Chapter 40: Chapter 40

: trust me

→Narrator: Asa

Just then, the door barged open. "Hey, Asa! I was thinking-"

Kam stopped short when he saw that I was alone with Amir.

In his embrace....

Shit!

His eyes snapped to Amir and I quickly let go, not wanting to complicate things.

"The fuck are you doing, Amir?" His voice was deathly quiet. There was that look in his eyes again.

The look he had when he found me in the bathroom with Teriq.

Amir sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets and I was honestly shocked at how calmly he was gazing back into Kam's deadly eyes.

When he spoke, his voice was clear, precise... Repentant. "There's nothing going on, Kam. I understand my boundaries now and I won't intrude on the both of you anymore."

"Well your boundaries need to include keeping your hands to your damn self."

I felt the temperature in the room drop by a hundred degrees, afraid to even take a breath as I watched their stare-down, the hairs on the back of my neck, standing.

"I understand. Sorry for any... Inconveniences." Amir finally said, in the end. He turned to me now, and nodded at me in that manner as if asking, "you'll be okay?"

"Definitely." I whispered.

His eyes softened for a moment, a wistful smile, gracing his lips and he opened his mouth, about to say something more but quickly caught himself, closing up again. He gave me one last glance, before he turned around and walked out.

The door clicked shut. Kam looked like he was a second away from losing his shit.

His mouth was clamped shut as he breathed uneasily through his nostrils and gritted teeth.

My heart crept into my throat, slamming inside me at the impending outburst.

He suddenly closed his eyes rubbing his face, tiredly, letting out a low groan of defeat. "Fuck!"

"Kam?" I whispered, trying to reach out to him but he stopped me.

"No. No, Asa... Just... I need a minute." He ran his hands through that eternally messy mop of chocolate hair, his eyes closed as he gazed up to the ceiling, looking like he was counting under his breath.

I gulped. "Kam..."

He didn't reply for almost a moment.

"I don't want to fucking feel like this." He finally said, his voice... He sounded like he was reigning in so much pain... So much anger. "I don't want to get so damn suspicious when I see the two of you, together. I don't want to feel so threatened."

My heart dropped to my stomach.

"The two of you were just hugging, yeah?"

Unable to talk, I nodded.

He looked at me now, skeptically, like I wasn't seeing the problem. "You let him hug you and you know exactly how he feels about you."

"Kam!"

"How can you not see the problem with this?!"

"Kam, I-"

"No, Asa, don't! Don't!"

"Can you not act like this? Please!" I finally shouted.

My lungs were about to burst.

"How the fuck do you want me to act, Asa? He's in love with you!"

"And you don't have to remind me every two seconds!"

His eyes were blazing.

"I'm your girlfriend, Kam? What the hell do you think is going to happen? The moment you turn around, I'm going to fucking jump him?"

He remained quiet, but that fire in his eyes wouldn't leave mine.

"I'll never do that to you, Kam. I love you." I whispered but he didn't say anything.

My heart crawled into my throat.

"Kam... I love you."

He closed his eyes as if I was causing him pain.

"Kam." My voice choked up, heart breaking by the second. I fisted my trembling hands, legs shaking. "Kam, do you trust me?"

That seemed to hit him hard. His eyes snapped open and his gaze immediately twisted into a sad, intense one. "I don't want to lose you, Asa."

"And you won't. But do you trust me?"

He stared at me for a quarter of a second, a vulnerable expression on his face and the next thing i knew, he was crossing over the room, standing in front of me and taking my face in his hands.

I was drowning in depths of thick, brown honey.

"I trust you with my life, Asa. You hold my universe in your hands."

The look in his eyes made me understand the truth in his words.

"Then why are you acting like this? Like I'd fuck up and hurt you?"

He exhaled a frustrated breath, resting his forehead against mine, his breathing laboured. "It's not you I don't trust. It's Amir. He's already kissed you before and I dunno..."

He raised his head now, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "He's my best friend and this type of thing has never happened before. My best friend, falling for my girl... Shit like that isn't meant to happen..." He looked at me now, stepping even closer until i was tasting his intoxicating coffee scent. "But then again, it's not like he can help it. We can't choose who we fall in love with, can we?"

