocean blue. My breath caught and my chest heaved. It was as if the body contact set mine on fire. He was a beautiful man and for the life of me, I couldn’t look away.
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“If you weren’t trying to steal nor was spying on me, what then, pray tell, are you doing here?” he asked but this time his voice was not as icy as it was before. It had dropped and sounded raspy with climax-inducing warmth that totally made me ache between my legs. Then I remembered I had to get away from him. My eyelids flickered as I swallowed a moan when he moved and my nipples brushed his skin. He lowered his gaze to my chest again and I knew without imitating the act that the telltale sign of my arousal was quite evident.
“I may be a time traveler,” I said in a voice that sounded breathy. He raised his eyes to meet mine with a raised eyebrow that was sexy as hell.
“You have to come up with a more believable lie, Miss,” he replied.
“Maybe I am here to meet a secret lover, and you are delaying our meeting,” I said, holding his gaze.
“Is that so? I happen to know every male worker assigned to this building, and having an affair with any of them would be illicit, and if it is true. I would take it upon myself to go looking for the bastard and have him picked up by the police.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Oh, I would dare, Miss, if you are tired of playing games, tell me who you are before the two of us catch our death in this cold.”
“Why were you even swimming in the rain anyway? It’s ridiculous. Shouldn’t you be having a hot bath instead cos that's what I would have been doing...”
“I was here before the rain started, and was determined to have my way. Not that it is any of your business. And are you trying to invite yourself to have a hot bath with me?”
“What?! Christ! Let go of me at once!” I said, and thankfully he did. “First you accused me of being a thief and now you think I am someone with loose morals!”
“Miss…”
“You are unbelievable! Typical male! And I will have you know I would never share a hot bath with you even if the bath was filled with a million dollars!” I have no idea why a bath would be filled with a million dollars and why that even came into context. I just wanted to get away and was just saying all kinds of nonsense that came to mind.
I marched away almost tripping into the rose garden then plucked one out, flinching as I got pricked in the process, and held it out in a triumphant display. “Ah!” I said and marched away feeling like a bloody idiot and knowing he must think I am an imbecile. But the joke was on him. I left without telling him who I was.