Chapter 9 Nine

Arthur's POV

I almost lost my senses the moment Jackson did that. He can be a dick most of the time, but I had not expected he would do something as calling me a man whore before his sister when he was fully aware I wanted to impress her.

I didn't ruin his shot once, and just because I was into his sister; he wanted to stop me. It took a lot of restraint not to throw my fork at him at the dining table. I knew I would have to clarify what he had said to Sierra.

I saw the way she looked at me when Jackson said those. Fuck, I wanted to tear Jackson apart. There was hurt in her eyes. She avoided my gaze every now and then, but whenever I got a good glimpse of her eyes; I saw disappointed them.

Fuck!!!

Despite trying to get Jackson to shut the fuck up, he kept going. He was relentless. I eventually settled for apologizing after breakfast. And that doubled my original plan of coming over today.

Yesterday was the best time of the year for me, but I fucking ruined it by going stiff once she kissed me. Like an idiot!

I wanted to, badly, but my brain short-circuited at that moment. I did not have control over what I was doing. Before I could collect myself, she was off me and already running off, not once listening to my call.

I could not sleep last night, and Jackson had to give me something to be worried about. The moment breakfast was done, Sierra rushed out of the dining room without glancing at me.

Jackson glared at me, daring me to do what I had planned. I could rush after her, but I would not want to create a scene, so I let it rest for now. I knew I would not be leaving this place without fixing this.

"Is Mum okay?" Elvis asked, looking worried.

"She's fine, my boy. She just needs to rest," Mum said.

I saw this family as mine. Calling them Mum and Dad was the most natural thing I could do after they've been there for me, better than what my parents had done in months. My biological parents were not very supportive of my decisions, but these parents of mine were perfect.

They scolded me, but they supported me in the same breath. I had a feeling they would not have an issue with me being with Sierra, but I needed to thread carefully. "My boy, would you like to join me today?" Dad asked Elvis. "We could go to the supermarket and get you that toy you wanted".

Elvis' face lit up. "I'll come," he said, up on his feet.

"You've had him for two days straight. I need to be with my grandson," Mum said, pouting.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'll spend tomorrow with you," Elvis said, rushing up the stairs.

"He is such a sweet boy," Mum commented, watching him.

"You should not have come early. We have plans only tonight," Jackson said, but I paid him no mind.

He knew why I was here. I wondered what he would do if he found out that I not only spent time with her yesterday, but I was able to kiss her. She kissed me, but it didn't matter. I loved it.

"Here," Mum passed a paper to Jackson. "I need that for lunch and dinner," she added, and Jackson looked as though he wanted to explode.

He tried to speak, glancing from me to Mum before rising. Well, at least he would not try to stop me. Soon, Dad and Elvis were out the door. "I think I'll head to the neighbors. You two have a nice time," Mum said, winking at me before walking out the door.

Now I understood what she was doing. She intentionally sent Jackson away. That's one of the many reasons I loved her so much. I shut the door and the moment it was shut; I heard Sierra speak. She sounded disappointed to find me here. Alone.

She still looked the same way as she did when she came down for breakfast. I could tell she was shocked to find me in the dining earlier. But what struck me was the way she dressed and looked.

Despite her hair being in a messy bun and her face buffy from not enough sleep, she looked good. She was different from all the ladies I've been attracted to. Sierra was beautiful in the most natural way.

Her eyes, the way it twinkled and revealed what she was thinking, were magical. Holding her was like holding something precious. Something I only wish to hold and pamper.

I wanted to hold her forever. That was how much I was crazy for her. And her smile was delicate, enchanting, making my knees buckle. "Jackson, grocery shopping. Mum, the neighbors, Dad and Elvis mall," I replied, locking eyes with her.

She looked around and turned around to disappear again. I'm not letting it happen again. "Sierra," I called, rushing over.

I held her by the arm, stopping her. "Regarding yesterday, I-"

"We don't need to talk about. It was a mistake and I acknowledge that. I should not have done that. I was just being - forget about it. It never happened," she said.

"But it did happen, and I was wrong to act the way I did," I said, studying her eyes.

She didn't believe me. I came closer to her, but she took a step back. "Si-"

"I don't need your pity, you know," she said with a sad smile.

I was the cause of it. Being a dick could cause me this beauty. Shit!!

I drove my fingers into my hair. "Please, do not believe what Jackson said at breakfast. He was messing with me," I said.

"But it's the truth," she said, staring me down.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat went dry. I could not defend myself. She walked into the kitchen and I went after her. "Okay, maybe I was, but it doesn't matter right now. I won't be anymore," I said, and I meant every word.

She said nothing, filling her glass with water and emptying it in a go. "Sierra, please believe me," I said.

"What do you want me to say? I have nothing to say about that. You are free to repulse when I kiss you. You are..." she muttered the next words that I could not decipher.

She tried walking away once more, but I pulled her back, spun her around and held her by the waist. "I didn't repulse at your touch. I could never," I said, tugging loose strands of hair behind her ear.

To anyone out there, she looked like a mess, but she was a beautiful mess. Her lavender scent was intoxicating. Having a much closer look at her, I noticed the dark circles around her eyes. Yesterday, she had covered them up with makeup, but today it was bare.

I was about to ask, but then she tried to get away from me. "Don't pity me. I don't need it," she said.

"I don't. I'm sorry I reacted that way. I was taken off guard. Truthfully, you don't know how much I wanted to do that. I was just about to make things right, but you didn't stop to listen to me," I said.

I grabbed her by the neck, brushing my thumb over the side of her ear. "I've not been able to take my mind off your lips since last night. I didn't have a chance to show you how much I wanted that," I said, my lips itching to have a taste of her again.