Shall Under Your Charm

Chapter 79

"There are some things you should learn about love, if you think so. Love is a double-edged sword, Farah. I don't care if you're Andreas' girlfriend. What I can't accept is that when you're in my arms, maybe you're just pretending."

Although reluctant, it was something that Farah could understand. Gege's kiss, though done with great care, had taught him that. "Why do you trust gossip more in the harbor than I do?"

"Damn it, Farah, can't you see that you're the last person I can trust? I want to believe that you're guilty, that way I'll have a reason not to let you go. Although there's a part of me that always knows who you really are". Ryan said, Then Ryan continued in a quieter voice, "I could almost let you go, after you were seriously ill on Keith's private island, because I was overwhelmed with a huge sense of guilt."

"But, at that moment I wanted to stay," Farah said as she looked at her clenched hand.

"I knew. Butwhy? You're isolated, tormented, and away from everything you know...." Ryan was silent, as if realizing he was losing control. When Ryan started talking again, his voice sounded calmer. "You know I want you. How many of your responses to me were based on fear of what I would do to you if you refused to obey me?"

Farah was about to speak, but Ryan interrupted by saying. "No, I know you don't know, you can't answer that, and neither can I. There is no way to feel sure. That's why I should have released you. As compensation, it was still not enough, I knew it. I tried to listen to the remnants of the sense of justice in me."

"The remains of a sense of justice," Farah repeated, as if those words should be pondered again. "That phrase must have meant something. And it doesn't feel right for you to say." Farah turned around and found Ryan already standing beside the table, the expression on Ryan's face was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

"The remnants of justice. I can't believe you have it. I don't even know if you have a conscience, when you make me a toy as you please."

Outside the window, the wind blew and made the leaves on the walnut tree sway, its shadow reaching Ryan's face. "You don't have to use symbolism; I'm not Keith. You want me to understand that you consider my apology insincere and just nonsense."

"I consider your apology thinner than paper!" farah said fiercely. "That night in the bedroom, you attacked me."

Ryan wondered how many years would pass before he could remember the incident without making his heart cut. Very gently, Ryan said, "I can only hope that as time goes on I will be able to fill your heart completely with my love so that you will be able to forget all your heartache from my abusive treatment."

"And?"

"And I'll cut off my hand before I hurt you again. Forever." The corner of Ryan's eyes began to lift and implied a smile. "Darling, be nice a little bit. You're listening to my apology,"

If there were currently a hundred men smiling at him, not a single one would be able to affect him as deeply and as deeply as the smiley gleam in Ryan's eyes. The muscles around Farah's mouth begged him to return the smile. Thank goodness her wrist still remembers the rope that Ryan tied there yesterday.

"Listening is not the same as receiving." As soon as those words were thrown out, Farah realized how childish it sounded. He always wished he could make smart comments. Especially in times like these. By re-gathering his pride. Farah said, "It seems like you always think more ahead than I do, so I have a question for you. What exactly do you want?"

The leaves swayed outside the window; with a gentle gaze as he said, "I want to wake up every morning with your breath on my shoulder. I want to sit and chat with you in front of the fireplace when it rains." Even more gently, "I want to sleep with your back curled up on my body, and both of your chewy balls are under my palms."

Ryan's warm gaze turned to Farah's lower lip, to the slow pulse that was on her neck, then to the mound of her forehead ball. Those golden eyes were tense as they returned to Farah's eyes. "Farah, if I can't be with you now, I don't know if I can still live another day. All the things that were previously a barrier for me to have you are gone. It seemed to evaporate with the wind on board the Dark Devil on its way to America. When I heard you laughing on the deck, when I turned to look at you, I wasn't sure I could resist coming to you.... Baby, I need you. Will you come with me to bed?"

Ryan's sincerity surprised Farah, as well as Ryan's readiness to show the man's feelings for her. The last thing he expected from Ryan was this frank and almost quivering plea. In response Farah's blood rippled.

"I don't think so" said Farah, trying to make her expression look cold. "I just got out of bed, and I didn't find a single reason why I wanted to go back there." Farah's self-defense falters as Ryan smiles at her and moves on to close the door. Farah ran to the back of the sofa by the window.

