Josephine

The next morning, I wake up with the sunrise like I always have since coming to Rio. But this morning everything is different. It's the first morning in over a year and a half that I wake up with a smile on my lips. Because I'm with the most important person to me. I'm with Oliver.

I lift my head off of his chest and look at his sleeping body. He looks so peaceful and happy. I run my fingers through his long beach blonde hair. I missed feeling his messy hair between my fingers. I missed him so badly...

But he needs a haircut. His whole family could need a fresh haircut and some serious TLC. Maybe I should treat them with that today. A massage, a mani- and pedicure, a fresh haircut and they will all feel brand new.

Suddenly, Oliver opens his eyes and I stare into the most beautiful sea foam coloured eyes I've ever seen.

My whole body runs wild on this colour. It makes me smile and fill my heart with a kind of joy I only ever felt with him. "Good Morning."

"Morning." He whispers back with the most beautiful smile on his lips. "How did you sleep?"

"Perfect. You?"

"Me, too." He runs his fingers up my left thigh that's still hooked over his hips. Goosebumps start covering my thigh and I can feel his erection vibrating against my thigh in response. Gosh, how much I missed this! How much I missed this sexual desire, this need to become one over and over and over again. I had no idea how special it was until I broke us up and fled to Edward. I thought I loved Edward, and maybe I do, but Oliver and I... there's no definition, no explanation of us. We don't fit into a box. We don't fit into this world.

So we make our own world.

I wince as suddenly a loud knock fills the room.

Oliver chuckles, "That's probably my Mama. Or Johnathan."

I smile at him, "I like the way you refer to your mother." Edward called his mother by her first name. I'm calling my mother Mum or Mummy but no one in my family calls her Mama. It's sweet, fitting and fills my heart with warmth.

"Well, she is my Mama."

"Oliver, get up!" Jonathan's voice rings through the room. "Breakfast is here!"

"Coming!" Oliver yells back.

"She doesn't seem to like me very much." I lift my leg off of his body and climb out of the bed.

"She's just worried." Oliver says before climbing out of the bed as well.

I open my closet and get out a fresh pair of underwear, shorts and a T-shirt. After just one night with Oliver my panties are already soaking wet. "I'll see you at breakfast."

He nods. "What do you want for breakfast?"

I shrug, "A croissant maybe." My hunger can't be satisfied with food because I long for the man across me.

"Okay." He says before walking over to the door. He places his hand on the door handle but doesn't push it down. "Josephine,"

"Yes?"

"It's nice to know we can just sleep in a bed." He says and although I can't see him because he's facing me with his back, I know he's smiling.

I chuckle, "Not everything's about sex."

He looks over his shoulder and gives me a glance I can't interpret.

"What?"

"I never thought I'd hear you say those words."

I never thought I'd say them either.

Oliver

Breakfast is, just like dinner was last night, a feast for my family. We ordered a little bit of everything and Caio and Johnathan didn't complain. They ate everything from the crispy bacon and eggs to the pancakes and yoghurt with fresh fruit. I don't think they will ever get used to this. I know I've never gotten used to it in the three months that I was with Josephine.

But they won't have to worry about food or a roof over their heads ever again. Not with Josephine in the picture.

"Why don't you want me to call you Jo?"

She stops eating her croissant, "Because everyone calls me Jo. My friends, my family, the people at the soup kitchen, the people at Bolton's Enterprises and at the foundation. Even the press calls me that. But you... you are special."

Special. I still don't know what that means. "How about Ophelia?" I ask. That's her second name.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I have a friend who calls me that. It's the only person who does that."

So he or she is special as well. I don't know why but I feel jealous out of the sudden. "Elise?"

She sighs before placing the croissant back on the dish. "You can call me whatever you want as long as it's not Ophelia and you don't call me Jo again."

"When have I ever call you Jo?"

"You don't remember?"

I shrug, "Obviously."

