Chapter 10 Now, Kiss Me, Rabbit!
"We should go to Paris for our honeymoon," the same woman excitedly added. By the tone of her voice, Alaia knew it was a girl around her age.
"Sure, honey! Paris it is, then!" Slowly, Alaia turned, seeing a familiar blond male face speak. It was Quinn. That voice Alaia would have recognized anywhere, anytime. And the woman next to him must have been his fiancee, Fiona Wilson.
She was an epitome of elegance and beauty.
"Great!" The woman agreed, smiling.
Her white ruffled blouse wrapped perfectly around her tall, slim, curvy body. Her black flared skirt showed off her toned, long legs, ending just over her knees. The woman had style, and her smile for Quinn appeared sincere. This woman loved him.
Alaia bowed her head. And she hid her face in the book, pretending to read. Her hand abruptly raised to her chest like that would stop that ache inside her heart from spreading further. But there was no stopping it.
She felt the pain in every pore of her being. And she felt it hit deep and hard. Quinn was right here, with another woman. And they’d go to Paris for honeymoon.
"Come, Fiona!" Quinn beamed back at her, hugged her, and kissed her. It was definitely Fiona Wilson, Alaia realized. Quinn's fiancee. This woman was a real deal, a lady. Quinn must love her too, Alaia believed.
Her heart sank deeper and only kept sinking lower.
She spun around, watching the loving couple further away, leaving the bookstore. They loved each other.
Congratulations, Quinn! Alaia murmured to herself. She was happy for Quinn. She should be. But she couldn't stop her tears, no matter how much she blinked. They streamed down her face freely.
Alaia ran out of the bookstore, trying to stop herself from sobbing.
"Why are you crying? Woman!" Suddenly, Alaia heard Zane’s voice. She lifted her head. Zane stood in front of her, frowning, with several shopping bags in his hands.
Seeing Alaia Jones crying shifted something inside Zane, something he didn't know he even had. It was some strange force hidden deep within him. But he couldn't name it.
"Nothing happened. It's just..., nothing," Alaia ousted through the tears. Zane didn't understand a thing.
"What?" He questioned, feeling it moving inside him again. That weird thing he had never sensed before was there again.
Was it pity? It wasn't as if he hadn't seen a woman cry before. Many shed tears before Alaia in front of him, usually after understanding things between them finished. They would stare at him like begging him to continue the affair.
Alaia didn't even spare him a glance. It made him doubt himself.
But that feeling inside him only kept on growing. Fuck! So far, he didn't pity any of the women he fucked. Why her?
"Nothing matters. Let’s go." Alaia said, wiping the tears off her face, but the tears kept pouring out. And she couldn’t stop herself from shivering.
Women! The bloody women! Nobody can understand them! Zane thought. All he knew was he was feeling an unstoppable craving.
He tossed the bags on the ground. Then his hands flew on his own, snaking around Alaia's tiny waist. And he pulled her against his chest, hugging her tight.
Alaia froze all of a sudden. She didn't want that asshole to comfort her.
He was the one harming her, blackmailing her so he could use her body for his pleasure.
But she couldn't move. Zane wrapped her in his strong arms. An incredible warmth spread out his body and into hers, making her pain subdue a little by little.
During the drive back from the shopping, Alaia felt regretful for letting the asshole comfort her. That warm feeling was gone. He didn't deserve to see her cry.
Zane kept his distance, avoiding any interaction with her. He didn't touch her once.
They didn't even exchange a single word. It suited Alaia, dwelling in her thoughts.
Zane hated the mushy way how he reacted to Alaia. Zane Nash wasn't a pussy.
Something forced him into hugging the rabbit back there.
The little rabbit put some evil spell on him. No other explanation!
That won't happen again! No way! He thought.
So, from now on, comforting her was forbidden.
Zane parked the car in front of his villa, with his hands carrying the shopping bags. Alaia followed right after him.
He didn't take his key out yet, and Mrs. White was already there, holding the door open for Alaia and him.
