Zoe awoke beside Helios the following morning. Naked. She shook her head as she locked her gaze on Helios, who was sleeping peacefully beside her.
She questioned herself at this point: how did she get in here?
She was a typical college student who was only concerned with her studies and her mother. Her mother, whom she adores, attempted to sell her to a man—a murderous devil.
However, how could she be certain Helios is not a mirror image of his father?
Zoe sighed and was about to descend when she felt a warmth draw her.
“Hey.”
When she felt Helios’s breath land on her bare neck, she closed her eyes. She sighed as she turned to face him.
Zoe smiled as she locked eyes with Helios. “Hey.”
“I apologize for last night—”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You are not required to be sorry. We both desired it,” she continued.
Helios smiled and kissed her temple softly. His hands caressed her right cheek.
“I’m reluctant to claim you, but I can’t help myself—”
“I understand,” Zoe sighed. “Believe me; I am knowledgeable.” She drew in closer, cupping his face and claiming Helios’ lips. And when she released her grip, she smiled once more.
The silence returned, and all that remained were their eyes as if they understood each other simply by looking.
“So…”
Zoe’s brow arched. “So, what?”
“Are you sure you don’t have classes today?” Helios inquired, his gaze falling on Zoe’s natural pinkish lips.
“Hmm... are you sure you didn’t forget the days of the week?”
Helios let out a soft chuckle and pushed himself away from her, locking his gaze on the ceiling.
Zoe squinted. “Is there a problem? Don’t you have work?”
“It's a holiday.”
Zoe smiled and moved closer to him. Helios stretched her right hand, and Zoe rested her head on it.
When she smells his natural scent, she closes her eyes. ‘Damn, he still smells amazing,’ she reflected.
“Did my father instill fear in you?” Helios inquired abruptly, causing a crease in Zoe’s brow.
Did he not?
Zoe sighed deeply. “Yes.”
“I am—”
“However, I’m more afraid of what mom did. How could she have done such a thing to me?” Zoe felt a tightening in her chest as she recalled what had occurred just a few days before.
“She would have informed me, and I will do everything I can to help her. I am aware that she is a gambler, but—”
“Shh… I do not want you to consider it. The important thing was, you’re here with me. Safe,” Helios said as he hugged her, making Zoe bury her face on his side.
Zoe smiled and raised her eyes to him. “I appreciate it.”
Helios beamed a smile. “My pleasure, but it is not gratuitous...” he paused.
Zoe’s brow arched. “What? Do you want something?” she moved away from him and sat. However, when she caught a glimpse of Helios’s gaze, her eyes widened, and she immediately grabbed the comforter and covered her chest.
“You are aware that there is no reason for that,” he stated meaningfully.
Zoe sighed and rolled her eyes. “Simply get to the point. What are your intentions? You already have me—”
“Marry me.”
Zoe’s eyes grew wider. Did she hear correctly?
The silence filled in, and for a brief moment... Helios squealed with laughter.
Zoe clenches her teeth, and invisible smoke begins to emanate from her nose as if she were portraying an enraged dragon.
“How could you!” Helios caught her hand as she was about to slap him.
“Hey, my apologies. I simply wish to brighten the mood—”
“By pranking me?”
Helios’ lips were pursed. “I wasn’t intending to—Hey, Zoe.”
Zoe rolled out of bed without looking at him. She let go of the comforter, oblivious to the fact that Helios would witness her nakedness. In any case, he has already seen it.
“Zoe. C’mon. I apologize.”
Helios rose from his bed and approached Zoe, but she glared at him.
“Stop. Keep a safe distance from me. And this will not happen again,” she stated as she began looking for the bathroom. When she did, she rushed towards it but was quickly apprehended by Helios.
“Leave me alone!”
“No! I expressed my regret.”
“Well, I don’t require your apologies—”
“I intend to marry you—”
“Stop!” Zoe made no further attempt to wiggle. “I’m not interested in hearing about it. And, oh, I’ve got some housework to do,” she said, cocking her head to the side.
She locked her gaze on Helios’s eyes before lowering her gaze to his arms that encircled her waist.
“Let me go, Helios,” she repeated.
