Forbidden Desire

Chapter 5 – The End But Not The End

‘Twinkle, twinkle, little stars… shut my mouth behind the bar. Up above the world so high… tell me why people lie.’

Cassie heaved a deep sigh, her eyes still locked on the stars sparkling like scattered diamonds in the dark sky. She was done with the sheep, but sleep evaded her, so she planned on counting stars. She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. With a book beside her, no one would dare to disturb her.

“Cassie?”

Except Nathan, of course.

“What on earth are you still doing here at this hour?” He asked, walking in her direction and sitting beside her. When Cassie ignored him, he pinched her cheek. “Don’t pretend you’re asleep. You’re an owl.”

“Ouch!” Cassie cried, brushing off his hand and covering her cheeks with her palms. “I am studying.”

Nathan scoffed, folding his arms. “With your eyes closed?”

Cassie got up. “I’m just resting my eyes.” A lie. You’re home early. Did they kick you out of the party?” she leaned forward, sniffing Nathan’s shirt. “No naked woman at the party?”

“Hey!” Nathan laughed, easing back. “Where did you learn that?”

“No lap dancing?” continued Cassie, grinning although hurting.

“Tempting idea, but I told my friends we'd have a few drinks. I don’t want to have a hangover on my wedding day,” he said, smiling dreamily.

Nathan wanted a sunset wedding, but because Cassie’s exam was in the afternoon, he moved the ceremony to the morning. Since they lacked the time, it would be a small wedding with a promise of a grand one after a year. Tying the knot with the love of his life was what mattered to him. Then, after that, they would fly to the US, where they would stay indefinitely.

“My wife can do the lap dancing for me, though,” he chuckled.

“Of course, the beautiful and perfect Chloe can do that for you,” Cassie muttered sarcastically, her feet touching the pebbled ground. She fixed her eyes on the pool, watching the floating hoop she used for playing basketball in the pool.

After seeing Chloe with another guy, Cassie no longer finds her sister beautiful and perfect.

Nathan turned his head to her and felt lost in her beauty. His heart raced, gazing at the teenager sitting still while looking at the swimming pool. Since the first day he saw her, he had always admired the elegant contours of her pointed nose and the alluring depth of her long eyelashes, which somehow made her even more striking than her sister. When Cassie bit her bottom lip, Nathan could not deny it, but his heart skipped a beat.

“You’ll be a beautiful bride someday, Cassie,” he murmured, smiling gently at her.

Cassie lifted a brow, her lips curled as she looked at Nathan. “Bride? Are you joking? I’m not getting married, Nathan.” She continued before he could make fun of her. “Not even open my life to any man. They’re a distraction.”

Although sixteen, Cassie knew she could not like or love someone else. Nathan, her first love, would be her last.

Nathan laughed and tilted his head to look at her. When she ignored him, he nudged her arm. “When you fall in love and meet the right one, I assure you, you will want to be with that person for the rest of your life.”

“Not happening, Nathan,” she rolled her eyes, standing up, letting her heart scream, ‘I’ve met the right one, but sadly, I can’t be with you.’

“You’ll miss the wonderful experiences,” Nathan teased, standing before her. “The first kiss -”

“FYI, Nathan, I didn’t miss my first kiss. I couldn’t remember it because I was just a baby,” she said, although she understood well what he meant by it.

Nathan burst into laughter, shaking his head and moving closer to her. “Cassie, the kiss I’m saying is between two people in love. It’s…” he sighed, his lips curving into a dreamy smile. “wonderful.”

Cassie folded her arms and lifted a brow. “It’s nothing but a chemical cocktail that lit up the pleasure center in our brain, Nathan.”

“Don’t you have any crush in school?” Nathan pursed his lips, furrowing his brows and tilting his head, ready to tease her, but Cassie shook her head.

“I told you I’m not interested in boys… or girls,” she added immediately before Nathan could think she was lesbian.

She clenched her hands to her side, hoping he would ease back, but he didn’t. She tried to step back, but her feet seemed glued to the ground. She could not stay away from Nathan as if he were a strong magnet.

“Or ideal man in mind? What happened? You once told me you wanted to marry me,” Nathan grinned.

Cassie raised her chin and met his eyes, praying her heart would stop pounding hard. “Your ‘best friend’ proposal was better,” she said, forcing a grin. “You’re so worried about me not having my first kiss,” she moved her cheek closer to his lips. “Give me a kiss so I can go to sleep now.”

Her fantasy of him should end.

When Nathan did not move, Cassie turned her head to him. Both their bodies jerked, startled when their lips touched. Her mind went blank, and her heart stopped beating as she met his blue eyes wide in surprise.

It was just right to step back, laugh, and joke it was a mistake, but something confused Nathan. It must be the alcohol or Cassie’s soft lips. He didn't know. He planned to move away, but before he could do it, she closed her eyes and parted her lips.