"You called me Jo when I broke us up. It was the worst you have ever called me. Yes I am arrogant and selfish and self absorbed, but I am not Jo to you. I never ever want to hear you say that nickname to me again. It hurt like nothing else."

I didn't do it on purpose. "I'll think of a nickname."

"Okay. Does that mean I can give you one as well?"

"Yes. That's only fair."

"Good." She says with a smirk on her lips before she continues ripping the croissant apart.

"You don't have one right now?

"No. I'll think of something." She takes a sip of her orange juice. "Okay. Can I call you Oli?"

I frown, "Only Johna and Caio call me that."

"Yeah, it doesn't sound right anyway." She agrees with me.

"What's the plan for today?"

She grins at me, "You are in for a treat. You're going to like it. All of you." She says before looking at my Mama and brothers.

"More than this breakfast?" Caio asks her with a full mouth of blueberry pancakes. Mama made sure he ate all the fruits before getting to the sweet stuff.

"Yes, definitely."

Josephine

"I thought you all could need some love, so I called in a hair dresser and a cosmetologist." I announce before opening the door to my en-suite bathroom. "Maurice will cut your hair and Giselle will give you a facial. After that Alonzo will come and give you guys a massage."

"A what?!" Oliver's little brother asks.

I go down on my knees to be at eye level with him. "Don't worry, it's not for you. While your Mom and your two brothers get polished, you and me will get some ice cream at the beach."

"Yes!"

"Jonathan!" His mother cries out.

"Can I get two scoops?"

"You can get as many as you want." I tell him with a smile on my lips.

"You're the best!" He wraps his short arms around me. He thinks I am some kind of fairy when I'm really not. "Can we go swimming in the ocean as well?"

"Of course."

"No, he can't."

I look up at his Mom. "Doesn't he know how to swim?" He's eight but given their background I'd say nothing is impossible.

"No he does but we didn't bring swimming trunks."

Clothes. They barely have any clothes. I think I should call a personal shopper and have her buy at least the essentials. "I'll buy him one in the shop in the lobby."

"Josephine," Oliver's voice is filled with worry and gratitude at the same time.

I rise to my full height and look into his pine green eyes. "Don't cut off too much length." I tell him as I brush through his honey blonde hair.

"You like it long?"

I do. I like it a lot. "Until we haven't met up with my uncle I'd say we should keep the length. Your hair like this could be useful when you work as a model. It's very trendy right now."

"It is?"

I stare at his lips for a moment before looking up at his eyes again. "Yes."

"Okay." He says with a nod.

Suddenly, my iPhone starts ringing. "That's my brother-in-law. He's working on your issue."

"My issue?"

"The non-existing papers." I answer before turning around and walking over to my desk where the ringing iPhone is laying on. I pick up the call. "What's the situation?"

"I'm afraid I don't have any good news, Jo." Wladimir's deep scratchy voice fills my ears.

"Just tell me."

"I won't be able to get them legal papers this fast. I've pulled on every string that I have. I talked to the Prime Minister but I cannot give them these papers. Not in two weeks. It's going to take months until we have some papers."

I sit down on the bed, "That's too long." I whisper. My plane leaves in 14 days and I can't reschedule the flight. I have to be back in London in two weeks.

"I thought so. But there is one option. It's quite drastic, though."

I don't care. I want Oliver back. "Tell me."

"Marriage."

"M-marriage?!" I stutter. I know Oliver said that yesterday but hearing it from Wlad gives the word a whole different meaning. "No, no Wlad there's gotta be another option. I can't marry Oliver! Daddy would rip my head off!"

Wlad chuckles, "It's not worse than what your sister and me did."

"No, but it's pretty close."

"I'm just giving you the option. You could just do a civil ceremony. I can arrange someone from London. But make sure to make him sign a prenup first. After a year, you guys can get divorced again. By that time Oliver and his family have legal papers and can stay legally in London. It would only be temporary. Unless-"

"Yeah, I get it." I interrupt him. "Wlad, I just left Edward at the aisle five months ago."

