“Please, Zarion…” I moaned, my pink lips parting as a soft breath left me before he tempted me once more.
A shudder rakes down my spine. Running the tip of my tongue over the opening of my lips, I let out a sigh of relief when the side of my bed pushed down because of his weight.
Zarion’s thoughts were lewd, I know. He wanted me so badly just like what I wanted. I’m innocent and young, yes, even a virgin. But this thirst flooding my soul…he’s the only one who can quench it. He needed me so much, wanted me so much. I can feel he never wanted or needed anything or anyone so much in his life the way he needed and wanted me.
For him, I was his personal sanctuary—the only one he could go to and feel calm, relaxed. Just being around with me was enough to take him out of his worst moods.
Slowly, his hands covered the right side of my neck as the tip of his nose traveled down the nape of my neck. Erratic pulses of my heart beating from my chest resound in my ears. There’s no turning back now. The moment his lips were to touch mine…I would surely fall to his feet. His hands uncurled around my dress, experimentally flattening on my abdomen.
I felt myself stiffen, my stomach coiled as he dragged his fingers below to where my thighs met—to which part of my body nobody has ever explored but me. These treacherous feelings were all strange to me. I could feel the rapid pulse when his finger finally touched my core.
I let out a moan. Something exploded in me, and I could feel like I was on cloud nine. His fingers started circling the tip of my breasts like he was playing the strings of a guitar.
“Must’ve been a nice dream,” a voice, not mine, whispered.
I froze, slowly sitting up on my bed a heartbeat later. I can still see his mysterious cold eyes as they fall on my face before staring down at my body.
I only realized now that I was only wearing my white silky dress that clearly exposed my breasts.
“Oh God, no.” He must’ve seen the hard tip of my breasts. That dream was so damned hot I couldn’t help myself but to be turned on.
Now, I’m feeling more like a mature woman.
And just realized that I wasn’t dreaming all along.
Zarion let out a sexy laugh when he saw my shocked reaction. His lips pressed into a thin line and bit his lower lip with his thumb as if he had seen a funny scene before him. A quick flash of lust hidden in those ember green eyes that I find myself getting lost on more than just a few occasions.
“Do elaborate on what you meant by ‘Please, Zarion,’?” he asked, arms crossing across his chest.
I smiled, my face getting that perfect shade of red due to embarrassment.
“Oh, and in full detail. Please,” Zarion added.
At his words, I was shot out of my seat. My breathing is heavy and something tells me that it’s not only because of the dream I just had. His voice is sinfully seductive and sexy. Even without a mirror, I could feel that I’m blushing—my cheeks were burning as bright as flame. I was so embarrassed that I just wished a hole would appear on the ground and swallow me whole. My eyes went wide, lips parting and closing as if I was contemplating how to respond to Zarion.
I shouldn’t let him control me. I must not. I grin as I breathe in deeply. My skin scorching with desire the moment our eyes met. Holding contact with him, I drew my arms over my chest and finally found my voice.
Clearing my throat, I asked. “What are you doing here? How did you get past the window?!”
Zarion let out a sigh before he pushed both of his hands inside the pockets of his gray sweatpants. When he stepped forward, my body automatically jolted backward. I groaned when my head bumped into the back of my bed.
“Ouch!” I massaged the back of my head.
“Hey, you okay babe?” His voice seems to be miraculously full of worry. In a matter of seconds, he was now sitting beside me. My heart jumped fifty yards the moment our hands met.
I looked away from his gaze. “Get off my bed!”
“Sorry.” He went back to where he was before realization kicked in my gut—near my arched window. “Enough with the teasing!” Looking up at him, I asked. “Seriously, Zarion, what are you doing in my bedroom? How did you—” I was startled for a moment when I heard a loud clang downstairs. But then my mamita shouted that it was just her being stupid.
I chuckled softly. Stupidity did really run in our family after all.
Inhaling, I put my slippers on instead and lunged at him. “You should get out of here.” Before he could say anything, I went to my wardrobe closet and found the closest size of my winter jacket, to no avail, and only got something that is half of his size.
“I don’t need that.” Zarion’s husky voice stopped me from finding another winter jacket he needed because it’s freaking cold outside. “Yes, you do,” I countered. “There’s a blizzard outside, and you need to get out of my room before my mamita finds out!”
“She won’t,” he’s still grinning sheepishly. “Trust me.”
I scoffed and glared at him, “Why would I trust you?”
We both fell in an eternity of staring contest afterward.
I nodded and sighed. “Fine. Do whatever you want. For the third time, Zarion, what do you fucking want from me?!”
Oops. Is that the first time I muttered the F word?
“Why did you not visit me in the cabin?”
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!
Am I hallucinating? Am I still dreaming? Is this still part of my fantastic, erotic imagination?
I see his facial reaction closest to begging. Oh. My. Goodness.
Please, that one did not just make me turned on but it made my crevice tightened even more. I looked away from his sinfully glorious and slapped my hand to my forehead, begging myself to be snapped back to reality. “Of course, you’ll ask a random question instead of answering mine.”
