"What do you see in him?"
"Everything you don't."
- E M E R A L D - R O S I O -
As I stare at those gorgeous blue eyes, I can't help but wonder what got him here in the first place as I rack my brain for any memory that would answer my silent questions.
"Darling?" He whispers, his touch soft on my cheek while I stare at him in disbelief until it all comes crashing down.
"Happy birthday darling, you're mine now."
Suddenly, I flinch away from his touch, leaving his hand hanging in mid air as his eyebrows furrow in the slightest before his jaw clenches.
"What's wrong?" He asks me again, his eyes searching my face while I clutch my blanket closer to my body to cover myself, even though I dressed.
"Y-you-... Y-you kissed me..." I state in disbelief, my fingers faintly touching my lips where I could still feel his kiss.
He seemed a bit taken aback by my question before he sits up from his laying down position in my bed and hums in response, tucking my hair behind my ears and looking at me intently.
"W-why?" I ask him softly and see his lip twitch upwards in the slightest before he speaks.
"Because you're mine now baby. Forever." He whispers before leaning forward and lightly pecking my lips, lingering for just a bit before pulling away with darkened eyes.
I remember now.
* * *
I could be a light sleeper at times, and the frustration of the past three days did nothing to help my situation as the smallest of creaks had my eyes wide open.
But there was nothing in my room, just darkness and the faint moonlight that was filtering in through the large windows.
I closed my eyes in another attempt to sleep and was nearly successful until I felt a feather-like touch made me frown as I tried to shrug away whatever it was.
An insect probably.
But it continued to stroke me softly, so gently and the bed dipping suddenly did nothing to ease me because the next moment I was suddenly sitting up, heart racing in my chest as I looked at the possible culprit.
But I was shocked to see someone I did not expect at this time of night.
"E-Eros?" I whispered slowly, watching his frame that was highlighted by the moonlight from the windows, his blue eyes glimmering in the dark that had me enraptured.
I saw his eyes drift down towards his wrist where I assumed he was looking at his watch before he looked up to me with a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Happy birthday darling, you're mine now." He whispered before placing his lips on mine, leaving me completely shocked and frozen.
His lips moved against mine while I just sat there, wide eyed when I heard his grunt, causing me to close my eyes as his fingers dug into my waist, pulling me on his lap so I was straddling him.
I tried my best to move my lips along with his, but it was clear to both of us I had never done this before, so he took the lead.
My hands unconsciously went to tug at his hair, eliciting a groan from him which seemed to activate the butterflies in my tummy while his fingers gripped my sides to pull us impossibly closer so that our chests were pressed up against each other.
I felt his tongue swipe against my lower lip but I didn't give him what he wanted so he bit my lip enough to make me gasp so that he could thrust his tongue inside my mouth.
I followed whatever he did, trying my best to copy his actions but when I felt like I needed air, I started to push him away a bit with my hand on his chest.
He moved back just an inch, finally leaving my lips so that I could breathe properly. Our foreheads rested against each other, our breathing heavy while I refused to meet his gaze.
He just kissed me.
Eros just kissed me.
Getting no response from me, he pushed me back onto the bed so that he was hovering on top of me, kissing my lips once more before he pecked my forehead and my cheeks.
He fell onto my side, drawing me closer so that my back was pressed against his front as he placed a few kisses on my neck.
"My beautiful girl, all mine." He whispered , placing a kiss near my pulse that made my breath hitch.
"Go to sleep amore mio." (My love) He whispered in my ear while my heartbeat rang so loud I was sure even he could hear it.
But not even a few moments later, I was out like a light as he ran his fingers in my hair.
* * *
The memory was like a slap to my face as I pushed myself against the headboard, eyes searching his own but all I saw was blue-green orbs, completely emotionless and lifeless.
"I'll be leaving now." He said slowly so I could understand and I dumbly nodded my head at him as he got up from my bed.
The light of dawn peeked in through the windows and fell onto him, making him look like a literal Greek god.
He leaned down once more and kissed my forehead briefly, my eyes closing at the mere contact as a sigh of contentment left my lips.
On opening my eyes, I saw his smug face and a faint smirk pulling on his lips before he turned around to leave. But just before he could open the door, I called out to him, stopping him in his tracks.
"W-wait! W-what if... What if someone sees you?" I asked hesitantly, fiddling with my thumbs before he looked back at the door.
"They won't." He said and opened the door, about to leave when I stopped him again.
"Why'd you do it?" I asked slowly, looking down at my hands before bringing my gaze to meet his own, surprised at the small emotion that flickered in his eyes before it was gone.
Like it was never there.
"You'll find out tonight darling." He said before going out and closing the door softly behind him, leaving me staring at the door in hopes of any answers.
I groaned in frustration before climbing out of bed and stomped my way to the bathroom, the memories of last night still fresh and when I looked in the mirror, I gasped at the bird's nest in my hair and my more than normal red cheeks.
