IRENE

A WEEK LATER...

"Aww..." Aly cooed, bent over the six-day-old baby Lenore held in her arms. "She's so cute!"

Evren, Ivelle, Asher, Azher and Zion (Zayden's son), all surrounded Lenore as she sat on the couch with her baby girl in her arms.

Her husband dropped her off earlier, he didn't want to leave though, being protective and all but Lenore somehow convinced him because he had already missed out on lots of work due to the birth of their daughter.

"They have got a new toy now, just watch them obsess over her", Mea said to me.

I chuckled. "But it's cute to see all of them have such a good bonding."

"Yes", Ada said, watching the kids, "it's cute to see that they all love each other so much."

"That love better remain platonic." Armano shot Ada a glare.

"Oh, please." She rolled her eyes. "They are just kids."

"But Uncle said Evren was obsessed with Aly. I want him away from her."

Mea sighed, shaking her head.

Zaire chirped in, "Your daughter is equally obsessed with my son. Keep her away first."

Armano narrowed his eyes at him before looking at Aly.

Kian, Zayden and Arnaud occupied the other couch and watched Armano and Zaire interact, looking amused.

Soon, Lenore handed over the baby to Armano and then all the girls grabbed me, dragging me to the dining room.

"Um..."

"I need to know every detail." Lenore grinned. "I have missed out on a lot."

"Okay, not every detail." Ada pointed out.

Celestine chuckled. "Yeah, but I wanna know the summary of everything."

Mea was smiling. "I love watching them both. She is so smitten by him."

Oh my god. I was blushing so hard.

They all made me sit down at the table and then grabbed a chair of themselves and surrounded me, making me feel like I was in an interrogation.

"Wait..." Lenore said, reaching her hand towards my neck and pulling away the collar of my top. "Is that a hickey?"

I pushed her hand away, blushing even more. "Yes. He just doesn't let me cover it up."

"That's hot", Lenore commented.

"He took her to NYC for a date. Can you imagine?" Mea said.

"I heard", Ada spoke. "I couldn't believe my ears."

"Yeah, me too." Celestine agreed. "Give us more details on that date."

"So...um...well I once mentioned to him that I always wanted to go to New York City so maybe he remembered that. He took me there for the weekend, we explored all the famous places. Then for that specific date, he took me to the Central Park..."

I continued to tell them about that date and they all seemed to be in disbelief but at the same time, they looked happy.

I ended up telling them about the first time we met. How he saved my life and how he was my first crush.

"Did you tell him that?" Cel asked.

I nodded. "I did...um...I even told him I love him."

They all got so excited at that, voicing it out and making me lean back. "You all are really loud."

"No, don't change the topic." Lenore shifted closer. "Give us the details on this confession."

I remembered that day vividly, how Kian fucked me so roughly, him being possessive and jealous.

"Um...so...he is a very possessive man and that day, I met with one of my high school friends at a cafe. He touched my hand and Kian being Kian got super jealous. Thankfully, he didn't hurt him. When we got back..." I cleared my throat, lowering my eyes. "...um...he...expressed his possessiveness...in a...rough way..."

Oh God, what was I saying?

When I peeked at them, Mea looked on the verge of laughter, Lenore was amused and Cel and Ada were sort of appalled.

"Anyway", I said sharply, moving on from that. "I wanted to assure him that I was all his and I ended up confessing. That's it."

"Did he say it back?" Cel asked.

"No? I don't mind. He didn't say those words back and I am glad he didn't just for the sake of it. He has difficulty in understanding emotions so I am sure he will sort it out."

"He's being stupid", Mea muttered, "it's obvious he loves you."

"But he didn't say it back." Lenore pouted.

"I'm sure he will soon. Don't worry." Ada patted my shoulder.

"Yeah, I am not worried. He did say he was all mine and I think indirectly, he did confess...?"

Cel nodded. "I think so too. Don't think about it much. Kian has always been like that."

Everyone nodded.

"By the way..." Mea smiled at us. "...I wanted to share some news. I'm pregnant."

