Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Maria’s POV

I woke up with a start, my body was covered in sweat and I was breathing heavily, I looked around and found that I was in my bedroom, Ethan was sleeping beside me, I brushed the hair that had fallen over my face to the side.

I had been dreaming and what was weird was that I could not remember the detail of the dream I had just woken up from and exactly why my heart was thumping so hard in my chest.

Taking a quick glance at Ethan, I realized he was still sound asleep, I realized it will take a while before I went back to sleep, so I got out of bed and grabbed my robe, perhaps if I got some air, I will much better and more relaxed.

The house was usually quiet at this time, it was only the steady hum of invincible electric appliances that could be heard at this time of the night, I crossed the living room and passed through the kitchen and then out the back door, the moment the door was open, the cool night breeze kissed my cheeks and slightly ruffled my hair, a smile crept into my face, the night breeze always calmed me as though I was one with it.

I stepped out and the gentle breeze embraced me, I pulled my robe a bit tightly around my body, I walked over and sat by the fountain, the moonlight reflected on the glassy surface of the water, I saw my reflection in the water.

I had always found it calming to be here at night, there was a sort of peace that came with the water and the moonlight, I was not sure when it started exactly but I loved the feeling.

“It is you” I heard a deep voice say from behind me.

I was jumped feeling startled by the voice, I quickly turned around and there he was again standing there in a black T-Shirt that hugged his upper body, he wore a pair of black slacks and his feet were bare, his hair looked a bit messy as though he had been sleeping as well.

His eyes, those beautiful eyes ran over my body and for some reason, I felt my body heat begin to rise, I felt the journey of his eyes all over my body and then they finally came to rest on my face once more.

“It’s you” he said once more.

“Do you know me?” I asked, I was surprised that my voice was able to remain as cool and calm as it sounded, it betrayed none of the feelings that were running through my entire body at the moment.

“You are the one who passed out merely because of my presence” he said with a smirk on his face.

And just like that, everything I had been feeling vanished at once “Excuse me” I said.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and said “Earlier when I arrived with fancy pants, you looked at me once and the next I knew, you were swooning and needed to be caught, luckily I made it in time, if not, you would have been walking around with a massive headache right now”

Why had he caught me instead of Ethan? I was feeling a little humiliated right now.

“I am going to ignore what you just said right now, I am Maria Sandaval, I am Ethan’s wife and so that makes you my brother in law, a pleasure to meet you” I said, trying to sound like I was not feeling humiliated in front of this obviously arrogant man.

A smile crossed his face and then he said “My baby brother has always been one lucky bastard, I am Alexander Dupree, bastard son of the esteemed Dupree family, my father’s greatest shame and my mother’s biggest regret, I am sure you might have heard of me”

I hadn’t really known much about the Dupree family before I met Ethan and whatever I knew about Alexander Dupree, I had heard from others, Ethan never spoke of him, he was apparently the worse but I had no idea what to make of him just yet.

“I have heard a bit about you but I just wanted to tell you that you should make yourself comfortable while you are here” I said.

In reply to this, a smile crossed his lips and then he said “I will be very comfortable here, it is my family house after all, I am sure I could give you a tour or perhaps you could give me one when you are less busy, it has been a while since I was here after all”

I simply nodded and said “We will see, I should get some sleep, it is very late”

“Exactly, which was why I wondering why you were out here in the first place, a nightmare perhaps?” he said.

His eyes were fixed on mine and his smile had vanished, there was suddenly something intense in his eyes and just like that, I could my heart begin to pick up speed again, just like when I had initially woken up from my dream.

He took a few steps forward and he was standing just a few feet away from me but it seemed like he was close enough for me to smell the scent coming from his body, it was woodsy and it gave one the sense of adventure and it was too damn familiar.

“Maria” he whispered, he had spoken it so softly as though he had not meant to say it out loud and then his eyes widened.

Immediately he took a few steps backwards and just like that, everything was gone, the racing of my heart and the wondrous fragrance of adventure.

“You are right, you should get some sleep, it’s late” he said and even before I could reply or perhaps ask something I was not even sure about, he turned around and walked back into the house leaving me standing there, staring after him.