"I know it's not the best timing."

I laugh, "No, definitely not."

"Well, think about it. Otherwise he and his family have to stay in Rio for a few months."

"How many months?"

"Six at least."

That's too much. That's definitely too much. "Okay. I'll think about it."

"Give me a call once you've decided." He says before hanging up.

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. Somehow I thought this would be easier. But I guess money can't do everything. I get up from the bed and walk back into the master bedroom. Giselle is already putting on a face mask on Oliver's mother's face and Caio is getting his hair cut.

"Can we go now?" Oliver's little brother asks me.

I look at Oliver. He doesn't deserve this life. He should swim in money or at least have a decent home. He doesn't belong in the slums, in favelas.

"Everything alright?" He asks me.

My heart bleeds for him. I nod, "We'll talk about it when we're back."

"Okay."

I hold the front door of the suite open for Johnathan and watch him walking through. Ralph and Leo are already waiting for us in the hallway.

Johnathan eyes them with the same suspicious look he gave them yesterday.

Ralph bends down so he's on eye level with Johna. "We didn't have a chance to introduce ourselves yesterday. I'm Ralph and this is Leo."

"Are you Josephine's brothers?"

I chuckle, "No. They're here for our security. They'll watch out for us, so we won't get robbed."

Johnathan nods, "Will you get a scoop of ice cream as well?"

"Hell yeah!" Leo says as we get into the lift, "What's your favourite?"

Johnathan thinks for a moment. "I don't know. I like mango or pineapple."

There's pineapple ice cream?

"Well I like chocolate." Leo smiles at Johnathan.

"I'm more of a vanilla type." Ralph admits with a shrug.

"What about you?"

"Strawberry..." I mumble as I remember Oliver's favourite ice cream. "And walnut with figs but I don't think they're going to have that here."

"Strawberry's Oliver's favourite as well!"

"What about your Mum and Caio?"

"Caio likes that green stuff."

"Woodruff?"

Johnathan shakes his head. "No. It's cactus or something."

"Interesting. What about your Mum?"

Johnathan shrugs, "I don't know. She never bought ice cream."

Of course she didn't. She's saving every penny for her children. The fact that Johnathan knows what ice cream is shows me how deep Maria's sacrifice is. I take a mental note to order some ice cream from the hotel tonight so she can figure out what her favourite is.

Seeing Johnathan licking his pineapple and mango ice cream gives me the greatest joy. It's a beautiful sunny day at the Ipanema beach. The people are bathing in short bikinis and swimming trunks, playing soccer and volleyball at the beach. It's glorious.

Even Leo and Ralph are eating their ice creams in silence. I'm licking on my strawberry and coconut ice cream.

"Is it good?" I ask Johnathan. I'm surprised he only went for two scoops.

He nods, "Perfect!"

His smile makes me feel a kind of warmth only his brother has ever made me feel before. "Do you want to rent some bikes and go for a ride along the beaches?"

Johnathan's smile drops abruptly as if I said something wrong.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't... I never..."

He has never ridden a bike. "Ralph, Leo and I will teach you. It's easy." I promise him with a soft smile.

"Okay." He smiles shyly but nods.

I guess Johnathan has never owned a bike. It's something so normal for me but for him it's exotic. I grew up riding horses, Johna grew up running on his feet. "Or we can just go for a swim in the ocean."

"No, I'd like to learn how to ride a bike. The boys in my school always looked so cool on them."

I smile. In a few years he's going to say the same about motorcycles.

"What is London like?"

"Well, there are no beaches this beautiful." I stare at the bright blue ocean in front of us. "But there are lots of castles and palaces."

"And your sister lives in one?"

I chuckle, "No. But she lives near one and so does my brother. We can visit the palaces when we're in England."

"Does it always rain in London?"

"No, not always. But the weather can change very quickly."

