In His House

Chapter 31

In His House.

Lyla Atelo.

In all the senseless decisions I have ever made, this was the stupidest one. I pumped hard on my accelerator, begging my car to move faster as it tried its best to get me home.

"You're back." Michael smiled at me once I opened the door.

He was seated in the living room, watching the news on the screen. I almost paid no attention to him, giving him a flippant answer as I rushed to the kitchen immediately, washing my hands under the sink.

It wasn't long before I started chopping the vegetables that would give me a thick soup when added together. This was going to help with the cold. Not once did I pause to think... to ask myself if what I was doing was right.

"Are you okay? You seem a little... I don't know? Off? Out of breath?" Michael stood at the doorway as I towelled myself after showering.

I could only force a smile as I hurriedly threw some clothes on.

"I'm fine. I'm just heading out for a bit."

*

I was able to get the coordinates from one of the students in school; I didn't ask outright though. They said he lives alone. The drive to his house was about an hour's ride, and my mouth fell open. How could one person live in a house so big. No, scratch that! This was a mansion.

"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Dominic?" The guards asked me.

I shook my head. "No. Not really. Um... Can I speak to Mr. Taylor?"

There was no way I would lie that I had an appointment with Sage. What if they had a list of visitors? I shuddered at the humiliation that would follow. Using Mr. Taylor was the right excuse.

"What's your name? Let me call him."

"Lyla... Lyla Atelo." I said after a while, hoping that Taylor remembered who I was.

After a while of tapping on my steering wheel, the guard opened the gate for me to drive in. Once I parked in front of the entrance of the georgian-styled house, made with red bricks and rectangular windows... but I could tell it was equipped with modern technology. The security cameras said that much.

The door was opened, and I jumped in shock when I saw Taylor opening the car for me to step out.

"Lyla... It's a pleasure to have you." He said politely as I stepped out of the car, clutching the flask of food tightly.

"Mr. Taylor, hello. I didn't see you when I drove in." I tried to smoothen my voice.

"Don't mind me. I was taking a walk in the maze, that's why. I assume you're here to see the master." His eyes met mine, and I searched for any form of judgement in them, but there was none. There was a neutral expression on his face.

"Yes." My voice lowered. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the windows of one of the rooms parting. Even though I couldn't see clearly since it was evening, I could tell that I was being watched. By him... "I heard he fell sick. And since it's my fault, I came here to.. um..."

To what? What was I even doing here?

"It's fine. Come with me." He told me, turning around and walking ahead of me to the white door in front.

I confirmed my beliefs about the house being equipped with technology because there was an elevator to my right.

"Just step into the elevator and it will take you right up. I believe the master is already aware of your presence."

Yeah, no doubt about that.

There was an uneasy bubbling in my chest at the short ride of the elevator. Once it opened, I spotted Sage instantly. He sat in a dimly lit room behind a desk, puffing out smoke from his lungs with a cigarette lodged between his slender fingers. My throat tightened, and I could feel a surge in my core.

He sat lazily, his features illuminated by the amber light coming from the desk lamp. He was bare bodied. I gulped.

This was the first time that I was seeing him shirtless. His body was well defined... His abs down to the vee line was... entrancing...

"Sage... Hey." I tried to speak, but it came out strained. My body hummed at the sight of him. "I...uh...was told you fell sick after you helped save me."

He tapped off the ash of the cigarette into the ashtray beside him. "Who told you that?"

His voice was deep.

Dark.

Controlled.

Nothing like the Sage I knew. This person in front of me was... detached... in every sense of the word. I didn't know how to answer him. I didn't want to put his best friend in trouble if this was supposed to be a secret.

"Um... That's what everyone in school speculates." I tried to frame the words.

He was looking at me. His eyes searching mine intensely. His Adam's apple bopped as he took the last drag of cigarette in his fingers. He placed the cigarette into the ashtray and began tapping his fingers on the table.

"What exactly are you doing here, Lyla?" He asked, releasing the smoke from his mouth which curled into circles in the air.

"I didn't know you smoked..." I tried not to sound awkward as I neared the table. "I brought you some soup to help with the cold."

"Is that really why you're here? In my house? By this time?" He cocked his head to the side, and there was a glint in his eyes.

My breath hitched at the dangerous but sensual lips that curled into something I couldn't understand... Something that sent my heart palpitating in pleasure.

"I... I... only came to br...bring you food." I stuttered as I spoke. "Nothing more. I felt guilty for being the reason why you fell sick...after you didn't show up in school. And..." The words stuck in my throat. "I mean... I called your phones and you weren't answering. And I got really worried."

"Worried?" He dragged out the words as if it meant a lot to him. "Don't you know that coming here is dangerous?"

He slowly stood up, rising to his full height. The sight made my throat constrict. He was really tall... Sexy...

"Dangerous?" I whispered, my heart racing. "I... I just came..." I took a step back as he took a step forward.

My throat dried up instantly and I couldn't make out any words until I was pressed against the wall with Sage's hot breath washing over my face.

His fingers traced my face as he stared deeply into my eyes, sucking me into those depths of his.

"You're here for something else, Lyla." His voice was husky. "Tell me what it is, sweetheart." His fingers brushed against my lips.