“So?” He folded his arms across his chest.
This man…is really something else. “And so, let me answer your question, then…” I said in a high-pitched tone, gathering all the strength left within me. I am close to losing all the strands of my patience. I looked at him with anger blazing in my eyes. Biting my lower lip before speaking, he cocked his head to the side, already prepared to hear my rants.
Lengthy rant. Okay, maybe not.
“It’s simple, Zarion. I did not visit you anymore because you clearly told me not to.” The way my fingers and hands danced in front of him to prove my points makes me sane for a moment. He was just there, standing and leaning on my window, enjoying every piece of my facial reactions as if he, too, was immensely amused.
I inhaled deeper this time. “You called me names. You even called me a kid! Do you know how insulted I was because of that?”
“It’s true anyway. You’re a kid, even now.” Zarion’s pair of lustful eyes shone, glancing here and now at my heaving breasts.
“Shut up!” I demanded, fists clenching. He nodded, lips curling and uncurling. This man is trying so hard not to laugh, which makes me more irritated and agitated. “You clearly drew a line between us. I thought I was doing you a favor by saving your life, but what did you do fucking selfish bastard?! You never reciprocated the gratitude I’ve shown to you nor my feelings—”
“Feelings?” His eyebrow shot up. Now, his face looks unabashedly enraged. I was caught off-guard because of what I said too. “I mean…” I was trying to make excuses even though I know it’s too late. With my chin hoisted, I said with confidence. “Yeah, feelings. Like romantic feelings towards you. You don’t think I was just doing that to help a strange wolf—man, don’t you?” My throat bobbed in response to my own words. “I—I actually…like you.” There, I said it. I let it out. Oh my Heavens.
It was such a relief, to be honest. I’ve been hiding that for a couple of days and now—
My eyes darted to his face again. He looks stiffened. His shoulders squared, and his stance was more aggressive. Damn it. What did I say, again? Oh, God. That was it. I’m freaking done here!
He knew I had feelings for him. Still, he confirmed it—he needed to confirm it—in the most awkward times of this week. Was that the reason he came here to my room? “You mean to say, Cassidy, that you have romantic feelings towards me?” The way he pronounced every word was carefully thought as if he, too, was afraid of what he might utter.
“Y–yes,” I whispered. He’s so close to me, so near. I saw the lines forming on his forehead while looking down at me. Gosh, he’s unbelievably tall. “I like you, Zarion,” I reiterated, swallowing these treacherous feelings. “I don’t know why but—”
“You do know what having a romantic feeling means, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then do you know about sexual feelings, too?” I tried to hide my gasp when his hands slid into my tiny waist.
“Z-Zarion… what are you doing?”
Of course, he never replies to my questions unless he’s interested in answering it.
“Do you know the difference between sexual and romantic feelings, Cassidy?” Zarion whispered in my ears like he was making love to me. I melted inside like frozen ice basked under the heat of the scorching sun. My legs wobbled from how husky and sexy his voice is.
My legs gave up as, in a blink of an eye, I found myself kneeling on the floor, my hands clinging to Zarion’s broad and tensed arms.
“Y–yes…” I finally answered his question as he slowly lifted me up.“Hmmm, differentiate it, then.”I was so delirious just because of his touches, the heat radiating from his sweaty palms. He’s touching my body everywhere that I couldn’t help but stifle erotic sounds I’d never know I could hear from myself. “D-Differentiate, what?” I exhaled.“The difference between romantic and sexual feelings.” The fuc—what? I couldn’t understand anything anymore because his calloused huge hands were touching my tits. He was teasing it, the way he wanted it to, and damn if that doesn’t make me feel things inside my thighs. He was so good at making me feel these foreign things.These strange things that are making me delirious. “Now I think you don’t understand the difference,” he giggled darkly. “Do you want me to show you instead? Show not tell, as they say….” I gasped. No, I gaped. This man—he’s everything I hated. Yet, still, I ached for him, every inch of him. I wanted and needed him in all
I shifted, my curiosity taking over my body. Why was he injured and wounded in the first place? “Where do you live? Do you even have a family?” “I don’t have a house. And no, I don’t have a family.” That was all he said—that was all his answer to my question. “Please, just stay…” I begged. “If you don’t have a house, then maybe you could live in one of the rooms in our castle. We have a lot of empty rooms that you could use and occupy. I promise I won’t tell my mamita.”“No, thanks.” Zarion’s throat bobbed. “That’s not a good idea.”“Why not?” Before I could say anything, he cut me off. “I’m on a quest.”“A quest…” my brows met. “Like a mystery to solve?”He nodded. “I’m looking for the witch that will give me the information about who’s my mate.” Mate? I don’t understand. A witch? I don’t understand either. I’m pretty sure that only exists in fairy tales and fantastical stories. “Okay, but—” I scratched my head. “You could do that while living in our castle, right?” I hate how my