"Do you love my brother?"

The question hits me out of the blue. My feelings for Oliver go beyond my comprehension. I thought I loved Edward - and maybe I do - but what do I feel for Oliver then? My feelings for him are stronger, much stronger than the feelings I have for Ed. They're also quite different. My feelings for Ed were clear pretty quickly but my feelings for Oliver... they can't be labelled, captured into one single word. Love - I still don't know what this is, how it feels like. It's not one emotion that I have for Oliver, it's a whole spectrum that I feel for Johnathan's big brother.

But a child can't understand that.

"Yes." I answer simply. Oliver and I define love differently and we may not feel the same way about each other but our feelings for one another are undeniably strong and unexplainable.

"Will you get married?"

I lick my lips, "I... I don't know." From what it seems like marriage is the only way to get them out of Rio.

"Babies?"

"Okay that's enough." Ralph helps me out. "How about we pick out a bike together?"

Johnathan nods before walking away with Ralph.

"It's tricky, isn't it?" Leo asks me as I stare at the beach and the many happy tourists and locals here.

"What is?"

"The things you do for love."

Oliver

My Mama watches how Maurice cuts off a few inches of my beach blonde hair as she gets a manicure. Caio and she already got her hair cut and I must say they look good! Josephine was right. A new haircut, some tender loving care for the nails and a massage for my Mama will make us completely new persons! My Mama looks younger and Caio looks like a real young man. Even he is all smiley and happy. He didn't refuse to get his nails cut and cleaned as well. I think he still thinks this is a dream, just like the rest of my family.

"And you're done." Maurice runs his fingers through my hair before holding up another small round mirror so I can see the back of my head in the big mirror in front of me.

The last time I got a haircut was the day of my first date with Josephine - it seems like forever ago now. "I like it. Thank you so much." I tell him. My hair is a little shorter than it was before but it looks healthy.

"It was my pleasure." The man smiles at me.

I can hear how the door of the suite opens and Johnathan runs over to us.

"Mama, Mama, I can ride a bike!" He cries overexcited.

My Mama looks at him in surprised. "You do? Who taught you?"

"Jo and Ralph and Leo! It's so cool! We rode down Ipanema and all the way to Copacabana!"

He calls her Jo. She lets everyone but me call her Jo.

"He's a natural. Only fell down twice." Josephine says with a smile on her lips. Then her eyes notice me and I watch how they turn from sky blue to a sapphire blue. "You guys look wonderful. I like the hair cuts."

"Yes, you look very pretty Mama." Johnathan says as he runs his fingers through my mother's long dark brown hair. "It's sparkling, too!"

"Hey, What about me?" Caio asks him.

"Sorry, no haircut can help you." Johnathan teases him.

"Johna!" Mama breathes out shocked while we all laugh out loud.

"You look cool Caio." Johnathan says while rolling his brown eyes.

Josephine chuckles before looking at Maurice. "Thank you for your service."

"It was a pleasure. Maybe Johnathan needs a haircut, too?" He asks my little brother.

Johnathan shakes his curly head. "No, I don't want to look like Caio."

I laugh out loud. They both have inherited my Mama's hair colour and structure. I'm the only blonde and green eyed man in our family - I got that from my Papa. My Mama says I always remind her of him. Maybe it was God's way to make sure he will always be with us.

"I can make you look even cooler." Maurice tries again. My little brother could use a haircut as well. His curls are nearly reaching his shoulders.

Johnathan thinks for a moment. "Okay, but only if Jo stays and watches you the entire time."

My Mama stares at Josephine with wide eyes. I think she's surprised Johna got attached to her so quickly. It doesn't surprise me at all, Josephine always had all men wrapped around her finger. Including me.

Josephine nods, "I'll stay with you." She promises him before looking at the rest of us. "How about you guys go out or order some room service?"

"Oh yes!" Caio agrees with her.

"Okay. Do you want anything?" I ask Josephine.