"Welcome, Zane! Alaia!" She greeted them. That woman was always around, ready to help at any time.
"Why are you still working, Mrs. White?" He asked her while entering his home.
"Because...! Let me!" The old lady tried to grab the shopping bags, wanting to carry them for him.
"No! You won't!" But he pulled them back, not letting her.
"I'll help him!" Alaia spoke at the same time as Zane.
Wanting to seize bags, she grazed his hand, her fingers sending shocking electricity along his skin and into his veins.
Zane turned, their eyes locking. He knew she only wanted to help. Not him, but help Mrs. White. All muscles on his body tensed. Mrs. White coughed, smirking. Zane felt weird, that stupid softness inside him trying to reach his surface again. He gulped it down and overpowered it.
Then he switched to his usual cruel manners.
"Rabbit! After me!" Zane spurted out, once again, manifesting his cold, arrogant dominance over Alaia.
"That boy!" Mrs. White shook her head, watching them leave upstairs.
When Zane opened a room and put the bags down, Alaia gaped around. It wasn't the same room she was inside the last time. This room was different, with a personal touch and a strange, warm atmosphere.
Zane had never brought her here before.
This room couldn't be Zane's as it looked nothing like him. It was soft, bright, and comfy. Everything this jerk wasn't.
Several white threw-cushions lay scattered over the upholstered, king-sized, dark-brown bed. The same dark-shaded oak hardwood parquet covered the floor. A few photos, framed, stood on the long, white, wooden desk. And tons of books occupied the numerous bookshelves.
There was something peaceful and calm in this space.
"My room," Zane casually said, pointing his hand for her to sit on the bed. His bed, Alaia grasped. It was Zane's room. The bedding was beige, pillows dark brown, looking warm and inviting. She expected his room to be more unlit, sinister, choking her with its unwelcome.
But, surprisingly, it wasn't, and she found herself feeling cozy in his bedroom. And inside her belly, strangely restless.
"Really?" She popped out without thinking, making him stare questionably at her. "It doesn't look like your room," she sat down, averting her eyes and glancing around. Alaia hoped it would make him stop looking at her. The cabinets were white, that plushy cream white carpet seemed so soft, and the windows were huge, allowing a lot of sunlight inside.
"What do you mean?" Zane asked, stepping over to his giant walk-in closet. He slid the door open, taking his suit jacket off. And then his t-shirt.
Alaia refused to stare at his naked torso, displaying those taut six-packs. But she couldn't stop peeking at his tattoos. Fucking snakes, dragons, and skulls. How awful!
"Everything here is so white, so breezy. So warm. Nothing like you," Alaia turned her head, thinking that restlessness inside her gut must have been fear. What else? To appear more relaxed, she leaned her back against the headboard of his bed, pretending to study his room more.
"Hmm," Zane murmured. "Actually, my brother bought this house and decorated it for me." He added.
"Oh!" Alaia couldn't help but fidget her fingers.
"Why did you come to the States all alone, when the rest of your family is in Europe?" She asked, simply out of curiosity. Or maybe her nervousness.
Zane's expression turned colder than usual, his skin whitened, and his eyes almost froze.
Seeing Zane's face, Alaia knew she shouldn't have asked. She then jumped from the bed, intending to change a topic.
"Let's see what's in there!" She approached the desk, opening shopping bags one by one, and taking things out. The dresses, pajamas, the slippers were all so cute. But seeing that negligee and some thongs and bras, her jaws dropped. She would die before putting those on herself.
"Turn around, rabbit!" Zane ordered. He came after her, gripping her wrists.
Alaia found herself caged between the wooden desk in front and his powerfully-built frame from behind. She had no option but to twist around and face Zane.
“What are you doing?” She asked, swallowing hard when Zane placed that negligee on the front of her body.
His hand glided down, between her breasts, with his eyes scanning, measuring her. Alaia held her breath, strange sweet anxiety inside her unstoppably growing.
