I didn't even know I was going write a bonus chapter. It is just my way of saying thanks to everyone who has been on here all through the days, who patiently waits for the updates, you have no idea how much I appreciate each and everyone of you guys. A few hours ago, I found out that my mother is finally cancer free. ❤️
I cannot explain how happy I am. You guys helped me a lot through the rough times. I remember going through comments on every chapter trying to feel better and it would work. I just wanted to give back so here it is, a bonus chapter. I hope you enjoy it!!

Unedited.

I shouldn't have looked at her that way. I shouldn't have thought about her. I shouldn't have held her so close. It felt like we were one and she felt like the most precious part of my existence.

I lost control. I lost myself in chaos that she brought with her. The calm that she brought. The tremors that she brought. And her sinful touch, innocent eyes luring me into oblivion. Her hand squeezing mine everytime a stranger would pass by or approach us. Her pupils dilating when I touched her, kissed her. Her quick breath and her heavy moans. Her tears, they caused a war within me. I couldn't just watch her cry so I gave in.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

My hands ached to touch her but I couldn't. At this point, self control wasn't my thing. I wanted her, I needed her as I stared at her hair tumbling down her back and ending in soft curls that were a shade lighter. Her skin glowed under the lights. She looked so beautiful tonight. Undone yet beautiful. There was one thing I thought about a lot ; her hands. The roughness of her palms didn't feel right. They told stories that I couldn't understand. I've met a lot of women and one thing common amongst them was the softness of their touch and the elegance they reflected. Sophie on the other hand, she reminded me of a dove. She was an aftermath of the war and I wanted to know her. I wanted to know what caused it.

No, I didn't want to know her.

I took a step forward , unlocked the door but didn't walk in. She turned to face me, I tipped my chin telling here to walk in. She sighed and I almost followed her in.

Get a fucking grip, Grayson!

My eyes followed her movements and the second she was far enough to not get hurt by a door being slammed shut, I kicked the door closed.

I needed to loosen up. I started walking away from the room.

Fuck her. She was messing with my head.

No, she didn't make me comfortable. She was going through the tiny cracks in my wall and finding flaws. I hated it. I hated her but when her lips touched mine, I wasn't sure of anything I once believed in.

I was used to people discarding emotions, especially when they were heavy, especially when they were my brother's. And, I wasn't Anton so I shut myself up. But this woman, she embraced me like she'd known me her whole life. The determination in her eyes made me want to break her, so I did, once again.

"And, where the fuck are you going?" That voice belonged to Clayton. I frowned turning my head from where the voice came.

"I should ask you the same." I said as I continued walking, his strides fell in sync with mine. A stranger would look at his cool exterior and not notice what he actually felt but I did.  we were on the same page, he looked rough and agitated and so did I.

"I was taking care of the trash you left behind in the parking lot." He loosened his tie, took it off and then shoved it in the pocket of my slack and grinned at me. Some things just never change.

"We're not in highschool." I grounded, glaring at him in annoyance. Honestly, I didn't need him right now, I wanted to be alone.

His obnoxious laugh boomed in the empty corridor and I scowled at the floor.  "Sorry, I cannot carry the weight of it, be my saviour." Clayton was such a weird character. The only friend I ever had. The only friend I needed.

"Anything good you wanna tell me?" I asked, pulling out his tie from my pocket and throwing it on the floor. It was my time to smile. He narrowed his eyes slightly but continued walking like nothing happened.

"Charlie needs a rhinoplasty if he wants to get his great piglet looks back."

"Fucking fantastic." Ease coursed through my body. He deserved it, every bit of it. I'd do it again for her. God, her again. I hated when she crossed my mind. My chest constricted with a weird sense of protectiveness. Fuck, no.

"That means I did a good job?" Clayton's voice dragged me out of my miserable thoughts and I sighed.

I nodded at him. We entered the bar, my eyes ran over the crowd, my pulse quickened as I shoved my hands deep in the pockets of my slacks. The crowd seemed tolerable. I wouldn't remember anything in about an hour. Just an hour Asher and they will all be like dust particles in a beam of light. Just an hour. I reminded myself. I refused to think of the time I was at ease, the time I spent with her in the Limousine.

"You know what's actually pathetic?" We sat down by the bar counter, my eyes met the  bartender's and she smiled, a blush creeping up her neck, I wondered if the choker was too tight around her neck, it seemed like it was.
I absent-mindedly touched the gold band on my left hand and twisted it.

Twist. Twist. Twist. Perfect. 

I turned my attention to Clay and narrowed my eyes at him.

"You did it for a girl."

"My wife."

Tragically Beautiful.

"Oh, you promoted her. Finally. Still, pussy move." My jaw clenched at his words.

"Pussy move, huh?" I ran a hand through my hair and ruffled them, "waiting for the time I can use those words on you. Fucking bastard." I spat feeling frustrated.