"Some kind of salad."

I nod before walking into the open kitchen with my Mama. Caio puts on the telly and sits down on the couch in the living room.

"How did she do that? Johna doesn't trust anyone but she... she went ice cream eating and bike riding with him and suddenly she's his person?" My Mama asks me.

I chuckle, "That's Josephine's superpower. She makes everyone love her and admire her. She's hard to get to but she's got a heart of gold and Johna is seeing that. I know you're very sceptical but you can't fool a child."

"Yes you can. With enough money, food and activities. And Josephine seems to have all of that."

I sigh, "Mama,"

"I know that she's in love with you and means well but I don't trust her. Angels don't fall from the sky. She's up to no good."

"No, angels don't fall from the sky. They get made in hell. Josephine has been through a lot. She may has never suffered from poverty or hunger, but she bloody knows what it feels like to suffer."

"Suffer how? Because she didn't get the newest handbag?!"

"Enough!" I hiss at her so loudly that Caio looks up from the television. "Stop with your prejudices! Yes, Josephine is wealthy but that doesn't make her a bad person. She gives back a lot. She's the one who built the school, the public pool, the kindergarten, hospital and the women's shelter in Rocinha. It was her family's non-profit. She's been working here for the last six months to give back not to take anything away."

"She's here because of you, not because of some charity."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Mama, what's your problem? You always wanted to come to London with me. You always wanted a better life for Johna, Caio and me. Why are you so sceptical about her?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt, Oliver. I saw how you looked like when you came home. She completely wrecked you."

"But she promised to never do that again."

"And you believe her."

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do! Because I love her-"

"And her pussy must be magical!"

"Mama!" I hiss in shock. We rarely discuss the subject of sex.

"Don't lie to me! I knew you slept with her last night!"

"Yes I slept with her but nothing happened! We haven't had sex! We just slept in one bed together! She asked me to join her and I couldn't say no. And guess what? This morning I woke up with a smile on my lips. I haven't smiled or felt happy in over a year!"

"She's using you."

"For what? I don't have anything to give!"

"Well, then she's playing with your heart." My Mama decides and crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"Josephine's a good person. She didn't hurt me on purpose and she got hurt in the process as well. She's not playing with my heart."

"But she hasn't told you she loves you either. Something's terribly wrong with this person."

"Nothing's wrong with her. She's just very cautious."

"I wonder who messed her up this badly."

I bite on my lower lip. It's not my place to tell her that but I also know she won't stop worrying until she's got the answers she needs. "Her father." I breathe out.

My Mama looks at me with wide eyes. "Did he rape-"

"No. He left his family when Josephine was 13. I don't know much but it was totally out of the blue. Josephine and her siblings went on holiday with the school and when she came back from France he was gone. The whole family struggled in ways I can't even imagine. About two years later he returned."

"So he didn't leave because of another woman?"

"No, I don't think so. I've met him once along with his wife. They reminded me of you and Papa. They're unbelievably in love with each other, even after over 33 years of marriage. Another woman wasn't the reason but given the fact that Josephine always has security with her no matter where she goes, makes me think it was something much worse."

"And Josephine has this attachment disorder because of him?"

"She said so."

"Her life wasn't always joyful."

"No."

"And she's no spoiled rich brat."

"No, definitely not."

My Mama nods, "Okay. I'm giving her a chance." She decides.

"Thank you."

Josephine

I pick up another piece of the jigsaw puzzle and finish with the edge of the 10.000 puzzle of Rio. It's so nice to spend the evening with the Oliver's family instead of working in front of an iPad or the telly. Doing a puzzle together is the perfect way to wind down and as it's raining tonight we decided to not go out but stay inside the suite.

And it seems like we're all enjoying this equally. It's like meditation because everyone is so focused and quiet. But then there are moments when we're chatty and laugh our hearts out. We might have very different backgrounds but in our hearts we're the same.