I bit my lip, looking away from him.

His gripped my chin and I found myself drowning once again. "I love you, Asa... I trust you."

And his lips came down on mine, gently at first.

"I love you so much." He murmured urgently, nibbling and sucking on my lip until I was gasping for air. Couldn't get enough of him.

His hands kneaded my body, the soft curves of my waist, my hips and when his hands, banded to my ass, pulling me even closer to him until we connected like puzzle pieces, I caught fire. Lost control.

It became a desperate tug of war, of crashing lips, stroking tongues and nibbling teeth.

He groaned, hands digging into the skin of my hips and suddenly I was airborne for a second before my back hit the bed, him, hovering over me, still kissing me passionately.

"K... Kam... We need to stop. We can't... Ariel-" I protested, breathlessly kissing him, tugging his hair, his shirt, pulling him closer to me as his lips and tongue worked their magic on the skin of my neck.

"Ariel. She... She'll be here-" I tried again, but I quickly lost my train of thought when his hands crept under my shirt, stroking my bare skin. I swooned, forgetting what I was trying to say.

"Fuck Ariel." He growled into my mouth, rough hands, pulling me even closer to him. "I want you."

Oh God!

My body convulsed with need.

"Can I?" He asked, tongue stroking the skin of my neck, going lower to trace my collarbone.

I was about to answer when the doorbell rang, announcing Ariel's arrival.

Kam was still gazing at me with honey and sweetness in his eyes, his lips, red and swollen, that sweet coffee scent that I always associated with him invaded my nostrils. Dulling my senses.

He sighed, resting his head on my barely there chest, tucking his head under my chin, his soft hair, grazing my skin. "Let's stay like this for a while. I need to catch my breath."

"Kam..." I protested. But it felt so peaceful. Him, resting between my legs, head on my chest, arms protectively around me. Our breaths were slowing down, coming down from the initial high.

I hugged him closer, nestling my cheek in his hair.

His next words, off-point were they, caught me offguard. Accelerating my breathing all over again.

"Go out with me, Asa."

I stared at him, shocked and breathless. "What?!"

He looked at me now, those dimples popping out, punctuating his cheeks, brown eyes, smiling. "Breathe, Asa. I'm only human."

I scowled at him and he laughed heartily, propping himself up on his elbows.

He touched my face, tracing my cheek. His eyes were so sincere. Soft... Serious. "I was thinking... We've not gone out on a proper date yet. Go out with me, while we're in Offshore."

"T...today?" I couldn't believe this boy still manages to leave me breathless and stuttering.

It's his eyes. Definitely his eyes.

He leaned down, kissing my lip for one soft, sweet moment. "If you want..." He whispered, his eyes, boring into my soul.

"Uh..." I got sucked into the universe in his eyes, losing my train of thought. "Uh..."

What were we talking about again?

"It's just a date, Asa." He laughed, chocolate hair, falling over his eyes as he looked down at me with a sexy smirk. "Not a proposal."

I gulped .

His smirk widened. "At least, not yet."

My heart stopped and I started stuttering. "I... I...you."

"Hey hey. Chill." His warm hands left my face to grip my waist, thumbs rubbing circles on my bare skin.

He leaned down again, kissing me. And I realized I could never get tired of his kisses. Sweet. Magical. Intoxicating.

He sucked on my lips a little, his grip, firmer on my waist, pulling me closer. "Mmmm." He murmured, nibbling on my lips like he was lapping up his favourite meal.

He kissed me until I was breathless and senseless, pulling me closer together until we were mashed into each other. We started to lose control when my hands gripped his hair, tugging him into me as he grabbed my nape, positioning me to better receive him.

The doorbell rang, even louder and more impatiently than before, tearing us apart.

I was breathless and flustered and his grin widened proudly at my appearance, hand, stroking my hair.

I looked into his eyes and he looked like he was seeing my deepest parts. "You're beautiful, Asa." His fingertips traced my cheek, my chin, my lips. "I love you. Don't forget that."

Oh Kam.

My heart felt like it was going to burst from love.

"I love you, Kam."

