Chapter 12 Nosy Rabbit
Alaia blinked her eyes, gradually opening them. The dawn just broke, painting the dark blue sky with the golden, shimmering light on the horizon. She saw the Moon unwillingly descending.
Her hands glided down the smooth, warm surface, stopping with a low moan, seeing her naked body on top of Zane's.
Their legs intertwined, their skin touching, and her face met his black-inked bare chest. The dragon's head stared back at her, forcing her head to turn.
Zane covered her with his coat.
That's why she felt no cold despite the temperature being low outdoors.
Does he care about me? It puzzled her.
Quietly she moved off him, chasing that thought away as impossible, and put on her clothes, piece by piece. She didn't want him awake when doing this. It would be her saying goodbye, farewell to Quinn and the place where they grew up.
She got off the car and walked toward the seaside.
Alaia stood on the sandy beach barefoot, watching Sun rising over the Ocean. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement. She noticed the first boats leaving the shore and seagulls spreading their wings high toward the white clouds.
It will be a nice day! She inhaled the salty air deep into her lungs. Her shoulders relaxed, her mind slipping off the reality.
The scenery made her daydream as she imagined Quinn standing behind her, hugging her tight. She could almost feel his hands around her waist as she leaned her back into him. It felt so good!
But she suddenly shrank, understanding someone had been touching her. Only it wasn't Quinn.
It was Zane, the Coyote, the asshole. What a waste! The morning could have been stunning. But the bastard decided to ruin it for her.
"Let go of me!" Her palms landed on the back of his hands, trying to uncurl his fingers. But his grip remained unyielding.
"Behave, rabbit," Zane said, his lips rubbing her tender skin slightly. Alaia could almost imagine him satisfyingly grinning behind her back as he tipped his head, fanning his hot breath into the nook of her neck. Then he clasped her shoulder and turned her around to face him.
Her lips parted, watching his mouth closing down at her. Alaia's knees shook as Zane kissed her, their tongues chasing one another. But then, she heard a click, and her pupils dilated.
Zane had his phone raised. He just took a photo of them kissing.
"A proof of you enjoying it!" He grinned. In the photo, Alaia closed her eyes, gluing her lips to Zane’s while Zane’s fingers carding through her hair. They seemed like a couple passionately in love.
Alaia blushed, pushing him away, but Zane didn't even blink, pulling her back into another kiss. And then he bit her lip, breaking their kissing session with another grin.
"Are you crazy?" She screamed, wiping her mouth, seeing the blood on her hand.
"I'm going to Canada for a week." Zane emotionlessly said, ignoring what he just did. He stuck his eyes on her lips. The blood on there made them look more sinful.
Hearing this, Alaia’s face glowed all of a sudden, unable to stop happiness from showing. I am free of the asshole for the whole week! What bliss! She thought.
"Behave while I'm gone, rabbit!" He warned her, grabbing her chin, boring dangerously down into her green eyes. Her beaming face somehow annoyed him.
"I already miss you," Alaia teasingly said, adding 'Coyote' quietly in the end. Zane's anger evaporated immediately. The next, his face closed the distance. Alaia could feel the soft tickle of his breath beneath her nose. Then, Zane slightly protruded the tip of his tongue, licking the last remaining droplet of blood from her lip.
For the full five days, Alaia enjoyed her freedom with Zane abroad. She was working hard, following up on everything happening around the Throne.
The sales records of G & G magazine went through the roof, making her extra happy. But when she would remember the price she had to pay for it, her heart sank a bit lower each time.
So, she tried not to overthink, working even harder, spending almost all her time inside her uncle's company.
But that made her hear things, only saddening her more.
"Did you hear it, Emily? It seems your crush will marry in less than a month!" Linda and Emily walked into her office, giving Alaia some papers to sign. Tim was not in the office, and she was authorized to sign the documents in his absence.
"What? Quintus O'Brien is getting married? No!" Emily sighed, faking to faint. Linda pretended to catch her in her arms.
"I'll have to find another crush. Right now!" Emily said while straightening herself up. Then both girls burst into laughter. To them, it was a game. But to Alaia, it wasn't. She had known Quinn for real. Her heart ached genuinely, hearing the news.
Her hand picked up the pace, signing a document after document, leafing through them so fast.
When done, Alaia closed the door after them, dropping in her office chair. She closed her eyes, going numb.
The phone's ringing brought her back from her thoughts. Seeing the caller's ID, Alaia sighed.
Damn Coyote!
"Pick me up at 6 pm from the airport!" Zane ordered, ending the call, not even waiting for her 'hello.'
He's back today? Alaia wondered. He should have stayed in Canada for two more days. He said it should last seven days and not five. Realizing her happy days were about to go, Alaia felt a severe headache.
At 6.30, Alaia finally arrived at the airport. Zane waited at the exit, raging.
“You Are Late!” He shouted.
“Traffic jams.” Alaia shrugged, "Where is your luggage?" She asked next.
"Eric took it," he pointed toward his car. Eric, the driver, opened the backseat door for them.
"So why am I here if you have a driver? Couldn't Eric drive you home?" Alaia frowned. He made her come over here for nothing. Was it fun to play her around?
Zane sneaked into his car without answering her.
"Nosy rabbit!" She followed, barely hearing him commenting to himself. During the drive, Alaia noticed they weren't returning to his villa. She wriggled in her seat, looking around at the streets.