We had a delicious dinner with grilled fish and veggies and started to get to know each other more over it. I learned that Maria was a cleaning staff in a two stared hotel here in Ipanema. Caio and Johna are actually not doing bad at school. Johna's favourite subject is Math and Cairo's football. Both have English in school but are struggling because it's so different than Portuguese.

The puzzle is pretty hard but that's what makes it so much fun. I always loved challenges, that's why I was the European champion in horse dressage and show jumping. It's also why I always came in first at all the regattas I did at Le Rosey.

It's also why I am so obsessed and addicted to Oliver. He's the greatest challenge I ever had and I know I won't ever get bored with him. I'm an alpha woman and he's an alpha man; and somehow it still works out. It's still interesting, passionate and weirdly peaceful. He gives me a sense of safety that no man has ever been able to give me. He's loyal to me. He's protective of me.

He loves me.

I don't want more. I don't need more. He's everything and more.

I move my hand to pick up another puzzle piece and wince as Oliver's hand touches mine by accident. The electric shock is so strong that my whole body reacts with goosebumps immediately. The sensation lingers in my body for minutes and my heart goes haywire in my chest. We haven't kissed last night. We slept in one bed together and it's a miracle we didn't end up fucking each other's brains out. I haven't had any sex since eight months now and I honestly wasn't missing it but ever since I saw Oliver again... the attraction, the sexual tension and the possibilities I know he can make me come drive me insane. My body craves him.

But my heart craves him, too.

And so does my soul.

It's everything that makes me, me, that wants him. I want all of him. I want his body, his heart and soul. I want every single cell, every single drop of this soul...

I want him and I don't know how much longer I can restrain myself.

But when I look at him, I can see the glow in his sea foam coloured eyes. He doesn't know how much longer he can restrain himself as well. It's not just our bodies that crave this union. It's our hearts that need to feel as one again.

But I won't make the first move. I won't push him. I won't put my needs over his again.

This is not like last time. Yet, I'm all sweaty with soaked panties just from this one touch.

"I think we should stop here and continue tomorrow." Maria suggests.

"I agree. It's already quite late." And I need a stone cold shower.

"But we only have the frame!" Johna complains.

"We'll get just up extra early tomorrow to continue with it." Caio tells him with a smirk on his lips.

"Come on, get to bed." Maria urges them. "Goodnight Josephine."

"Goodnight. Sweet dreams." I tell them with a smile on my lips. I watch them going into their bedrooms. The door snaps into place and I'm alone with Oliver.

I can't guarantee anything now. I look at him and feel how my body comes alive just from his gaze.

He opens his mouth to say something but I decide to interrupt him.

"Goodnight." I tell him before turning on my heel and rushing to my bedroom. I close the door behind myself and exhale. My whole body is shivering from the desire I feel for this man.

I take my time to calm my system down before going into the en-suite bathroom. I strip out of my clothes and get into the shower. I turn it on and switch the water to stone cold.

I close my eyes as the water runs down my body, cooling down the raging inferno inside of me.

I don't know how much longer I can do this.

Oliver

I watch her sitting on a bench on the balcony, overlooking the Ipanema beach as the sun sets. It has just stopped raining cats and dogs but I'm sure many favelas are flooded, probably Rocinha. A few months ago when it has rained for days the streets turned into rapid streams and thanks to the many stairs and uneven floors, our house got flooded and we lost the little we had. I'm sure it's flooded right now as well.

She got us out just in time.

I sigh as she takes a sip out of her glass that's filled with water. Over the last two days, she hasn't touched a drop of alcohol. But that doesn't mean it's not bad. Whatever's going on her mind is really eating her up.

And I have a feeling it has something to do with me.

Maybe she can't help us after all. Maybe we're all going to stay in Brazil and she will fly back to England alone.

The thought scares me.

"What's wrong?" I ask her after five minutes of watching her sipping on that water.

She winces before turning around. "Sit down."

