Chapter 5

Accidental

The scent of lavender perfume filled the air, its exquisite fragrance enveloping me. I sprayed it all over my body, leaving no corner untouched. I wanted Fiore to be greeted by the intoxicating aroma of our intimate encounter as soon as he entered the room. Scented candles were strategically placed, casting a romantic glow. Outside, the only traces of nature were the dry leaves falling from the tall trees surrounding the house, so I spread them at the foot of the bed, adding a touch of natural beauty. I wanted this moment to be perfect.

This would be my first time, and it was hard to think of something sexy or wild and hot, as Fiore had warned me against using such adjectives when making love. But I found the candles to be sexy, and Fiore had always complimented my body, saying I was sexy and had a figure to die for. I wanted to embody that word.

There were wild, dried leaves surrounding me, evoking a sense of untamed passion.

The flame from the scented candles would create a hot and passionate atmosphere in the room.

And bold. I smiled, contemplating all the choices I could make to be bold and playful. I was only like this with the person I loved the most. I wanted Fiore to feel incredibly special.

I undressed, shedding every garment and leaving nothing behind, not even my jewelry. I wanted to be bold, to stand before Fiore with nothing to hide and nothing to fear.

I caught a glimpse of my naked body in the mirror, a sight he had never witnessed before. I usually shied away from revealing my skin, as I came from a conservative family. But Fiore had brought out a side of me I didn't know existed. He made me feel like a real woman, and I was grateful that soon we would be united as one. In just a week, I would become Mrs. Fiore Ilarde.

The thought made me grin. Miranda Forbes Ilarde. I even practiced my new signature using Ilarde as my last name. I would need to familiarize myself with that, as I would be Fiore's partner in all his business transactions. He promised to make me one of the signatories in their family's business ventures. He planned to hire me as Vice President or Deputy Director of their company, and I was thrilled to become part of their family.

Lying down on the bed, I embraced the incredibly soft pillow. The bright white light from the ceiling was too harsh, so I got up again and searched for the switch. Next to it was a dresser with a slightly open drawer. As I went to close it, my eyes caught sight of a folded crimson cloth neatly tucked inside. I picked it up, and an instinct told me to inhale its scent, so I did. It had the aroma of sandalwood with a hint of cherry. I tied it around my neck, deciding it would be the only fabric I would wear.

Once I settled back onto the bed and turned off the lights, my heart raced for a few minutes. Fiore and Xylon were still outside, enjoying a drink. Xylon teased Fiore about these being his last days as a bachelor, so they agreed to have a celebratory drink while Fiore led me to this room.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my restless mind. "Sh*t, Miranda! Why are you so restless? Relax," I whispered to myself, inhaling and exhaling slowly.

For twenty-two years, I had preserved myself, never having any other boyfriend but Fiore. He had taken care of me during our three years together, always respecting me and never taking advantage. But now, I couldn't shake off the nerves and tension building inside me. I untied the cloth from my wrist, realizing that it felt like a cheap watch. I used it to wipe the sweat from my forehead, only to find myself tying it once again, this time to cover my eyes.

A grin formed on my face as I chuckled at my own absurdity. What was I doing? I was being ridiculous, overthinking the act of giving up my virginity.

"Mir?"

My body stiffened at the sound of Fiore's voice.