~Alaya
Blissful softness welcomed me into consciousness.
Blearily, I open my eyes, slightly blinded by the gentle morning light beckoned in by the undrawn curtains. The room I’m in is only slightly familiar, until my eyes land on the classic piano to the side of the space. I suddenly know exactly where I am.
Sinful’s room.
Everything comes back to me in a wave, drenching me in a variety of emotions. My memories from last night involved Sinful, and Sinful only. I remember his eyes, so hazel and beautiful, and his touch. Especially his touch. And after everything that happened, almost every inch of my body is left with a blissful ache. But it’s missing something. He’s not my mate…
Turning my head, he doses beside me. It’s odd, since Asher once told immortals only sleep for the pleasure and peace of it, not because they need it. I wonder if I could sneak out without him noticing?
Before I do, I take one last gaze over him. He’s beautiful. Typical. It makes it that much harder to get up and leave.
Behind those closed lids is another brilliant colour. It’s so tempting to reveal it, I nearly jostle him awake, but pause. His hair is all over the place; splayed across his pillow and forehead. He has such touchable skin, that is complete show with the covers pulled right back. My eyes wander right down to his… my cheeks flush. I need to get out of here.
With slow precision, I pull the sheets off my body, realising I’m completely naked, naturally. Cringing, I look around from my clothes. Everything last night is still vivid in my mind, except the location of my clothing, I look around the room, seeing nothing, aside from Sinful’s clothes at the end of the bed.
I slap my forehead softly. Great, they are in the room down the hall. At least I think they are.
Pulling my legs over the side of the bed, I contemplate pulling the sheet Sinful isn’t using off to wrap around myself, but decide otherwise. That’s a definite way to wake him up.
Taking a deep breath, I decide I have no other choice but to climb out, get my clothes and make it back to my room. I don’t make it very far before a warm around wraps around my waist, pulling me right back against Sinful’s body.
I yelp, turning over so I could properly look him in the eye. He stares down at me, smiling lazily. This morning, his eyes are a misty grey, like a cloud tinted with rain. It suits our situation right now. For me, at least. Sinful, on the other hand does not look fazed about what happened.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I shrug meekly. “I’m going to find my clothes.”
Sinful pulls on top of him, seeming his usual calm self about everything. It makes me slightly irritated, knowing things like this, that typically make me nervous and awkward are so easy for him. It’s not just because he’s an immortal either, where everything comes easily to him. It’s because he’s… him.
“Now?” Sinful question, as if it’s the most absurd thing to mention. “You just woke up. Were you planning on leaving without waking me?”
I don’t fall for that look in his eyes, as he attempts to come off coy and innocent. “I don’t know about you, but this time yesterday, I didn’t think something like this would happen.”
I can’t help myself. Brushing my fingers along his face, I admire those ever-changing eyes. If he could control it, I would call it a talent.
“We talked about this last night. You need to stop overthinking things. Here, in the immortal lands, people go by their first thoughts, and although most of the time it doesn’t end well, it’s how we live. And to make things even better, we don’t regret anything,” Sinful explains in my ear.
Placing my hands on his chest, I think about that.
“Even if it’s with a boring mortal?”
“Don’t say that,” Sinful instantly scolds. Grabbing my shoulders, he gently pushes me down onto the bed. He leans over me, misty eyes darkening as if the sun slipped behind those clouds. “I could name a million immortals who would die for your time.”
That’s an over exaggeration to make me feel better, and even though I know about it, I appreciate it.
Without my consent, my mind wanders to Asher. He better be doing something good right now to force this plan ahead. Even saying that, another part of me knows what happened between Asher and I had nothing to do with distracting him. I got caught up in the words he weaved and his oddly addictive touch. I refuse to let this happen again.
I whisper a few words I wanted to keep to myself, by accident. “Asher’s going to kill me.”
“You’re going to tell him?” He asks, eyebrows furrowing.
