Shouldn't Have Asked: A New Adult Romantic Comedy Novel

by Mara Lynne

  “A lake? You have a lake in your backyard?”

  Maple, fir, and pine trees surround the glistening body of water, and somewhere in the middle of the crystal lake is a small island with a tiny wooden house which seems to be uninhabited. It is breathtakingly beautiful that I can’t take my eyes off it. There are four swans resting just around the small house. The color of red maples and green firs reflects on the water and makes the sunset even lovelier.

  “Are you crying?” he begins to tease.

  “This is unbelievable!” I almost scream at the top of my lungs. “Oh, Damien! How can you keep something beautiful as this? This deserves to be seen!”

  “I know, right?” He looks so amazed with my reaction that he can’t help but smile. “Do you like it?”

  “Like it? I love it!” I jump and wrap my arms around him.

  How can he always manage to make small things look so grand and beautiful?

  “Thank you.” I land a gentle kiss on his cheek.

  “Thought I deserve more than that,” he grins. “I have one more surprise.” He grasps my arm and pulls me to a wooden landing near the bank. There is a small white row boat snugly tied to the mooring.

  “I prepared a little something for us, but we have to use this to get there.”

  “Where?” If this continues, I fear I won’t be able to contain myself and just explode.

  “Do you see those unlit lanterns at the other side of the lake?”

  I nod. Indeed, there are about a dozen glass lanterns hanging on wires tied safely on the branches of the maple trees.

  “We’re going there.” He goes down the row boat and offers his hand to help me.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Come on, baby. We don’t want to miss the day, do we?”

  “Okay.”

  As soon as we are seated, Damien starts to row using the wooden paddles. His arms bulge as he exerts effort. His display of strength makes him an eye-candy. It seems to me that he is enjoying the sight of redness that spread across my cheeks.

  I know the long cold night is coming. The sun is setting down, and darkness commences to fill the firmament. Slowly, the stars are showing.

  Just as we are near the opposite bank, I spot a small piece of red cloth laid on the grass. There are three square white pillows and a basket.

  A smile is drawn on my face.

  “And one more thing.” He holds his pointer finger up, shows off his phone, and presses something in the middle. The entire lake lighted up. The lanterns glow and even the empty small house in the middle of the island lighted up in seconds. There are tiny floodlights outside the edges of its roof that make the waters light up, too. It is so beautiful to watch that I can feel tears running around my eyes.

  “You really did prepare for this,” I say.

  “Well, it’s just one of the few things I always do.”

  “Always?”

  “Unfortunately, you’re with a man loaded with experience.”

  What a smart way to brag about his expertise! He didn’t really have to show it off because even before I liked him, I knew about his stunning reputation.

  “And yet this man chose to be with me,” I counter, grinning.

  “I must be dumb!”

  “I must be dumber!”

  The row boat pauses at the landing. Damien jumps off the boat, pulls it by the rope, and ties it to the nearest wooden post, then he helps me into dry land.

  “Thank you, Mr. Experienced!”

  “You’re most welcome, my angel,” he says.

  I lay my eyes on the beauty that surrounds me.

  “This is too much of a surprise,” I say as I hold his hands in mine.

  “I was actually holding my breath waiting for your reaction,” he coyly responds.

  “For a good pleaser like you, I doubt this was difficult.” He slides his hands around the small of my back and pulls me close to him. His face just inches away from me, I can’t help but smile watching him melt away as he fixes his sole attention on me.

  “I must confess, I lied about being experienced. I haven’t done anything like this before, so I was quite nervous whether you’d like this.”

  “Well, for a first timer, you’ve done a really great job!” I stood on the balls of my feet to meet with his lips. He softly brushes his to mine, and I quickly feel the heat wrapping my neck and face.

  “Enjoying every firsts so far?” He smirks.

  “Very much!”

  And I want him to know that I am currently living a dream because of him.

  “So, what do we have here?” I ask, eyeing every item he pulls out of the basket.