The car stopped, and Zane led her to one of New York's posh restaurants. As they sat at the table on a terrace, an explosion came suddenly, echoing across the sky. Alaia lifted her head, seeing hundred of fireworks burst simultaneously in the midair, all in the rabbit shapes. The colors were so bright it almost felt like daylight.
She stared open-mouthed.
“Do you like it?” Zane’s voice drew her gaze back to him.
"You made it?" She asked, seeing an evil smile on Zane’s face.
"Em," Zane hummed, staring at her, eagerly waiting for her to get moved into tears.
"What a waste!" Alaia blurted out, pouting.
WASTE?!!!
Did he hear her wrong?
Is that all?
"Alaia Jones!" Zane gritted his teeth, shooting stare daggers at her. Never had once he prepared a surprise for anyone before. Alaia Jones was the first one. But her reaction almost drove him mad.
"Okay! Okay! It's stunning! So impressive!" She drew the compliments out unwillingly but still couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She hated his extravagance and that 'rabbit' nickname he gave her.
Then the waiter brought them a glass of wine each.
"I didn't order it!" Alaia protested, not wanting to get drunk again. Then, she saw a ring attached to her glass. It was silver, silver plated, more likely, and had a red stone in a shape of a heart.
Probably zircon, not a genuine ruby, Alaia believed, fixing her eyes on the ring.
"Put it on your finger. Your festival gift," Zane said coldly.
"What festival?" Alaia looked back at Zane, didn't understand a thing.
"It's Valentine's Day, miss," the waiter bowed his head courtesy, informing her.
Alaia gaped.
Then, Zane took the ring and her hand. As he was about to put it on her finger, Alaia pulled her hand back.
Spending Valentine's day with Zane Nash wasn't what she imagined. And she surely didn't want to wear the bastard's ring. Zane's words echoed inside her head.
He promised her she would fall for him in less than a month. The asshole could only dream about it! She rolled her eyes, becoming suddenly highly annoyed.
"Don't you like it?" Zane didn't take his eyes off Alaia. Before Alaia answered him, he already forced her hand back in his, putting the ring on it.
Alaia had no choice but to wear the damn ring, eating the meal Zane chose for her. The waiter brought their second glass of wine and left.
"Excuse me," someone said, and Alaia looked up, seeing Olive Jackson and her husband, Henry Baker. "Can we share a table with you, Mr. Nash?" Henry asked politely, with a glint in his eyes.
Zane accepted, giving Alaia a meaningful look. Alaia noticed it but couldn't understand it. Olive was a famous fashion designer, and Henry was a successful businessman.
Alaia had been dreaming of becoming a designer, so she knew who Olive Jackson was.
Two men talked about business opportunities, discussing the possibilities of their companies' cooperation. Accidently, Alaia's napkin dropped to the floor, and she bent, trying to reach it.
Under the table, she saw Olive's toes rubbed against a man's leg, slowly drawing small circles, all the way up to the man’s inner thigh. What disgusted Alaia was, that the man Olive touched wasn’t her husband, but Zane Nash!
Gosh! She was at least ten years older than Zane and married.
Alaia peeped at Zane. He sat still, looking relaxed and calm.
Is he interested in married women, too? Ugh, what a womanizer! Alaia thought, quickly seizing her glass of wine. She remained seated, drinking, chatting, and acting as if nothing had happened.
Sitting next to her, Zane clenched his jaw. His eyes had warped into a miserable black.
After dinner, they got into the backseat of the car, with Eric driving them. Alaia deliberately ignored Zane, playing cheerfully with her phone.
Zane’s anger came to the extreme.
The little rabbit didn't even look at him once. And he shortened his trip to spend more time with her.
He even ordered fireworks, knowing how much she liked them. And that ring, he bought a ruby platinum ring for her, the most expensive ring he could find in Canada.
All that to get a bit of her attention.
But Alaia Jones showed him zero. She felt nothing. Not even a hint of jealousy when seeing other women seducing him!
Raw anger shot through him. In a split second, he grabbed the phone from Alaia's hands and threw it to the floor at his side.
"What? Why did you do it? Asshole!" Alaia glared at him, believing the man was mad. His sudden anger confused her. Did I do anything wrong? She wondered.
She bent, wanting to reach for her phone. But Zane grabbed her, pulling her back. His lips furiously assaulted hers, kissing her roughly and forcibly until they reached his villa.
"Get out!" Zane angrily commanded after breaking the kiss.
Annoyed with him, Alaia pushed the door open. She strode toward his home fast, without even glancing back at him. Zane watched her, leaning back in the backseat of his car, feeling defeated.
"Tell me! How to make a woman fall in love?" He asked Eric, kicking the back of the front seat.
"Um..., uh...,” Eric stuttered in a cold sweat, not believing his ears.
“Speak!” Zane roared.
“Please her parents?" The driver startled, making up an answer immediately.
Zane sat there pondering for a while. Then he exited his car and run upstairs. He found Alaia in his bedroom. He gripped her wrist, dragging her downstairs and back into his car.
"Where are you taking me?" Alaia questioned for the fifth time, seeing the car leaving the estate.
"Visit your uncle!" Zane finally said, only confusing her more.
My uncle? At 10 pm? Is he nuts? Alaia's eyes spread wide open.