Noah Cooper lay on his back on his new temporary bed. His gaze was staying upon the white ceiling, but his sanity and thinking were far away from the presence of mind.
He couldn't sleep when he shut his eyes and his thought was just zeroing in on Jasmine. His heart has been affected. He didn't realize it at first, but now it seems to be getting clear in his eyes.
The last time he felt something as strong as what he felt toward Jasmine was with her late wife (Marian). Marian was the first woman he fell in love with, who in turn reciprocated his undying love. Her image was the only one in his eyes, as if there were no room for anyone else.
Even when Noah lost his beloved wife to sudden death, he still loved his late wife so much and thought that he could never love anyone else.
However, this unexpected feeling he felt for Jasmine was making him lose his mind terribly. In his opinion, he had never thought that he would become so troubled to the length that he couldn't sleep because of a woman.
Noah was still in his deep thought when he suddenly heard the creaking sound of a door from outside. He immediately jumped out of the bed, switched on the bedside lamp while sliding his feet into his slippers, and then strode toward the door, looking quite vigilant.
By the time he opened his door and stepped out, he could only catch the glimpse of Jasmine's back view, tiptoeing out of the entrance door with only a towel.
His brows knitted deeply in confusion and without a moment's hesitation, he turned briefly and closed his door and then began to pace the hallway and also descended the stairs, trying his possible best not to make a sound.
He got outside the front yard but couldn't find Jasmine and was starting to think where could she have gone to when he suddenly heard, *Splash* in the swimming pool direction.
He raised his eyebrows and walked over slowly with steady footsteps. When getting closer, he inputted his hands in his pocket. His eyes caught by Jasmine's towel first, lying on the verge of the pool, and then saw Jasmine's thin figure swimming outward.
Noah's breath caught in his throat as soon as their eyes met. The full water was covering her body, only her head and shoulders were visible.
Her black long hair floated on the water like water grasses. There were also water drops on her shoulder and looked like crystals on her fair skin.
Noah's stomach churned massively and could feel his heart making some funny movements, but he still pretended to be cool.
“Did you have to sneak out like that?” he raised a question when he was certain he could now voice out some words.
However, Jasmine's heart continued to pound, and didn't seem to be able to control her own heart as she stared at this gorgeous man towering above her.
For a moment, she couldn't find anything suitable to say, but her brain turned quietly after a few seconds, and then she let out, “I just wanted to avoid making any noise, sir”
After she said that, she lowered her head, hoping Noah would just turn around and walk away.
“Hmm… I see,”
Noah nodded continuously while putting forward his steps; however, he sloped on the slippery verge and fell into the pool before he could hold himself back.
“Oh my goodness,” Jasmine panicked and swam over to him, afraid that he might not know how to swim.
However, Noah had reached out his arm and held her waist, provoking Jasmine's hands to sprawl on his broad chest. She looked up into his face, feeling a crazy joy at the sight of the droplets on his face.
Noah's gaze slowly dropped to her mouth, and the knot in his throat rolled up and down. Her lips were like freshly washed cherry, it was so fresh that one could not control oneself to bite.
Having no ability to hold himself back, he leaned his face even closer and his mouth brushed hers, and the sensation made her feel as if she were melting and blooming at the same time.
Noah's mouth searched, plundered, and empowered hers. Jasmine instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, craving more of the feeling.
They both couldn't ignore the feeling that swept through them.
After a long while, Jasmine pulled out of the kiss first, and just as she attempted to pull away completely, her hands were caught.
Noah looked into her eyes and opened his mouth, “I can't deny what I feel for you anymore, Jasmine” her heart seized the moment these words came out of his mouth.
“I thought I would never fall in love again after I lost my wife. But this came unexpected, Jasmine. It's an unexpected love and believe me, it's so real,” Noah confessed, his eyes peering deeply into hers.
“I love you, Jasmine. Please, I want you to be mine forever,” the humbleness that emanated from his voice could make even a day-old baby fall in love with him.
The sincerity written across his face was very bold enough to convince Jasmine.
She lowered her head, unable to abide his gaze any longer, and as though she was not prepared for this. To be honest, even she couldn't suppress what she feels for him anymore.
She lifted her head again and called out in a voice barely more than a whisper, “Mr. Cooper…”
Noah interrupted her mid-sentence, “Noah. Just call me, Noah. Please”
Jasmine swallowed over the knot of emotion in her throat and nodded twice.
“I'm sorry, but I can't do this,” she said profoundly, looking everywhere but his face.
“Why? Because of your ex-boyfriend?” Noah asked directly, as if knowing her response in advance. He knew too well that Jasmine would never reject him because he was a father, so that must be her reason.
“I can't deny it. Being in love comes with a risk of your love not being returned, and I don't think I can take that kind of risk again,” Jasmine responded and tried not to think back to the past, but failed woefully as her eyes began to swim in tears.
Noah snuggled her into his chest and embraced her passionately, while Jasmine whimpered softly.
“I understand, Jasmine, but this reason wouldn't make me back off. I know what I want, which is you. I won't make promises to you, I know that sooner or later, you'll see my true intentions,” he whispered into her ear while stroking her back tenderly, and she absentmindedly wrapped her hands around his tiny waist.
The following morning,
Jasmine left her bedroom and walked a few steps to Aurora's door and bent the doorknob. Peering her head inside, she saw Noah and his daughter sitting on the bed and conversing merrily. They were still in their night dresses, likewise herself.
Smiling, she wouldn't like to bother them. So, she decided to close back the door, but just as she withdrew her head and wanted to shut the door…
“Not even a good morning?”
Hearing Noah's voice from inside, she blinked her eyes twice. It didn't occur to her that Noah had sensed her presence. She slowly put her pace into the room this time, smiling awkwardly to mask her embarrassed attitude.
“Good morning, sir,” she greeted warmly, lowering her head and trying not to recall what had transpired between them last night.
Noah rose from the bed, his gaze sweeping back and forth on Jasmine's petite figure.
“Correct yourself, then I would answer your greeting,” Noah asserted firmly.
Jasmine lifted her head and met his gaze and the memory of how he had kissed her last in the pool immediately replayed in her head, her cheeks then began morphing to a darker shade of red.
“Good morning, Noah,” she greeted again, but in an extremely low voice now.
“I didn't hear you,” Noah teases, loving the color of her cheeks.
Jasmine's ears became red-hot, and she felt frustrated to death.
She exhaled softly, mustered some courage, and greeted for the third time, in an audible voice now.
“Good morning, Noah,”
His mouth lifted in a wide grin as he put forward some steps to where Jasmine was standing.
Jasmine step backward, looking uneasily and stealing a glance at Aurora on the bed, who also had a broad smile on her face, just like her father.
She loved the interaction between her father and Jasmine this morning, and she wished it would never end.
“Your… daughter is watching, remember?” Jasmine reminded him, gulping every now and then.
“I am not doing anything wrong, am I?” Noah sneered. He was now towering above her, his eyes were full of love and affection as he stared down at Jasmine.
Their gazes locked for some time, and Noah unexpectedly dipped his head forward and put his mouth right next to Jasmine's ear.
His breath passed through the hair around her ear, it seemed he was flirting with her.
Jasmine swallowed hard, hating how violently her body was reacting to his advance.
“I love you,”