“I don’t know,” I say warily. “I just don’t like keeping secrets.”
Sinful bends down, brushing his lips across my jaw, and down to my neck, bringing back visions of last night. As great as it was at the time, guilt has settled in the pit of my stomach, not allowing me to feel anything but a slight bit of pain when I consider it too much. I won’t tell him, but I wish last night didn’t happen.
“Maybe…” Sinful drawls, kissing up to my ear. “Some secrets need to be kept, to protect others emotions.”
I blink a few times at that, placing my hands on Sinful’s back. I’m fascinated by the muscles shifting under his skin, as he braces himself above me.
“His feelings? He can’t possibly feel anything for me,” I say. Thinking back logically to Asher and I’s experience together, him and I aren’t all that friendly. Sure I trust him a bit more now, despite watching him murder someone in front of me, and I can’t help but feel as though every moment between us matters.
Ugh, I want to shake that thought off.
“You’d be surprised,” Sinful murmurs, his lips making their way down to my left collarbone.
When I don’t answer, Sinful glances up at me. “You’re over thinking again, Alaya.”
I huff out a breath. “If that’s your way of convincing me to continue last nights… adventures, it’s not working.”
He grins, pulling away. It’s a relief, no matter how much my body is attracted to him. He’s right about the over thinking, but in this case, in more than happy being a mortal, who can use my brain to actually think things through.
“Fine, shall we get some breakfast?”
I nod, clambering out of bed, off to find my clothes.
***
I couldn’t stomach breakfast.
The moment Asher wandered into the room, completely unbeknownst to what I did last night. For whatever reason, the moment those golden eyes landed on mine, my stomach flipped and I had to close my eyes to stop myself from throwing up right then and there.
Sinful didn’t join us for breakfast, surprisingly. Just to make things worse… of course.
“You okay?” He asks softly, making me jump.
He eyes me warily as I look up. “I’m fine.”
My stomach turned over again, making me cringe. Turning my head away, I wish the nausea into non-existence. It doesn’t work.
“You don’t look so well, that’s all. You’re staring at your fruit as if-”
“I slept with Sinful,” I say quickly, before I regret it.
Asher doesn’t answer, and I don’t look at him. I can’t bare it. After moments of silence, I finally glance up, my eyes wandering into his gaze. The look on his face makes me feel even worse. I’ve never seen him express so much at one point.
There was a mixture of things. Pure, thick anger. It simmers in his eyes, as his fists clench on the table. In there, I see sadness, that beats at the edge of his blank expression. He may be trying to hide it, but I can see it. But I can’t put answers to it.
Why?
“You let him touch you like that?” He questions I utter disbelief. This is the last thing he expected to wake up to this morning.
“I was hardly thinking,” I explain, remembering what he had said. “You have no idea how sick I feel about it today.”
Asher stands, pushing his chair back. From where he was sitting opposite me across the table he moves around to take the seat beside me. From here, I feel even more sick to my stomach. Because here, I can see right into his eyes, and feel each emotion as if it’s mine.
“What did he say to you to get you into his bed?” He questions, his voice in the verge of seething. It’s uncomfortable seeing ready to become violent if he deemed it necessary.
“He told me not to overthink things,” I tell him meekly.
Asher’s jaw clenches. “That’s him getting into your head, manipulating you. That’s why you feel so bad about it today.”
I’m left speechless, as Asher’s head drops down with his gaze, his dark hair falling beautifully. He clenches and unclenches his fists, clearly trying to reign in his anger. Sinful’s words about how he feels about me comes back into my mind, but I brush it away.
“Oh God Alaya,” he curses, burrowing his hands into his hair. I want to ask him why he’s so cut up about this, when Sinful suddenly saunters into the room.
He’s all smiles and happiness. Great.
“Alaya, my dear,” he says smoothly, completely unsuspecting.
I can barely utter a reply.
“Shanae took a few memories from you that night you were away,” he brings up. “Would you like them back?”