Farah's actions surprised Ryan. That's clearly seen. Ryan sat in a nearby chair and closely watched Farah.

"You don't have to be afraid, Farah. I can see it's not easy for me to convince you, and all of this requires adjustments, but you're no longer at the Dark Devil's headquarters. One shout from you could make the whole house and half the housekeeper run here."

"You're the heir to the Crandall family. Your servant will definitely obey you!" said Farah, and at once also felt ashamed. Even in his current situation, his actions earlier looked too excessive.

"You'll see" guess Ryan. A smile on Ryan's lips. "They would definitely prevent me if I tried to rape a woman. Whatever you think of me, everyone in this house holds great honor. They've known me my whole life - I was worried they'd keep you awake for hours to tell you my childhood story."

Farah looked at Ryan. Then, "Actually, they did tell you a story or two of your childhood."

"No. Baby hat."

"They'll definitely tell me the alphabet tile." Ryan took a breath. "After all, you can see. You're safe here." Ryan revealed the most charming smile that penetrated straight into Farah's heart. "I have an idea."

Farah observes Ryan getting up from the chair while trying to concentrate on anything, other than the sensual promise that Ryan's body emits, as the man crosses the room and starts looking for something in the desk drawer. From an ivory box, Ryan pulled out a card and placed it on the board, before walking up to Farah.

"My mom hasn't tidied up a drawer in twenty-five years" Ryan said. "Don't run. Just watch it." Ryan placed the board on a small three-legged table beside the sofa. "For two."

Suddenly Ryan looks calm, and there is a jailing impression in Ryan's arched erotic mouth. Carefully, Farah stared at the card, then turned to Ryan's face. "Why?".

"I'll explain it to you in a moment. Just do it first."

Farah lowered her head and split the deck of cards on the table into two halves. "Now what?" farah asked, looking suspiciously at the back of the card, which showed a picture of a dog standing on a ball, with a high hat.

"Now," said Ryan, sliding the cards on the table, "we're going to pull them out. One man pulls out one card and the winner can make a choice about our peace arrangements."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever been",

"Just do it, honey," Ryan cut, in a tone of voice that Farah sounded too cheerful and relaxed to be. "We have to find a way to solve the problems between us. Do you have a better idea?"

"You can agree to leave me alone." Ryan's smile this time felt new to Farah, a smile that was able to make Farah's breath choked and excited.

Ryan raised his hand to feel the warmth of Farah's neck, Ryan's fingers stroking the soft curves of her neck. "Love, this is the only chance I'll give you. You better take that card out."

Farah's heart was beating irregularly. "How do I know you'll follow my arrangements, if I win?".

"Because I wouldn't propose if I knew I couldn't win." Ryan's palms slumped to the back of Farah's hands. Ryan's fingers stretched out over his fingers, linking and cupping his palms, before bringing Farah's hand to the table. With the gentle command "Do it."

As he brushed Ryan's hand away, a reddish hue radiated down Farah's cheek. Farah's fingers hung over the card, then quickly retracted one of them. Kinky nine card. Ryan looked at the remaining stack of cards, as if he was thinking about something, then pulled out his own cards.

"Wait-wait!". Farah lined up all the cards, took one of them, and watched them closely. It seemed like there was nothing different about the card; but Farah shuffled it and spread it again.

Suddenly, Ryan's eyes were filled with laughter. Ryan opens his card which turns Jack heart.

"It's trick. I know that!" exclaimed Farah took all the cards and brought them to the front of a bright window, to observe them one by one in the sun. He looked at each card carefully. He put down four cards and watched them again. Much the same. The picture of the dog behind him is exactly the same. The cards fell from Farah's hand and she covered her face with the palm of the hand.

"Do I have to take off my clothes" Farah said in a choked voice, "or is it enough if I just lean against the wall and lift up my skirt?"

Ryan turned to Farah. Ryan's hand was placed over Farah's shoulder, then shifted slowly to the bare skin at the base of her neck. Ryan's thumb found Farah's nape, stroking her very gently. Farah could feel the shift of her hair, as Ryan's lips touched her hair randomly.

"All I want," said Ryan softly, "is to walk-a-lane with you outside. Do you want to come with me?".

...♤♤♤...