He grinned wider. "I'll never get tired of hearing you say that."

His hand clasped around mine as we walked out of the room together.

The doorbell rang even more impatiently and Jordan yelled from upstairs. "Can someone get the fucking door!"

Kam rolled my eyes, unlocking the door and muttering under his breath. "Melodramatic son of a- Oof!"

His breath left his throat, his hand, wrenching out of my grasp as he struggled with the momentum of having Ariel, flinging herself on him, latching her arms around him in a fierce hug.

Her sultry cherry scent filled the entire place.

She was dressed elegantly, in a tight, fitted dress, with slits at the sides, so that her curvy waist was exposed. Long red weave, that must have cost thousands of naira, sat on her head. Her nails were painted in bright red, crystals, embedded in them. Ankle high boots, tied up her entire appearance.

She had clearly dressed to impress.

I shrank into the tank top and jeans I was wearing, remembering that my hair was a mess, more than a month old, with fraying ends and edges.

I should have put on a mascara... Or more lipgloss...

"Kam!" She squealed, excitedly, jumping up and down, like she couldn't control her excitement.

My breathing became erratic, my heart beating out of control when Kam's hands went around her in a brief hug, before pulling away, smiling. "Hey, Ariel. Welcome to our humble vacation home."

For the first time, she looked around, taking in her surrounding, her eyes, wider than saucers, in pleasant awe. "Wow, Kam." She whistled. "There's nothing humble about this place. I'd forgotten how rich your Nigerian part of the family were."

Chuckling, he left her side to stand beside me, his arms, going around my waist and plastering me to his side.

"And you've met my girlfriend, Asa." He deadpanned, "even though I told you not to."

She wagged a bedazzled finger at him. "And you know by now that I don't take orders from nobody."

Nonetheless, she turned to me with a warm smile on her face. "Hi, Asa, pleasure to meet you again."

I saw right through her bullshit. She was all fake smiles and sweet poison.

"Can't say I feel the same way. It was horrible meeting you the first time."

Her smile twitched. "Well, it was a pleasure to me. I saw you liked one of my pictures on IG. I sent you a dm but you never replied." A fake pout on her lips, mocking look in her eyes.

"T... That wasn't me!"

"You sure?" She murmured, eyebrows furrowing, whipping out her phone and thumbing away on the screen. "I'm pretty sure it was-"

"Nothing!" I squeaked, turning around and pulling Kam along with me. "Let's go to the kitchen. You want anything?" I asked, out of breath, desperate to change the subject.

She smiled a coy, knowing smile at me and i gritted my teeth, turned to look at her, leaning against the counter. "You want anything?" I asked again.

Deciding to play the perfect host.

She licked her lips, grinning.

Not at me, but at Kam. "Yeah. Red wine, please."

She. Touched. His. Arm.

"Any particular brand you'd like?" I gritted my teeth into a question.

She grinned at me now. "Yeah, my favourite. Kam knows." She winked at Kam, making herself comfortable on one of the stools at the counter.

"El Rossaé?" Kam asked.

She nodded, excitedly. "You remembered!"

I turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

He rubbed his neck, a cute, embarrassed grin on his lips. "Lemme get it. I'll be right back."

He left, not before kissing me deeply on the lips and once more on the forehead. "I love you, Asa."

He has been saying it more and more, recently... But this time, instead of feeling safe and happy, I felt strange, a foreboding, declaring bad things were about to come.

I shook off the feeling and turned to see Ariel, looking at his retreating figure in static shock.

"So..." She gulped, while I set to work, getting the glass cups and heating up jollof rice and chicken in the microwave oven. "You're on an, 'I love you' level now? That's a first."

I shrugged, setting her glass cup in front of her, a plate and fork on the serviette.

"For how long?"

I frowned at her strange and invasive question. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

She was quiet for a moment, studying me with large eyes. "See how you're glowing. He's fucking you. I know he's fucking you."

I flared. "Ariel-"

"He's good, isn't he?" There was a calm, knowing smile on her lips. "The way he does it, it makes you forget your name, right?"

