When Love & Hate Collide [Completed]

Chapter 17-Sun could watch, so could the clouds, the sky, the trees, the water..

The water was as beautiful as yesterday with sun shining brightly creating beautiful reflection of the trees and greenery in the water. He went all the way to the water and then stopped few meters away. Dropping his stuff on the ground, he went around the place looking for the best place to set up his stuff and may be the best view for his painting.

All this while I was struggling to keep it together. I was holding both my hands around my body as if holding myself. He seem to be lost in his thoughts, probably setting up the painting in his mind. He was so engrossed, that I couldn't bring myself to interrupt him.

I was lost in my own trepidations. I could experience how a beautiful scenery turns into a horrendous view when your timing is bad. All its beauty was lost on me. Yesterday what seemed like a hidden treasure had now become a bone of contention for me.

I was still lost when he called out my name. I saw he had set up the easel with the canvas and was all set to start. I went up to him and stopped in front of him. He was telling me what pose would suit the best, how the light would favour the colours but I wasn't listening. Knowing the delaying is only going to add on to my problem, I decided I had to speak now.

"I am..I'm sorry but I cannot do this." There, I said it.

He turned around to face me, "What?"

"I didn't mean to give you this idea. I mean, I cannot do it here. I mean, I cannot pose for your painting here. I mean, please don't get me wrong. I mean-," I was in full blabbering mode because there was no other way to get it out. But I had pushed it too far.

"Will you stop with your 'I mean' tirade? What is your problem?" His bark shut me up but his voice had turned softer almost immediately. He could see something bugging me and his tone said he wanted it corrected.

"I..I cannot pose nude here. Out in the open. I don't want to sound difficult or create any problem for you but this," I said pushing my hand all around me. "This is too much to ask. How can I stand here naked for the world to watch?"

I explained to him while trying not to sound like a bitch throwing tantrums. These were real issues for me.

"World?" He looked around the vast deserted place all around as if bewildered by my exaggeration.

"I mean-" I immediately stopped myself from going on the 'I mean' trip again. "It's open. People can see."

"But there are no people here. Just you and me. This is my place. All this you see around is part of my estate. It is a covered area with restricted entry. No one is allowed to step on my grounds without my permission and I don't give it so lightly. So you can rest assure, I am not asking you to strip in public and this is as safe as it is inside the house."

He said it with all confidence and pride. But when I looked at his face, I don't why I saw something strange. I couldn't make it out completely, but, was it fear I saw?

He didn't wait to let me read or try to read his thoughts, turning away from me. But almost immediately he came back to me. Coming close to me, he put out a hand to my cheeks. "Trust me, girl. You only have me to see you here."

I don't know if it was supposed to calm my frighten heart, but all it did was set it on a flutter. One which I struggled to control or conquer. I lowered my eyes, trying to turn away from him but he didn't let me. Instead, his hands reached out to my dress, pulling aside the long lapels running down from the collar of my shirt.

"I..I'll do it." I said while moving away from him. I felt a hesitation from him for a second, as if he didn't want me to go, but before I could register it fully, he let me go. I turned aside and started unbuttoning my dress. Being out in open meant my safe little corner, my recluse, was also gone. Slowly, I got out of my clothes and tried to get into the mindless state where nothing he did would affect me.