Goddess of Seduction

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Katherine's laughter danced in the air, a delightful sound carried by the gentle breeze as Zayn shared the tale of his first horseback riding adventure. It was a story filled with youthful bravado and a runaway horse, depicting young Zayn being dragged upside down, his leg stuck in the stirrup, until a timely rescue saved him from what could've been an incredibly embarrassing (or even tragic) ending.

"You really shouldn't laugh," Zayn said, pretending to be offended, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. "I almost died!"

Katherine quickly wiped away a tear, chuckling softly. "I can't help it! Did you eventually get better at riding horses?"

"Kind of. But after my grandmother passed away, I haven't been able to practice as much as I'd like," Zayn replied, his smile dimming slightly at the mention of his grandmother.

"I'm really sorry about your grandmother," Katherine said softly, her tone more serious now. They had left the balcony and wandered into the serene garden behind the estate, settling on a bench that overlooked the peaceful lake.

Zayn took a long sip of his bourbon, watching the amber liquid swirl in the glass as he set it down. "It's okay; it was a long time ago."

His hazel eyes, glowing in the soft moonlight, reflected a deep emotion that Katherine found hard to decipher. There was a subtle sadness, an unspoken sorrow that hinted at love lost and life interrupted.

"I understand how you feel," Katherine murmured, looking down at her own drink. "After my father died, I just couldn’t focus on my designs as much."

She traced the rim of her glass with her finger, her voice nearly a whisper. "And a few other things too."

The divorce, the miscarriages, and the betrayal by her sister and ex-husband had created a whirlwind that left her feeling lost, her dreams fading away like sandcastles washed away by the tide. Even the peaceful countryside, with its rolling hills, hadn’t reignited her creative spark.

"We’ll get through this someday," Zayn said earnestly, locking eyes with her as though he were peering deep into her soul. "I hope it’s alright to ask, but can I inquire about something?"

Katherine took another sip of her drink, the warmth spreading in her throat. "What is it?"

"Are you... seeing anyone?"

The question lingered, straightforward yet unexpected, catching Katherine off guard. A few moments passed in silence, with only the soft rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. Then she laughed nervously, covering her mouth with her hand.

Zayn watched her intently, a gaze that made her heart race; she had never felt so seen by anyone, not even by Castiel.

"Seriously, Hogan?" she exclaimed, another laugh escaping her.

"Too soon, I guess?" Zayn replied with a wry smile, but his steady gaze revealed a flicker of regret.

"Yes, it does feel a bit early. But no, I’m not with anyone right now." She looked into her drink, the amber liquid reflecting the moonlight, and for a brief moment, she saw the distant image of the life she once dreamed of—a life now just a distant memory. "I just haven’t had the energy to consider a relationship."

"Was the divorce really that messy?" Zayn asked gently, and Katherine winced. Messy wasn’t even the word to describe what she’d been through. It felt more like a battlefield, a relentless assault on her heart, leaving her feeling bruised.

Silence fell over them again, broken only by the soft sounds of crickets and the wind moving through the trees. "Cas and Caroline made it seem like the divorce was mutual for everyone and the media," Zayn offered, a hint of empathy in his tone.

"I know… I saw the interviews and the magazine features back then," Katherine replied, feeling bitterness creep into her voice despite her effort to keep it at bay.

She recalled her time in the countryside, a refuge from the storm of social media that relentlessly tried to paint her as the villain.

"I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that," Zayn said sincerely, his sympathy touching her deep inside, making her feel understood in her struggle.

"It’s not your fault," she said as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, daring him with her gaze, inviting him to see her wounds and acknowledge her pain.

"What about you?" she asked, her voice soft but probing, challenging him to share.

"Me?" He repeated, a flicker of hesitation passing through his eyes.

"Yes," she replied confidently, emboldened by the moment and the drink, "Are you currently seeing anyone?"

She noted how his breath caught, and his eyes widened in recognition of the unspoken tension swirling between them.

"...No," he answered, the word simple yet heavy, resonating in the quiet space they shared.

"...Do you want to?" she asked in a low voice, her words inviting yet powerful enough to draw him closer. She reached out, her hand cautiously resting on his shoulder, a firm yet tentative declaration of her desires—a challenge to him.

She could feel his gaze, burning with intensity, making her skin tingle. She sensed he desired her, she could see it reflected in the depths of his eyes.

And she longed for him too. It was a basic yearning, a thirst that had lingered for years, awakened now by Zayn's presence and the way he looked at her.

"I’m not looking for a relationship," he said, his voice low, exposing his feelings, "but you’re tempting me, goddessl."

"A beautiful goddess, huh? That’s a first for me..." she whispered, her fingers tracing his jawline, making him shiver from her touch. The space between them felt charged, filled with a silent longing.

Her heart raced, mirroring the urgency of her desires. She realized it had been years since she’d kissed anyone or truly connected with someone; her life had been overshadowed by chaos.

And now, she recognized her years of longing—not just for connection, but for something real and passionate, something she hadn't even realized she craved.

"So, the question is..." he said, his gaze fixed on her, filled with desire and longing. "Does the goddess want me?"

Her other hand found its way to his neck, gently pulling him closer. The scent of his cologne mixed with the warmth of his skin sent exhilarating anticipation coursing through her. "I guess she does," she murmured, her words a quiet confession of her desires, surrendering to the moment, to the magnetic pull of his presence.