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Under the dining table, Kian's palm rested on my thigh possessively.

Everyone ate the dinner, chatting among themselves but all I could focus on was my husband.

Feeling mischievous, I snatched a piece of the steak from Kian's plate and ate it.

When I went to grab another piece, he playfully slapped my hand away. "Eat your food."

I pouted. "But yours tastes better, hubby."

"It's the same thing."

"Please." I fluttered my eyelashes at him.

Sighing, he was about to exchange our plates when I stopped him. "No, I want you to feed me."

"Why, what happened to your hands?"

"Ah." I groaned, lifting my hands and dropping them dramatically. "So tired."

I was totally ready for him to tell me no but then he looked amused as he speared a piece of the steak on his fork and brought it up to my mouth.

I smiled at him as I ate from his hand, his eyes filled with warmth as he stared at me.

It was only when he was about to feed me another piece that I noticed that there was a pin-drop silence around the room.

I glanced at everyone and found all their eyes fixed on Kian who was feeding me, their mouths opened in shock.

Kian didn't pay them any attention and continued to feed me.

They all looked away soon enough, pretending like they weren't staring.

Kian continued to feed me and I grabbed his hand making him pause as I whispered, "You will give them all a heart attack if you continue this."

"Who cares?" He put another piece inside my mouth.

So, ignoring everyone's stares, I let my husband feed me.

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KIAN

Dad sat on the couch, his hands folded and he watched me curiously as I paced around the living room at their house.

Irene was at work and I wanted to talk to Dad about...well, a lot of things.

I picked up a random showpiece, inspecting it before keeping it down.

I didn't know how to word my sentence.

"Okay, what is it? You are freaking me out now", Dad spoke.

I paused in the middle of the room, turning to him and sighed deeply.

"Come here." Dad patted the space next to him.

I walked over there and sat down next to him, staring at the floor.

"Is something troubling you?" He asked gently, stroking my head once.

I glanced at him. "I just...wanted to say...thank you."

"Oh." Dad raised a brow. "What for?"

"For forcing me to marry Irene."

He chuckled. "Okay, that was unexpected."

"Don't laugh." I snapped. "This isn't funny."

"Okay", he said amusingly. "Is that all?"

"No. I have become obsessed with her and it just seems to be growing each day, getting more intense. I don't know how to label this...feeling."

"I see." Dad smiled knowingly.

"You love her", Dad stated after a pause. "That's what this feeling is."

Love.

I let out a shaky breath, running my fingers through my hair.

"I know it sounds scary." He squeezed my shoulder. "But if you just accept it, you will feel at peace. And if you try your best, I'm sure Irene would love you back."

"She said she loves me", I blurted out.

"Well, that's even better. I believe you didn't say it back, but now you can."

"I don't like it when others look at her. I want her all to myself, I want to lock her up so she can only be mine. I can't stop this intense urge to possess her in every way possible."

At this point, I was just babbling like Irene.

Thankfully, he didn't laugh at me.

He nodded. "I can understand that. I have the same feeling for Lilith. It was as intense as yours when we first started to date but after all these years of marriage, it has dimmed a bit."

We were already married so I couldn't possibly marry her again. "What did you do? To control that feeling?"

Dad cleared his throat, scratching his chin. "Um...I got her pregnant?"

Okay, that was fucking awkward to hear about. Armano was right, the breeding kink did seem to run in the blood.

"Right", I mumbled looking away, an awkward silence hanging in the air.

"I'll check if the cookies are ready." He got up abruptly and walked out of there.

Mom was baking cookies for us all and told me that I should take some back for Irene, Armano and Mea.

Dad's words lingered inside my mind. Love.

I scrubbed a hand over my face. "Fuck."

I need to tell her. I need to get those three words out before I am consumed by this overwhelming feeling.

I got up and walked towards the kitchen to ask Mom to hurry up but paused right outside it when I heard them mentioning Irene's name.

"...that's so sweet, Sil. He looks happier too", Mom was saying.

"I know." Dad hugged her from behind, both of their backs to me.

"She learnt to love him after all. I told her she should try."

