All Chapters of A DEAL OF SIN: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

I pulled my hand back slowly, feeling the lingering warmth of his touch fade as I wrapped my fingers around my coffee cup. I took a long sip, letting the familiar bitterness ground me, trying to steady my thoughts. The reality of what I’d just agreed to was starting to sink in, and I could feel my cheeks flush slightly under his watchful gaze. Zayren didn’t say anything, just watched me with that soft smile still playing on his lips, as if he knew exactly what I was feeling. I focused on the warmth of the coffee, hoping it would calm the whirlwind inside me. After we finished our coffee, Zayren drove me home in comfortable silence, his presence feeling strangely reassuring. As he pulled up in front of my place, he turned to me, a soft smile lighting up his face. “Goodnight, princess,” he said, his tone warm, that familiar teasing edge softened somehow. I couldn’t help but smile back, a mix of nervousness and something else I couldn’t quite name bubbling up inside me. I nodded, mum

“Open wide,” he said, his voice low and velvety. I obeyed instantly, opening my mouth and allowing him to feed me. The sensation of him caring for me in this way stirred up a mix of emotions... vulnerability, joy, and an undeniable sense of being pampered. It was a simple gesture, but it felt incredibly intimate. I could see the tenderness in his eyes as he fed me that spoonful of food, like he truly wanted to take care of me. He pushed the food tray towards me, a hint of shyness in his eyes. “Can... Can you feed me?” His request made my heart flutter, and I nodded in agreement, a wave of shyness washing over me. “Y-yes,” I managed to say, my voice betraying my nervousness. I took a spoonful of rice and raised it to his lips. He opened his mouth slightly, eyes never leaving mine as he allowed me to feed him. His eyes widened slightly as he chewed, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “This food tastes amazing,” he exclaimed, swallowing the bite. “Maybe it’s because you’r

“You live alone right? It's not safe,” he said, looking at me closely. “I'm worried about you being here all by yourself.” I wanted to argue and say that I could take care of myself but his protective look made me hesitate. Instead of disagreeing I asked. “What do you think I should do?” He pondered for a moment loosening his grip on my wrist. He moved our hands to his lap and rubbed my skin with his thumb. “Maybe you should stay with me.” he suggested , sounding relaxed as if it was a normal idea. “Stay with you?” I asked, my voice, trembling a bit. He nodded and looked at me. “Yes,” he said while holding my hand. “It's safe and I would feel better if you're not alone.” His words made me feel excited but also nervous. I wondered if it would be strange or uncomfortable to stay with him. Would it be weird? Would I feel uncomfortable or out of place? I bit my lip thinking about what to say. He noticed that I was unsure and held my hand firmly and spoke in a softer tone.

That was the plan, wasn’t it? I’d pushed her away, distanced myself so she would come after me, to make her see that we couldn’t just keep pretending like we didn’t care about each other. But now that she was here, shivering from the cold, I realized just how much I had underestimated the power she had over me. I’d meant to make her question things, to make her see how much I cared, but I hadn’t expected it to hit me like this. I hadn’t expected her to care this much. I watched her standing there, her wet hair sticking to her face, droplets of rain still clinging to her skin. She looked different in this moment... more vulnerable than I was used to seeing, yet still so beautiful. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She had that soft, concerned look in her eyes, the kind that made my heart race a little. I could tell she was worried, but something else was there too... something deeper. She asked me a question, her voice quiet, but I didn’t catch it. I was too lost in the way she looked

Zayren’s POV “Sarang,” I said softly, “You don’t have to figure it out tonight. Just... let me be here for you. That’s all I’m asking.” She didn’t respond immediately, but I saw the way her shoulders relaxed just a fraction, the way her grip on the chopsticks loosened. The rest of the meal passed in silence, but it wasn’t the awkward kind. It was something softer, a quiet understanding settling between us. I didn’t push her to say more, and she didn’t retreat, which felt like progress. When we finished, I stood to clear the dishes, expecting her to leave or maybe wait on the couch. Instead, she grabbed her bowl and followed me to the sink. “You don’t have to,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. “I know,” she replied simply, placing the bowl beside mine. Something about her presence beside me, unspoken but steady, made my chest feel lighter. We worked in sync, washing and drying the dishes without needing to speak. Every now and then, our hands brushed as I passed her a plate or