15. Chapter 15
Chapter 15
STARLET
S tanding in front of my parents’ house, I feel a mixture of anticipation and anger coursing through my veins. Gripping Argent’s hand so tightly that my knuckles turn white, I can feel the warmth of his palm against mine. The distant hum of traffic drowns the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.
The air is crisp, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint aroma of my mother’s perfume. I muster up the courage to knock on the door, my hand trembling slightly.
It has been three long days since I’ve been back, and not one of them has bothered to contact me. Now I’m standing here, ready to confront them and show them that I am alive—no thanks to them.
What I am looking forward to the most is the look on my father’s face when he realizes his plan didn’t work out the way he hoped.
“You ready, little star?” Argent’s low voice breaks through my thoughts, sending shivers down my spine. I gaze up at him, my eyes locking with his, and I nod, managing a faint smile to reassure him before finally rapping my knuckles against the front door.
The door swings open, and my mother’s eyes widen in surprise as she takes in my disheveled appearance. “Starlet—thank goodness you’re safe,” she exclaims, pulling me into a tight hug. But all I want to do is push her away, scream at her—anything to express my pent-up frustration.
“Please come in—oh, I know you,” she states, pointing towards Argent. Confusion clouds my mind as I furrow my brows, my gaze darting between the two of them. “You were at the memorial,” she adds, and I raise an eyebrow.
Memorial?
Are you kidding me ?
Shaking my head in disbelief, the sound of loud footsteps suddenly captures my attention. I spin around, my heart skipping a beat as I lock eyes with my father descending the stairs. He freezes in his tracks, his face turning pale as if he’s seen a ghost.
“We’re so happy that you’re safe, darling,” he stammers, but I can see right through his facade. His words ring hollow and his complexion betrays his guilt. “I doubt that,” I retort coldly, my voice steady and unwavering as I fix my gaze upon him. The intensity of my stare causes his face to fall, and he struggles to find his words.
“I-I don’t know what Zavier o-or that little boyfriend of yours told you but—” he starts to say, but I cut him off, “Save it.” Not interested in his excuses.
Turning my back on him, my eyes find Argent, and I can see that he’s been watching me intently throughout the entire exchange.
“Oh my gosh—Starlet!” A high-pitched voice cuts through the silence as my sister runs over to me and envelopes me in a hug. She pulls away and when her eyes land on Argent, I don’t miss the way her cheeks flush .
What the fuck is going on?
Confusion and disgust twist my face into a scrunched-up expression that I can’t control. “Hey, what are you doing here?” She turns her full attention to him.
“He’s here with me.” Before Argent can even reply, I snap, unable to contain myself any longer.
What the hell happened since I was gone? I was missing for more than a year and my family is more interested in Argent being here than me. It's fucking unbelievable.
“Okay, what is going on? What is this memorial you mentioned, Mother?” My anger seethes through my words as my mother emerges from the kitchen, holding drinks in her hands. The clinking of glasses fills the air as she approaches us.
“Honey, it’s been a year. We thought you were gone and wanted to show you some respect as well as get some closure and make peace with all the heartache we've been through,” she confesses, her voice tinged with regret. My frustration reaches its peak, and I feel like I might burst a blood vessel at any moment .
“So, you just gave up? I prayed every fucking night, hoping someone would find me—anybody!” I yell, causing my mother to flinch. She stands there, speechless, her eyes wide with shock.
Regret washes over me, realizing that this confrontation was a mistake. I shouldn’t have bothered coming here. Knowing what I do about my mother and especially my father, it shouldn’t have hurt me as much as it does to know that they easily gave up on finding me.
I guess blood isn't always thicker than water.
Turning towards Argent, my anger fueling my actions, I see my sister reaching out to touch his arm. Ignoring her, he stands with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on me. But when she rubs her hand over his shoulder, something inside me snaps.
“She’s going through a rough time, you should keep an eye on her—” she tries to say, but losing control, I grab her by the hair and forcefully pull her towards me. At that moment, I can feel the strain and resistance of her hair against my grip. With my face only inches away from hers, my heart pounds in my chest with anger .
I look into her widened eyes filled with disbelief and fear, my voice dripping with venom. “If you ever touch him again, you will be picking up your fingers from the floor,” I snarl through gritted teeth before releasing her.
As I glance at Argent, a smirk tugs at the corners of his lips, sending a surge of electrifying energy through my body, settling in the sensitive area between my legs.
Tearing my eyes away, I gaze at my family with disappointment before turning and making my way towards the door.
As we make our way home, the car glides silently, the soft hum of the engine filling the air. I want to say something, but I’m not sure where to start.
“I guess you know about your father,” Argent finally speaks, shattering the quietness. Curious, I turn my body slightly to face him. “Yes. How do you know?” I inquire, meeting his gaze .
“Saw an email. Then threatened him to tell me where Zavier was. And, well, you know the rest,” he confesses, a faint smile dancing on his lips.
God, I forgot how gorgeous he is.
“Is that all you know?” I ask, studying him closely. Raising an eyebrow, he eyes me intently. “What else is there?” he questions.
“He did all this because I’m not his daughter.” My words hang in the air, and I lunge forward as the car comes to a stop by the side of the road. Argent turns off the engine and turns his body to face me. “What?” he asks, bewildered.