"Well, I'm not lying. She's old enough to handle things and she decided to not do anything about it."

Old enough. Yes, she was old enough. I frowned at myself not being able to recall her age. 23, Was it?

"Anything else?" I asked paying no heed to whatever he said.

"Something tells me , I'll have to stay sober tonight." Clayton gazed at me with concern and my lips curved up in a lazy smile.

"I always knew you were smart, Doctor."

"I'd ask you to not do it. It's not worth it Asher."

"I need to ..." forget.

Sophie's hands.

Violet's gray eyes.

The ocean.

Sorrento.

Myself.

Everything.

Suddenly, I wanted to go back to the room and hold her. Just hold her. I knew it would calm my racing thoughts. I knew she would hold me in her kind embrace without questioning me or my sanity. I'd match my heartbeat with hers and just fucking hold her. My fist clenched at the thought.

"By the way, out of everywhere in the world you chose italy. Is self sabotage one of your kinks?" He questioned, an eerie smile etching on his lips. He shook his head slightly like he couldn't believe it. I wasn't in mood for his atrocious sarcasm.

"No." I gritted my teeth. "It was my mother's plan." I hated this place with passion. It made my skin crawl. The worst part were the memories that came along.

"When will she learn your life is not hers to control." Clay asked, annoyance clear in his voice.

"When I'll stop agreeing with her on everything." Which wasn't happening anytime soon knowing my mother knew how to play games with me and make me cave in.

"Never liked her much."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"She used to think you packed me with drugs." Clayton's eyebrows rose in shock and something humorous played on his face. I grinned at him "She still thinks you pack me with drugs. "

"Fucking hell, the justifies the look she gave me tonight.  I didn't know I was such a scandalous friend." I looked down at my watch and wondered if Sophie went to bed yet or not.

"How long are you here for?" Clayton asked.

"A week."

"It's just a week, you can pass these days without losing your mind in a pile of alcohol, Asher." I wanted him to stop caring.

"It's not easy."

"I know, you can atleast try." Clayton looked at something over my shoulder and smiled looking down.

"Shut the fuck up."

"Yes, captain."

"Someone can't stop looking at your handsome face, Grayson." Clayton side eyed the bartender that passed us. I didn't follow his gaze. A frown marred on my features.

Twist.  twist.  twist.

His eyes caught on to my actions and he smiled. "What is it about her—"

"I don't know. She looks like—"

"A dear caught in the headlights but is a fucked up firecracker." Clayton spoke casually and something burned within me.

Firecracker. She was definitely a firecracker. She was more than that. She was a box of cigarettes. A cabinet stacked with alcohol. She was the burn that sliced down my spine when the hot water hit my scarred body. She was everything good in my bad world. It's fucked up how I related her to my bad habits like I have nothing good left to remember. She was a calm river and I wasn't going to drown. I just couldn't.

"You got eyes for my wife, Clay?" I spoke nonchalantly and pinned him with a hazy stare. I saw fear pass over his features.

"No, I'm just observant." Clayton raised a challenging eyebrow, as if he was trying to cover up something.

"Very observant." I taunted, placing an elbow on the counter and leaning into it. I looked around trying to distract myself from an unknown emotion Clayton sparked within me, there were people on the dance floor rubbing against each other, the music was too loud for my liking. Sophie would have liked it considering how bored she got of the waltz music. "What else have you observed?"

"She looks at you like you're her saviour." His eyes ran over my face a look of hushed anger reflecting from his eyes.

"Am I not?" I smiled at him, exhaling. 

"She deserves better." He looked everywhere but at me. What was going on with him?

"Better? As in yourself?" I gritted out.

"The amount of anger and jealousy on your face, even alcohol can't wear it down, Grayson." I wanted to slam his head on the table and tell him to never talk to me like that.

Fuck.

"It's not funny." My jaw ticked, my heartbeat quickened for a second. My fingers lightly tapped the counter.

Tap. Tap. Tap. My heart started to blow up in my chest.

"I never joked." Clayton deadpanned.

"You don't want your pretty face to be thrashed, now do you?" My face held nothing but disgust.

"Relax, Grayson. She's your wife and I'm just pressing your buttons trying to get a reaction." His words didn't seem believable. But, I trusted him. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe not. 

"You remember our rule? What's yours ain't mine, Asher." Clayton nodded at me as if he was renewing the rule. 

I nodded back.

"You get what you give, Grayson. There's a reason she's yours. She's sent to destroy you."

Yours

Mine.

She was mine?

Fuck.

Clayton winked at me. "Two Martini on the rocks-"

"—Make it quick." I was going to need more than a fucking Martini, tonight.

...

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The next chapter will be longer.

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❤️❤️❤️

- Garima