What the fuck?

I stepped away from there.

What does she mean she told Irene to try to love me?

Is that the only reason she loves me?

Or does she even?

Fuck.

Doubts started to arise inside me and I rushed out of there without informing them.

I need to talk to Irene before I lose my fucking mind.

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IRENE

Kian was taking full advantage of the fact that his cousin was my boss.

It was my lunchtime when he barged into my office and without any explanation dragged me out of there.

He looked troubled, pissed off too.

"Kian, please. You are scaring me now. Did I do something? Are you angry at me?"

He took us inside our room and pushed me against the door, trapping me in between his hands.

His eyes searched mine wildly. "Do you love me?"

"What? Of course, I do. Why are you asking that--"

"Or do you only love me because my Mom asked you to?"

"Sorry?" I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

His jaw clenched and he leaned closer, sounding desperate. "Did Mom ask you to love me before we got married?"

"Um...indirectly yes."

"So, do you only love me because of that?"

"Oh God. No. Kian, no." I placed my palm on his cheek. "I love you because I just do. I told you I have always had a crush on you. Then we got married and I just fell for you deeply. That's it."

"I told your mom that she can't force me to love you, if it happens it happens," I added. "You have to believe me."

He looked relatively relaxed as he muttered, "This is new to me, I don't know...I heard them talking and I thought..."

"That I only love you because she asked me to?"

He nodded.

"Oh, Kian." I pulled his face down, pecking his lips. "I love you. So much."

Then he whispered something I thought I wouldn't hear anytime soon. "I love you too, Irene."

Shocked, I leaned back looking for any sign of humour on his face but he looked dead serious as he gazed into my eyes affectionately.

I swallowed hard. "Don't...don't say it just for the sake of it."

"I mean it", he stated.

"Kian..." I was in disbelief, my insecurities coming back to haunt me.

Maybe he is just saying it out of pity?

He stepped back and started to unbutton his shirt.

I watched in confusion as he shrugged out of it, my eyes instantly drawn to his chest where a patch of skin looked reddish.

My eyes widened, butterflies exploding in my stomach when I realised what it was.

There, right above his heart, written in neat, cursive letters was my name, tiny, colourful flowers surrounding it.

He got a tattoo of my name. Right on his heart.

It wasn't there till this morning, we showered together, he must have gotten it after I left for work.

I lifted my hand, tentatively touching it, my eyes meeting his. "Why?"

"It was the only way to physically engrave you on my heart."

I stopped breathing, tears rushed into my eyes and I pressed my lips together to stop myself from crying.

He got a fucking tattoo of my name on his heart. It was permanent.

He cupped my face in between his palms, lifting it up. "I have loved you for long, Irene. I just didn't realise it. I told you I have difficulty--"

I didn't need to hear any more words of assurance. I believed him.

I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.

With a muffled groan, he responded back, bending down to pick me up and wrap my legs around his waist.

This time, a tear slipped down my cheeks, mixing with the kiss, turning it salty.

Kian pulled back, worried as he watched more tears streak down my eyes.

He started to carry me to the bed, wiping away my tears. "Why are you crying, baby?"

I buried my face in his neck as he lowered me on the bed. "I'm just happy and overwhelmed. I didn't expect you to tell me that. And you got a tattoo of my name, what the hell, Kian? Are you crazy?"

"Yes, you have driven me fucking crazy, wife. Tell me, do you know black magic?"

Chuckling, I lifted my head. "What?"

"I spent quite some time wondering if you knew black magic and through that you made me obsessed with you." He brushed away the hair from my face, his eyes filled with so much adoration and love.

"No, I don't know any black magic." I chuckled.

He hummed kissing my forehead.

"When did you get this?" I touched the tattoo.

"This morning. After dropping you off at work."

"Oh...I still can't believe this."

"I will make sure you do." He brought his lips back to mine.

Kian didn't let me go back to work that day.

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I haven't written the next chapter yet which is also the last chapter. So, there won't be an update at 6 pm, if I am done by that time (which seems difficult), I might update it.