ARIEN

A WEEK LATER...

There was radio silence from Asael and Elmer. It won't be long before Asael is here.

I won't let him take her away from me. No, he can't. She is mine. She is not going anywhere.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

Last week, seeing the hickey I left on her neck made me feel so fucking possessive. I wanted to put my mark all over her, and cover her body with it.

And her laughter...God damn.

I hit the stop button on the treadmill and got off it, slumping down on the floor as I pulled out my phone.

I don't even remember the amount of times I have opened my gallery just to see her picture.

My fingers holding her chin, eyes shut tightly, lips in an angry pout, crosses made out of band-aids on her forehead and cheeks. Fucking adorable.

I felt so lighthearted, so damn happy and seeing the caught off guard expression on her face made me realise that I was fucking smiling. A genuine smile.

When was the last time I smiled like that? More than a decade back.

She has tried to avoid me since. Trying to stay in her room most of the time, only coming out to cook after making sure I was not in sight.

There are cameras all over the house, she can't really hide from me but I let her have some peace for a week.

But I had enough now, I desperately needed to see her in person.

After taking a quick shower to wash away the sweat, I limped my way upstairs.

Her room was empty but the door to the bathroom was ajar.

Peeking inside, I found her standing in front of the mirror, frowning as she ran her fingers down her hair and tilted her head to take a look at the back of her hair in the mirror.

She was startled as I stepped inside, shaking her head when she realised it was me. "There's something called privacy you know."

I walked closer to her, coming to stand behind her as I murmured, "What are you doing?"

She sighed, glancing back into the mirror. "I need a haircut. I usually keep my hair shoulder length but ever since you made me your...guest", she said sharply, watching me through the mirror, "I couldn't get one."

I looked down at her hair which had grown an inch or two below her shoulder level but in my opinion it looked almost the same.

Unconsciously, I stroked the back of her hair, watching my fingers glide through it. Soft and smooth. "I like it."

Her eyes met mine in the mirror, a tint of pink coating her cheeks as I continued to stroke her hair.

Clearing my throat, I stepped back before I could do something I would regret.

She snapped out of the daze and looked away, grabbing a hairbrush and brushing her hair and pulling it into a low ponytail. "I need a haircut badly. If only you weren't so damn stubborn and kept me here." She blew out a breath, mumbling to herself.

Ria wants a haircut.

Maybe I can do something about it.

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.
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"Where are you taking me?" She asked as I flew the helicopter over to Crestwood.

She gazed out of the window and calmed down a bit when she noticed the Island below her while I prepared to land the helicopter.

"Why are we here though? You really can't be that generous all of a sudden that you decided to bring me out."

A car was already waiting for us near the helipad as I landed the helicopter and got out.

She followed after me, still slightly confused as I gestured for her to sit inside the car.

The car ride was filled with her asking again and again where we were going only for her to shut up when the car came to a halt near a salon ten minutes later.

"Oh." That's all she could manage when I got out, rounded the car and pulled open her door.

Placing my palm against her lower back, I led her inside the salon which was empty except the staff on my request.

The staff greeted us--which I made sure was mainly consisted of women--and led Zahria to a hairdressing chair.

Zahria threw a look at me over her shoulder, eyes filled with warmth and surprise.

She only looked away when the lady asked her what kind of a haircut she wanted.

I took a seat in the chair beside her to keep an eye on her.

Time ticked away and Ria looked satisfied as the hairdresser trimmed her hair, her eyes flickering to me from time to time.

As her haircut was finished and her hair was being blow dried, Zahria's eyes once again met mine and she offered me a small, grateful smile.

This woman is going to be my death one day for sure. I don't know what tricks she has played on me to make me like this but I am going find about it soon.

I sat up straight the moment Zahria whispered something into the lady's ear and she nodded in response and gestured for Ria to get up.

I got off the chair and blocked that woman's way just as Zahria got up to follow her. "Where are you taking her?"

The woman looked uncomfortable and glanced at Zahria who rolled her eyes.

"He tends to be a little over dramatic", she told the lady and walked over to me.

Taking my hand in hers, she dragged me away to the corner of the room. "Since you brought me here, I am going to take full advantage of it and get waxed so please sit down quietly."

"Why can't you do it here?"

She looked annoyed and so done with me. "It's a brazillian wax, Arien. I need privacy for that."

When I didn't say anything, she assumed I understood and was about to leave but I grabbed her wrist, pulled her back and whispered in her ear, "What's a Brazilian wax?"

She blinked at me slowly before a flirtatious smile spread over her lips and clutching my shirt, she pulled me down until her lips brushed my ear. "The one where my pussy is going to be waxed so it's smooth and more pleasurable to touch myself later."

Pulling back, she shot me a wink and followed the woman into a room leaving me fucking hard.

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.
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Today was uneventful which I was grateful for after yesterday's trip to Crestwood where a simple sentence from Zahria left me fucking horny.

I wanted nothing more than to rip off her panties on the ride back and demand her to show me her waxed pussy.

I rubbed the heel of my palm against my cock which was once again getting hard and forced myself to focus my attention on the cricket match instead.

I will not think of her anymore.

I won't allow her to have such control over me.

"Arien?" Her soft voice called making me internally groan.

So much for not thinking of her.

