Innocent Temptation

Chapter Eleven: Obsession

MAC sat in the shadows of his room, the blinds half-closed, casting thin slits of light across his face. He knew it wasn’t right—this constant need to keep an eye on her, to just watch her for the sake of it. But he couldn’t help it. It was like now that she had returned he was finally getting his fill of her.

From his window, he could see Aira in her bedroom, completely unaware of his gaze. She had no idea how he was watching her when she thought that he wasn’t there. It wasn’t the first time that she had stood at her bedroom window and glanced in the direction of his bedroom with an expression that he couldn’t read. It used to be easier to read her when she was just a teenager and had used to look at him with her wide blue eyes filled with that glitter of affection, the crush she used to have for him. But now, she had become good at keeping her thoughts to herself. But at least, he knew she asked about him to his niece. What, she wasn’t the only one using his own niece to spy on him?

Aira made her way to her closet and he watched as she pulled out a pink nightshift. He hated how he could see everything so clearly and he hated how he wasn’t close enough to smell her vanilla and strawberry scents. This girl had been the bane of his existence since she had turned sixteen and then at eighteen she had almost made him a patient for the bedlam when he had realized that her crush was just a fleeting nusiance and she wasn’t his to take. But he had managed to hold back, to hold on to that control that kept him from making the one mistake that would’ve cost her too much of peace, not that he had been able to do anything about it when she wasn’t his to take. And when he could’ve given to his desires, the fate took that option from him.

His eyes captured her every movement as she closed her bedroom door and stood in front of her mirror. He felt his mouth dry up when she pulled the zipper on her white sundress down and tugged on the straps of her dress. He slammed his eyes shut and looked away, his jaw clenching tight and his fingers dug into the armrest of the chair he was sitting on.

What the f**k was he doing? It was so wrong. Why was he watching her like this when she didn’t even know he was there? God. He was going to hell for this. But even as he told himself to stand up and leave, he couldn’t make himself to follow through. And a part of him, a hungry part of him, begged him to take a peak. Just a glance for his hungry heart. She wasn’t going to be his. At least, he could steal these glimpses of her.

When he was sure that enough time had passed and she had changed into her night clothes he opened his eyes and found her on the bed with a book as she laid there on her stomach, her chin resting on that stuffed animal she liked to sleep with. Fûck. As he watched, he noticed a soft smile curving the corner of her lips before she bit down on her lower lip and looked at her bedroom door like she was afraid to be caught doing something she shouldn't and then she earmarked the page.

Mac’s hand drifted to his wrist, his fingers brushing against the faded pink bead bracelet she had given him all those years ago. It was ridiculous that he still wore it— only when he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to feel her presence near him. For some reason it gave him peace and it also reminded him of why it was important to stay away from her. He didn’t know why he still have it though, a few times in the past he had tried to get rid of it, especially when he was in Paris. But then he had gone back from his hotel to the club where he had tossed it in a fit of rage and searched it until the dawn broke out, only returned when he had finally gotten it back. He had realized then, no matter how many pieces she broke her heart into and no matter how the destiny keeps them apart, he will never be able to get rid of her, of this little piece of her that she had given him all those years ago, even if she might’ve forgotten it.

A moment later, her brother entered her bedroom and Mac decided that he had done enough obsessing over his off limits neighbor and he needs to get out of there before he gave in and climbed in her bedroom through the window.

.

Mac stood at the threshold of his family’s home, his hand hovering over the door handle. Through the door, he could hear Aira’s sweet voice, soft and melodic, drifting from inside. She was talking to his parents, her laughter mixing with their voices like it belonged there. A part of him wanted to turn around, to escape before he got sucked into the torture of being in the same room as her. He had already had enough today with Jesse’s stupid jokes and he didn’t think he had it in him to be close to her now and pretend like she didn’t affect him.

But he couldn’t help himself. He hadn’t been able to stay away from her for long, even when he knew that she was off limits and during all the times when he knew she could get hurt if he came close to her. Being with him will not only make people question her but it could also put her in danger. And he’d rather suffer in silence than put her in danger.

But still… he had fûcking missed her beautiful face. His mother had told him that she had started going to the animal shelter Mrs Weaver runs, which was why he had been unable to catch a glimpse of her in the daytime and had to resort to obsessing over her like a p*****t at night. But he had meant to drop by the animal shelter just to check it out, only he hadn’t been ready to face her again. After that apology that he had given her, he had meant to stay away so he wouldn’t do something that will require another apology but turned out he was a glutton for punishment and he fûcking needed to see her.

With a deep breath, Mac pushed open the door and stepped inside. He wasn’t surprised to find Aira sitting at the kitchen table with his mother, a notebook open in front of her as she smiled politely. Her eyes, those wide blue eyes that he couldn’t stop thinking about, flickered briefly to him before darting away.