  “A bottle of red wine and hot chocolate.”

  “How considerate!”

  “I can’t get you out of my mind,” he kids. “But seriously, I want you sober for the night.”

  “For what reason?” I ask with a sly grin. Damien wraps his arms around me as we sit on the mat, and I lay my head against his shoulder. His fingers interlace with mine, and my heart flutters at the sight of his flirtatious smile.

  “For so many reasons.” His whisper sends tingles down my ear.

  “Are you trying to seduce me?” I raise an eyebrow. I want him to know that tonight won’t end like that night in his apartment.

  “Do I look like I’m seducing you?” he counters.

  “Unsurprisingly, yes! You do appear like Colin Firth in wet breeches and shirt.”

  He shakes his head as though trying to suppress his laughter. “Can’t believe you’re one of those girls!”

  “You don’t want to be ridiculed, do you, Mr. Etheridge?”

  “Surely, I don’t!” His voice sounds apologetic after seeing my face turn sour. “But as for you, my angel, I’m surprised you’re learning my ways.”

  “I’m a fast learner.” I lean closer to him and bury my face in his neck, his warmth embracing me.

  I wish this sense of security stays forever. Is it too much to ask? Is it too much for a wish? Is it too much for Damien to give? I just want him, all of him to be mine.

  “Damien, don’t get offended when I ask you this.” I turn to face him. “Did you like me because of... you know. I mean, after that night you seemed to be so fixated on me. I can’t help but wonder.”

  His thumb brushes my cheek with the assurance that his answer is not going to kill me inside.

  “I must confess I was turned on a little.” The boyish smile resurfaces, and his cheeks go red as he sees me staring at him intently. “But instantly, I knew you didn’t want it. I can’t do something like that to girls even if they ask for it. I knew that you were just forced to do it and that you’re not the type of girl who asks random guys to sleep with her for money, but I was so curious that I had to do it to feed my curiosity and pride. And boy, was I wrong. I must have caused you so much bad memories.”

  “The truth is…” I trail off, breathing in the warmth that comes out of his mouth. Our faces are only inches away, and I swear I am already tempted to kiss him. “I was curious too of how it will be like. I knew it was wrong, and I knew that I shouldn’t be doing it, but still, I didn’t stop you. Maybe because I knew from the start that you won’t harm me… that you won’t do it.”

  “We’re you scared?”

  I nod then after running a few thoughts in my mind, I shake my head. “Maybe not as much as I used to think before. What scared me was failing to do it and going home empty headed, which I did.”

  “Why did you think I was the right prey?” he asks.

  “I heard so much about you. I thought you’d give anything for sex.”

  “And?” His forehead wrinkles.

  “And it appears that you were more than what I thought you were. To my surprise, you failed as the highly reputed ladies man.”

  “If it were another girl, I don’t think I could control myself.”

  “Are you serious?” I tug him on his shoulder.

  He bites his lower lip and beams.

  “Just kid
ding! But who knows?”

  “Don’t ruin this night, okay, Mr. Etheridge?”

  Damien pours wine into my glass and hands me a sweetened toast.

  “Just one glass for you, my angel.”

  “And one glass for you too, my knight.”

  He shakes his head, smiling. “Two!”

  “One.”

  “Okay, one it is.”

  “But maybe if you do me a bargain, I’d let you have two!”

  “Hmm...” He squints his eyes as though measuring me. “You’re going to regret this!” he continues as he gently pushes me down the ground.

  My eyes widen, and I let out a soft squeal.

  “I wasn’t asking for this kind of bargain!”

  “It’s my game, babe.” He leans in closer, and I wish the ground eats me so I can keep my distance from him.

  “What are you trying to do?” Giggling, I feel air bubbling out of my chest. The butterflies are going berserk and the heat boiling up.

  “Doing a bargain,” he says, his voice sounding like a tempting Greek god.

