I feel like this book is going down the mature lane and I don't know how to stop it😭

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Dwarfs were owned and traded amongst people of the court,

There were delivered as gifts to fellow kings and queens.

Most Dwarfs were treated with considerable respect,

And were blessed with high social positions.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

I clenched and unclenched my fingers. My entire body grew hot as my gaze strayed from the professor before me to the lone clock on the wall.

Two minutes to 4:30. Two minutes for the class to end.

I could barely focus as the second hand rotated with the pace of a turtle. Our teacher kept blabbering about a topic I clearly wasn't interested in. And from the looks of it, I wasn't the only one. Half the class was asleep while the rest stared blankly at Mrs. Brekley's odd posture.

She sat inappropriately on her desk with a pencil skirt that stretched over her thighs. Her hands moved animatedly as she explained the different laws governing our country.

Again...I wasn't interested.

My mind had drifted to a place completely different from school. Liam's words kept repeating in my head like a megaphone on autoplay, each sentence more prominent than the last.

I intend to make good on our deal.

My chest swelled with anticipation. Liam won two sections of the game, earning him two deals. The thought of him having the right to either take two pieces of my clothing or play dress up had me unnerved.

Will he use both deals at once?

I pressed my knees together at the possibility. If yes, then I'm in for some serious trouble. I tried to hide my anxiousness, especially with Dimitri sitting right beside me, It got worse as the clock ticked by. I jumped when the bell rang. People instantly pushed from their seats, eager to get back home and cool off. Mrs. Breckley packed her bag and left like the thought of being close to us was appalling. I stood up and grabbed my bag.

Dimitri sat back with arms crossed. He watched my jerky movements with a pout. "Care to tell me who got your knickers in a twist?"

I blushed. Damn him for having good observation skills.

A lie was at the tip of my tongue but I held it back. Keeping secrets from him won't do me any good. And besides, he had asked me to stick close to Liam. I bet he'll support this without so much of an argument. I took a deep breath. "I'm going out with Liam. It's a date."

He arched an eyebrow, a smile teasing his lips. "Okay...does Zion know about this?"

I packed my books and shouldered my bag. "No. But you can assure him that I'll be fine. And if he's already in a pissed-off mood, make sure to break the news only when I'm miles from here."

It was meant to be a joke, yet he pursed his lips without uttering another word. Dimitri has always been Loyal to Zion. But as of now, I couldn't figure out if he was also Team Liam. Something told me he was more inclined to support whatever decision I made.

"Hunter and I can go with you. The more the merrier. It'll be fun. We need the break anyway."

I gave a sad smile. Dimitri was worried, something I didn't take into account because I was so focused on Zion blowing a casket. But if he joins, Liam will be more closed off, making it hard for me to break through his barriers. I can't let that happen. Especially when it's one of the few moments we'll be alone together.

"That's very nice of you, but informing Liam when we are minutes away from leaving can be unsettling. It'll be better if we go as planned. Maybe you could join sometime in the future."

Dimitri was about to argue but I silenced him with a kiss on his forehead. He froze and I took that opportunity to speed-walk out of the class.

"We'll be fine!" I called back.

Dimitri snapped out of his trance and chuckled, leaning back in his seat. His eyes flickered purple for a moment before settling back to a natural brown. Dionysus had definitely seen that.

I trudged out the door and immediately got swarmed by the crowd. I jostled through, silently praying I didn't bump into a certain triplet with lightning abilities. If that happens, I won't be leaving here anytime soon. Thankfully, I made it to the parking lot without so much of a fuss. My hands were sweaty as I gripped my bag tightly over one shoulder and continued on my way.

The sun was setting as a cold breeze drifted over my skin, signaling the incoming night. The clouds were dipped in orange and pink -- a wonderful sight indeed. Everything was going as planned. I walked passed a line of cars, wondering where exactly Liam wanted us to meet. Turns out, he didn't specify.

Two men in suits with dark shades stood at the center of the parking lot. One held a finger to his ear like he was speaking through a communication device. The other bouncer glanced around like he was lost. After noticing me, he elbowed his partner. I tensed as their focus honed on my stature. Their forms flickered, the phantom ability peeling away to reveal three pairs of arms lining their sides.

Bouncers...from Star-crossed inc.

They stomped closer with so much confidence and charisma that I had to stand and watch. That soon ended when the confused bouncer from before stumbled a step and fell head-first into a nearby metallic pole. The impact rang out like a school bell. I winced as it caught the attention of nearby students. He quickly recovered, jerking back on his feet and dusting his clothes. His companion smacked his head with a snarl.

"Forgive them. They are new recruits." A small voice said from beside me.

