Motel

Chapter 4 

“Take your clothes off, Lu.”

For a minute, maybe two, I forgot how to breathe. From the mirror, he stared innocently like he wasn't aware of what he had just said. 

I snapped my head back a little too fast, "What?"

"I said," he brought his face closer to mine, one inch closer and I'd be kissing him. "Take your clothes off."

It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a quiet command. One that made my pulse skip.

"No!"

"I'll take it off then"

My eyes widened, I wanted to turn around and push past him but he cornered me to the wall, pinned both hands above my head.

"Stubborn" he muttered.

His hand slid over my waist slowly, like he was branding every inch he touched. I froze, breath caught, as his fingers trailed up Higher until they stopped just beneath my breasts. 

I'm not supposed to allow this, I mean I've known Zorin since I was three. He's basically family. Right now, I'm supposed to be worried about River, who's caught between gunshots and chaos; instead, I'm here with his best friend pinned to the wall, craving his touch.

His fingers trailed back down, tracing every curve, then he tugged on my dress.

The first tug loosened the fabric around my ribs, the second released a sigh from my lips that I didn’t mean to make.

"I should have done this sooner" he said quietly, and kept working the ties loose. When the last string came undone, his fingertips lingered a second too long before he stepped back releasing my hands.

I held my dress close to avoid flashing Zorin in any way, remembering that I was supposed to maintain a tough persona. I turned around to curse him out, only to find him taking off his own clothes.

"What are you doing?"

"Undressing."

"Uh... Why?"

He just scoffed in response and completely took off his suit jacket, and next was the white shirt. He unbuttoned the first and as if a light bulb flashed in his head, he smirked.

He walked towards me slowly, with every step forward I took a step back till I hit the wall, just where he wanted me to be. Stupid Lumi.

"Return the favour. Take my clothes off, too," he whispered in my ear. Well, two can play a game.

"Sure thing", I replied, maintaining eye contact, I slowly unbuttoned his shirt down to the very last one. His eyes held a glint of amusement. 

"Very daring, aren't you? Take them off completely then"

Much to the dismay of the little angel on my right shoulder whispering to take a step back. I listened to the devil. If there was one thing I liked about Zorin, it would be his body, and I'm not rejecting an opportunity to see it from up close.

I slid the shirt from his arms one by one, lifting my finger to touch the little skull tattoos littered on his chest he caught my hand.

"Take my shirt"

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"My shirt," he said, like I was the one being ridiculous. "You’re not sleeping in that dress. Unless you want to pass out halfway through the night."

I stood frozen for a second, processing, before I gave a short, awkward laugh. "Oh"

He dropped the white shirt on my shoulders, patted my hair and went back to his bed.

Wait? All this drama just to give me his shirt to wear? I think I hate Zorin Lane. That's it, I'm going to lock myself in the bathroom and scream quietly into my palms.

**

The motel room was silent after that, except for the light hum of the ceiling fan and the faint rumble of cars on the highway.  

The two narrow beds stood opposite each other. I stared at the old-looking sheets in disgust and threw them on the floor, deciding I didn't want them. I would rather freeze than use them. Adjusting the sleeves of the oversized shirt I realised my legs were going to be bare. I eyed his trousers, but I knew I could not ask him to take them off, too.

Zorin sat on the other bed, elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed on the wall. He looked calm, but I knew him well enough to see the tension in the way his jaw flexed.

Zorin didn’t speak for a while, and neither did I. It was strange, being in a room with him, alone. This wasn't like the sleepovers from the past, nor was he my Zorin from the past. He's now so wealthy, so dangerous.

"You should sleep," he said finally, voice low.

"Zorin?" I whispered.

He hummed in response, not moving.

"Do you think River is okay?"

"Yes."

"How do you know?"

“Because I made sure he would be.”

His words should’ve comforted me. Instead, they only raised more questions. I turned to face him, watching the faint outline of his face in the dark.

"Why does River own a gun?"

"He said only bad guys make use of guns"

"The gunshots from today, do this mean they're back? The people from ten years ago"

My questions came all at once, I needed answers. They seem to know the answers to that but they prefer leaving me in the dark.

"Lumi", he shifted in his sheets, "Ten years ago, I made you a promise that I would protect you for as long as I live. It still stands, I'll never let anyone hurt you."

"You keep saying things like that," I murmured. "Like you will follow me around and pop out in my times of danger."

He looked over, our eyes locking even in the dim light. "Maybe I will"

A ghost of a smile touched his lips, and I hated how my heart responded to it.

Minutes passed, maybe hours. The fan kept spinning lazily, and the air grew colder. I tugged at the shirt, curling into myself.

Then came his voice, softer this time.

“Cold?”

“No,” I lied.

The bed creaked, then the floor, and a second later, the mattress dipped beside me.

I didn’t need to look to know it was him. His warmth enveloped me as he pushed me up in his chest, wrapping his arms around me.

"You could’ve stayed in your bed," I muttered.

"I could’ve," he agreed, "but you wouldn’t have slept."

“I can sleep just fine alone.”

He chuckled "shh"

I sighed and gave up arguing. My heart was beating far too fast to make a proper comeback. The silence that followed was... not uncomfortable. It felt safe.

Morning came too early.

I woke first, my head still on his chest. Zorin was already half-awake, eyes open, glaring at the ceiling like it had offended him.

The moment he realised I was awake, he shifted slightly. “You drooled on me," he said, his voice rough.

I nearly rolled off the bed.

“I did not.”

He raised an eyebrow. "You did."

"Liar."

“Ungrateful,” he countered.

Before I could respond, a loud knock came from outside.

"Lumi!"

My heart dropped. River.

I scrambled out of bed so fast I tripped over the bedsheet. Zorin didn’t move, just sighed, dragging a hand through his hair like the interruption was mildly inconvenient.

River burst in, eyes scanning the room, landing on me wearing Zorin’s shirt and on Zorin, very much shirtless.

“I... this isn’t...” I started, face heating up.

“Nice to see you too,” Zorin drawled, stretching like a cat. "You’re late."

“Late?” River snapped. "Do you know how hard it was for me to convince the owner to let your helicopter land on the roof"

"You rock bro" Zorin hung his hand on my brother's neck. I rolled my eyes at both of them and walked out of the room.

**

We were stupid to let River fly the helicopter back home, it's not an experience I'd love to go through again.

River sat opposite me at the dining table, wolfing down eggs like a man who’d been starved for days. Zorin, of course, looked unbothered, flipping pancakes like he did every morning.

He slid a plate toward me and sat right beside me. River started talking about his first love, again. A story I can tell perfectly now due to how much I've heard it.

Zorin inched closer to me, I tried to ignore him, cutting into my food, when I felt it. His fingers are brushing my thighs under the table. I nearly choked on my food.

"Something wrong?" River asked.

"No," I said, far too quickly.

I shot him a glare, but he didn’t even look my way. He was staring at River, nodding along as if he was listening.

I shifted in my seat, trying to move my leg away, but his hand followed, fingers tracing between my legs, inching upwards slowly. I had every chance to just leave the table, but I didn't. I secretly liked it.

I mouthed, "Stop it."

But he only raised an eyebrow, expression perfectly innocent, just as his hands went dangerously closer

River called out, "Zorin, I have something to discuss with you" Then they both stood up and left the dining.

After managing to calm myself down, I ate my remaining pancakes and then cleared the table, just as I was dropping off the plates I heard River's voice.

"They are back for her" his voice went quiet and came up again "They will stop at nothing to take Lumi away from me."