WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue

‘I’ve seen the way he treats you’ Arlen said in a hushed voice. ‘You deserve better than this.’

Ramana averted her eyes from Arlen, reluctant to answer.

‘I know you’re not happy with the way things are anymore’ Arlen pressed. ’It just….tears at my very soul’ he said grasping the air with both hands, ‘to see you treated so.’

‘You should not have come here’ Ramana spoke firmly.

‘I can’t help it’ Arlen answered quickly. ‘I have had so little joy in my life. You and Amaia are the only things that matter to me.’

‘Doesn’t Farrell matter to you?’ Ramana asked coldly, turning her back to him and glaring at the floor in the kitchen they stood.

‘He has changed’ Arlen answered sadly. ‘I barely know him anymore. I too miss Brice dearly…but….’ He shook his head. ‘Ramana….’

Ramana felt his arms wrap around her, sliding around her waist.

‘Arlen what are you doing?’

‘I can’t stay away from you’ Arlen said moving closer to her, moving his lips close to her neck.

Ramana shivered as she felt his warm breath upon her.

‘I can’t resist you’ Arlen whispered, running his hand up her body and to her neck, lifting her chin up. ‘Ramana……I want you….’ He jerked his other arm tightly to him suddenly, holding her firmly around the waist.

‘Oh Arlen…’

He began to kiss her neck, moving down to her shoulder.

‘No Arlen’ Ramana said, pulling sharply away from him. ‘I can’t.’

She turned back to face him, glaring with tears in her eyes.

‘I’m sorry’ Arlen said miserably, backing away. ‘I shouldn’t have…’

‘I want you’ Ramana spoke, her voice breaking, ‘more than anything. I just want to be happy…to be loved. But I can’t betray my husband. I know he can be good, I have seen it. I will stay loyal and faithful to him, and I will be understanding, like a good wife should be, for I too have suffered much death in my family.’

‘But you have never shut down’ Arlen retorted. ‘You have never given up.’

Ramana pursed her lips, blinking the tears away. ‘He loved Brice dearly, I know that.’

‘As did I’ Arlen countered. ‘But I would never…’ he broke off. ‘It just pains me so much to see you suffer like this, and Amaia also….I can’t even tell you…’ He lifted his head. ‘Do you truly love him?’ he asked Ramana. ‘With all your heart and soul?’

Ramana stared hard back at him. ‘I do’ she said firmly.

Arlen hung back for a moment. The two stared at each other, waiting for the other to speak, to do something.

At last Arlen sighed.

‘You mean the world to me Ramana. I have never stopped loving you, and I never will……I just thought you should know.’

He turned and strode out, closing the door quickly after him.

When he was gone, Ramana fell to her knees, crying into her hands.