Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Chapter 35

ALICIA

Time check - 10 pm. Ash isn't home yet.

I toss and turn on the bed trying to catch some sleep. My body is fagged out but my mind is alert. I relive the details of the day, hoping it will enable me better understand what happened at the induction ceremony and why Stalker guy lied to me.

No matter how hard I try, I'm not able to wrap my head around why.

Time check - 11 pm. Ash is still not back and I'm not even close to feeling sleepy.

I pace the length and breadth of his room almost twenty times, hoping the exercise would tire me out. Unfortunately, it only makes me feel caged, so I open the door and peep outside. I hear sounds coming from somewhere in the house so I close the door and lean against it. I don't want to look like I'm spying on anyone.

What the devil can Ash be getting up to at such an ungodly time?

Probably with a woman, lying to her that he loves her, exactly like he did to me. Anger spikes through me and I shake it off. I can't stay caged in his room. I need to move, I need to keep busy or I'll explode from overthinking. I open the door and peep out, but I don't hear any noise this time around. I decide not to overthink it and just walk out.

I skim the paintings on the wall, stopping at one in particular. It's of a boy at the seashore casting a fishing net into the sea. His face is partially turned towards something or someone, and he's smiling. Something about it draws me closer. It could be the joy the boy's face radiates or the confidence oozing from him as he throws the net into the sea. I lift my hand and trace the little boy's bare back.

"The hope picture."

I jump and let out a little scream as I turn around to see the same guy who brought me here. Night eyes. My heart feels like it could pop out any moment as I appraise him. Gone is the hard set of his jaw, now, he looks relaxed as he stands with two hands in his pockets staring at the picture.

"You startled me!" My tone is sharp as I land accusing eyes on him.

"Then you must get startled easily." He says this without taking his eyes off the picture. "Like you, it called to me."

His eyes are on the picture, but I can see his mind is on a journey.

"Whoever looks at it feels something akin to hope bloom in their chest, that's why it's called the hope picture."

I look at the picture once more, squinting my eyes, and sure enough, at the bottom corner, by the artist's signature, the word hope is written. I don't know what to say so I stay quiet.

The man turns his eyes to me and nods. "Have a good night, ma'am."

"Wait. . . please."

He stops but doesn't turn around.

I move close to him, not wanting to speak loudly. "Do you know where Ash is? It's quite late already."

This time he turns, and I notice his eyes have gone from relaxed to wary. "He's busy with work, ma'am."

But I'm not assuaged. "What kind of work could he be doing at this time of the night?"

His lips curl and a hint of violence and darkness flashes in his eyes. They're gone as quickly as they came, making me feel like I imagined them. "You'll have to ask him yourself. Have a good night, ma'am."

He tips an imaginary hat before walking off. I shake my head and wait a few seconds before walking in the same direction he took, pausing at an open door. I stand stock still, looking inside a room that is obviously for recreation. A floor-to-ceiling screen takes up a wide space on the wall while comfy-looking beige-colored chairs and gold-colored walls, characterize the decor. Without giving it any further thought, I walk inside and settle into one of the chairs.

It takes a little bit of time, but I finally figure out how to put it on the massive screen. Immediately it comes to life, the room darkens and the corners of the chairs light up with a soft luminescent golden color. I watch as images flicker on the screen. My mind isn't on what's playing, it's rehashing the day's event.

There's something off about stalker guy. I knew it the first time I set eyes on him, I just couldn't put a finger on it, and still can't, if I'm, to be honest. My question is how am I going to face him when next I see him?

I must have drifted off to sleep at some point because when next I open my eyes, I'm in Ash's room. The bed is empty and when I touch the space beside me, it's cold.

That means Ash carried me here but didn't lay beside me.

Panic tears through me as I sit up, but then I see Ash standing in front of the window, still fully dressed. He's like a statue as he stands staring at me with cold, distant eyes. When he sees I'm awake he pushes away from the window and walks towards me. Something seems off about his stance as he comes to stand in front of me. He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.

He throws something on the bed, and my eyes immediately hone in on a photograph. It's grainy, but I can clearly make out the blown-up features of the person in it.

Stalker guy.

What's Ash doing with a photo of Stalker guy?

"I see my cock isn't good enough for you."

Say what?

My mouth falls open as I try to wrap my head around what he just said and why he has a picture of stalker guy.

"Cat got your tongue, I see."

He takes a step away from me and begins to undress, his eyes never leaving my face. As he removes his tee, I can't help it, I trace the lines of his well-defined chest with the scattering of tattoos and scars, down to the washboard abs characterizing his abdomen. I watch as he removes his jeans and steps away from them, revealing white briefs which are sitting snugly on his hips.

I try, I really do try to look away, but his body is a work of art, and the tent in front of his briefs is an obvious testament to the fact that he wants me.

Lord, help me, but I want him too. Badly.

Still staring at me, he slides his briefs down, releasing his glorious naked self to me. There's some liquid already seeping out at the top of his dick. I feel my face and neck heat up as I remember the taste of him in my mouth. I look away, embarrassed at my wayward thoughts but I feel his hand cupping my chin and drawing my face back to him.

"Listen to me." He stoops to my level and I come face to face with his eyes which are practically staring into my soul. "Anyone who tries to battle for your attention, I'll take out. Anyone."

His voice is low, and I can't help but shiver as those words wash over me. Fear. Excitement. Terror. Exhilaration. The sensations battle for control of my body, twisting my insides and making my knees weak.

Without warning, his hands curl inside my hair and tug me sharply towards him. Pain sears through my scalp, but there's an undertone of pleasure that makes me shiver in anticipation of what's to come. He holds the back of my head like a lion bringing home its meal. There's no pulling back and no escape as he plants his lips on mine and plunges his tongue inside my mouth.

My tongue retreats from his, but he rushes in and sucks it back. There has to be some type of drug involved. Nothing else makes sense. How can he hold me captive and I'm not even afraid? How is he shooting lightning from my mouth down my spine and back? The sensations burst into a firework symphony of colors and sounds.

He growls something, but I can't make out what it is over the buzzing in my head. I'm dizzy. Weightless with wonder as if he has picked me up and spun me around. His tongue continues plunging, taking, and claiming. Suddenly, his tongue retreats and his mouth and hand leave my body. I open my eyes to see him staring at me with lust-filled eyes.

"I'm going to mark you so deep that any guy who comes after me will feel the groves my cock left."

"Not fair," I say breathlessly.

"I don't play fair. I don't want anybody else exploring after I'm done. So, damn it, I'm going to make it so you never even imagine yourself with someone else."

He smacks my lips with his before fisting his hand in my hair once again and pulling my head to him. "I mean it, hazel eyes, I want you spoiled to my cock, branded and molded to it, so you don't crave after any other cock, ever."

He takes a deep breath before releasing my hair. "Do you understand?" He arches a brow.

"Understood!" I say breathlessly.

"I don't share my possessions, understand?"

"Understood," I reply, feeling giddy.

He nods and straightens before turning and walking away, leaving me feeling hot and bothered.