Chapter 104 Can true love heal her completely?
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT
FEW DAYS LATER
Ian woke up from a deep and wonderful sleep to the rays of sunlight in the room and with Ria by his side. He never looked away from Ria each morning he wake up to see her by his side. They were alone in her home since the kids already moved in with ma’am Elise home two days ago.
They haven’t heard anything about Frederick but the police are on the look out for him. Ria and Ian lived like a married couple. Having a quick kiss before getting out of bed in the morning, taking coffee and breakfast together and then driving to her store.
Ian didn’t want it to end. He wanted her all to himself. He wanted them to live together for the rest of their lives.
He felt each breathe she took, her heart beating against his side and with her hand laying on his chest. Ian haven’t had a good sleep in a while now but four nights with Ria laying next to him gave him a good one. He could feel himself smiling in his sleep every night.
And it struck him right then that finding Ria had brought him something he hadn’t had with other women; peace and he felt a sense of completeness. He exhaled. And it was because of Ria Robert. It was simple and remarkable. Even though he haven’t had her yet but Ria’s way of touching his heart gave it life.
Ria sighed softly and settled again.
She was the first woman who could make him smile, she could make him feel lonelier than he ever thought if she left. The reason why he can’t live without her and why he loves her so much. He felt complete.
Ria looked lovely as she lay next to him. Ian pressed a kiss in her hair and he felt her stir in his embrace.
“Are you awake?” Ian asked in a whisper.
“Hmm.” Ria shifted and moved slightly away from him. She raised herself on elbow, rubbed her eyes to get a clear vision as she look at him.
“I didn’t know you were awake.” Ian mouthed as he touched her cheeks with the tips of his fingers.
“Good morning.” Ria greeted.
“Morning my love.” Ian slipped his hand to the nape of her neck and laced his fingers in her hair. He pulled her gently closer to him, found her lips and kissed her with as much need as passion.
“Did you get a good sleep?” Ian nibbled on her lips.
“Yes.” Ria muttered. “What about-”
Ian kissed her again to keep her words at bay. He trailed his touch along her cheeks. He caressed her cheeks with his thumb. He felt her heat mixing with his own heat as his tongue darted out to touch her lips.
Ian didn’t allow himself to think about anything except kissing her and this time he was doing it thoroughly. There was fire all around and a need that came out of nowhere. He wanted her badly.
He left her lips with kisses trailing to her throat and to a sensitive hollow by her ear. Ria let out a soft moan as he bit on her neck making sure to leave behind hickeys. Slowly his fingers trailed down her belly and lowered between her thighs to push her legs higher and all of a sudden Ria trembled at his touch.
“Ian! No!” She pushed at his shoulder gently and that stopped him immediately. “Please… no… no…” She whispered unsteadily.
And Ian drew back to look into her eyes. “Please… I can’t… do…” Her voice trailed off as she took in shuddering breathe with her chest rising and falling.
Then Ian saw it again; fear. It was clear in her eyes and her hands were also trembling. He sat up on the bed and stared at her. He couldn’t hurt her not in anyway.
“Ian… Ian… I am… sorry.” Ria apologized as a tear slid down her cheek.
No Ian didn’t want that! He didn’t want her to cry! He understands that she was still getting over what Lucas did to her. “Damn it! Why didn’t I remember it before trying to make a move on her?!” Ian scolded himself internally. He wanted her but he totally forgot that she was trying to deal with her body.
“Ian… I am really… sorry.” She sobbed.
Ian didn’t want her to apologize either! It was all his fault because he started it.
“Ria.” He moved closer to her and pulled her into his arms.
Ria was trembling. “I am… so… sorry, Ian.” She said.
“No. Please don’t apologize. It is my fault. I am sorry.” Ian murmured.
“Stay with me. Ian, please stay with me.” Ria held on to him tightly.
“I am right here with you. I don’t have plans to leave.”
Ria clung to Ian as he whispered soothing words into her ear.
**********
“Ma’am, do you want to drop by at the mall?” Brian asked. He sat next to Bert in the front seat. Bert was driving.
“No. To the store please.” Ria replied.
The time was 6:00 p. m. Ria just finished classes at the institution. She had planned to call at the mall on her way back home but she changed her mind. Ria was tired. Her phone buzzed. A message from Ian.
‘Are you done with classes now? I am on my way to the store so I can drive you home.’
Ian was at the textile factory. His friend Harvey Wesley was helping him with a new construction plan.
‘Alright. I am heading to the store too. I will be there soon.’ Ria sent a text back to him.
And as she expected a response from him, Ria recalled how she and Ian were living like a newlywed couple. They are so good together! Although they argued at some point because Ian always want to help with the dishes and cleaning the house and also doing the laundry while Ria didn’t want him to do anything.
Ian was getting better now no more lump on his head but just his wrist still a bit swollen. Mrs Perla was happy that Ria had offered to take care of her son personally and she insisted that he shouldn’t show up at work. He stayed at the store with her but Ian had to go to factory because today was the meeting with Harvey.
‘Okay. How are you?’ Ian responded.
‘Cool. What about you?’
His message came in almost immediately. ‘I am not fine.’
Ria became worried and was about calling him when her phone buzzed again.
‘I miss you.’ He added a love emoji.
‘I miss you too sooooooooo much. I will be at the store soon.’ Ria typed with a broad smile on her lips.
‘I will wait a few minutes. I love you.’
‘I love you too.’ Ria sent it back to him.
Ria let out a sigh as she remembered the morning incident. She felt really bad for what she did to him this morning. Ian had never made any advances, no pressure about sex from him since he moved in. She had expected him to crawl his hands into her night dress in the middle of the night like Lucas would do but he didn’t make such advance. In fact they have never talked about having sex. But still, Ria couldn’t bring herself to give in this morning.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
Though Ian touch was gentle but at that moment he slid his hands between her legs, it came back. The mental pictures from Lucas den crashed over her in seconds and she couldn’t bear it. Her cries, pleads and the pains came flooding her mind, it was too much for her to bear and it made her stop Ian. She wasn’t ready for it.
Ria knew she has to work on herself and get over those fears. She should let go of her past even if she can’t forget it all.
Ma’am Elise words echoed in her head. “It is time to let go of the past.”
Ria had texted ma’am Elise about what happened and she suggested that Ria sees a psychologist or a therapist who can help her get over those fears.
But Ria doesn’t want to see a therapist. She never want to share that aspect of her life with anyone again.
After she calmed down from crying so much, Ian had said that he was willing to wait till she was ready. But she can’t keep him waiting for too long, it has to be soon. She thought deeply.
“Come on, Ria, Ian is totally different and you know it.” She bantered internally.
Ria knows that everything Ian has done for her is enough reason to convince her that he is so different from Lucas. She has so much believe in their love. And she hopes that the true love she has for him would take away those fears with time and she would heal completely.
Ria concluded.