I walk over to her and sit down on the bench. The ocean breeze is flowing through her hair. She looks beautiful in this lightning. The intense reds, oranges and pinks from the sunset make her skin glow. Especially after she took off her makeup. The lightning enhances the tiny birthmark underneath her left eyelashes. It has the shape of a heart. There's another one on her right temple, nearly in her hairline that's in the shape of a star.

Gosh, she's the most beautiful woman in the world.

"What gave me away?"

"The water." I say and nod towards her glass. "I'm surprised it's not filled with bourbon."

"I haven't drunk in half a year... I forgot how well you know me." She sets the glass on the rim of the balcony and looks at me. "My brother-in-law called me today. He gave me some devastating news." She starts.

She can't get us to the UK. "You can't help us."

"No... No, I can. I just can't get you papers. Not within two weeks and I can't stay here longer than that. I don't want you to stay here longer either. Wladimir said that the papers could take half a year and that's too long."

That's not too long. I've waited my lifetime to get to the UK. My brothers and my Mum have waited their whole lives to get there. Six months is like nothing. "We can stay here. We can wait another six months-"

"But I can't." She interrupts me in a strong voice but with tears in her eyes. "I can't live another six months without you in my life again. And I can't commute between Brazil and England either. I want you, no I need you to fly back to England with me." She tells me. And that's suppose to mean she doesn't love me?

"Josephine,"

She shakes her head, "No. I won't wait another six months."

"Then what do you want to do?"

"Marry me."

My eyes widen at her words. Did she just really say that?! "What?"

"It's the only way to get you guys out of the country in two weeks." She says. "I know it's a bit extreme but we could get divorced in a year. Of course you'd have to sign a prenup and you guys could live with me until we get divorced. By that time your model career will have taken off and you will make enough money to care for your family. You could also live in the flat that I bought you. I still have it. It's unused. Your brothers could stay at the Academy of course. It could... it could work, I think."

"But I wanted to marry out of love. I didn't want to turn marriage into a business deal." I breathe out. She's seeing this as a deal, a contract - just like a year and a half ago when we first met.

Her lips form a thin line, "But you said you loved me."

"And I do. But you don't love me." I challenge her.

She opens her mouth before closing it again. Then she inhales deeply, "But I also don't not love you. I don't know how I'm feeling about you, Oliver. I know that I have very strong feelings for you but I don't know if it's love. I've never been in love, Oliver. I thought I was once but I was wrong. Very, very wrong and I don't want to hurt you again. So, I don't know what that feels like."

"You've never loved someone?"

"No. No one apart from my family. I thought I loved that one man but I now I think I may was wrong and it took me too long to realise it."

I'm not sure if I want to know anything more about the man that Josephine thought she loved. I lean back against the bench, "I see."

She mirrors my gesture, "So, what do you say?"

"I don't know... I have to sleep on it."

She nods, "But I need an answer by tomorrow. I have to call back Wlad and he will hook us up with the right person."

"It doesn't feel right."

"But it doesn't feel wrong either, does it?"

"No and that's my problem with it." I reach forward and brush through her chestnut waves. "I always wanted to get married out of love."

"Well, you will."

"But I wanted to promise forever and mean it. I didn't want to get married, knowing I'll get divorced in a year." I whisper as I fondle her left cheek. I love this woman but she isn't ready to commit... and yet she's willing to marry me to enable my family and I a better life.

She's still that enigma I met one and a half year ago.

She tilts her head into my hand, "I don't know what's going to happen in a year. I hope by then you'll be a successful model and that you'll have a stable income... But when it comes to you and me... Honestly, I can't promise you anything, certainly not forever."

"How can you make pain seem so beautifully?" I think out loud.

"I don't mean to hurt you, Oliver. I'm just being honest. I'm playing with open cards here. I've always played with open cards with you. I've always been honest. Even when I broke us up. I was dishonest with myself but I was honest about my feelings, or what I told myself were my feelings, with you."

