chapter 35
Avira
Mama and Daddy left for DC this morning after staying here for two weeks.
After Wen came, I stayed at her place at night, before that, I had slept in Mama and Daddy’s room for ten nights.
In that mentally shitty state, I didn’t realize anything and just slept there like a child afraid to sleep alone, or in my case, a child whose parents were too scared to let her sleep away from them.
But now, thinking about it, I realize I did a nice job of third-wheeling between that romantic couple.
We used to go to bed in a pattern, Mama and I on the bed, and Daddy on the couch. But in the middle of every night, Daddy would come to check on us. He would tug my blanket, pat my head lightly, and then reach Mama. He would sit beside her for several minutes, watching her, kissing her.
I witnessed this for ten nights. At the time, I was overwhelmed with the stress of losing Wen, but now it brings a smile to my face.
After Wen came back, I spent days and nights at her place. She has become a lot less talkative, and I don’t like this change in my sister. Now I understand what she must have felt during my distress era, she wants to stay alone, but I’m afraid to let her.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we will go back to our little heaven, our grandpa’s house.
I bring out my luggage bag from the closet and put it on my table.
I don’t need to travel with much when going between Pa’s house and Zoan’s house, just some important gadgets.
I sit on my chair and look around the room, my mind drifting back to those days when Wen was kidnapped. I spent all those days with Zoan.
He used to explain everything to me, keep me updated. When I felt my favorite emotion—guilt—he would hold me close, coaxing me and telling me it was not my fault.
I smile, putting my head on the table. How much of a pain in the ass I have been in that guy’s life, and still, he wants me. I close my eyes, feeling the blissfulness of his love.
In the last four days, I haven’t seen him much, and by “much,” I mean not at all.
He had a lot of work piled up because of Wen’s kidnapping, so now he is working constantly.
He comes home late, after I sleep, and leaves for the office before I wake up.
During his stays at home, I stay at Wen’s place.
But every night, I call him before going to bed.
A touch of warm fingers on my forehead makes me open my eyes. Zoan is standing in front of me, tucking my hair behind my ear. He’s in a suit, looking like he just came home.
I sit up straight in my chair. “Did you just teleport into my room?”
“The door was open.”
I glance at the still-open door. “Oh,” then look back at him. “You came early today.”
He nods, looking toward the bag on my table. “You’re really planning to go.”
I nod. “Wen needs me.”
He stares at me for a minute, that handsome face of his that hates showing emotions. Then, with the same stoic expression, he says, “So do I.”
My heart jumps in my chest, almost coming out of my mouth. I gulp, looking away from him. Once he says things like that, it becomes impossible to look at him without feeling layers of current under my skin.
He holds my jaw. I look up at him, though my eyes are half-lidded, my lashes heavy.
“I can’t let you go, Dove. I need you here with me. Please don’t go.”
He’s standing so tall and strong, yet his words carry the same vulnerability they would have carried if he were kneeling before me.
“But I’m afraid Wen won’t be fine alone.”
“Did she say so?”
I shake my head.
He runs his thumb slowly just below my ear, the touch making my skin prickle. “I’m saying this. I need you. I won’t be fine without you. So stay with me.”
“Since when did you start needing me this much? Last time I checked, you were perfectly fine just watching me from cameras.”
He smiles, the kind of slow smile that makes his eyes look darker. “But then I got a taste of having you in front of me, where I could watch you whenever I wanted and touch you however I wanted.”
I narrow my eyes, though my pulse jumps. “Who says you can touch me however you want?”
His smile widens, a quiet challenge in it. God, I could watch him smile all day without tiring, he looks so damn handsome when he does. “I’m still touching you,” he murmurs.
I hold the hand that’s been tracing my face and neck for what feels like forever, my fingers wrapping around his, heat curling low in my stomach. “What will you do if I refuse to stay?” The question tastes like iron on my tongue, the idea itself giving the same pleasure as walking on nails.
