11 Kathleen was just coming out of the shower, her body still wet and droplets of water falling from her hair. She was in the process of drying it when Derek walked suddenly walked in, she shrieked, losing her balance, in a flash, he caught her before she hit the floor, her side eyes stared into his and her mouth parted in shock, Derek was drawn to her, his bride was indeed very beautiful, she quickly moved away from his hold, "how dare you startle me like that" Derek raised his brow trying to hide his sudden attraction to her, "should I remind you that this is also my room?" "Oh, you definitely need to remind me because I've been the only one staying here since we got married" she snapped and he smirked, moving closer to her, too close for her comfort, his blue eyes danced, "I see my wife misses me" he put his hand on her cheek but she slapped it away, "in your dreams" She moved away from his closeness before he would notice how his nearness affected her, she was attracted to him since she set her eyes on him but she knew she shouldn't expect much from this marriage, she has had one heartbreak and that was enough to last her for a lifetime, she won't go seeking for another heartbreak. He held his heart in a mocking gesture, "my wife didn't miss me, I'm hurt". She suddenly turned towards him, "oh, you..." Her words died on her lips and her eyes grew wide when she noticed he was shirtless, "what are you doing?" She choked and he smirked, hands on his belt as if he was about to pull off his trousers too, she raised her hands as if to stop him, " don't..." His blue eyes suddenly met hers and he took a purposeful step towards her, Kathleen backed away while he kept moving forward, she was forced to stop when her back hit the wall, he placed his palms on the wall above her head, moving his face closer, she was suddenly aware she was only on a towel and he was shirtless, her breath came out in a gasp as her lips parted, he glanced at her lips then back at her, "you were saying something, don't what?" His voice was husky as his breath trailed her neck, she shivered. "Don't....." She stared into his eyes, she could lose herself in those depths, she totally forgot what she was about to say " We are married you know, and as far as I can remember, I'm yet to collect my marriage due" Her cheeks flamed at his words, marriage due he says "Huh?" Was all she could manage His eyes narrowed on her as if contemplating, then he slowly brought down his head as if to kiss her, images of Dave's forceful kisses suddenly showed up, no, she wasn't ready for this, yes she had accepted his condition that they would live completely as husband and wife but when faced with it, she does not think she could go through it, she shut her eyes tight and suddenly turned her head away before his lips could touch hers. Derek stared at her for a moment, somehow hurt at her subtle rejection of him and for some reason, he was bittered, he could have any woman he wished to, no one has ever rejected him, he pushed her away as if suddenly disgusted by her, he doesn't need her anyway, he consoled himself, he can get any woman he wished to, perhaps, he needed to get laid, that way, he could cure this sudden attraction to her, without a word he entered the bathroom. Kathleen was sitting on the bed fully dressed when Derek came out of the bathroom, she was feeling guilty at what happened and needed to apologize, how could she explain to him that she finds him attractive and was scared of her feelings for him, she doesn't want to go through heartbreak a second time, Dave had thought her a huge lesson, one won't forget so easily. "Derek...." She called when he entered the room and wore his clothes without looking at her, her eyes roamed his body before he wore his cloth, his muscles were toned and flexible, she suddenly felt like running her hands through all those muscles, how can someone be so beautiful. "I...I...need to talk to you" she tried once more into the deafening silence when he made no attempt to respond to her call. "Derek, please listen to me, I'm sorry okay" "You don't have to be sorry" he replied coldly as he simply picked up his keys and left the room. Kathleen paced feeling agitated, why won't he listen to her? Anyway by the time he comes back his anger must have lessened and he would have to listen to her. * * The next day, Kathleen ate her breakfast slowly, Mrs. Deloux suddenly walked in and sat at the breakfast table, she asked the maid to serve her breakfast, Kathleen glanced at her but said nothing to her, she wasn't in a good mood, Derek hadn't returned home the previous day and once again she had slept alone in that large room "Have you seen the morning papers?" Mrs. Deloux asked, food in her mouth, Kathleen glanced at her once more, she wasn't in the mood to go into another round with her again, she simply stood up from the table, "not interested" she replied as she made to leave. "Oh, I think you should be interested" the tone of her voice caught Kathleen's attention, what was she up to? She shook her head and made to leave again when Mrs. Deloux threw the paper to her, she was about to leave it and walk away but the headline caught her eyes... old flame ignited. The picture was that of Derek in a lip lock with a lady, another picture showed the lady in his embrace and his hands on her arms, hurt pierced into her heart as tears sprang to her eyes unbiddenly, why was she crying? She had pushed him away the previous day and he had found comfort in the arms of another lady, Old flame? She asked unconsciously looking at Mrs. Deloux "He was the love of his life, he was engaged to her, it seems like they've ignited the flames of their love" Mrs. Deloux took pleasure in explaining it to Kathleen. Kathleen couldn't take it anymore, she fled into her room blinded with tears.