Honest and yet secretive. I don't even know half of what I want to know about her. "I know."

Maybe that's why I fell in love with her.

Suddenly, she slides towards me before she raises herself from the bench and sits down on my lap. Her olive green silk nightgown collects in front of her stomach as she wraps her legs around my hips. My body heat starts rising at the touch and my dick awakes before I can take another breath. Her magnolia smell starts filling my nostrils. She's intoxicating... she's the true definition of femme fatale.

She places her hands on my face and I expect her to kiss me but to my surprise she doesn't. Instead she just stares into my eyes until I'm lost in the sea of blue that's her irises. I wrap my hands around her thin wrists and feel her fast pulse. For what feels like forever, we just sit there, stare into each other's eyes and breathe with each other. The sun sets completely and the moon and the stars take over the sky but time doesn't exist when I'm with her. It never did.

"Look, I know this is not how you envisioned your marriage to be... I know this is hard for you..." she whispers before pressing her forehead against mine. Her pulse increases even more at the touch. Our touching points are tingling, slowly building up the intensity.

It feels like no time has passed.

"It's not hard. It's just not easy." I whisper back as I stare into the most beautiful blue I've ever seen. It's such an intensively glowing sapphire blue. I've never seen it before; not in such intensity.

"But I won't let you go again. I will hold on to you with everything that I have. I will do everything to keep you." She promises me. Our touching points are sending jolts of electricity through us by now. The pull is getting too strong for me to ignore it any longer. I know she can feel it as well. She can feel the passion, the lust, the desire... this love!

How can this woman not say that she loves me, too? What does she need to admit towards herself and me that this is love? How can she not see this?

Before I have a moment to think it through, I kiss her.

And it feels like the world explodes around us.

She kisses me back immediately, feeding on the fire that's been roaring between us. Her hands travel down my face until she reaches my shoulders. Our tongues starts dancing the same tango as they used to. I let go of her wrists and grab the nape of her neck. She presses her body into mine, hollowing her back before she releases a moan that's coming from her soul. I know she can feel my twitching cock that responds to her voice. Our bodies react to one another like they've always had.

I bite into her lower lip as I feel her letting go of my lips. I love her full lips... I love her whole body.

But I love her mind and soul even more.

"Oliver..." she breathes out. She doesn't say more than my name but it's enough. I've always understood her.

Her whisper is like a siren's song. I place my hands on her firm butt and rise from the bench. She holds on to me and kisses me as I walk into her master bedroom. I open and shut the balcony door before placing her on the edge of the bed. Her fingers open the bow of my sweatpants before pulling them down along with my boxer briefs. Then she gets out of her silk nightgown, revealing her stunning full tits. She's the most beautiful woman on earth. My fingers hook into the waistband of her black laced panties before pulling it down, revealing my entrance to heaven. She widens her legs before wrapped her arms around my neck. She kisses me and pulls me down while climbing into the middle of the bed. Her hands run down my chest and over my abs as I position my cock in front of her pulsing pussy. We both moan as I slide into her tight and warm pussy. This is heaven.

It's paradise on earth.

"I love this pussy." I breathe out.

She shows me that dirty grin I love so much. "She loves you, too." Josephine says while staring into my eyes. Her hands glide down my back, creating a tingling sensation that makes my cock twitch inside of her.

The way to Josephine's heart is through her pussy. Sex is her weakness.

Sex is how I will get her to admit her true feelings for me... Maybe not today, but one day she will scream those little three words into my face when she comes all over my dick.

So, when I start sliding in and out of that slice of heaven, I fuck her hard, ramming the headboard into the wall, without giving away that I actually make love to her.

It's just like she said.

A lot can happen in one year.

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!

Do you think Jo and Oliver are going to get married? Is Maria going to accept her more?

I promise the next chapter will be longer!

Please review!

In gratitude,

Nicole