His smile vanishes, and suddenly the nails become sharper.
“Then…” His voice drops lower, rougher. “…can I ask for one night with you?”
My breath catches, coming out hot and shaky. The room feels suddenly smaller, warmer, and the air thick and electric. My head is spinning, and the very place between my legs throbs in answer.
He bends down until his face is level with mine, his eyes holding mine hostage. “And I want to do everything I desire in this one night.”
I’m sweating while staring at ice, his gaze burning me and his eyes lulling me closer with the promise of cooling me down, but I know what a master manipulator this man is.
“I won’t be able to leave you,” I tell him, my voice trembling slightly. I can see right through his little game.
His hand slides around my waist, and in the next second he pulls me up against his chest. I quickly wrap my leg around his waist, circling his neck with my arms. He moves back and sits on my bed with me straddling his lap.
The bulge below his pants presses between my thighs, and a hum of pleasure rolls through me from that point.
His hands travel along my back, from my neck down to my ass. My breath quickens.
“I will do whatever it takes to keep you here, Dove,” he murmurs against my neck, leaving wet, heated kisses along the skin.
“And by ‘whatever,’ you mean seducing me,” my tease escapes in a breathy, almost suggestive whisper.
He hums in response, squeezing my ass and guiding me to roll against his hardness. The pulse of pleasure carries a moan from my lips.
“You’re doing a terrible job at that,” I lie, far too obviously. Only an utterly shameless person could say something like that right after moaning.
He chuckles. I watch him with a smile, at least my pathetic lie managed to draw a rare, genuine chuckle from the usually smileless Zloban.
He makes me sit on the bed before standing. “Tell Wen that you’ll be staying here tonight, then come to my room.”
My brain automatically adds, “to get fucked” at the end of his sentence. I press my thighs together on one side. Why is this horny body of mine getting ready for something that’s not going to happen? I’m still in my “playing hard to get” era.
“What if I don’t do that and go to sleep with Wen?” I mutter.
He bends down. “I will come after you, pick you up, and bring you here. Then you’ll spend the whole night tied to my bed.”
It always catches me off guard when Zoan says these types of things. I nod, licking my lips.
He watches me, smiles, then straightens and walks out of my room like a king who knows this woman living in his palace will obey every command.
I narrow my eyes. Or does this king know I’m not going to listen and still leave me alone with such confidence?
Whatever. Let’s make Zoan’s life a little more difficult.
I get up from the bed with a grin. I put on my jacket and saunter downstairs, put on my shoes, and walk out of the house. The temperature outside isn’t too cold, that’s the beauty of San Diego’s winter, it doesn’t freeze you.
Instead of walking toward Leo’s house, which takes ten minutes, I decide to go somewhere else. If he’s going to drag me back here, why should I tire my legs? I stroll down the hill.
I walk down the track, where more and more trees start surrounding me, it’s scary as hell.
I turn my head and look back. The mansion is still clearly visible, I’m not that far yet. I decide to stay here.
I lean against a nearby tree, listening to the sound of leaves rustling with every wisp of air. After half a minute, I realize I’m not a fan of horror and decide to head back inside, but then I hear my name.
“Avira.”
Footsteps approach, and the fear of some unknown ghost lurking among the trees fades. I silently move behind the thick trunks.
“Avira, come out. It’s not a place to play at night,” his voice comes closer.
I keep sliding back, and now where I’m standing, it’s complete darkness.
My heart is hammering with unrestrained beats.
I feel incredibly free in this moment, surrounded by tall trees, wild grass under my feet, and darkness all around me, holding a rare sense of control over the man who loves keeping control in his hands.
“Dove, come out. Don’t test my patience.”
I pick up a stone from the ground and throw it in his direction. I know my aim isn’t perfect, it probably didn’t reach halfway to him, but the sound surely attracts his attention.
“So, you want to play?” he says in an amused voice, coming closer in my direction.
I carefully move back from one tree to another, keeping my eyes on him.