Chapter 4

Oliver was sitting by the pool with a glass of wine in his hand, waiting for Isabella. He was aware of how risky it was to ask Isabella to join him in the pool in the broad daylight when the world was wide awake. It was nowhere similar to last night when he fucked her behind the closed door and no one got a hint. 

After last night, it became impossible for him to erase her thoughts off his mind that caused him to ask her to join him in the pool. 

Oliver inhaled a deep breath, trying his best to push the fantasies aside for a while. He had to admit Isabella was an attractive beautiful woman, full of charm and spirited. Not only him but any man would admire her. But he was not any other guy. 

He had a different relationship with her….

A relationship where it was forbidden to think of her this way….

Things would have been a bit easier for him, if Isabella didn’t show any interest. She caused him to lose the self-control that he barely had. 

Suddenly a sweet aroma hit Oliver’s nostrils, he turned back and there she was. Isabella. She just stepped out, wearing a white bikini which was more revealing than he had expected it to be. The bikini gave a proper show of her perfect curvy figure and her hair was tied up in a messy bun with a few hair strands falling on her face. 

Oliver averted his gaze and took a big gulp of his wine. “Fuck!” He cursed under his breath. 

“Hey!” Isabella waved at him as she walked closer to him.

He forced a casual smile. “Hey! Come on in. The water isn’t that cold.” 

She dipped her toes in, testing the water before diving in gracefully. As she resurfaced, she brushed her wet hair back, letting the water roll over her tempting skin. Then she swam near Oliver and passed a smile to him. “Tell me something about you. I practically know nothing about you. You’re still a complete stranger to me.” 

Oliver chuckled, thinking she was laid by him already and she still mentioned him as a stranger. “I’m sure you know I’m an architect and I’ve my own chain of firms.”

“You design buildings.” Isabella muttered in an amused tone. 

"Well, architecture isn't only about designing buildings. It's about designing spaces as per people’s taste where they feel secure, comfortable and happy.”

She nodded her head in understanding. "That's really cool."

"My turn."

"I didn't know we were playing a game." She says while moving around in the water.

"We're always playing a game. It’s just the type of the game that differs."

“As you say. So, what do you want to ask?”

“Any boyfriend?” 

Isabella stared into his eyes for a while before replying. “Met a few guys casually but none of them attracted me the way you did. Also if I had a boyfriend, I wouldn’t have let you fuck me.” 

Oliver nodded. “Saanchi told me about you being blunt and now I get to witness that.”

"Whatever. My turn."

"Go ahead."

"How did you meet my mother? Also how did a guy like you decide to marry her?" She asked and before he could reply, she continued. “I agree she is still attractive but she is way older to you. I don’t understand your point.” 

“I married her because I wanted to settle and she was one of the sensible girls I met in a while. Also as you say she is still attractive.” 

“Of course…. How romantic!” 

Oliver could read the sarcasm in her tone. He smirked. “A little correction, I was not someone for romance. It’s always about sex and only sex, nothing else. I’ve fucked a dozen of women before your mother but none of them were enough to bear me.” 

“Now what? Have you changed for my mother?” The words escaped her lips unconsciously. She didn’t know what she exactly expected to hear. Maybe she wished to hear her name. 

“I won’t say… umm… It’s not change, just maturity and stability I guess.” He explained. 

“So, you’re not in love with her?” 

Instead of replying to her, he took another sip of his drink. “As far as I remember we were playing a game and it’s my turn to ask you a question.” 

“You can ask me the question only when I allow you to.”

“That doesn’t seem fair, babygirl.” 

“I don’t care and why are you avoiding the question?” Isabella gritted her teeth. 

"I'm not, Bella."

"Of course, you are."

"Can you float?" Oliver asked, again not replying to her. 

"Why is that important?" She was frustrated. 

"Can you float?" He asked again.

"Maybe. I’m not sure.” 

"Let me teach you then." 

Isabella let out a sigh, realizing he ignored her question and trying to divert it. "Sure. Whatever you want."

"Okay, then."

Oliver took the last sip of his drink and gestured to her to come near him. She swam towards me, her body moving gracefully through the water. He positioned himself behind her. His fingers traced her bare back, making her quiver before he put his hands under her shoulders to support her. 

As Isabella leaned back, he felt the warmth and softness of her skin against his fingertips, sending a chill through his body. 

“Don’t panic. Relax your body, babygirl.” He instructed. 

She followed his words and her body became buoyant slowly, yet he continued to support her. His fingers gently glided along her skin, tracing the contours of her silhouette.

After a while, Isabella got back to her previous position and looked back at Oliver, standing right in front of him. 

“Do you love her?” She questioned him once more. 

Oliver stared at her, scanning every single feature of her. Her hair was free from the bun and he could see her natural curls and he personally liked them more than her straight ones. They were beautiful. He sneaked his one arm around her waist and pulled her closer while his other hand went to trace her curls, falling carelessly over her shoulder. 

Isabella raised her eyebrows to look up at him and she almost forgot where they were. “Oliver…” She mumbled softly. 

“Holy fuck! Why do you have to take my name like this? My name never sounded so sensual before.” 

“Do you love her?” Isabella ignored his words and focused on her question. She was in no mood to let it go. She was eager to know his answer.

Oliver’s hands slowly cupped her face and he sucked her lower for a second before pulling back immediately, not giving her the chance to respond. 

“I love your curls. They are beautiful. Why do you even straighten them?” 

She frowned, pulling away slightly. She groaned in frustration, thinking why he had to avoid the question every single time. “I’m asking you something, Oliver. Do you love my mother?” 

He sighed, his hands dropping from her face. He moved back a bit, his gaze now on the rippling pool water. "You should really think about showing off your curls more. They make you look more attractive." He mumbled, effectively dodging the question again.

Isabella couldn’t help feeling disappointment. She wanted answers, not flattery. She really wanted to know what Oliver exactly felt for her mother as the sexual tension as well as the attraction was increasing incredibly between them and none of them could deny that after last night. But he evaded the question, leaving her with nothing but uncertainty.

“Oliver, I…” 

She had just begun but her words were cut off by a loud noise.