~Alaya
There’s no real way to describe how much fear washed over me at that moment.
He doesn’t seem at all angry, which is the surprising part. In fact, he only looks amused, which is probably directed at the look on my face right now. I’m mortified. In reality, I’m just wondering how he figured out I was in his room on the first place.
“I don’t understand,” I say carefully, although I most definitely do, and he knows that. For now, I’ll feign innocence in hope my brain will be able to come up with some excuse to why I was in there.
Sinful raises an eyebrow, clearly catching on to the ruse I’m trying to pull. Evidently, he’s not falling for it.
“I thought that perhaps it would be fitting if I came into your room, since you decided to go into mine,” Sinful continues, not moving an inch from where he sits on the edge of the bed. I feel myself visibly pale, as my mind scrambles to find an answer to my current predicament, wishing I had been caught by anyone but one of the most feared males in the world.
Finally, as if a spark went off in my mind, I suddenly thought of an viable excuse.
“Asher told me about your piano… I love music, so I decided to take a look,” I tell him, trying to come off as genuine. At least I can kind of play, which back up my story. “I’m sorry I went up there without asking, I was just…”
I break off, not knowing how to finish my sentence.
Sinful considers that for a moment, before he speaks again. “Shy?”
“I’ve just been feeling a little lost here, since you and Asher often go out for business, and I’m left here with nothing to do,” I tell him. At least that’s the honest truth. “When Asher admitted to hearing you play at night, I couldn’t help myself… I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he says softly, with a shake of his head. In one swift motion, he stands. He seems to be able to make such movements in a fluid way, that has me slightly envious.
The way he stands there, staring at me, strips me down. Is he serious not getting mad?
“You don’t mind?”
“No, if you agree come play something for me. The business I attended to earlier has drained a lot of my energy, and it would be nice to hear my piano in use by someone who isn’t me. That is, if you don’t mind?”
Of course I mind. I haven’t played in quite some time, however, I’m not about to tell him that. It seems as though I have little choice on whether I go up to the room with him or not. After he figured out that I had gone up to the room, I’m walking on eggshells, the plan Asher and I have close to being revealed.
“Okay,” I breathe reluctantly, although I don’t let it show. “I’ll play something for you, even though I’m not all that great if I’m perfectly honest.”
“I’m not a harsh judge,” Sinful reassures me.
As we make our way back up to the room, I have to wonder how well Sinful plays himself, or even why he has such an interest in it. Instead of seeming too curious, I don’t say a word. It’s best I continue to seem like I’m hardly interested in him, so he doesn’t catch on to my true intentions. I’m suddenly glad Asher hasn’t told me the whole plan, so I won’t be tempted to blurt it all out to him.
He leads the way first into his room. There’s a whole new air around now that I’m not sneaking around; now it’s just me trying my best to impress him.
He nods to the piano, those turquoise blue eyes that won’t be there tomorrow glow beautifully. With a faint, fabricated smile on my face, I twist around facing the now threatening instrument. As I take my seat carefully before it, placing the tips of my fingers against the keys, I try to bring myself back to the time where playing this was second nature.
While at the same time, trying to ignore Sinful right behind me.
As I begin to play, I wonder where I’m pulling this random melody from. It doesn’t sound too bad, which is the surprising part, and so far, Sinful isn’t making any move to stop me. So I’m the halo of the moonlight outside, I continue to play until I feel Sinful’s hand on my shoulder.
I flinch slightly, right away from the keys. His hand is strangely warm against my skin. Being from the Desire Pack, I’m used to males being reluctant to touch females, to reduce the risk of finding their mate, especially at a young age. I try my best not to move from then on.
Asher better be doing something productive right now…
“You play beautifully,” he comments gently, not removing his hand from my shoulder. “You have a natural talent for this. I can understand why you can up here in the first place. It’s as if the Moon wants you up here so it can hear itself.”