"I'm not divulging any-"

"Ugh, spare me that crap, Asachi." She groaned, cutting me off. "You shouldn't feel special, by the way. Actually, you should thank me for how good he is to you. I taught him everything he needed to know about making a lady feel right."

I closed my eyes, trying to drown out her words.

"Everything he's doing to you, right now, he has done to me too. Don't be surprised, Asa. Mark my words. You'll be in my position, one day. Desperately trying to get him back."

Her words sounded like a prophecy.

I struggled with my breathing. My temper. Counting slowly from one to ten. Reminding myself why I shouldn't fall for her manipulative actions.

"What's your problem, Ariel?" I found myself asking through barred teeth.

"My problem?" She looked at me, actually perplexed.

"Yes, your problem!" I flared up, getting in her face. "Why are you here? Why are you in Kam's life, all of a sudden, spouting all these nonesense? What do you want from us?!"

She frowned, rolling her eyes. "Sheesh. No need to get defensive, Asa. I'm just checking in on him, trying to know how he's doing, you feel me?"

"No. I don't feel you!" I snarled.

She sighed, waving a dismissive hand at me.

I wanted to say more but the desperate, vulnerable look in her eyes stopped me.

"I'm sorry, Asa, I don't mean to intrude and I'm sorry about whatever I said last time that could have made you mad at me... It's just that, since I became independent, wanting to make money and stand on my own feet, along the way, I had neglected my family and friends. Right now, I'm surrounded with so many fake friends, who lowkey, want my downfall. I just can't tell who is real or who is fake anymore..."

She took a deep breath, twisting the huge diamond ring on her finger. Her gaze, faraway. "I can't even tell if I'm real or fake anymore... I don't even know who I am anymore. But then, I see Kam and I remember who I was... Who I am. And I don't want to let go of that feeling. He's someone I know... Someone I trust. There was a reason we met again months ago. There's a reason we came back into each other's lives, after so long... Right when i needed him. In my own selfish way, I've always loved him, and I don't wanna let him go."

"Ugh, spare me that sob story." I snapped at her.

Kam came back, at that exact moment.

"Found it!" He announced, brandishing the bottle of wine.

Ariel sat up, giggling and clapping, like a little girl.

I rolled my eyes as Kam took a mock bow.

Just then, Lola walked into the kitchen, heading to the fridge.

"Oh! Lola, you're out! This is Ari-"

She didn't let him finish, grabbing a bottle of water and walking out of the kitchen, ignoring him. Before she left, she stuck her middle finger in the air, a clear 'fuck you' sign at Ariel, without even looking at her

I had to turn around, to hide my grin.

"Oh." Ariel said, deflating. "Uh... Does she hate me?" She looked at Kam, confused and utterly perplexed.

"It's okay, Ariel, it's not your fault... She's in a fight with someone at the moment, I think that's why she's giving you an attitude."

That's not why, obviously, I told Kosi and Lola why Kam and I had a fight in the first place and they got crazy protective of me.

I happily spooned the jollof rice and chicken into our plates as Kam poured the wine into our glasses.

We were settling down to eat, when I heard Kosi's voice.

"Yes, I'm just calling to ask how much an uber service to get out of Offshore is." She said, walking into the kitchen, and talking into her phone. "Yes. As soon as possible. It's very important I leave today."

I sat up in my seat, looking at her with a horrified expression. "You're leaving?"

Kosi's eyes snapped to us as if she was just seeing us for the first time, but she scowled in annoyance when her eyes landed on Ariel.

"Sorry, I'll have to call you back." She told the receiver, hanging up.

"Oh, is this Ariel?" She asked, in faux excitement.

Ariel sat up, giddily. "Oh my God, Queen?"

She was having a fangirl moment.

"I love your designs! I'm a huge huge fan! Your insta account is so inspiring!" She squealed. "Yes, I'm Ariel, it's so nice to meet you in person."

A sarcastic smile plastered on Kosi's face as she raised two middle fingers to her. "It's so nice to meet you too. Fuck you very much!" She said, still with her fake smile, as she exited the kitchen, whipping out her phone.

"Yes, as I was saying, how soon can I get your services?..." She continued, on the phone.

Oh! This is gonna be so good.

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