VERENA

"It's about having basic manners," Zahria grumbled. "I didn't need the money, all I wanted was a simple apology. How hard was it?"

Even though they only met twice, Zahria had developed a serious aversion to Arien.

"He is...different." I tried defending him after Asael gave me more hints about what's exactly wrong with him.

"I don't care. Don't mention him ever again now."

I sighed. "As you say, ma'am."

A loud 'meow' interrupted our conversation and we both looked down at the small, brown cat that roams AU, whom I have named Bria.

I crouched down on the ground, gently petting her. "Hey, baby. Where were you these days?"

In response, I got an even louder 'meow' as she rubbed her head against my leg affectionately.

"Sorry," I muttered. "I don't have any snacks for you."

Zahria stayed away since she has allergies to cats which was the only reason I hadn't adopted Bria yet.

"I am going for my class, okay?" She called out.

"Okay! See you back at the dorm."

I heard her say bye before she left. Bria kept on nudging my leg and sniffing my hands expecting a snack like I usually give her.

I felt bad for her as she looked at me so hopefully with her big, green eyes, probably hungry.

I glanced at my wrist watch, knowing my class starts soon.

"I am sorry", I whispered to her. "I really don't have anything."

She kept meowing making me feel even guilty.

Not left with any option, I did the first thing that came to my mind. I pulled out my phone and called Asael.

He picked up on the third ring, his deep voice making me smile. "Yes, love?"

"I need your help."

"What did you do? You better be safe, Verena."

I groaned. "Why did you assume that I did something? I am not that mischievous."

He sounded relaxed. "Okay. What happened?"

"Well, I am going to be late for my class if I stay back so I want you to feed Bria for the time being."

"Who the hell is Bria and why should I feed her?"

"She is a cat, Asael. She roams on the campus and I usually feed her but I don't have anything right now and she looks hungry. Can I drop her outside your office building so you can feed her, please?"

"The things I do for you." He mumbled to himself. "Fine. Drop her."

"Thank you!" I exclaimed as I hung up the call.

His office building was nearby so I quickly picked up Bria in my arms and carried her towards his office.

A minute later, I stopped outside the building, looking around to make sure no one was there and waited for Asael to arrive.

Crouching down, I placed her on the ground, running my fingers over her head. "You stay here and Asael will take care of you, hmm?"

She meowed, still expecting me to feed her.

The moment I heard Asael climbing down the stairs, I stepped away only for her to start following me.

"No, stay there." I pointed behind her. "He will give you food. Go."

Huffing, I walked back towards the building and she followed me.

I felt relieved when Asael appeared with a bowl of milk in his hand which he placed on the ground, clicking his tongue loudly which caught Bria's attention.

She glanced at him and then at the bowl, meowing happily as she dashed over to it, hungrily licking the milk.

Asael watched her while I watched him.

He lifted his eyes to me, smiling softly. "Go. I'll handle her."

"Thank you." I grinned.

Our fingers brushed together in a subtle manner, sparks rushing through my body from that simple touch.

We gave each other a long look full of longing and passion before I walked away.

As I rounded the corner, I almost bumped into someone.

"Sorry--" I stopped abruptly when I noticed who it was.

Luce. AKA the guy who tried to ask me out and was thrown out of the class by Asael later.

He didn't attend his classes anymore and I also remember hearing his arm fractured since he was wearing a crutch some time back which looked healed now.

He watched me with a strange look and then without another word, he left.

He couldn't have seen us both together, did he?

And it's not like we were being obvious. Whatever it was, I didn't have a good feeling about it.

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After a long day, I just wanted to relax but I needed to study for the finals too so I grabbed my books and asked my driver to take me to Asael's home.

Since I was going to visit him, he had left his office early today as he told me that through the messages.

I am not sure if I will be able to study properly in his presence especially when I could do anything with him.

As I stepped out of the elevator, entering his penthouse, I heard a familiar 'meow' and I watched in shock as Bria strolled out of the hallway, coming towards me and rubbing her head against my leg.

"Bria? You are here?"

"I assumed you would enjoy her presence, hopefully not as much as mine." A deeper voice answered as Asael walked towards us, with his hands stuffed inside his sweatpants.

I dropped my bag on the floor and rushed over to him, hugging him tightly. "You are willing to adopt her?"

He cradled my head, tangling his fingers in my hair. "As long as it makes you happy."

God, I love this man.

Pulling back from the hug, I told him, "Pick me up, please."

Without any questions, he picked me up in his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.

Not wasting a single second, I started to plant kisses all over his face. His forehead, nose, mouth, cheeks and wherever my mouth landed. I even removed his spectacles so I could kiss his eyes.

"If this is the treatment I get for adopting her then let me adopt a few more." He chuckled.

I placed a loud, wet kiss on his mouth. "You are the best. I always wanted to adopt her but I couldn't because Zahria has an allergy."

He brushed our noses together. "That's good. Now you have one more reason to move in with me after graduation."

"I am moving in with you?"

"As soon as you graduate. I don't want to wait a second longer."

"Bribing me with a cat. I see, very creative." I teased.

He smacked my ass before putting me down on the floor, kissing my forehead. "Keep teasing me and I won't give you a single orgasm tonight."

"Cruel." I bent down and picked Bria in my arms. "My baby is better than you."

"Put the cat down, Ver." He gruffed, not sounding happy at all.

"Why?"

"I need your attention. More than her." He was glaring at the cat in my arms as if he had some personal grudge against her.

"Nope. My baby needs more attention." I snuggled my face into her fur, holding her tightly.

"She is not your baby. Put her down."

I pouted at him. "Are you jealous of a cat, Mr Alderidge? Do you want me to call you baby too?"

"Put her down and I will tell you."

Before I could put her down, she jumped off my arms herself, strutting away.

Asael took that opportunity to lift me up in his arms in bridal style, carrying me over to his room.

"Aww, I need my baby," I said, just to mess with him. I needed him more though.

"Don't worry." He spoke in a hoarse voice, sounding very serious  "I'll put one in you."

It was shameful how I whimpered at that, the image his words made in my mind made my heart race faster.

He placed me down on his bed, climbing over me, his gaze dark as he trailed his knuckles down my cheek. "You would like that, wouldn't you, Verena?"

Licking my lips, I spoke in a low, childish voice, "Yes...but I am only twenty-two..."

His palm slipped inside my shirt, caressing my belly. "Mhmm." He brushed our lips together. "Did you take a morning-after pill earlier?"

"Yeah..." I whispered. "I started on birth control too."

"That's unfortunate. But no problem. We have all the time in the world to make babies. Have our own family."

Not able to wait any longer, I cupped the back of his neck, pulling his head down. "Kiss me."

Our lips met desperately as our hands roamed each other's bodies, pushing off the layers of clothes between us.

A few minutes later when he was done licking my pussy and making me cry his name, he entered me, slowly.

Our fingers intertwined, foreheads pressed together, the look in his eyes was so tender.

Unlike the past few days when he fucked me hard enough to make the bed rock, he was gentle.

The slow pace was killing me but at the same time, it was so heavenly especially when paired with the way he held eye contact with me.

This wasn't just sex.

He was making love to me.