I washed my face with cold water to cool my self down, patting my cheeks a few times before I brushed my teeth and got ready for the day.
And like every other day, I found myself closing my eyes as my fingers glided over the piano keys effortlessly.
I played my mother's favorite song, Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley, humming along the tune as the birds chirped in the background.
After I was finished, I was startled by clapping sounds and my head snapped towards the door where my brother Hunter stood, leaning against the door frame with a big smile on his face.
"Wonderful, absolutely amazing. Mama must be proud of you." He said walking up to me and kissed my forehead as he leaned his hip against the piano.
"She was happy, yes." I said with a smile when I remembered mama crying when I first played this song for her.
"Happy birthday baby girl." Hunter suddenly said and my eyes snapped to his, a big smile on my face but I couldn't help but notice the sadness that lurked in his eyes that he so desperately tried to hide.
"Thank you." I said with a shy smile when he cleared his throat.
"Well? Do you feel any different, birthday girl?" He asked me and immediately I felt myself buzz with excitement at different.
"Different? How so?" I asked tilting my head to the side when he smiled faintly.
"Well, you're eighteen. You get to experience new things now. How are you feeling about that?" He asked and immediately my mind went back to the kiss I shared with Eros.
Not the time to remember such stuff, Em!
"G-good, I guess." I said averting my gaze and heard Hunter sigh.
"Why are up so early?" I asked him when he shrugged.
"I don't know, I couldn't sleep, I guess." He said and instantly my heart started hammering at the possibility he could've heard or seen Eros in the morning.
"Em? What's wrong baby girl? You seem a little pale all of a sudden." He touched my cheek, clearly concerned when I forced a smile and shook my head.
"I-I'm fine, I was just thinking of going towards my art room." I said getting up and saw him nod, looking at me suspiciously.
"Alright. I'll try and get some sleep." He said before ruffling my hair and walking out of the room.
I breathed a sigh a relief, my hand on my heart to calm myself down as I found myself in the same room I'd been cooped up in since the last three days.
I'd been taking all the frustration and anxiety on my work, and it could be clearly seen in my paintings which now mostly showed storms, rainy landscapes, thunder.
As my eyes swept across the room, I looked at all the easels that lay around with a painting on them, my paintbrush falling from my hands when I realized it.
They were all blue.
And not just any blue, it was the blue of his eyes, with a hint of green and golden specks. It was everywhere. Nearly ten painting were blue, and that was all I could see.
Feeling a new wave of anger surge through me, I picked up my paintbrush before collecting my paints and taking them out on a palette, I started painting, careful with my strokes but with a new found determination.
Blue, green, with a hint of gold. I mixed different shades to make the perfect tan color, then a rosy pink, and then jet black as my paintbrush glided across the canvas.
I didn't feel the need to draw first because the picture was imprinted in my mind. I wanted to get it out. I wanted to see what it looked like if there was life in it, if there was happiness.
Nearly three or more hours later, I heard the door open and footsteps walk in and I reluctantly lifted my gaze to see my mother looking around with a frown before she found me.
The painting I was working on was not visible to her as its back faced her but as soon as she moved a step towards me my eyes widened in alarm before I stepped towards her instead.
"Mama, what are you doing here?" I asked confused because my mama hardly came in here.
"I wanted to see if you were awake since you skipped breakfast." She said looking around casually when I frowned, looking at the wall clock before my eyes widened.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was working and I didn't know when the time passed." I admitted and saw her smile as she opened her arms for me.
I put my paints on the small stool and made my way towards her, her arms wrapping around me perfectly as I held her as well.
"Happy birthday sweetheart." She spoke softly, as if I was a fragile thing and when I heard her sniffle, I pulled away with a frown.
"What's wrong mama?" I asked when she smiled through her tears and wiped them with the back of her hand.
"Nothing dear, I'm just shocked to see how fast you've grown up into such a beautiful young lady." She said, making me smile a bit as I wiped her tears away.
"No matter how many years pass, I'll always be your little girl mama, always." I said and hugged her again, holding onto her for dear life and basking in the comfort her arms brought me.
"I know my dear. I just can't believe you'll be going to college so soon, and then fall in love, get married, have kids." She said and I laughed.
"It's too early to fall in love and get married mama, you don't have to worry about that just yet." I said when she nodded, although hesitantly, which confused me.
"You never know dear, always stay prepared." She said rather seriously, making me frown.
"What? What do you mean?" I asked her before she shook her head and gave me a smile.
"Nothing dear, nothing at all." She said softly, running her hands in my hair before sighing.
"I have to go and speak to your papa about some things, eat something will you?" She said caressing my cheek when I nodded.
"Okay, I will." I said when she kissed my cheek, looking around my art room once more warily before looking at me worriedly. And I knew that look, I knew it all too well.
She saw all those blue paintings and she knew exactly what they meant as she strode out of the room with a worried smile.
Sighing, I draped a cloth over my latest painting so no one would see it and went out of the room, but not before looking around once more and locking the door behind me.
As I had my breakfast, my thought process was so rudely interrupted by the sound of children laughing along with other people.
I looked out the open door of the dining and smiled when I saw Kaden and Amelia running in with Noah and Vanessa hot on their heels.
"You can't catch me!" Amelia screamed just as Noah caught her by her waist and flung her in the air and caught her.
"Caught you!" He yelled before they both burst laughing and Kaden came running up to me.
"Aunty Emma! Aunty Emma!" He screamed and I quickly made him sit in my lap and kissed his chubby cheeks.
"Happy birthday!" He screamed in my ear causing me to wince at how loud they could get.
He definitely got that from Hunter.
"Thank you!" I said smiling when Amelia ran up to me and wished me a happy birthday, kissing my cheeks and then both kids ran off somewhere.
"Happy birthday sweet cheeks." Noah threw me his famous grin that had girls drooling but I just smiled at him.
"Aw man, get's them all except you." He pouted childishly as both Vanessa and I laughed at him and I poked his cheeks before hugging him.
"Thank you." I said before moving on to Vanessa who kissed both my cheeks and wished me a happy birthday.
"So? How's it feel to finally be 18?" Noah asked me as we all settled in our backyard when I shrugged.
"I don't know, I feel pretty much the same." I said bored, sipping from my apple juice.
"Oh come on, don't tell me you aren't ready to get laid and have your fist kiss and all that shit." Vanessa said, freezing me momentarily before I forced a smile on my face.
"N-not really." I shrugged, averting my gaze as she narrowed her eyes at me like she did when she knew I was lying, but let it go anyway, thankfully.
"Okay, so I was thinking we could go shopping first and then we could go to the arcade that just opened." Vanessa said excitedly when Noah came between us.
"And after that, we're watching a movie and eating out as well." He added when Van nodded.
"We really don't have to guys." I said but they both shook their heads at me at the same time.
"No, we will, and there's nothing that can stop us!" Noah cheered before getting up from his place and holding his hand out to me.
I took his hand with a smile and got up along with Vanessa.
"Come on Em, it'll be fun, and we'll be back before the grand party your family planned for you." She said and I frowned.
"Grand party? It's not that grand." I said waving in dismissal when both their mouths fell open.
"Oh my god, you have no idea! She has no fucking clue!" Vanessa looked at Noah who simply tsked at me while I cringed at her colorful language.
"You should know Em, even our parents were invited, along with some really big people in the business industry." Noah said as I stopped near the stairs.
"Really?" I asked surprised when both of them nodded, causing me to sigh heavily and shake my head.
"It must be a few close friends of Hunter and dad, I'm sure." I said before making my way upstairs while they both followed behind.
"Whatever you say, now go get ready, we're already short of time." Noah said and ushered us all into my room. I went to my closet with Vanessa trailing behind.
"What should I wear?" I asked her as she looked around and took out a few things.
"This is perfect." She said holding my clothes out to me and I narrowed my eyes at her at her choice of color.
"What?" She asked when I shook my head, sighing.
"What is with you all and emerald green?" I said exasperated before heading to change since I already took a shower last night.
Wearing my clothes and slipping on my shoes, I looked in the full length mirror, twisting around to get a better look and was satisfied with the result although I was a bit skeptical with the color.
"Don't you look fabulous." Vanessa said and I looked at her, shrugging.
"Wow, you look hot." Noah came in to stand beside his sister before giving me a thumbs up.
"Now, for your hair, it looks nice in its natural waves so we'll leave it like that and let's just put on some eye liner, yeah?" Vanessa said and I nodded.
I sat in front of the dresser while she applied a perfect winged eyeliner. I also put on some cherry lip gloss before looking at Vanessa who smiled.
"Perfect, let's go." She said and swung her bag over her shoulder while I collected my phone, purse, ID and some money before following the siblings out, although stopping in my way when my papa called out to me.
Smiling, I went to him and kissed his cheeks as he engulfed me in a big hug.
"Happy birthday kiddo." He said and I grinned.
"Grazie, papa." I said when he smiled.
"Look at my beautiful daughter all grown up. Are you going somehwere?" He asked and I nodded.
"Noah and Vanessa are taking me out, forcefully, might I add." I said a litle louder so they could hear too.
"I heard that!" I heard Vanessa yell from outside and both me and papa chuckled.
"Well, you best go and have fun, okay?" He said and I nodded, waving to him and leaving the house. When I went out, I grinned at the gleaming purple car before looking at Noah.
"What? The birthday girl deserves to ride in style." He said before putting on his metal shades and Vanessa and I did the same as we got in, me in the front seat with Noah driving and Vanessa in the back.
This is going to be fun.