  Slowly, I feel his sneaky hand trailing up from my knee to my thigh. His touch sends shivers all over my trembling body. All I could do is murmur his name in between heavy breaths.

  “I’m not ready for this.” The words come out breathlessly. I feel like each word has to pass through a needle’s eye. I want to just laugh at this, but humor and silliness suddenly disappear when Damien begins this unconventional crusade.

  “Ssshhh...” He puts his finger on my lips, then his fingers slowly stroke the side of my face, following the outline of my lips and jaw.

  Then, he lands a careful, calculated kisses on the side of my mouth, perhaps trying to coax me into responding. His hands carefully rest on my hips, massaging the fabric of my shirt. And although his touch isn’t direct, I could feel the electricity raising every hair follicle in my body. Every fiber in me is heightened, and every cell is recharged. He can make wonders even more wonderful.

  “I love you not because of this…” he says while his lips trail down my neck. “I love you not because you make me feel extraordinarily wonderful. I love you just because I love you, Angel.”

  Unconsciously, I feel a smile blooming on my face.

  As I open my eyes, I see the dark sky almost void of stars. Its murkiness adds to the coldness of the night. One drop of water falls from above and lands on my delicate skin. From there, I know this has to end.

  The angry sky begins to pour water on us heavily, and I couldn’t stop laughing at the premature ending of this heat he started.

  Damien pulls me up, muttering words I could barely hear. I bet he is cursing nature for not being so friendly this time. His hands grasp me tightly and led me to the landing where the row boat is.

  “Are we going back now?” I ask with a slight tinge of disappointment as I watch him prepare the row boat and the paddles. I don’t think it’s safe to cross the water.

  But Damien’s face is devoid of sunshine, much like the grim sky that surrounded us.

  Chapter 27: Stone

  I know how pissed Damien had become when the rain came pouring in. His plans for the night had to be cancelled. Right after rowing the boat to the empty cabin in the middle of the lake, we went straight inside, and Damien started making a fire in the hearth. I look for blankets to warm us from the cabinets, and luckily I found enough to make our stay here less uncomfortable. I am quite sure the rain won’t stop right away. It is havoc outside. I could hear the waves angrily smashing against the poles that hold the cabin solid on the lake bed. The heavy downpour clouds the windows with mist. It almost looked like it was snowing outside.

  I wrap one blanket around his shoulders when I am done putting the spare ones in layers on the floor.

  “Come on, Damien,” I say, drying his hair with the tails of the blanket, “This is still romantic.”

  His lips are still on a rigid, thin line. I’m beginning to think it won’t be easy getting rid of it.

  “They told me it wasn’t going to rain,” he answers, turning to face me. He reaches for my blanket and tightens it around me. He must have seen I am shivering in the cold. “You’re freezing. Come here.” He pulls my arms together and leads me close to the hearth. Then he positions the makeshift bed near us. He adds more wood to the fire, and the room feels warmer and brighter.

  “You sure know how things work here,” I say.

  “When I was a kid, my brother and I used to play here every afternoon.”

  “Like a playhouse?”

  He nods. Finally, a gleam of delight shows on his face.

  “But no dolls,” he replies. “I know what you have in mind, Angel. I was no sissy. We played treasure hunting.”

  “Oh, so manly!” I tease back.

  Damien reaches for the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his head. His washboard abs glisten with moist and the muscles on his arms bulge every time he moves. Suddenly, I feel the cold leaving my shaking body and replaced with a growing heat. If I continue staring at him, I think he’ll notice the tinge of mortification spreading all over my cheeks.

  I turn my back and pretend that I am in no way affected by his godlike features.

  “Where are you going?” he asks.

  “I’m going to see if the rain has calmed down.” I can hear my voice shaking.

  He smirks. “It’s chaos outside,” he says. “I can hear it from here.”

  “I think it’s going to stop anytime soon.”

  “Angel…” I hear him moving. “Come here. I promise I won’t do anything you won’t like.”

