Alone? Henry immediately put his arms around her and drew her closer, hoping the heat would dissipate the feeling. Such a beautiful woman was undeserving of such a feeling. Every magazine with her face loomed out and made him wonder who was holding her? To think after all this time it was still no one was a strange thought. He"d felt the same for so long and to have company in misery was so nice. After all this time it was her his eyes had only been for. Another part of his mind had an opposite reaction as it was reeling in dark disgust as he felt that he had fallen under her spell a bit more than he would have liked. He wanted to be in love just a little with his partner. This kind of commitment she was broaching did not comfort him as he would have liked. Henry had secretly hoped that he could solve the dilemma of whom he liked better, but he was no immune to her charms. She was perfect in the planes of face and body like she had been carved from marble. Up close still, she took his breath away. He knew that she was different from the sleazy characters she often chose to play as she modeled or acted. She was a rare kind woman in Hollywood, a distinction Henry knew she would find unattractive if she found that he viewed her in such a weak light.
This was an excellent opportunity that he could not pa.s.s up so Henry let her paw him up as much as she wanted. He tried to make his false happiness into a genuine one. She would see through his paltry attempt at her acting craft with ease. He needed to have true feelings. Henry tried to get his mind there as he spoke. "I"ve been alone myself, feeling trapped in a hollow house. Tell me what I can do for you, Nadia."
"Oh Henry Wong, I"ve wanted to hear that from your mouth for years. But you know I was always occupied with lesser men. I wasted so much time exploring the world thinking it would make me more interesting. You know all it did was break my heart over and over again. At home, which I hope this house will soon be for me, I"d like to be more formal. My mother calls me Nadalina. Maybe just Lina from your mouth would feel more beautiful." Her eyes landed on his lips as she seductively traced them with a finger. "You know my full name means angel above. As the magazines say my looks come from heaven himself so doesn"t it fit my face. Do you like me for my face, Henry Wong? Or is it my lips . . . men are always going on about where they would like to have my lips. Where would you like them? Hmmm or would you like--" Quickly she took his cheeks and pulled his face down so she could taste his open mouth.
Henry wasn"t quite sure what to feel as he was so surprised that she had made the first move, but immediately two things stood out to him in his mind. First, he was a man and she was a woman as was their primal biologies. There was an attraction there slowly blooming that could not be denied and Nadia"s enthusiasm with her response was aggressive which was obviously where she had gotten her many suitors. Crazy was extremely exciting to have after his careful kisses. The pa.s.sion was perfect, if he wanted a beautiful toy in his hands with which to play. The second was simple--this woman was not his Ellie. She did not make him weak in the knees. Henry felt like he was just going through the motions as exposed to having the pa.s.sion of a person who had truly made the effort to understand him.
h.e.l.l . . . he wanted to immediately move back and leave quickly. The realization was swift that he had not understood the woman who was in front of him previously. In her was something so precious and deep and true that he could not turn away from her. Maybe it had started from the first sight when he had seen the little frail girl who was determined to keep fighting at the hospital. A girl who was going to sacrifice herself for those she loved. At the hospital, when Deul had put her hands in his and clasped the two together he had been lost. After the point of no return had been reached, he didn"t want to admit it because giving up his prized freedom was a fear that eclipsed his life"s greatest love. In love . . . he . . . Henry Wong had found her. A beautiful deep profound robust love was sitting there. He had tried so many ways to dismiss it as Ellie Chen was just another attractive friend, a sister from another mister, or like a good colleague he could catch drinks with after work. To think he had a real wife was like admitting he was about to be chained indefinitely to the bottom of a well. There would only be a circular opening of light above him. Beckoning to the things he could not have as he was a prisoner there.
Ellie if she was here, would softly chide him that she was there with him and together it would be fun. Why? Because every day, every second, every minute with her was worth more than a thousand years without her. He knew . . . he couldn"t leave things the way that he had left them. He would beg on his knees . . . if he had to. Henry had to finally go chase something to keep it. Oh the misery of men.
As his resolve hit, Henry started to move away from Nadia. But before he could fully disengage himself and explain, both of the doors to the side room burst open. There was a dark shadow who was illuminated only in form by the harsh sun streaming in.