“No. Not unless and until you forgive me—”
“Forgiven. Now, allow me to go; I desired to take a shower—”
“Then let us do it...” Helios carried her in bridal style, “—together.”
For a brief moment, Zoe is powerless. She was taken aback, and the next thing she knew, they were sharing passionate kisses inside the bathroom.
As they both intensify their kisses, she encircles her arms around Helios’s nape.
When cold, refreshing water dripped on their bodies, their lips parted.
Helios’ hands began caressing her back. His hands reached her bottom, and he squeezed one of them.
He nibbles the inside of her lower lip until his kisses reach her jaw.
Zoe raised her head and shifted it to the side, allowing Helios easier access to her neck.
Water drips down her face, causing her to gasp, and she feels her back collide with the cold wall.
Helios' tongue curled into her skin as she moaned softly. It made its way down to her chest, stopping just short of her left breast.
He swirled his tongue around her nipple and then sucked it, eliciting a loud mutter from Zoe.
“H-Helios…”
Helios continued swirling his tongue and proceeded one by one.
Zoe bit her lower lip in response to the sensation that something was growing inside her. She was desperate to explode. She desires him within her.
"H-Helios... please," she pleaded.
Helios smirked and came to a halt. He straightened his posture and met her gaze. "Please, what?"
She gulped and took a deep breath. “I want you… inside me.”
THE following day, Zoe awoke early to prepare breakfast. She was aware that Nana Milky was present, but she insisted on completing the task on her own.“Have you seen Helios, Nana?” she inquired as she prepared to cut the white onions.Nana greeted her with a smile. “He departed at the crack of dawn. H he will be on a week-long business trip.”Zoe paused in her onion cutting and looked at Nana, baffled. She spent the entire day yesterday with Helios. As she was afraid to leave the house—prior to what happened recently—she chose to play board games after discovering a chessboard in the living room.How come Helios failed to inform her?“Didn’t he inform you?”Zoe sighed and gave a faint smile. She examined the onions that had been chopped. “No. Hmm... well, it’s his business,” she replied, her voice a little somber.Nana Milky approached her and took her hand in hers. “I’m certain he’ll call. Helios is always this way when he embarks on a journey.”Zoe pursed her lips and gave a slight
"IS that Zoe the commoner?”“Wow, she’s hot, dude!”“A commoner is always a commoner. Even if she wears luxury clothes.”“Right.”Zoe is aware that the people are eyeing her. Murmuring about her.Well, who wouldn’t?She was known to be the commoner. She has been bullied ever since because of her mother. But all of these, she tends to ignore.And she was quite aware that her entrance, with the two men beside her, walking with her, would literally catch attention.She stopped walking and faced the man on her right. “Maybe it would be best if you would wait for me in the parking lot? I know you understand my situation,” she said and smiled. However, she got no response.She looked to her left, and still, the other man had no response.‘Seriously?’ she thought.“Look, sir. You will put me in trouble if you don’t stay away—”“We need to follow sir Lincoln’s order, ma’am. I’m sorry,” finally the man on her right talked.Zoe pinched the bridge of her nose to calm herself. Afterward, she wand
ZOE was surprised when she woke up one morning. Helios was there, sitting beside her, and she bet he was staring at her, who-knows-when.It was a hell week for Zoe, dealing with other bullies, but she admits it and is beyond grateful because the queen, Mira Riverdale, was there to save her ass.“Hey,” Helios uttered and smiled at her.Zoe couldn’t still believe the things happening between them were too swift and seemed temporary.She moved herself up and leaned on the headboard, never leaving Helios’s gaze.“Since when did you arrive?”Helios crept a playful smirk on his lips. “Just this morning.”Zoe pressed her lips and sighed. “And how long have you been staring at me?”Helios let out a soft chuckle. “You have no idea—”“Just answer me, Helios. And I am not up for a joke.”Helios’s forehead creased and sat properly. “What’s with you, baby? Did I do something wrong?”Zoe took a deep breath and sighed. “I don’t know,” she shook her head, “—all of these seem so unreal, and it shouldn