"What?" I grunted, keeping my eyes on the TV.

"I found this in the storeroom. Is this yours?"

I finally turned my head sideways to look at her, my body freezing when I saw what she held in her hands.

My cricket bat. My favourite cricket bat.

I had left it here in the storeroom with the hope of not seeing it ever again but Zahria had other plans.

She was unaware of the storm brewing inside me as she inspected it, looking excited for some reason.

What do you want to be in the future?
The best cricketer in the world!

I will be the future of England cricket.

The number-one batsman across all formats.

Everything's gone.

Dreams shattered.

Useless.

No more cricket.

Nothing.

"Do you have a cricket ball here too--Arien?"

Everything's gone.

"Arien?"

My family dead.

"Arien?"

Everything's--

A warm hand cupped my cheek, caressing it. "Arien."

I gasped loudly as if coming up from underwater, breathing loudly as my vision cleared, Zahria's face filled with concern hovered over mine.

"Are you having a panic attack?" She asked, sounding worried as she looked around. "Do you need water? Anything else? I don't know what to do, I have never--"

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. "I'm okay." I am glad I didn't hurt her, it's like a miracle.

"What happened?" She inquired in a gentle tone, a minute later as I opened my eyes.

I shook my head, swallowing. "Nothing."

Her eyes followed me as I got up, she looked unsure. "Are you sure? It has happened before too."

I hummed in response and glanced down at the bat which was now lying on the floor.

The rubber around its handle which was once dark blue was now worn out and lost its colour.

There were scratches all over it but other than that, it was okay.

No matter how many times I told Asael to throw it away, he didn't.

"There must be some cricket balls too in the storeroom", I spoke, trying to distract her.

"Really? I am getting bored, maybe we can play some cricket." She suggested, sounding happy.

Asael tried to make me play cricket once or twice but just at the mention of it, I started to have my episodes hence, he stopped.

But seeing how happy and excited she looked, I couldn't say no.

Nodding jerkily, I went in the direction of the storeroom with her following behind me.

She pointed to the box where she found the bat and started to search for the cricket balls.

I looked around and my eyes landed on a huge white box which was covered in dust and I remembered it from my childhood when I used to store almost everything in there.

I pulled it out from under the table and opened it and sure enough, there were a few leather and practicing balls in there.

"Here." I picked one of the practising balls and held it to her.

She smiled widely and took it from me and grabbing my hand, dragged me out to the living room.

She thrust the ball in my hand and picked up the bat. "You bowl and I will bat, okay?"

She moved a few feet away from me and held the bat as clumsily and in the worst way possible just like every person does when playing for the first time.

She bent at her waist, spread her legs apart and extended the bat forward, in the middle of her legs.

She looked so determined when she looked at me, waiting for me to bowl.

I shook my head. "That's not how--" A chuckle left my mouth at how ridiculous and fucking cute she looked.

She flushed. "Stop laughing at me!"

When I continued laughing, her lower lip protruded out into a pout, nose scrunching up and she glared at me. "I have never played before, okay? Stop being an asshole and teach me instead."

I sobered at that. The thought of holding a bat again...

She marched to me and shoved the bat against my chest. "You show me first."

I let the ball fall on the floor and stared at the bat for a long moment.

"Come on", she urged.

A lump formed in my throat and I slowly reached out my right hand to grab the handle.

I gritted my teeth as my fingers wrapped around its handle.

She watched me carefully so I blinked away the tears and grabbed the handle with both my hands making her step back.

With a heavy heart, I turned the bat around to hold it properly, my fingers trembling around it, my grip loose.

I can do this.

I bent my knees slightly, wincing softly at the pain in my right knee but before I could think about it much, my muscle memory clicked in and I took my stance.

I let out a shaky breath. I can do this.

"Oh, I see." Zahria's voice made me look up at her as she watched me curiously, taking in my stance.

I straightened up and handed the bat back to her. "Y-yeah."

"That's easy." She walked back to where she was standing initially and once again took her position but ended up holding the bat the same way.

"No. You are doing it wrong."

"Like this..." I muttered as I stood directly behind her, bending over so she was tucked under me, my hand coming around to hold the handle of the bat.

Her grip loosened and she shivered as I placed her palms on the handle correctly.

"You don't have to hold the bat in the middle of your legs like this", I told her gently, whispering against her ear, ignoring how her every curve moulded against mine perfectly.

I turned the bat so that it was extended towards the back instead. "This is the correct way, okay?"

She nodded and I proceeded to explain her other things.

Placing my left leg under hers, I nudged it. "If you want to play a straight drive, put this forward."

She did as I said, bending her knee slightly, mimicking my movements.

"And then you bring the bat forward like this..."

She followed me correctly making me whisper my approval, "Good girl."

I noticed how she breathed heavily. Not able to help, I nuzzled my nose under her ear, eyes closing as I breathed in her comforting smell.

"You make me do things I never thought I would do." I let my lips graze the skin under her ear.

"H-huh?"

There were a lot of things I wanted to do to her but I forced myself not to as I stepped back. "That's enough for today."

She looked confused and flustered as I walked away from there.

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For those who have never seen a cricket match, this is how you are supposed to hold a cricket bat. I am not sure if I was able to describe it correctly in words so here's a picture: