• Ezlyn •

"Where were you?!" I cried in relief. "I was so worried."

"Went for a drive." He answered dryly and moving past me, sat down on the couch and leaned back. "Why do you care?"

"Why do I care? Arsenio, I care about you. Why are you acting like that?"

He fixed me with cold stare. "You compared me to a fucking gangleader saying that he was there for you unlike me. I do agree that I should have searched for you but at the same time it was your mistake too, you never came to me. You never told me about your pregnancy!"

"I was scared! I thought you will ask me to abort it, Arsenio and I wanted that baby. You were always the playboy type how was I supposed to know that you will turn into a doting father?"

"Yet that didn't stop you from handing Izan over to me? You never once thought 'what if he gives him away to the foster system?'"

"I wasn't thinking properly. Please." My voice turned down.

He let out a deep sigh and pinched his forehead. "It's fine." He mumbled and bent down to take off his shoes.

"But where were you? Why the hell were you not picking up my calls? I was so scared!"

"There was no need of worrying so much, Ezlyn." His tone still sounded off.

"No need? Arsenio, I was worried shit about you and you are saying there was no need? You could have at least picked up my calls at the very least."

"I thought something happened to you, I can't lose you, Arsenio." I continued.

"Stop overreacting." He snapped.

I sucked in a sharp breath at his words and the regret was written all over his face.

"Fuck." He cursed. "Fuck. I didn't mean that. Fuck."

Tears pricked at the back of my eyes and I took a step back only to pause when he called, "I didn't mean that, I am sorry. Come back here, Ezlyn."

I decided to leave anyway but Arsenio ordered, "Ezlyn, come here."

I contemplated before walking to him and grabbing my forearm, he pulled me down onto his lap so that I was sitting sideways.

He brushed away the hair from my forehead and spoke in a soft tone, "I didn't mean to worry you, my little cupcake. I just went on a long drive to clear my head. I am sorry for not picking up your calls. Also, I realised that I should have searched for you, I should have made sure you were alright. I am sorry, Ezlyn."

"It's okay." I mumbled. "Don't do that again. When...mom and dad died, that day they were very late and I called them many times but they didn't pick up, what I didn't know that they were already dead and I was hoping for them to return home."

"Shit, sweetheart. I didn't mean to trigger that memory. I would never do this again, I promise."

"You are too precious to me, Nio. You helped me out of the darkest period of my life and I can't imagine my life without you." I confessed. I even wanted to add that how much I loved him but held back.

"You are precious to me too, sweetheart." He smiled softly and brushed a kiss to my cheek.

I didn't need a kiss to my cheeks, I needed a proper kiss from him but I don't know why even after we have done so many intimate and sexual things, he never kissed me.

We fell into a comfortable silence and my eyes flickered down to his lips and they trailed down to his throat where his adam's apple was quite prominent and for the past few days I have been wondering what it would feel like to kiss it.

Taking matters into my hand, I leaned down and placed a open mouthed kiss right over his adam's apple and his body tensed.

When I stared at him, licking my lips, he was looking at me with surprise. "What was that--"

I didn't let him finish and before I could lose my confidence, I grazed the corner of his mouth with my lips rendering him speechless.

I waited for his reaction and when he continued to stare at me blankly, I brushed another kiss, this time over his lips, just a feathery touch.

This time I got a reaction out of him, the heat in his gaze intensified and he whispered huskily, "You call that a kiss?"

Determined to show him that I knew how to kiss, I pressed my lips to his.

He was the first one to tilt his head and part his mouth and capture my lips between his lips firmly.

Tingles shot through my body and and I wrapped an arm around his neck kissing him back.

With a groan he flipped us over so that I was lying on the couch with him over me, our lips still attached together.

My fingers slipped into his hair and I tugged at it and parted my mouth even more so that he could slide his tongue inside my mouth.

He tasted sweet and with our mouths sealed together I could only think about how much I loved this man.

He moaned softly into the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine sensually. Our kiss which started slow grew more and more hungry with every passing second.

"Nio..." I whimpered as he bit my lower lip and then sucked it desperately.

"You drive me fucking insane, Ezlyn." He groaned, shoving his tongue back inside my mouth.

When oxygen became a necessity only then did he pull back and rested his forehead on mine, both of us panting.

"Why did you not kiss me before this?" I asked, running my fingers through his hair.

He pecked my swollen mouth. "Because I wasn't sure if one kiss would be enough."

I swooned a little and then caught myself. "So, do you want more now?" I teased.

He smirked slightly and spreading my legs, he wrapped them around his waist and pressed his hips against mine, his arousal digging against the right point eliciting a breathy moan from me.

"I want so much more, Ez. I want to devour you whole, mind, body and soul until I am the only man you could ever think of." He rocked his hips making my back arch.

I was going to tell him that I was all his and he could consume me in any way he wanted to but I felt a sneeze coming up, so to make sure I don't sneeze right at his face, I tilted my head and sneezed in the ugliest way possible.

And then I sneezed again.

And again.

Chuckling, Arsenio got off me and pulled me up straight as I continued to sneeze for three more times.

He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped away my running nose without any indication of being grossed out.

"Sorry." I mumbled feeling embarassed after I ruined such a perfect moment.

"It's okay, sweetheart. But that's why I was telling you to not have any ice cream."

"No regrets though." I sneezed loudly immediately after that and smiled at him sheepishly.

"Let's get you to bed, my little cupcake."

A pout instantly formed on my lips. "I thought we were going to..."

"Have sex? Not when you are sick."

"I am completely fine! It's just some sneezes, that's it."

"A tempting offer, sweetheart." He kissed my forehead. "But no. I want you to be fully well when I finally claim you."

He picked me up in his arms and carried me upstairs to our bedroom and carefully laid me down on the bed.

"Maybe you don't want me..." I mumbled in a disappointed tone.

"Not want you? That would be the biggest lie of the year. You have no idea how often I have jerked off to the thought of you. This past one month has been a torture for me, Ezlyn."

I blushed on hearing his words and my insecurities vanished away as quickly as they came.

He went inside the bathroom to freshen up and joined me a few minutes later, pulling me closer until our faces were inches apart.

His palm cradled my cheek and he kissed me tenderly and my heart by that time was just begging me to confess my feelings to him. To tell him how much I loved him. I think I have been in love with him ever since that night.

But it wasn't the right time, I wanted to take things slow even though I was half sure that he did love me back.

He whispered goodnight into the kiss and I whispered it back but none of us were willingly to end the kiss.

"Like this we might never go to sleep." He said, kissing me passionately.

"Sounds good to me." I murmured back

"You taste as good as I remember."

I pulled back to ask, "You remember that night?"

"Some parts of it."

He continued to say, "Were you really a virgin, Ez?"

"Yes."

"How the hell is that possible? You remained a virgin for twenty seven years?"

"I didn't find anyone worthy enough to give my virginity to." I admitted, caressing his cheek.

"And I am worthy enough?"

"You are worth everything, Nio."

And then we kissed a little more.

Chapter completion on: 19/1/23
Published on: 28/1/23