Chapter 5

ZULEIKA’S POV

I stared out the window as I wondered for what had to be the hundredth time why I had agreed to moving in with Zade and Lanvin. I sat at the cornerP of my bed and stared at the pile of clothes that sat at the other side of the bed. I had managed to get my books and minor stuff into boxes. I did not want to clog their apartment space, especially since the bedroom I was going to be getting was smaller than mine here. 

I decided to pack my clothes minimally. I could always come back here and get some more. 

My phone rang and I dejectedly grabbed it. I took a deep breath when I saw that it was Zade calling. I needed to steady my breathing and add my casual lilt into my voice. I felt anything but casual. I was moving in with Lanvin Darkside for goddess's sake. 

“Hey,” I stood up and went back to folding, skillfully holding the phone between my cheek and shoulder. 

“We're pulling up now. You ready?” Zade spoke leisurely. Just as he said those words, I heard his car pull up in the driveway. I scoffed with disbelief. 

“We agreed you'd be here…” I picked my phone and looked at the screen. “...in two hours.”

“Lanvin wanted to get donuts at Dunkin's, so we decided to come over,” he responded. I stilled. 

“Lanvin? He's coming with you?” I asked and looked around my room frantically. It was a mess. If he came in here, he was going to tease me about it. I did not even need to see him. 

“Yes, Leika,” I heard two car doors slam in quick successions. “We're coming up.”

He hung up and I tossed my phone to the bed, resisting the very strong urge to cuss Zade out. I grabbed some of my clothes and haphazardly tossed them into my suitcase. Nevermind folding, I was going to do that when I offloaded in their apartment. 

I packed my hair in a ponytail so that I would look more presentable than I felt. 

I heard the front door slam and I gathered the rest of my clothes into my closet. I walked back into the room just in time to catch Zade walk in, with Lanvin close behind him. 

“Hey,” I forced a smile and wiped my forehead. 

Zades eyes went from my suitcase to the boxes that contained my other stuff and then the random stuff that was lying around the room. 

“You seem ready to me,” he said, grabbing one of the boxes and stacking it on another. “Anything that can break in here?” He pointed at the bottom one. I shook my head. 

He nodded and left with both of them. 

I was left in the room with Lanvin. I pressed my lips together and kept my eyes away from him. I stuffed my backpack with random stuff and headed for the door with my suitcase. 

He grabbed my hand as I reached for the knob. Electricity coursed through me in ways that I did not appreciate. I snatched my hand from his and managed to look at him. 

“Are you okay?” He asked. I could not read the expression on his face. I hated his ability to be controlled while I felt like I was going to explode or lose my mind because of him. 

“I'm fine,” I said sharply. Maybe if I distanced myself well enough, I was not going to have to deal with him when I moved in, as everything that happened between us would be forgotten. 

“There is always the option for me to move out,” he took a step back from me and I suddenly realized that I had not been breathing fine.

“Look, I don't care if you're there or not. I'm going to be living with my brother. Your presence doesn't move me, in any way,” I lied straight through my teeth. 

His lips tipped up at the corners and my heart sank. He took a step towards me. I tried to stand my ground as his body pressed against mine, but he kept moving against me until I was pressed between him and the door. 

I could barely breathe, not because of the pressure he was putting on my body, but because of his presence, how close he was. 

“Get away from me, Lanvin,” I muttered breathlessly, looking up at him. His hands landed on both sides of my hips and I could not move to stop his touch because my hands were locked between us. 

“Or what?” He chuckled. His voice was low and intoxicating. But he was challenging me. 

“I'll hurt you,” I responded weakly. 

“Now how would you do that? I can do anything I want with you right now,” he leaned close to my ear. Those words, the way he said them and the fact that he drew closer to me started a slow burning fire in the pit of my stomach.

I took a shaky breath, wondering if fighting him was worth it, if I just needed to give in and stop hating him. 

The sound of my brother's footsteps coming up the stairs set my head straight and I shoved all those thoughts out of my head. 

I expected that Lanvin would step away from me at the sound of Zade’s footsteps but he didn't. Panic filled my guts as Zade's footsteps drew closer. 

“Lanvin,” my voice took a warning tone. He didn't move. Instead, his hands slipped under the hem of my dress and traced up my thighs. My heart sank because my body responded eagerly to his touch, I melted against him staring up at him. 

“Stop,” I pleaded, hating myself for being this way. “Lanvin stop.”

Lanvin smiled and stepped away just in time for me to grab my suitcase and take a deep breath. Zade opened the door and I gasped because it almost slammed into my face. 

“Woah,” he patted my forehead and I glared at him. He proceeded to swoop his hands around my head while I stood still. “Come on, hurry. I've got practice in an hour.” He headed further into the room. 

“You're the one that was messing around,” I retorted and tugged the suitcase behind me as I headed out of the room. 

I took a shaky breath. “Come on, man. Be useful,” I heard Zade say. 

This was bad. The way Lanvin had the ability to make me question myself, go back on my resolves and want to give in to him. It was too bad. 

Once we loaded my stuff into the trunk, I hurried into the back seat, so I would have some space to myself to think of all the ways I was going to have to avoid him. 

If not, I was going to being a lot of trouble.