“Found out I’m a rapist’s baby, and he couldn’t live with that. He was the one responsible for my car accident and God knows what else,” I declare, and he remains silent, his gaze fixed on me.
My attention is captured by how he wipes his palms on his thighs, lightly pushing his hips up as he adjusts his posture.
Despite everything I’ve been through, against all odds, you would think that this is the last thing I would want—but I want him now more than ever. Memories of our intimate encounter in his car flood my mind, causing me to inhale sharply. As I stare at him, I contemplate whether this is a good idea.
Fuck it.
Slowly, I release my seatbelt, capturing his attention. Sliding it over my arm, I carefully climb onto his lap.
“Star, what are you doing?” he growls, his voice dipping low as I straddle him. Ignoring his question, I begin planting soft kisses on his neck, working my way up to his chin.
“We don’t have to do this if you’re not ready,” he murmurs. “I am,” I respond, my words interrupted by kisses and the feeling of his warm hands gripping my waist.
“Star—”
“I want this!” I snap, causing him to close his mouth. “I need this—I need you,” I confess, tears welling up in my eyes, threatening to spill over.
Without wasting another second, he grabs me firmly behind my neck, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. As he pulls me closer, I can feel the forceful collision of our lips, the sound of our breathless gasps filling the air .
“Fuck, I’ve missed you.” He whispers breathlessly before slipping his tongue past my lips. The taste of mint lingers in my mouth as his tongue explores mine, igniting a flood of memories.
My hands find solace in his hair, gripping tightly as a low growl emanates from his chest, intensifying the moment. Despite the overwhelming desire, I remind myself that I need to assert control.
His hands glide down the curve of my waist, causing electric shivers to course through me before resting firmly on my hips, squeezing gently. A gasp escapes my lips as I feel his hardness pressing against me, causing me to pull back and press against his chest.
“Stop,” I manage to breathe, my heart pounding in my ears. Breathlessly, we lock eyes, silently communicating our desires. I climb off his lap, and back into the passenger seat, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, trying to steady myself. Opening the door, I step out of the car with determination.
Argent watches me closely, his brows furrowing with concern. Without uttering a single word, he understands my unspoken request, promptly exiting the car and joining me in the backseat .
Drawing closer to him, I caress his cheek, savoring the touch before planting a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. Leaning back, I pull him along with me, feeling the coolness of the leather seat against my back.
His hands reach for the waistband of my jeans, but he hesitates, locking eyes with me for approval. With my bottom lip caught between my teeth, I nod. Slowly, he unbuttons my jeans, sliding them down my legs. However, before fully removing them, he freezes.
“What the fuck?” He asks, confused, his gaze fixated on the scar on my thigh where his initial is carved. It used to look better before I had to redo it.
“Zavier cut the ‘A’ out,” I explain, not missing how his jaw clenches at my words. But I don’t give him a chance to respond. “So I put it back,” I add, my voice steady and unwavering. My words catch him off guard, and he stares at me in disbelief.
“You, what?” he asks, his shock palpable as he stares at me, his green orbs piercing through me.
“I belong to you ,” I declare, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. His eyes flicker with a sinister glint as he fully discards my jeans, his voice dipping low. “Always, little star. ”
His mouth crashes against mine, the force of his lips colliding with mine sending a jolt of electricity through my body. The taste of him, a mix of mint and desire, lingers on my tongue.
He devours me with a newfound hunger, his urgency palpable in every movement. A strained moan escapes my lips, a blend of pleasure and anticipation.
His hands, rough yet gentle, explore my body, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Each touch ignites a fire within me, heightening the intensity of the moment.
But as I hear the distinct sound of his belt unbuckling, a wave of apprehension washes over me, causing my heart rate to skyrocket. Desperate to push aside the negative thoughts threatening to suffocate me, I struggle to maintain the intimate passion.
I feel suffocated. Trapped all over again. In an instant, I find the strength to shove him away, his back colliding with the door. Gasping for air, I jolt up, taking rapid breaths.
My chest feels like it’s on fire and unable to breathe. Tears well up in my eyes as I stare at him, searching for understanding .
“It’s okay, little star,” he whispers, his hands raised in surrender, his chest heaving with breathlessness.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, my hand instinctively clutching at my chest, desperately trying to steady my breathing.
“You have nothing to apologize for. Let me take you home, alright?” he says gently, exiting the car.
The door behind me opens, and I spin around to see him holding out his hand, a lifeline amid my turmoil. Hesitantly, I reach out and place my trembling hand in his.
“Breathe, baby. Just breathe,” he coos, his voice a soothing melody as he opens the passenger door for me. Sliding into the seat, I quickly fasten the seatbelt, clasping it tightly in my hand until my knuckles turn white. Deep, steady breaths fill my lungs.
He settles into the driver’s seat, his silence speaking volumes. Leaning over to the back, he retrieves my pants and places them gently on my lap. His sincere smile is tinged with concern, a silent acknowledgment of the pain I’m experiencing.
I feel stupid. I had wanted this, craved this intimacy, and yet I pushed him away. Guilt washes over me, unsure of how he must feel after what just happened. I thought this was what I needed.
Fuck you, Zavier.