ISSABELLE

Ryan repeated his question once again, "What are you afraid of Issabelle? Why did you not tell Cathy that we had loved each other so much? How she was conceived, because of the love that we had for each other? How, during our lovemaking, you would cry with pleasure and ecstasy? How much you had wanted me? You should have balanced the hatred that you had pumped into her head, also with the knowledge of love, that we had once shared with one another. It is good for her, that Cathy has not harbored only hatred in her mind. She would otherwise have developed a Psychological disturbance in herself. Otherwise, she would never have trusted any man, not even Steven, in her life after that."

Issabelle was pierced with the pain that she heard in Ryan's voice. She told Ryan that, whatever was essential for Cathy to know, Issabelle had informed her about that. She tried to get up from bed, to maintain a safe distance between Ryan and herself. She got up clumsily from the bed, but her legs were not supporting her, and she was about to fall when Ryan caught her by her shoulder to steady her. But her body began to recognize his touch and started reacting in a way that it was attuned to, 20 years back. It was as if her brain had kept all the signals of reaction, dormant inside them, waiting for his touch, to kick start them back. To her horror Issabelle could feel her breasts swelling and hardening, her nipples had become taut because her body had made contact with his warm body. She could hear her heart thumping loudly, and she was also breathing heavily. She was shocked by how her body was reacting, though he had not touched her in the true sense, but had only steadied her so that she may not fall. He was smelling, that typical male smell, just the way he used to 20 yrs back. That typical male scent of his, she realized that she had not forgotten anything about him. That same thickness of hair on his chest, how she would feel them and run her fingers in their thickness, how he had that hidden mole on his chest, and thigh, which she used to kiss while they were making love. Issabelle started blushing, thinking about where her thought process was going. She tried to free herself from his arms but realized that she herself was holding onto him tightly, and not the other way round. She released her hands from his chest.

Ryan with a huskiness in his voice told Issabelle, "I am a human, not a saint, my body too reacts, the same way as yours, stop fighting Issabelle. I know that you love me the same way that I do. Stop fighting, and please don't run away again from it, the way you did 20 yrs back. Your eyes give away your secrets, the way it used to. I used to read them and understand, when you wanted me to kiss you, and much more. Even now your eyes are telling me that. Don't ignore it, we still have the same fire of love burning inside us. Accept it Issabelle."

Ryan then took Issabelle in his arms. She protested by saying, "I hate you." Ryan smiled looking into her eyes and said that "Your body, but gives a different message to me Issabelle." Before she could utter another word, Ryan stopped her by holding her tightly to his chest, with one arm around her, his other hand tilting her face upwards, and he lowered his head, and covered her mouth, with his own. Issabelle thought, she would not respond to him. She convinced herself that she hated him very much, and was not a 19 yr old girl anymore, to be impressed with his kisses, or be aroused.

Issabelle's thoughts and her hatred were but short-lived. She never realized when her body started responding to him. She clung to him as he started kissing her, her heart pounding frantically. His tongue was stroking her lips, kissing hard, while his tongue started to separate her lips, and then going deep down in her mouth, then moving rhythmically, in and out of her mouth, she started pressing herself closer and closer, straining, yearning and aching for him, inside her. Issabelle gave a moan of arousal. Ryan slid his hand, down her back, to press her hips towards his manhood, trying to show her how much he was also aroused. Issabelle was trembling from head to toe, as she was unable to control her sensation and her reaction to his onslaught. Ryan's hand then gently moved up towards her breast, gently stroking them. His fingers then began to stroke and caress her nipples, over the fabric that she had worn. Issabelle was aching with so much desire, how much she wanted him at that moment. His tongue and his pelvis were both moving rhythmically, carrying on their sensual onslaught.

Issabelle suddenly froze in his arms suddenly. She was startled what on earth was she doing responding to him in that manner. She pulled herself away from him, and told him, "I hate you so much, though my body might be behaving differently. You had no right to barge into my home. You had no right, to behave with me like that. You had no right, to walk back into our life. How could you? As if those 20 yrs between us never existed. What made you imagine that you could take me to bed? Did you want to see me react to your kisses, to boost up your male ego? I never want to have anything to do with you Ryan. You have trespassed into my life, and my home, without my permission. I shall never forgive you. You may maintain your relationships and contacts with Cathy if that is what she wants. But Cathy had no right to give you my keys."

Ryan replied to her onslaught of words, by saying that "Cathy said it was the only way that Mom would ever talk to you."

Ryan without uttering a single word after that, just left her house, closing the door behind him. After making sure that he had left, Issabelle started crying, she had been too strong, far too long. She had to let out those tears, she could not be brave anymore.