She looked like she was caught with her hand in a cookie jar. He frowned at her. She looked uneasy with his appearance and he wondered why.

“Oh, there he is!” His mother’s voice broke the tension as she spotted him. “Mac, come sit down. I was just about to make some tea for Aira.”

“No, Mom, I don’t—” Mac started, already searching for an excuse to avoid the inevitable awkwardness of sitting across from her, his body coiled tight with tension.

Before he could finish, his father’s voice interrupted. “Sit.”

It wasn’t a request. Mac’s father was a man of few words, but when he spoke, it carried weight. Without another word, Mac reluctantly took a seat, his muscles taut as he forced himself to sit still.

His mother bustled around the kitchen, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension between him and the girl sitting in her shimmering pink dress. His mother continued chatting, her voice light as she said, “Aira was just telling us about a boy she met. He seems like such a nice young man, even gave her flowers.”

Aira spluttered, looking anywhere but at him. “Ma!”

“What? Maybe Mac knows him, and he will find out for you if he is a good man for my princess. Won’t you, Macalister?”

Mac gritted his jaw and said, “It’s Mac, Mama.”

She waved her hand and turned to Aira. “Tell him about your new boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” The word escaped him before he could curb the urge down, and his voice had a sharp edge to it that he was unable to hide.

Aira deliberately avoided his gaze as she said, “He is not my boyfriend.” She looked down at her notebook, fidgeting.

Mac’s grip on the edge of the table tightened, his knuckles turning white. He had no right to feel this way, but the thought of Aira with someone else—someone who didn’t know her like he did—sent a cold, sharp spike of jealousy through him which was insane considering god knows how many boyfriends she'd had since after Zurich.

His mother, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her son, laughed softly. “They’re going to that retro club, you know, the one the ladies in town have been talking about. I was thinking your father and I might check it out sometime.”

“That club is no place for you to hang out,” Mac said, his voice low, his eyes never leaving Aira.

“I’m not going alone,” Aira replied, her voice quiet and confused as she looked up for the first time and met his dark gaze with her blue ones. “There—"

Mac cut her off before she could finish. “So I heard. But you shouldn’t go with your new boyfriend either.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Aira repeated, this time her eyes narrowing on him as she added through her clenched teeth, “Not yet.”

"Hard to believe that with your track record of changing boyfriends every fûcking week." His voice was low, only for her ears and meant to insult, which they did from the look on her face.

Aira gasped, her eyes wide and looking horrified as she stared at him. "What did you just say?"

The air crackled with tension as Mac’s gaze bore into hers, a silent battle of wills playing out between them. He stood abruptly, pushing back his chair with a scrape. “I’ve got a call to make,” he muttered, needing an excuse—any excuse—to get out of there before he said something he couldn’t take back. Or say something more damning than the words he'd already spoken. What the fûck was wrong with him?

His mother, either unaware or choosing to ignore the tension, called out before he could leave. “Oh, Mac , before you go, I meant to ask about Raphael’s birthday party for his twins.”

“What about it?” he asked, turning back toward the table, though his thoughts were far from birthday parties.

“I got a call from his wife, lovely woman, and I told her about Aira’s desserts. You know how talented she is. Well, she mentioned how they’d love to taste some of her sweets for the girls’ birthday party. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? It’s such a big event, and it could be a fantastic opportunity for Aira.”

Aira shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I told you that wasn’t necessary,” She murmured, a pink flush covering her cheeks.

“Oh hush, dear, it’s a wonderful opportunity. It’s not like we’re forcing their hand,” his mother reassured her with a bright smile. “You’ll just make some samples, and Mac can take them over to Raphael’s house. If they like them, you’ll have the order for the party. It’s a win-win!” Mac’s mother turned to him expectantly. “You’ll take them over, won’t you, Mac ?”

There was no way to refuse without making things even more awkward than they already were. He gave a curt nod. “Sure.”

“Wonderful!” his mother beamed, clearly pleased with herself.

Mac could feel Aira’s eyes on him, but he didn’t look at her. Instead, he turned and walked out of the room, each step feeling heavier than the last. He needed space, distance. Being near her, seeing her sitting there talking about some guy who was trying to win her over with flowers and dates—it was unbearable. He knew he couldn't have her, but to see her— once again— with someone else might really kîll him this time.

He paused in the hallway, clenching his fists at his sides, fighting the urge to go back to her. He shouldn’t care. He had no right to feel this way. But the thought of her with someone else, smiling at someone else, drove him mad.

And the worst part? She didn’t even know. She had no idea how deep she was buried inside his heart. How badly he wanted to pull her close and keep her away from everyone else? How badly she hurt him every time he saw her with someone else? And, she never will.

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A. Gupta