Semua Bab His Mate Or His Step-Sister: Bab 41 - Bab 50

~HAZEL~I place a hand over my chest, feeling it pound and squeeze painfully as Ashton's words to Ariel echo in my mind. He was reassuring her that there was nothing between us—his tone gentle yet firm—echoing the words I've known all along, yet this time, hearing them aloud made my stomach twist with a strange, sharp ache. Why did it bother me this much? I had known all along that his heart belonged fully to Ariel, the woman he considered his true mate. So then, why were his words affecting me so intensely, stirring a silent storm within? I should be relieved, gratified even, that he only had eyes for his mate— it was supposed to be this way, a perfect, unbreakable bond. But instead, a conflicted tangle of emotions knotted inside me, making me question everything I thought I understood.Nothing about my feelings was okay. They overwhelmed me, gnawing at my confidence and sense of what was right. I believed I didn't deserve Ariel's kindness, feeling unworthy of her support since the

~ASHTON~I feel all the blood draining from my face at the sight of the Fruit of Seduction in her soft hands. The fruit's glossy surface may be visually appealing to the eye. However, beneath its attractive exterior lies a significant danger, as the fruit can mess with your emotions to a high extent. I look at the ground, noticing scattered remnants, and can immediately tell she didn't just eat one of those things.Fuck.This was not good. I run a hand down my face, as I try to think of what to do to fix this before the intoxicating effects of the fruit start to take her over, controlling her mind and actions. "Ashton?" she asks softly, her fingertips trembling as the halfway eaten fruit slips from her grasp, tumbling to the ground with a gentle thud. Her eyes, wide with concern, search my face intently. "What is it? Why are you so worried?" she continues, her voice tinged with unspoken anxiety. She can tell from my reaction that something was terribly wrong. However, she did not w

~ASHTON~ "Hazel," I whisper, my voice soft with a mixture of restraint and longing, "I need to put some distance between us. Just until the effects of the fruit leave you.""No!" she cries out suddenly, her voice echoing in the quiet forest as she instinctively grabs my hand with urgent desperation. "I need you, Ashton. I need you."My jaw clenches tightly, muscles tightening as sweat beads form on my forehead, a sign of the internal struggle raging within me. I desperately try to fight back the overwhelming urge to give her exactly what she was asking for, my heart pounding hard in my chest.As she gently places my hand on her inner thigh, her skin hotter and silkier than I could have imagined, she slowly guides it higher up her leg. I could not deny that her skin was buttery soft, almost glowingly smooth, unlike anything my hand has ever touched, igniting a flood of conflicting emotions—desire, guilt, and restraint. "It burns," she whispers, her voice trembling with a mixture of p

~HAZEL~When I slowly open my eyes, a wave of surprise washes over me as I realize I am lying on top of someone. I glance down and see Ashton with his eyes peacefully closed, as if he's in a deep sleep. My mind races to process the situation, and it hits me like a splash of cold water: I am completely naked, positioned on top of him. The coolness of the air against my skin and the unexpected intimacy of the moment send a jolt through me.Confusion swirls in my mind. What exactly transpired? How did I end up like this? My thoughts spiral as I try to piece together what happened after I blacked out, seeking to understand the circumstances that led to this startling position.Am I supposed to lose all my recent memories after the exotic fruit entered my bloodstream? Or will those memories, and sensations eventually come back to me as the day goes by?I look down and see my bare breasts pressed tightly against his muscular chest, the warmth of his skin contrasting with mine. My legs are s

~HAZEL~I never initially intended to tell him that I had overheard his conversation with Ariel. However, after the recent incident—the heated emotions that left me feeling unsettled—I realized I needed to clarify the situation. I wanted Ashton to understand that I was not deliberately forcing him into uncomfortable situations or prying into his life.Knowing that Ariel often watched these live streams as well, I saw this as an opportunity to communicate directly with her too. I didn't want to create any tension or strain in our relationship; she and Ashton will be close for years still to come, and I hoped they would remain together for a long time despite the way I felt. I wanted to ensure that every time she visited our home in the future, there would be no awkwardness or misunderstandings between us, so that our interactions could stay friendly and respectful."Hazel," he says, his eyes worried and filled with guilt. "That conversation was not intended for you to hear. I thought t