Rose 2.63: Stubborn

Shauna

     I keep working for Mrs Robles. Donovan does his best to try and ignore me. However, his mother tells me he's staying at home a lot more than he used to.

     I feel his eyes frequently on me, especially when he thinks I don't see.

     I do little things to get Camilla to spend time with her father. For instance, tonight, I see him get something to eat, and I choose that moment to remind her to do her homework. I leave the two of them alone while I go water the plants.

     I watch through the window and strain my ears to listen. Camilla stands next to the table, debating what she should do now that her father sits at it. She's gotten very silent since Donovan's been home more. I wish I could figure out something else to do that would give him something to give her like I did with the earrings.

     "Is something wrong, little flower?" he asks her. I love that nickname he calls her. It's so sweet and further proof that Donovan is not the awful beast he claims to be.

     She answers so quietly that I almost don't hear. "I...need to do my...homework."

     "Well, have a seat. Do you need any help?" he asks hopefully.

     She slowly shakes her head no.

     After a few minutes of him trying to get her to talk, I can tell she's starting to freeze up. Maybe it would be easier if I were in there too, not trying to interrupt the 'conversation' but just be present.

     "And you'll get to meet your cousins at Nonna's birthday party," he tells her.

     She slowly nods, and I lean over and get the plate in front of Donovan. His slice of cheese bread stops halfway, and he breathes in quickly, staring hard at my chest.

     I glance down and see that my dress somehow got askew, revealing more than usual. I quickly fix it.

     He doesn't say a word, but there's a calculating look in his eyes as he watches me over the rim of his sunglasses.

     The next morning, I walk into the main room to find Camilla contentedly chatting away. Donovan looks happy at her unexpected change in behavior. Donovan also looks...incredibly hot. Normally, he's already dressed by the time he comes to breakfast. In fact, I'm not used to him being in the main house at this time in the morning.

     I'm hungry, but I'm nervous sitting at the table. I pick the spot farthest from him. Is he doing this on purpose? Why did he decide this morning to come to breakfast earlier than usual and only in his underwear? Is he trying to torture me?

     He asks Camilla questions about a boy she mentioned named Benjamin Monty. Turns out he's her aunt's nephew on her uncle's side, and they've become friends.

     "Could he come over and play someday?" she asks him hopefully.

     He looks over at me, and there's no hiding the daring, leering way he looks at me as he says, "Perhaps you should ask Nana."

     I throw up my hand. "Oh no. That's up to you. Whatever you want is fine with me." If he's made a decision, the last thing I want to do is undermine him.

    He smiles somewhat maliciously like he just won an argument. "Then I see no reason why we shouldn't."

     I gobble down the rest of my slice of pie. Donovan makes me so nervous that I can hardly stand it. As I walk around the table to gather my plate and Camilla's, he doesn't try to hide the way he stares at my legs.

     All day, I half-expect him to approach me, but he doesn't.

     They build an addition to the house, a room for just me. I see a calculating gleam in Mrs Robles' eyes as she sets it up. I can almost guess what she's thinking: that Donovan will know I'm in a room by myself.

     Her plan doesn't work. Donovan hardly says a word to me now.

     Arlen's birthday arrives, and we have a small celebration.

     Donovan stands right behind me while we do the cheering.

     Arlen is another redhead! No one knows where he gets his golden, light brown eyes. Donovan says his mother has grey eyes. Mrs Robles wonders if one of Pedro's parents gave him that gene.

     The next day, Donovan takes off work because he has a ribbon cutting later in the afternoon. Once again, we discover each other while I water the plants and he practices his chess. However, this time, we don't speak. By the time I finish, it has started pouring down rain.

     I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I jump and turn around.

     "Would you...just...stop for a moment?" he asks in an exasperated way. "You're working so hard that there isn't any point in keeping the maid service. I heard Mama tell him this morning." He sighs. "Shauna, Mama does not need this much help."

     "Oh," I breathe. "Am I supposed to apologize for that?" He's talking to me! Really talking to me! He hasn't in weeks!

     He scratches his head. "No, but...slow down."

     "Uh, okay." I turn to go.

     He stops me. "And there you go again!"

     I give him a lopsided smile as I say, "Donovan, it is my job."

     "Is that why you're still here?" he asks, and I can't decide his tone.

     I also can't decide whether or not to angrily shove him for successfully ignoring me, throw myself at him to show him why I am still here, or run off crying that he probably still wants me to leave. As it is, I quietly pout and spin around to exit the greenhouse. That hurt!

     A third time, he reaches out to stop me. This time, I don't turn around.

     "I think you misunderstand," he says quietly, and his hands start massaging the stiffness in my shoulders.