  Before it rained, he was tempting me to respond to his carnal cravings though he was doing it rather gently.

  “Or do you want me to resort to my infamous ways?” I am glad Damien is back to his old self after being so disappointed tonight.

  I slowly turn to face him, still preventing the blush from growing worse. His smile is tempting, enticing me to fall straight into his arms and be consumed by this moment. I reach for his hand, and he slowly positions me close to him. Face to face, I kneel in front of him with the blanket tightly secured around me.

  “I don’t think this is too bad,” he whispers so close to me, our faces only inches apart.

  “I know what you are thinking, Mr. Etheridge,” I say, smiling.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “But I know you’re not going to take advantage of me.” I caress the side of his face with my thumb.

  “Unless you ask for it,” he adds.

  “Of course.” I lean closer and tenderly kiss him on the lips.

  When I woke up the next morning, I found myself glued to Damien. He is sleeping like a child. His arms around me, his torso bare and beautiful. We kissed all night. He kissed me everywhere until we both fell asleep, but it didn’t go beyond that. I was amazed at how much patience he’d drawn out to himself to not take advantage of my weakness and vulnerability. He brought me to a new world, and if he only took one more step farther, I would have let him make love to me, but he is more than the asshole everyone thinks he is.

  Damien drives me home after we had breakfast in his house, then I go straight to Max’s for work.

  “Are you not coming to the party tonight?” Ray asks while dumping the ice cubes for a strawberry flavored sludge into the bucket. “I’d be there. I can be your date. I’m sure Charles won’t mind,” he adds with a smirk on his face. I remember Joanna Sloane invited all of us to her birthday party. “And there’s still our graduation ball.”

  I managed to keep my relationship with Damien a secret from Ray for three grueling days. I feel like killing myself for keeping secrets from my best friend. Every time Damien comes to the school cafeteria or to Max’s to check on me, I can’t help rejecting every candid and thoughtful deeds he wishes to do for me just to keep Ray from suspecting us. I wish I can freely tell him, but every time I try to, something comes up, and I end up not telling him.

  Maybe this is the time to tell him, I thought.
<
br />   “Ray, there’s something you must know,” I say after taking a deep breath. I turn to face him. “Damien and I are together.”

  “What?” The cup of iced water he is holding fell straight to the floor. Ray’s mouth widens like a piranha’s. “Since when?”

  “Three days ago.”

  “And you’re just telling me now?” The shock has completely turned his face pale.

  “I know. I’m sorry. I should have told you right away, but things just happened and… I don’t know.”

  “Oh, my God! I thought you hated the man!”

  “I was an idiot.”

  “I know.” Ray quickly gives me a hug. “You owe me one night of storytelling.”

  “So no party for tonight?”

  “Definitely no!”

  After three hours of nonstop storytelling in Ray’s place, Damien came by and treated us with the best burgers in the city. Ray couldn’t stop teasing us, and all I could do was shoot him with glares.

  “Who would have thought?” Ray kept on saying while eating his burger.

  After the date, Damien couldn’t drive me home because his mom called and said that the mayor had a mild heart attack. Damien would have introduced me to his family tonight weren’t it because of his dad falling sick. He insisted on bringing me to the hospital anyways, but I told him it would be a little rude to introduce me when his family is stricken with fear for the mayor’s life.

  On my way home, I notice a black car parked across our house. There is a man in a business suit leaning against the car’s door.

  It’s Hunter Stone.

  I cannot be wrong. His midnight black hair matches the color of his car and tie.

  “Mr. Stone?” I literally take a lungful of air when blurting out his name. I think I know the reason he is here.

  “Miss Mohr.” He straightens himself up at the sight of me and bows his head slightly.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask despite knowing his intentions. “How long have you been here?”

  “Paul conveyed to me the bad news,” he says.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Stone, but I don’t think I can do it again. I’m just not the right girl to be your Angel Grant.” I remember how I made a fool out of myself that night.