Claiming Me

Verena

My mind whirred around frantically, a groan slipping from my mouth as I tossed and turned on the bed— my fingers splayed on the bed in search of someone. 

The man I had spent the night with. 

But when it hit me that the space behind me was now empty, my eyes fluttered open as I propped myself on my elbow. Still half-yawning, I flitted my eyes around in search of him. “Hello?” My voice was barely a whisper. 

I was about to mutter another word when a memory slipped through my subconsciousness. It was from a blurred vision, yet I could still make sense of it. 

I could feel the ghost of his lips on my cheeks, the fingers that stroked my arm sensually and most importantly, the way he held me in his arms, planting soft kisses on my forehead as he whispered that he had to leave because he had an important summit to attend. 

 Was it a memory or a dream? 

It had to be a dream because he had no reason to be that sweet towards me when we were just meeting for the first time. He didn’t even know my name nor did I know his. 

At the same time, memories of me agreeing to be bound to him in that vulnerable state flashed through my mind and my cheeks flushed in embarrassment. 

I couldn’t believe that I agreed to that. It wasn’t me. It had to be my hormones. 

I was about to move from the bed when I caught sight of a note on the bed-side table. I reached for the note that read; “Forgive me for leaving before dawn, miss kitty ears. In the closet is a new cloth that you can change into. I will see you later.”

Miss Kitty Ears? Nice!

Despite the butterflies that floated in my stomach and the smile that onto through my face because of the thoughtful note he left. That last bit of it lingered in my mind. 

What exactly did he mean by seeing me later? Was he thinking that I was going to wait?

On my drive back to the Villa, I couldn’t help but reminisce the moment that we shared. His face, the warmth of his touch, the spark in his eyes whenever he looked at me and most importantly, when he flipped me over and impaled me with his dick from behind. 

Bliss. 

My thigh clenched, my lips pressed together in a thin line as heat coursed through me and in that moment, I could still feel his fingers roaming my skin and…

Brrr…Brrr…Brrr— The dashboard display buzzed to life, cutting my train of thoughts as Kian’s name glowed across it. 

Kian?

He didn’t even slip my mind even once. 

Anger coursed through me as my grip tightened around the steering wheel and I answered the call begrudgingly. “Hi, Verena. I was just wondering where you are and wanted to make sure that you still remember we have lunch with my parents”

My heart sank and even though I had mentally checked out on Kian, a part of me still hoped that he called to speak concerning the whole charade last night. But that lack of care in his voice broke me. 

He didn’t even care where I had spent the night. 

“I just pulled up at the gate” I disconnected the call. 

The moment I entered, Zita’s saccharine laughter welcomed me as she sat on the armrest, bread and jam in one hand while Kian darted his eyes to me and the moment our eyes met, fury ignited in my veins. “Verena, where have you been?”

I killed the urge to glare at him with burning, reproachful eyes instead, a smile slipped through my face. “I took your advice, Kian and I am here to let you know that this is the best advice I have ever gotten…” I trailed as my eyes darted to Zita. “Hello Zita, enjoyed your night with Kian?”

She only forced out a smile and blinked away. 

My eyes returned to Kian only to see that the color had drained from his face completely. “You took my advice…” He muttered,before a bright smile replaced the look of skepticism he had on his face. “That is actually nice, Verena.  I am glad that you took the suggestion to open our marriage. So, how was it?”

A chuckle bubbled from my throat as I tipped my head back, walking past him. “Good…” I climbed the stairs and then stopped, turning to look at Kian as I shot a wink at him. “The best I had ever had” 

Kian and I were now on our way to his parent’s mansion and all through the drive, thoughts of the stranger clouded my mind, his scent still wrapping around me like a cloak. 

I could still feel him deeply buried inside of me. The ghost of his presence clung to me, teasing and tormenting me. 

How could someone be so unforgettable. 

We arrived at the mansion only to receive the same cold shoulders from his parents, fake smiles even though that look of disgust glinted heavily in their eyes. 

Kian’s father, Mr. Neil, harrumphed as we all sat for lunch. “In the 80’s—” He started. “Divorce was a big deal but now the times have changed, people even get divorced a day after marriage” 

My mother-in-law, Jana, cut in. “True, marriage isn’t a necessity anymore. People get divorced when there is a lack of attraction, a fall-out, incompatibility and when their values don’t match especially when it comes to the expectations of having children” I could feel her eyes on me. 

The salmon in my mouth suddenly went stale because I knew that those passive insinuations were directed at me. 

“Do you agree, Verena?” Jana flashed a fake smile at me as I forced the content in my mouth down my throat. 

Before I could respond, Kian cut in, changing the subject of the discussion. “Dad, Uncle Daxton’s business has been expanding aggressively into Asia. This is the perfect time to buy a lot of shares and position ourselves as the biggest shareholders. What do you think about mentioning it to him when he comes for lunch?”

Uncle Daxton? Who was he? Kian had an uncle?

Neil responded. “Ah, when he arrives…” He trailed before grumbling. “He should be here anytime soon. I wonder why he is taking so long and—“

The housekeeper waltzed into the dining room, cutting his words short. “Mr Daxton has arrived…”

Collective gasps echoed through the dining hall, the scraping of chairs against the white polished marbled floor grated my ears as my in-laws alongside Kian moved from their seats in excitement to welcome this so-called uncle I had never heard of. 

I shook my head, fingers curled around my knees as I heaved an exasperated sigh. 

The last time I welcomed Kian’s maternal aunt, an unapologetic classist who looked down on me and kept throwing funny looks my way, I promised to not put up with her like that. 

And now, another relative?

Would he be worse than Aunt Halsey? 

Mustering the courage inside of me, I pushed the chair to the back, rising to my feet while walking towards the grand foyer. Broad shoulders perfectly carved into a well tailored dark suit faced me, hands slipped down his pocket as his jet-black hair gleamed in the lights. 

The way he stood there with his presence engulfing the room screamed power and elegance. 

Coming down the small stairs, I forced a fake smile onto my face. 

Then he turned, his gaze sweeping to mine and slowly, the smile on my face faded as I froze half-way down the stairs. 

I forced my eyes close, shaking my head while ignoring Kian who beckoned for me to meet his uncle. 

My eyesight had to be impaired and the invisible handprints of the stranger that clung to me was the reason I saw him in this man’s face. 

Steadying my breathing, I forced my eyes open only for my heart to slam harder against my ribcage than before and worse, this man was walking towards me with that same spark of dark amusement in his eyes.

With every second that he inched closer to me, it slowly hit me that the one I had sex with last night was Kian’s uncle. 

No.

No. No. No. 

The same voice that almost melted me pierced through my ears. “Hi, Miss Kitty ears?”

He was the one!

My head spun and I caught a glance of Kian whose brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to catch this man’s pace.  “Miss Kitty ears?  You two know each other? I never introduced you to her though,”

While Kian nattered away, his eyes were still locked with mine, pinning me in place 

Before I could process things, his hands slipped above my waist and my stomach fluttered despite the turmoil brewing inside of me.  His cheek brushed mine as a wave of dizziness washed over me. 

His breath fanned against my ear, sending heat pooling in my stomach as he whispered. “I told you, I was going to find you and now, I am never letting you go, Miss Kitty ears” He pulled back slightly, his eyes holding mine—spellbinding— as hetucked a loose tendril of hair behind my ears. 

Kian stood next to his uncle, the smile on his face now gone as he glanced back and forth between us. 

His parents also looked confused. 

With Daxton’s eyes still piercing into mine, he said. “Brother, I won’t be attending the blind date you set up for me. I have found the woman I want to be with.”