     "Why do you want to know, Donovan? Is it so you can tell me to leave again? Is it so you can tell me you don't want me? Or is it so you can prove to me that you think I'm not much better than a whore?" Don't cry. 

     The hands stop. "What?!"

     I turn around and bravely face him. I wish he'd take off the sunglasses. "Well, I am, after all, just the help, right?"

     He pauses, probably thinking of my first night in this house. "I apologize for that. I was trying to prove to you what an ass I am...to get you to leave before it's too late." He bites his lip like he just said too much. He quickly recovers. "You needed to see the darker side of my personality."

     I have my turn being exasperated. "Donovan, I don't care that you have this darker side you keep talking about! Don't we all have one?!"

     He looks down, not hiding where his eyes actually go. "I suppose, but if you only knew what I'd like to do to you..."

     My heart starts racing, and I wonder if he can see it as he stares at my chest. I'd begun to worry he'd lost interest. "Oh yeah? Like what?" I ask bravely.

     He takes a deep breath, leans forward, and starts to tell me. And the things he tells me both shock me and turn me on so much my knees get weak. His arm wraps around my waist, and he keeps talking. Donovan is wild! How can some of that stuff even be possible?
      His tongue slowly runs up the outside of my ear. "Now do you understand?" he quietly asks, his voice sending a shiver up and down my spine.
     I can barely breathe as I answer with my own question, "You don't see me running away, do you?" Although, some of the things he said did scare me, but if he did it right... because it's Donovan... I would be okay.
     He runs his nose along the base of my throat, torturing me by not kissing me. Then, he brings his tempting lips to my jaw, his face level with mine.

     He whispers, "I can't...take...much more of this, Shauna."

     "Then that makes two of us," I whisper back, soooooo close to his lips. Kiss me!

     He doesn't move away, but he doesn't kiss me either. "Nooooo. Shauna, you don't understand. You torture me just by being here."
     "You told me all that stuff to frighten me. I'll ask again: Am I running away?"
     "You should be. Perhaps you cannot because I am having to hold you up."
     "I'm not running away. I would rather be wherever you are. If you say your life is full of darkness, then take me with you." I slowly lick the side of his mouth, feeling the coarseness of his light beard.
     "You stubborn woman. I will never forgive myself," he snarls.

     He angrily kisses me. I'm just happy he's kissing me. I'd worried he was about to walk away again.
     I can give as good as I get, Donovan! I snap at him in my head, and I push him against the chemistry set. I wonder how much he likes this shirt. Would he be upset if I ripped off all the buttons by jerking it open? I want to run my tongue down his stomach.
     He pulls back and pulls me back, holding my head. "Stop, Shauna." Before I can start pouting that he's gone back to the colder Donovan, he says, "I have to be somewhere in an hour. My agent may really kill me if I don't show up for this whatever-it-is." He's panting, and my inner self stretches like she's just awakened from a long nap.

     Still somewhat panting, he continues, "My mother will never let me live this down."
     He DOES mean it! He wants me back! He's not going to try to convince me to leave anymore! My world gets brighter.
     He smiles back to my super-happy smile. "We can talk later?" he asks.

     I joyfully throw my arms around his neck. "Yes," I answer.
     He sighs and holds me tightly.

     "Donovan, be careful. And come back safely," I request. I'd hate to think that after all this that something could happen to him.
     He chuckles. "I will. I should be back around five. Meet me in the little house or I will come rampaging into the main house looking for you, and I wouldn't want to scare Camilla."
     "Okay," I reply, and he happily kisses me once more before leaving to do his celebrity stuff.

     Since we fired the maid, I know no one has gone into the little house to clean. I decide to finish tidying everything up there. That way, should Donovan come home early, I'll be here.

     It really is a darling little house.

     I still haven't been in it yet, leaving it as Donovan's sanctuary, and I'm happy to see the interior is just as darling...until I get to the bedroom.

     A figurative ice bucket washes over me with the sight that greets me: Tiffany's scowl. She may as well be saying, 'What are you doing in here, Shauna?'

     Mrs Robles has her husband's urn next to the bed. She says it's so she can sleep next to him every night. Donovan doesn't have Tiffany's ashes...but he's still wanting to sleep next to her every night with the way that is set up exactly the same. 

     My heart breaks, and I let a few, quick sobs escape. It'll always be her! Donovan isn't the same man...because he doesn't have Tiffany anymore! I reach up and wipe my cheeks.  This... This tells me he's never gotten over losing Tiffany, and he probably never will.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Link and Chasity are preggers again.
-Skye and Carmen moved out to a bigger home.

Click here to go to 2.64