“CONGRATULATIONS, ZOE!” Nana Milky greeted Zoe as she exited the stage.Zoe gave the elderly lady a genuine smile and hugged her. She then walked over to her mother, who was crying and standing on Nana Milky’s back.Iris couldn’t help but cry as she watched her daughter walk across the stage to receive her awards and diploma. Words can’t describe how proud and happy she was.“Mom…”Iris shook her head, and she couldn’t stop thinking about what happened a few weeks ago. She regretted everything, and she was grateful that Zoe had allowed her to attend her graduation.“Please accept my apologies—”“Shh…” Zoe rushed up to her and tightly hugged her. “—don’t blame yourself, mom,” she released her grip and smiled. “We all commit mistakes, and I forgave you. And all I ask is that you promise me one thing...”Iris bit her lower lip as she fixed her gaze on her daughter. She took Zoe’s hand in hers and squeezed it tightly as she met her gaze. “Please tell me, honey.”Zoe cracked a grin. “Promi
A FEW days after Zoe’s graduation, she decided to look for a job that suited her knowledge. The thing was, Nana knew about it, so she did tell Helios, and here she is, sitting in front of him while the man was staring at her.Zoe doesn’t know how to react, but she finds it awkward. She knew that Helios had confessed last time, and she rudely responded with it. She bit her lower lip and hemmed to clear her throat, catching Helios’s senses.“Uhm, is there anything wrong?” she asked.They were just a few distances away from each other, sitting in Helios’s living room, and she did hear his deep sigh.It seems like something is bothering him.“What’s wrong?” she asked once again.Helios took a deep breath once again and sighed. “I want to ask you one last time about—”“If this is about your proposal. I apologize, but I can’t give you what you want. I am still young and full of dreams, Helios. I am sorry.”Helios scoffed and arched his brow. “I see. I understand. I will not mention it once
THE COLD breeze of the wind shoves inside the window, waking up the sleeping beauty. The surrounding is still calm and could be deafening.Zoe stretched her arms upward and smiled before opening her eyes. Her eyes blinked twice, thrice, until she adjusted her vision to the light coming from the window.“What a lovely day,” she stated when she got up and sat. She looked pat through the window and saw the shades of the sky turning orange in delight.The sun is rising and ready to say HI to the world. Zoe knew today was a busy day. Of course, her first day of work. However, she couldn’t help but sigh as she got off of her bed. She opened the window and wandered her eyes around. And she let out a soft chuckle when she remembers that the AC is on. She then pulled back the window and waved the curtain to see the view.The trees are still calm this morning. She also saw birds flying as if they were also in a hurry for something, maybe finding a portion of food to eat.And, of course, she c
“THANK YOU,” Zoe said when the guards let her in. They may act a little bit rude to her earlier; she could understand it. Besides, Helios didn’t instruct them.Zoe heaved a deep sigh and cursed inside her mind when she walked toward the elevator. Ever since she has been an introvert, she will spend her time at school, at home, and vice versa. She’s not fond of socializing and seeing many people, making her feel a little bit anxious.At the same time, she was clueless. She might not be dumb, but she can still feel that jitters in her very first.It took her a couple of minutes before she reached the top floor of the building.The space on the top is vast, and every corner is well-furnished. The dim lights beamed in the hallway, and the indoor plants were quite refreshing to the eyes.The moment she saw Helios’s office, which is just at the center, right after she stepped out of the elevator, she took a deep breath to calm herself. She knocked thrice before she twisted the know and ente
Zoe’s POV“ARE you sure about this, Zoe?”“Mom…” As I was fixing my clothes inside the small luggage, I looked at my mother, “—it has to.”“But there must be a reason why Helios treats you like that. Let his head cool off. You can’t just act like you wanted to be just because of Helios’s cold treatment. You have to respect him.”I sighed as I sat on the edge of my small bed. “You don’t understand—”“Zoe, I didn’t teach you to hold a grudge or to give up that easily. It came from you that he proposed marriage, but you declined it because of the unrequited love.”Mom walked towards me and sat on my side. She reached for my hand and pressed it gently. “Helios is a man. Sometimes, when it comes to love, men choose to be straightforward. Some got cowardly. However, Helios is different. He’s honest. It takes time for a man to take courage in confessing, yet he took the risk.”I shook my head. “Then he could also understand my feeling, mom.”“This is all about lowering your pride. Helios was