CHAPTER TWO: THE SECRET

It was Lucas Duke!

The man of her past!

The memories came together, piece by piece, and she welcomed them.

Years back while she was just ten, Lucas was her darling sweetheart. Infact, she got to see him everyday, both in school and at home. They had developed a bond, a connection, a friendship, until suddenly, one day, just like the flashlight of a torch, her mother had flown her out of the country with no particular reason.

She hadn't seen him since then, but now he stood before her looking so sweet and hot like he hadn't felt her absence.

She couldn't tell if it was a good thought or a bad thought.

He looked up right at that moment, and his eyes locked with hers, unable to tear away. Immediately, the world came to a standstill between them. It was a timeless moment, time seemed to slow down, until they had communicated with their eyes, with their bodies.

She broke the gaze and made to walk away, conscious of the shuffling of feets behind her. Soon enough, he caught up with her.

"Hey," he said, grabbing her from behind and pulling her closer to him.

Purple turned to get a clearer look at his face, but all she could see was the alluring nature of his smile.

"Hey…" she said. "You recognized me?"

"Yeah, I couldn't forget those gray eyes,"

His voice! It sparked a ripple in her stomach. It made her skin tingle with an excitement she could not handle.

"How are you, I missed you," he asked

"You didn't look for me,"

"I did, the first few years were rough…,"

"And after that?" She passed him a look of accusation.

He tipped her chin to his.

"Look— Purple, I missed you,"

The way he said those words proved his sincerity and she relaxed. "I miss you too,"

He held her hands firmly and took her to a suite, conscious all the while of her hot stare on his face. They communicated for a while until they decided that what they wanted was more than mere words.

There was a sexual tension in the air, one that could be sniffed.

Lucas allowed his eyes to travel toward her flushed features. She was lovely beyond words, the glow of her purple gown gave her blue eyes a purple hue, and the ruby mouth was so full of grace.

He reached out, slowly and kissed her. It was a light, gentle kiss. He stroked her lush hair while watching her reaction. He saw her melt in desire, at first she was not sure, then, slowly, she reached out and kissed him too.

"Are you sure about this?" He stammered.

There was no response, instead, the kissing got deeper and she plunged her mouth into his with a wild passion.

"I shouldn't kiss him!" Purple mumbled fiercely, yet, try as she may, she could not break free. His breaths against her delicate skin felt like a pull had held her bound to him. She could not stop.

Then slowly, they undressed each other, each uncovering of flesh a revelation, like it was the first time. And in a way, it was.

The night ended with each other exhausted but all flushed.

The early morning sun that peeked into the room the next morning roused purple. She was startled when the memories of the previous night rained on her. She remembered the hot kisses, her yearnings, and her uncontrollable urge toward him and felt a pang of anger.  

It was twenty years ago since she saw Lucas. How could she give her body and soul to him in a one-night stand? no matter how desperate she was, why hadn't she been able to control her fucking emotions? 

She looked down to find him sleeping beside her, and all she could feel was an overwhelming hatred for herself.

Perhaps she had been stupid to think that there was still something between them? For fuck's sake, it was a long time ago, and who knows, he might have a girlfriend or a wife. 

"Damnit!" She cursed

In a rush, she put on her clothes, yearning for a shower to wash away his touches, the feeling of his kiss on her mouth, the memory of him away, but she dared not, just as she dared not cry. She left the room without a sound. 

There would be enough time for a long bath and tears later, tears for all the mistakes she had made with him the night before.

.

.

.

Lucas opened his eyes with a start, and when he couldn't find her, he knew a conviction that screamed sorrow. 

Visions of her lying naked on the bed, her hair splayed across the pillow, her eyes wild with need. He remembered being tangled with her, satisfying her need in the best way possible.

He remembered the sparks that flew in his eyes and the butterflies that tormented his stomach. No woman had ever made him feel this way in all his years of existence.

He shook the thoughts away, she might be beautiful, she might taste like honey in his mouth, but women weren't for him. He was only meant to take advantage of them. Why her? And where the hell was she?

He placed a call to his manager

"Check up every bit of information on Purple Brendon immediately" He commanded.

The next day, he was knocking on the door of her house, a knotted anxiety in his throat.

Purple opened the door almost immediately, and when their eyes met, her nose seemed to be congested.

She took in his attractively cropped tawny hair and starched white cavat to his gleaming black Hessian boots. His very blue eyes were clear and direct, yet held a bit of sadness.

An odd note in his voice, he muttered

"You are so beautiful, that it makes me…," he stopped as if deciding the better of it, and asked instead. "Why did you have to leave quickly the other day?"

Instead of a response, purple opened the door to the apartment wider and asked him to come in for a seat and drink.

"How did you find out where I live". She asked with a slightly shaky voice.

"I have my eyes everywhere. The internet is a vast place, remember?"

Purple hummed a response. She was uncomfortable with his presence. Greatly, she hated herself for somewhat cherishing the moments she had with him on that night. 

She hated how she loved his hands that caressed her neck, how she loved the subtle movement of his fingers like a call to her need, how she longed for more of his touches, and how she could not stop thinking about him.

The deep sound of his voice interrupted her thoughts, and when she looked, she could make out a photograph in his hands.

"Who is this elderly man? Is he your dad?" he enquired.

She paused, unsure whether to tell the truth. If she did, how would it make him feel? She thought. As she looked at his puzzled face, she shrugged, It didn't matter, he was not going to be part of her life anyway.

"He is my fiance… I'm engaged"

Lucas stared hard at the heart-shaped face and released a breath. The strains in his muscles jerked and stiffened. What the hell was she talking about? 

"You..re engaged?"

Purple refused to look at him, at the eyes that made her insides turn, at the hands that stroked away her pains. She needed to stand against him, and the only way was with words. 

"Did you really think I'd not get married after twenty years? Did you expect me to just watch while my mates were getting married? Unbelievable if you think that of me.

As she said these words, she knew they were not completely true. She was in a forced marriage, one solely approved by her mother and fiance. But she dared not tell Lucas, he was going to be better off without her. 

Forcing a smile, she stared right into his eyes.

"Yes… I am engaged to John Duke, owner of an oil and gas company. I'm sorry..."

"This is a fucking joke right?!"

"I wish," she said dryly.

The finality of her words was enough to shatter him. He felt heartbroken, yet he did not know why. She didn't belong to him, so why was the thought of her getting married so disturbing that it made him angry?

He gave her a glassy stare, afraid that if he said something, he'd reveal an emotion that wouldn't sit well with either of them.

It was better to leave, far away from the way she made him feel. He was going to erase her bit by bit from his memory until he would forget she ever existed.