"Mmmm...," Zane hummed before he commanded. "Dress it."
"No! I won't!” Alaia protested.
“You think you have a choice?” Zane sneered.
“Take it to Jessica or Vivi and ask them to wear it for you!" Alaia snapped, pushing Zane, and that negligee, away from her.
"Are you jealous, rabbit?" He smirked, hearing her mention other women.
"About what?" Annoyed, she rolled her eyes, trying to walk away from him. It seemed first Zane would let her.
But Alaia panicked, seeing there was nowhere to run. His bed stood right in front of her, blocking her way. She sensed his stare heavily burning at her back.
Zane followed Alaia with his eyes narrowed. And then he shifted like the most dangerous predator, quickly catching up on her. He gripped her waist and spun her around, his other hand pushing her back down flat on the mattress.
Alaia gasped, knowing what would follow.
Zane landed on top of her. His hands got her rid of her clothes in a hurry. Equally fast, he took off his, too, nesting in the middle of her thighs.
Next, Alaia moaned, hearing Zane groan with relief as he penetrated deep inside her.
She cursed herself for being so wet, receiving him the way she did, raising her hips as if she wanted to take him deeper.
It was still dark when Alaia woke up next to Zane. Zane was spooning her body, sleeping soundly. Carefully, she took his hands off herself. She got up from the bed and went to the balcony.
It was a few minutes past midnight.
Today was Quinn's birthday. Memories bombarded her mind.
Ten years ago was the last time Quinn celebrated his birthday with her.
They would never celebrate their birthdays with each other again. Quinn was about to marry Fiona. And she, she had become this devil's whore.
Their lives were now totally different. Time and destiny separated them.
The cold wind suddenly rustled Alaia's thin nightgown, brushing her skin. Her body quivered in the cold, and her heart chilled with that painful realization. But the coldness was gone the second she felt it.
Someone hugged her from behind, bringing warmth to her body.
Zane! Zane Nash! The devil! Alaia bitterly thought, trying to escape away from him. Her frozen heart twitched, threatening to break into pieces.
“Don’t move!” Zane’s grip tightened, rooting her in her spot by his strength.
"I'm giving you exclusive right to report on events around Throne. And Throne itself," he added, nuzzling his face into the crook of Alaia’s neck, taking in her scent.
Alaia's mood instantly improved.
Alee Pictures had already invested a high amount of money into that movie. It went viral even before released since everyone knew Jessica Hughes, the international movie star, was the leading actress. Alaia's face brightened, getting what it meant.
It would bring G & G a lot of profit! Tim would earn a big amount and his wife would stop grumbling around!
"So, can I go to work today?" She asked.
"Em," Zane delayed giving her the answer. "I guess," he added.
Finally! The devil is willing to give me some freedom. It made Alaia smile. Zane couldn't stop looking at her beaming face.
She got him by surprise. He only stared at her unblinkingly, thinking it was the first time he saw her smiling genuinely. Alaia Jones, it seemed, smiled finally from the bottom of her heart.
Her eyes twinkled, and her white teeth sparkled in the darkness. She shined better than the Moonlight.
"You can go to work, but be here by 7 pm!" Zane said. Then he closed his eyes, forgetting the promise he gave himself in his car.
"Now, kiss me, rabbit!"
Ugh! Alaia knew she had no way to escape, so she landed her lips on his, only lightly touching them. She barely rubbed them. When she was about to remove them, Zane grunted. He grabbed her waist, attacking her lips again.
Alaia moaned when his tongue parted her edges, licking her lower, then upper lip. Then he slid it inside her mouth, swaying her backward as he deepened their kiss. His hands traveled up and down her body as his tongue forced hers into surrender.
It made Alaia moan more. And more. Her hands flew upward, with fingers tangled inside his hair. She hung her arms around Zane's neck, pulling him closer.
For ten long years, Alaia sleeplessly lay on her bed on every Quinn's birthday.
But this year, she fell asleep, so quickly and soundly, held tight in Zane's embrace.