Chapter 12 Stripped Bare
Rita's voice was a mere whisper, audible only to my ears. "Listen closely," she said, "It seems they're making love too."
I strained my ears and sure enough, the sounds of passion were unmistakable. These people were certainly industrious.
"Rita," I confessed, a bitter smile playing on my lips, "I'm young and your teasing is more than I can bear. If this continues, I'm bound to make a mistake."
I was a pitiful sight. A beautiful woman in my arms, yet I was paralyzed by fear. I was truly a sorry excuse for a man.
"Ah!" Rita sighed suddenly. "Are you afraid that I'll become too attached? Perhaps I've been too greedy. You're a good man, responsible and attractive. You must have better options. I'm making things difficult for you."
Her words were laced with self-deprecation. My heart twisted painfully at her admission.
I couldn't deny my feelings any longer.
"No, it's not like that," I said, my voice strained. "Rita, you're the perfect woman in my eyes, someone I could spend a lifetime with."
"You're lying to me," she retorted. "If I'm really that good, why do you reject me!"
"Because I'm afraid!" I confessed. "I feel inferior, I'm a coward, I'm timid!"
Having lived in the city of Sevan for so long, I had built walls around myself, but not when it came to Rita. "Rita, you should know, my family is from the countryside, we're not well-off. I have a sister and a brother, the pressure is great. I have no car, no house, no savings. If not for my looks, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have the courage to live in this world.
"Rita, you're intelligent, beautiful, and financially secure. You have a wonderful daughter, Judith. You're the epitome of a successful and beautiful woman. I've often thought how wonderful it would be to have a wealthy woman who could look up to me. But when the day really comes, I am timid, I am simply not worthy of you.
"You might say that as long as we truly like each other, it's okay. But even familial bonds need money to maintain, let alone love. If I were a naive young man just entering society, I would have acted impulsively, but I'm not.
"So, I'm sorry, Rita. It's not that you're not good, it's that I'm not good enough. I'm not worthy of your love."
After I finished speaking, Rita started laughing. "I didn't expect you to have thought so much!
"I understand your thoughts now. The fact that you can think like this shows that you truly care about me, unlike those other stinky men who just want to possess me.
"But what can I do, I just like you. Do you really have the heart to let me be deceived by other men? To let Judith call another man daddy?"
I knew that Rita was trying to provoke me, and my damn possessiveness couldn't stand this kind of provocation. "No, I don't want to!" I said, my voice shaking with agitation.
I grabbed her hand. "Rita, over the past year or so, I've been running away. I've been avoiding your calls, afraid of your jests. I know I'm not ready to make any promises.
"But I, John, am a man. Give me some time, I will strive to improve myself. At the very least, I need to have the financial ability to take care of you and Judith. I don't want to be seen as a failure."
"Okay, I'll listen to you," Rita said, nodding gently. Somehow, we found ourselves locked in a passionate kiss once again.
Her lips were magical.
After the kiss, Rita held me close. "Don't make me wait too long. A woman over thirty ages faster every day."
"I will try my best," I promised, a strange sense of responsibility welling up within me. Rita was not a woman of loose morals. Her life was simple, either working or taking care of her daughter. I had never heard of her having a relationship with any man.
Honestly, I was lucky to have her favor.
That night, we talked a lot, but most of the time it was me talking and Rita listening.
She was like a nurturing older sister, gently stroking my hair, my cheeks, and occasionally tucking the little girl in. The feeling of being held by her was incredibly comforting.
When I woke up the next day, I was greeted by two beauties.
Rita stirred awake, catching me staring at her. She flicked my forehead. "What are you thinking about so early in the morning?"
But soon, she caught on and laughed helplessly. "I really can't do anything with you."
She then reached into her bag and pulled out a change of clothes, proceeding to undress right in front of me.
"Still shy?" Rita teased, glancing at me as she slowly removed her outerwear. Her stunning figure was revealed, leaving me utterly spellbound.
She was truly beautiful, truly sexy.
Had I really spent the night with such a beauty?
How could I have slept? I was worse than a beast.
Reflecting on our heartfelt conversation from the night before, I chastised myself for being a fool.
I had thought of myself as a rational man.
Seeing me staring at her, Rita tapped my forehead gently. "What are you looking at? You slept next to this last night!"
Her voice, falling into my ears, was like an invitation: "You come on, come on..."
Early morning was indeed when desire was at its peak, and I felt like I was about to explode.
I swallowed hard.
"Honey, my bra feels a bit tight. Can you help me adjust it? It's so uncomfortable this way."
Rita's soft voice broke my trance. She turned around, revealing her bare back.
I was instantly stunned.
My hand reached out, trembling, my heart pounding.
I felt like a virgin in that moment.
"Are you done yet?" she asked.
"Just a bit longer, it'll be done soon!" I managed to croak out, hoping time would slow down.
It took more than twenty seconds before I managed to fasten it.
When Rita turned around, her eyes were full of emotion.
My throat moved, and I couldn't help but lean in, but just as I was about to, the little girl woke up. "Mom... Dad..."
Hearing her voice, Rita quickly pushed me away and got dressed.
I was slightly disappointed. If only the little girl had woken up a few minutes later, even one minute would have been good!
After breakfast, it was time for leisure activities.
Many families were sitting in small boats by the shore, rowing towards the center of the lake.
"Judith, sit tight!" Rita called out, applying sunscreen to the little girl. After she was done, she walked over to me. "Your hands are dirty, I'll help you."
She squatted down, carefully applying the sunscreen to my face, neck, and arms.
Her proximity made her breath tickle my face, carrying a pleasant fragrance.
"Wife, you're so beautiful!" I couldn't help but praise. We were playing the roles of husband and wife, so during the day in front of others, we addressed each other as such.
"You're just sweet-talking!" she retorted.
"Do you not know whether I'm sweet-talking or not?"
"Don't say such things in front of the child!" she scolded, but I could see the amusement in her eyes.
This woman was really good to me, and I should treat her sincerely. Appropriate jokes can deepen the feelings between us, but overly blunt flirting would make me feel like I'm desecrating her.
She was like a delicate flower in my heart, a softness deep within.
"Daddy, let's go boating too!" Judith pleaded.
I was about to agree when a 'plop' sound echoed from the water not far away, as if someone had thrown a big stone into the water.
A child's cry followed, "Ah, someone please save my aunt, my aunt has fallen into the water!"
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