Her jaw fell open, silence possessing her very being now. I saw how her breathing quickened the moment I said those words. It’s true—I love Zarion. Deeply. This is not just some puppy love that I used to have when I was fifteen.The moment I laid my eyes on him, I knew he’s the one who will take care of my life the way my father took care of my deceased mother. They may not be here with me, but based on the stories my grandmother shared with me, I know my deceased parents lived their life to the fullest.And I want to live mine with him. “Mamita, please listen to me—” “I am not listening to any of these absurd things again, Cassidy!” “But—”“You are just eighteen years old!” She bellowed, veins bulging in her forehead.“And I’m old enough to indulge in these things!” “Oh yeah? You already knew it? Then, you tell me then—” She heaved a deep sigh and pointed the walking stick at my chest. “What do you know about love, child?” I was taken aback because of the term she had called m
My heart won over my mind, my emotions took over any rational thoughts swarming within my brain. Nothing can stop me from going out into this castle now. Nothing—not until I find Zarion in the woods.Or in this city. Even if I walk barefoot across the world, I will find him.“Wherever you go, I will go, Zarion,” I whispered, letting the wind carry my words to wherever he is.“One step outside the castle, Cassidy, and you’re gone from our family.” I paused, bones stiffening. It’s as if I felt someone pour a pail of icy cold water amid the harsh winter weather. “If you go out tonight, I will abandon you—leave you. I will forget that I had known a family that goes by the name of Cassidy Salem Blythe.” Bile rose in my throat. Fear, not for myself but for the promise that—for eighteen years—I just broke now. You will take care of your grandmother, Cassidy. My mother once wrote in her journal, directly addressing me. I exhaled, willing the air to enter my lungs again. Pain etched in my ches
“Zarion!” I paused for a heartbeat to let my voice echo. “Zarion! Zarion!”But it was no use. I’ve been walking around the woods with an almost frozen body, a coat made of sheep’s skin is the only thing between me and the cold while shouting Zarion’s name. The snow kept falling, the wind whipping my hair as if it was dragging me back to the castle. It seems Mamita also has power over the wintry weather.There was a blizzard already shoving its here from the western horizon. I couldn’t find the right path anymore. There was no trace of him, his footprints might have faded with the wind’s harshness. Earlier, I caught his scent, a scent of cinnamon and vanilla, so I followed it. I know his scent is very feminine but I don’t even know where he got that too sweet fragrance. But to my dismay and misfortune, even before I could completely follow, it vanished. Just vanished, with no idea how.“Zarion, Please…” I prayed, coughing when a snowflake landed on my tongue. I don’t know why I’m utt
It’s warm and cozy here, my eyes smiling when they found the fireplace. A piping hot bowl of venison stew beckoned me to sit beside the blazing fireplace.I ate half of the food for ten minutes. Noticing the lavish royal blue curtain, I scooted away from the fireplace and pushed aside the curtains. I just realized that it served as the door between—“This place is a village,” I breathed, wiping my mouth clean from eating. From just the look of the surroundings, I’m pretty sure this village is in the middle of the forest. And near a lake, the briny scent could never hide the smell of fresh forest rain. I watch the people who are busy doing their own businesses as I tend to my own business—being busy scanning the surroundings on where the fuck I am. The name of the place, who carried me here, and—“Zarion,” I realized, calling his name as if he’s around. “ Zarion must know where I am, and probably the one who carried my ass here.” My eyes darted to a small cottage in the corner—to wher
“Really? I don’t think so. You seem to be…” her voice sounds suspicious now. She keeps on stepping forward while I step backward. My breathing started to narrow, bile rising up on my throat. This girl in front of me, she may be human in form. But once she finds out I’m not like them, I will be as good as dead. “I really do need to go.” I cleared my throat, and when I get out of the borders, I will look for a safer place from this weird village. I should probably look for Zarion first.But where the hell am I going to look?! Delilah’s suspicions deepen when we hear the crowd fall silent. Looking around, I could feel all eyes on me. The crowd suddenly stopped. On the horizon, I saw a strange man whose body looked exactly like Zarion's. However, looking at his evil smirk, I could sense that they are the complete opposite. Zarion’s was always mocking.The man has a cunning personality, a sarcastic beast, for sure. Zarion’s cold, brutal, and dangerous aura is nothing like this man. He
Brandon wasn’t the one who shifted, that’s a relief at least.But once again, I found myself bellowing and thrashing when Brandon reached for my neck, strangling and knocking the breath out of me. I couldn’t move. I could not even think of a way to escape, to live and leave.I wished there was a hole just beneath my feet that would swallow me in this instant.No… no—help me!” I forced my voice to be louder. “HELP!” “Why are you looking for Zarion? What do you want from him?” Brandon growled. He removed his other hand from my neck and instead unsheathed his huge and sharp claws just a few inches from my face. He had all the chance to crush my neck into pieces, but he didn’t. He just kept choking and strangling me. Maybe he wants something from me, or maybe he wants to relish killing me as slow and unbearable as possible. “I...I... I don't know. There's something about him that I need to do. I feel like I'm obligated to him. I was having these dreams, weird dreams, and I want to stop