I’m not sure how to react to his generous compliment, however, I do exhale in relief. He’s not suspicious of me coming up to this room, and most importantly, he actually believes I’m interested in something with him. Hopefully this will build his trust in me, which will make this mission go by a lot smoother.
After this revelation, I decide to ask some questions. “I don’t understand much about the Moon. What is it exactly?”
“The Moon is a singular entity that controls everything in every realm in existence. It’s strongest here. No one knows whether it is good a bad, whether it’s real, or how much power it really can flex. No one questions the Moon, though,” he explains to me, taking a seat down beside me.
“Like how no one questions you?” I breathe, before I realise what I’m saying.
I watch the smooth skin on his forehead crease slightly. Seeing him express his emotions is nice, on the contrary to how little Asher does. Sometimes I have to scold myself for thinking Sinful seems kinder and more endearing than Asher, even though him and I just met.
“People most definitely question me, Alaya. Each and every time, I try listen,” he explains to me in a solemn tone. “Usually it’s by other immortals, who live in a world of misinformation and assume incorrect things about me.”
My heart races. I know exactly who he’s talking about, however, I still decide to query. “Who’s that exactly?”
“Fate has a big personality, so I don’t blame him for not liking me all that much. He has other intentions that don’t involve me. Death is supposed to be my counterpart, but she doesn’t prefer me all that much. Time has been missing for years and Thought cares little of the trivial things. And Karama… well, she hates everyone,” Sinful tells me.
I’m taken aback by all this information, so it takes me a few moments to take it all in. Half these names don’t really register, since most of my kind focuses on the mention of Death and Fate. No one ever explained to me the full story.
“Sorry if I seem confused,” I say, a little dazed. “Bit why?”
“There are too many reasons built up over millions of years. We have had our fair share of arguments, and at this point, we live without really acknowledging each other. I’m not sure exactly I prefer it that way, but I have Asher at least,” Sinful says, the moonlight glimmering within the strands of his dark hair that hangs down over his eyes which stare at the piano keys.
A part of my heart breaks without my consent. I shouldn’t feel bad… but I do.
Sinful places his hand on my knee, in a not so innocent gesture. I brush it off though. He looks genuinely worried about my expression, which has morphed into one of sorrow, as a part of me I can’t control begins to really feel sorry for him. This is his manipulation, I must remind myself… he’s doing this on purpose.
“How can you have such a kind heart to someone like me?” He questions. His voice is strangled, even though he knows I have little knowledge of him. I don’t have to lie about that part.
“I don’t have the right to assume anything about you. I hear things, but Asher respects you,” I say, trying not to cringe from my own lie.
I’m not great at this.
Our proximity suddenly becomes evident as he brings his hand up, his fingers brazen as he cups my chin. My expression can’t be reigned in. After what, two days, he’s doing this? Perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised, since I’ve been forcing myself to distract him, which has meant putting myself in this situation.
And being truthful with myself, there’s something alluring about his eyes. Those ever changing eyes.
I’m not sure how it happened. How I could let it happen. One moment I’m staring into his eyes, like some cliche movie, and the next moment, his lips are on mine and I’m kissing him back.
It’s as if all logic and reality has flown at the window. I’ve never really been the girl to get so enraptured in another male, to kiss him out of the blue. Especially since I’m supposed to hate every part of him. But how can I resist the taste of him, as if I’m completely at his mercy, weak to his intentions.
My hands delve into his hair, as his hands around my waist pull me closer. The kiss is soft, not heated in the slightest. It’s as if he’s trying to wrap me under his spell.
Then a soft voice cuts through it all.
“Sinful.”
I pull back, as if I’ve been woken up, my shoulders shaken to bring me back to the surface. When I look at the doorway to see who interrupted, I see the Alpha of Desire. As per usual, there’s no typically expression on his face. He simply watches, shaking his head.
“Perhaps Alaya should have some more time since she only just was rejected from his fiancé,” Asher says. I’m too shocked to protest.
After his intervention he simply backs up, turns around, and walks away.