I squeaked and turned, only to meet empty air.

"Down here." I looked down to see a dwarf also laced in a suit and tie. His ears were pointy with a smart goatee lining his lower jaw. He adjusted his tie like it was suffocating him. "Hello, Penny."

My eyes lit up. "Trent!"

We had met a few times at Star-crossed inc, barely sharing a few words. I couldn't blame him since Eros kept him busy most of the time. Being Eros' assistant meant you get to do all the hard work. I had the urge to hug him but decided against it. That'll be awkward.

The bouncers finally reached us with indifference plastered on their faces. You would've thought the accident never happened if not for the bruise forming on the second bouncer's forehead.

"Did Liam send you here?" I asked no one in particular.

Trent made a bow, his face was also stoic and impassive. "Yes. I have been asked to escort you to your vehicle. Come now, there is no time to waste."

He gripped my fingers with his tiny hands and led me to the farthest part of the parking lot. I had to bend a bit to keep up with his stride. Could people see him?

Based on how everyone minded their business, I guess not. We stopped by a sleek black Range Rover. My lips parted at the intricate design. It could be the latest model and I wouldn't be surprised. Unfortunately, I wasn't into cars. But being so close to it left me embarrassed. I looked out of place, especially with the three men beside me. Having a pair of jeans with a hoodie made it worse.

Trent folded his hands behind him. "Sadly, this is where I take my leave. It was a pleasure to be your escort. Don't fret, Mr. Rogers will be in soon--"

A ringtone chimed through the air and the dwarf quickly brought out a phone from his little pocket. He stared at the lock screen and grimaced before picking it up. "Yes, Sir--"

"Trent! Where the heck are you? My pedicure isn't going to start itself."

It didn't take a miracle to guess who was on the other side of the call. Trent still had his fixed face on, like a butler who had witnessed these situations on many occasions. "Sorry sir, I had to attend to Mr. Rogers--"

"Liam can very well take care of himself and you know it. Now get back here, I can't find my robe." Eros' voice looked rugged with annoyance. It's baffling how Trent's absence, for even a second, could cause so much chaos. He could very much be the one holding Star-crossed inc. from the shadows.

"Did you check the sofa?"

"It's not...oh, it's here. Now I can't find my flip-flops!"

The dwarf covered the phone speaker with his hand and whispered. "Excuse me, but I must go."

I nodded in understanding before he strolled down the parking lot, on little feet, to another car guarded by even more bouncers. I turned to the remaining men. They stared warily over my shoulder.

Someone was behind me.

"Eros is more of a lost puppy whenever Trent isn't around." A dark deep chuckle whispered over my ear.

I smiled at the words. The two bouncers made a waist-deep bow. "Which car would you be using, sir?"

Liam's hand trailed over the curve of my waist, his chest lightly touched my back. "Where's the Corolla?"

They both stiffened. "We didn't bring it. We thought you would want to impress the lady so we brought the Range Rover instead."

My cheeks heated up. Damn.

If they know about the date, there's a possibility Trent knows it too. And if Trent is aware, Eros is bound to find out. I've always wondered why Liam never bothered to have an assistant. Not to mention he doesn't involve himself in the affairs surrounding Star-crossed inc. When he first arrived at school, he had brought a beat-up Ford fusion car. It almost seemed like he was desperate to blend in -- to feel normal.

Sadness crept up my chest at the thought. Liam stretched out a hand and the bouncer with the bump on his forehead reached into his pocket. He fished out a car key, fumbling a bit before sliding it into Liam's waiting palm.

The sin arched an eyebrow. "You're new recruits, aren't you?"

One of them responded with a nervous 'yes sir.'

Liam didn't waste time debating on it. He dismissed them and they felt more than happy to leave. It was easy to understand the situation. Messing up in front of your new boss doesn't paint a good picture.

As soon as they were gone, I faced him, not expecting to find what I saw. My mouth ran dry at his clothing. He was dressed in all black. A button-down shirt stretched over his broad chest with sleeves folded at the elbows. A few buttons were open, revealing a teasing view of his chest. It complemented his dark pressed-down pants, which highlighted his lower build, before ending in polished shoes.

It was the first time seeing Liam in official attire. He matched the image designated to owners of a multimillion-dollar company. Taking his role as the co-founder of star-crossed inc. will suit him. He looked like a CEO -- a hot CEO.

"Turns out, formalities aren't my thing." Liam adjusted his cuffs, allowing a glimpse of his veined forearm. His cat eyes flicked to me and I tried to suppress a sheepish smile.

"Really? You're doing a pretty good job at it." If anything, I should be the one feeling awkward. I was barely prepared for the date.

Liam noticed my distressed mood. "Don't worry about the dress. Leave it to me."

My heart stuttered, knowing he was the one going to pick my clothes. He opened the car door and gestured for me to enter. I climbed in, settling against the soft plushy seat. The interior had the scent of a brand-new car. It was so relaxing that I nearly wanted to curl up and sleep.

Liam slid into the driver's seat. His rosy scent invaded the surrounding space and I felt my mark buzz to life, urging my already-present desire to touch him.

I need to distract myself.

While Liam made himself comfortable, I glanced through the tinted window. Like a ghost, Phyllis stood at a far distance. Her eyes never strayed from mine as students passed by, completely oblivious.

How could she see me?

She had a band-aid patch on her forehead, a sign that she had been to the infirmary. It wasn't advisable for her to be walking about, especially with that head injury. Was she so determined to have her Twilight moment?

I won't allow her to ruin the rest of my day. The little knowledge I had of Liam and his regular life was pitiful. Hopefully, that will all change after tonight.

"You've Zoned out again." I turned to find him watching me with an amused smile.

How come he gets to have sexy cat eyes? It wasn't fair!

I cleared my throat. "Just wondering... where will I change clothes? Are we going to Star-crossed inc?"

Liam casually leaned back in his seat while tapping a finger idly on the steering wheel. "We don't need to go to Star-crossed inc...or a boutique."

I arched an eyebrow. That was completely unexpected. "What do you mean by that?"

He chewed his bottom lip like he was debating whether to tell me or not. "Remember when I said I could manipulate anything based on lustful thoughts?"

When it finally clicked, my jaw dropped. "You mean you're just going to conjure a dress out of your own imagination?"

He pulled a teasing grin. "Not my imagination...yours. I get to dress you up, remember? And right now, I want a dress molded out of your deepest darkest most lustful thoughts."

My breath grew shallow. "But I don't have any lustful thoughts."

"Want me to prove you wrong?" I hesitated before nodding. He rose a palm to my cheek, his fingers pressed against my temple before whispering, "Close your eyes."

I did, feeling his ability sift through my memories, searching until it pulled out a picture from a buried consciousness. It was a forgotten memory. I had fantasized about wearing a daring dress when I was younger -- one that caught the eyes of many. But I was too much of a coward to wear that in real life.

My heart thumped in anticipation, feeling my clothes writhed against my body, dissolving into a thin material. My breath caught as cold air wafted over my skin. Liam's hand tensed against my cheek and I reluctantly opened my eyes.

A tiny squeak escaped as I glanced at the red dress adorning my figure. It had barely covered enough skin. Two red pieces of the satin material stretched over my naked breast. They wrapped around my neck in a slender string, tied so intricately that the right pull could release it.

The straps continued downwards to a golden ring just below my navel. The material continued, falling between my thighs and nearly reaching my ankles. My behind was covered in numerous layers of soft silk, making it comfortable to sit in. The layers of fabric stretched over my hips, fixing securely to the ring at the front.

The dress showed a greater part of my legs and thighs while leaving the sides of my breast, and my entire back, bare. A thigh chain adorned my left leg with a dark ruby that glittered in the night. Another set of chains dipped between my breasts, making it even more prominent. My hair was pulled up into a bun, showcasing my slender neck while hinting more at the jewelry.

All this from a mere thought? At that moment, I wanted to disappear into my seat.

"You look astounding," Liam murmured like he was in a trance. He rubbed my cheek with a thumb, eyes fixated on my lips. I had light makeup on, which was mind-blowing.

His delicate actions made my heart speed up. The jewels clinked every time I breathed a little too deep. My entire body grew hot, and the mark on my wrist hummed a calming effect. With every breath, I became aware of my nipples as they rubbed against the silk material.

Maybe I wanted Liam way more than I realized.

Breaking the tension, Liam hesitantly pulled away. His jaw ticked as he settled back in his seat and started the engine. Soft music blurred from the speakers. I turned back to Phyllis, expecting to see her.

She was gone.

I released a sigh as the car smoothly veered through the gate and out of the school grounds.

Liam's posture was relaxed as he drove. His hands turned the steering wheel every few seconds. Yet it couldn't hide the claws that gradually tore through the tip of his fingers. Scaly fragments peppered his forearm, a sign he was battling with his sin.

Liam had agreed to pick my clothes. But judging from the situation, it seemed to have backfired.

This Chapter was a bit long. I just hope it didn't bore you out at some point, lol💜💜💜

I also want to know if you're okay with the long chapter. It currently has about 2957 words.

And if you want me to shorten it, please let me know.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share. Lots of love from your wannabe author 💜💜💜