Chapter 83 - PROBLEM
The Hotel staff pushed the trolley with him until he reached the door and gently closed it behind him. The room was once more engulfed in silence while Carter sat on the chair opposite me, arms crossed beneath his chest, and lost in his thoughts. I wonder what he was thinking but whatever it is, he appeared to be content.
I vacated my seat and moved towards the flat tv screen and fumbled for the remote control. I could feel the weight of his stare as he followed my movement. I pretended not to notice he was looking at me and fumbled for the remote control beside the flat tv screen.
It was late in the night and there was no interesting show except late-night news and sports replays. After trying to find the right channel I finally gave up and turned the television off, and walk towards the bed without the slightest sound of footsteps.
My weight sunk on the soft cushion and my eyes tenderly landed on the sleeping angel who stirred but didn't open her eyes by the slight movement I created. I'm a bit sleepy but I wonder if I could get some sleep tonight especially that we aren't alone. Aside from that, Faith Vienne wakes up at unusual hours and I need to watch over her.
The slight flicker of moment tore my gaze away from Faith. When I looked up, Carter had abandoned his seat to take his shirt off. He hung his shirt on top of the chair. Beneath the chair, his denim jacket was folded neatly.
His back was turned towards me giving me the perfect view of his wide, muscular shoulders. My eyes widened. My throat has gone dry. I swallowed hard when my eyes sinfully moved from his broad muscular shoulders down to the sexy dimples of his lower back. But it was not his nakedness which shocked me but it was the tattoo of a black phoenix trailing behind his back.
The deep scar on his back was no longer visible. It even appeared as if it didn't exist anymore. The phoenix tattoo did the perfect job to hid the slight imperfection of the scar. No one would even notice the marred skin behind the beautiful black tattoo.
What's even more shocking was the name PHOENIX written in bold capital letters. It's just a strange coincidence. He just put the Phoenix word since it was the mythical bird's name, nothing more and nothing less. I bit my lower while discarding the disappointment welling inside me.
A logical part of me suggests I should look away before it's too late but I could not find the courage to do so. I was drawn to him like a piece of magnet. If looking at him is a sin, I'm willing to pay the price. And so I keep looking at his tattoo as if it would vanish anytime soon.
"I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind." He said to capture my attention. He didn't even move.
"Of course I don't," I respond, my voice sounded shaky.
"You probably dislike men with tattoos." His tone was so soft that I barely missed his meaning. When I didn't respond he shrugged his shoulders and moved to the bathroom.
"No," I muttered, watching him walk away. By the sound of my voice, he stopped and I took the opportunity to tell him the truth. "It's beautiful, Carter," I added. I'm not sugarcoating my words. The phoenix tattoo was breathtakingly beautiful. It perfectly matched his fierce personality.
When he whirled in my direction and crossed the short distance between us
The thump inside my chest resounded in my ears. Before I knew it, his large hands framed my face. His expression softened.
"Say it again Beatrix." He murmured, his eyes burned brightly.
Carter's face was so close to my face that one wrong move and his parted lips would touch mine. I didn't pull away, instead, I found myself staring into the depths of a beautiful blue ocean. Warmth seeped through the palms cupping my cheeks. It took me an extraordinary amount of self-control not to close my eyes and savor the exciting thrill his nearness extracted to my senses.
"It's beautiful Carter." My response was soft and hoarse, breaking the last of his self-control. He groaned and crossed the tiny distance between us.
Wah wah! The soft cries from the bed shattered the moment before his lips could touch mine. The palm holding my face captive loosed and fell to his side. I turned away and hastily moved to the bed using my trembling legs. I avoided his gaze and focused my attention on Faith Vienne.
I lifted her into my arms and she instantly stopped crying but made no move to return to sleep. Her deep blue eyes intently look at me with wonder. Then she smiled at me and my heart melted.
Carter finally moved. I heard the door to the bathroom closed. When he was out of my sight, I finally let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding. He almost kissed me. I couldn't believe it. The memory flashed inside my thoughts over and over again.
"My little princess so you're awake."? I put her back to bed so she could move freely and brushed the tip of my nose to hers. A baby's soft giggle escaped her lips.
I was aware of the sound of the shower running inside the bathroom. A few minutes later, the water stopped and the door flung open. Carter, who was wearing a towel to cover the lower part of his body, emerged.
Water trickled from his hair down to his shoulder blades. He turned his gaze towards me and our eyes met. Heat crept on my cheeks and I turned away. I shifted my attention towards Faith Vienne who was playing with my fingers with her soft, tiny hands.
Carter moved beside the bed to pick his backpack on the floor. He pulled it open and took a fresh t-shirt and shorts inside. The door to the bathroom closed once more when it finally opened he was already dressed.
When he sat on the other side, the bed moved from his weight.? Faith Vienne turned her face in his direction. Her face instantly brightened and she giggled when her wide innocent eyes landed on Carter who watched her closely with a smile tugging on the corner of his lips. He didn't appear to mind that I was watching him. He shifted position until he was lying beside Faith and took her small hands into his fingers. He didn't say anything for a long while as he continued to play with her.
He looked younger at that moment. He became a totally different man. Gone was the man with an eternal paper blank expression and unsmiling countenance I knew from Crawford Mansion.
"I will watch over Faith Vienne. Go freshen up so you could have some good sleep." He said without taking his gaze to my daughter. I was about to argue but changed my mind at the last minute. Instead, I closed my eyes and agreed. A warm shower would be a brilliant idea, I told myself as I pulled myself together.
"I needed just that. Thank you." I replied, climbed out of the bed to select sleepwear from inside my large suitcase. I picked a matching silk blouse and shorts. Then proceeded to the bathroom and closed the door.
The scent of soap lingered in the air. I could almost smell Carter's scent in the air. I pushed him out of my thoughts. I peeled my clothes off and folded them neatly on top of the counter. I turned the shower on.
The relaxing warmth of the water dripping from the shower soothes my nerves. I found myself gradually relaxing. I? closed my eyes and lifted my eyes to the ceiling letting the droplets of water kiss my face.
I applied the sweet-smelling shampoo to my hair and gently massaged my scalp while humming a song. I lather the citrus-scented soap around my body. I was rinsing under the shower when there was a soft rattle on the door. I ignore the knock and continue with my business. But the knock I thought would fade became louder.
A frown scrunched my eyebrows when I stepped out of the shower. The sound of cries from outside the door made me panic.? I snatched the towel hanging on the rack and wrapped it around my nakedness.
"Beatrix?"
Carter's urgent voice sounded once more. Then there was another knock on the door. Water dripped down my hair when I pulled the door open. Carter was standing just in front of the door, Faith Vienne who was crying wrapped around his arms, and doing his best to stop her tears.
"I think she's hungry." He said, his eyes lit with panic. He froze after he realized I was wearing a scanty towel that barely covered my thighs.
I self-consciously moved to the bed aware that his eyes follow my movement.
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