Pulling into a parking space, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out. Mara gets out of the car, and I look down to see a text message from Kyan asking how she’s doing. And you say you don’t care. I shake my head and roll my eyes, not bothering to reply, and get out of the car. If he wants to know, then he can fucking find out for himself.
Marabella is waiting beside the car when I get out, glancing around nervously like she expects Kyan to jump out at any second and tell her how much he hates her and doesn’t want her.
Walking over to her, I drape my arm across her shoulders and tuck her against me, my lips press to her temple. Her hand grips the front of my shirt, the other goes around my waist behind my back. Is it wrong that I wish we would be walking like this, as a couple, not because of the actual messed up situation that we are stuck in?
I lead her to the elevator. Stepping inside, I place the key in the panel, twist it, open the other panel, and press the penthouse apartment button. Pocketing the key, I pull Mara closer and kiss her hair, inhaling her scent. She looks up at me, and I press my forehead against hers; her arms wrap around me tighter, and she lets out a breath before inhaling my scent.
Despite not being my mate, her scent always brought me comfort, and I notice mine has the same effect on her. She doesn’t need to pretend with me. I definitely know more about her than her family.
How they can be so blind to her suffering when they are like gods is beyond me. Her pain and suffering is clearly on display; they think she hangs out with her brother at school because they are that close. But even Eziah is blind to how uncomfortable Marabella is in her own skin. She sticks to him because he is all she has in that pack and knows no one would mess with her while with him. I wish they could see the truth that is so obvious. Not just look at her, but really see her.
“You will be okay, Mara,” I murmur softly. She shakes her head in disagreement. “He will come around; just give him a bit of time.”
“He hates me, Jonah,” she whispers back, her voice strained with the emotions she’s trying to contain.
“He doesn’t hate you; he loves you,” I tell her, and she laughs, pulling away from me.
“If you think that, then you’re more delusional than me.” She shakes her head, clearly not believing me, and I can’t fault her. How can she believe that when he always treated her like crap to her face?
“Kyan can be difficult, but he doesn’t hate you, Mara,” I try again.
“Jonah, please, I get that you two are best buddies, but you don’t need to defend him. Please, just don’t.” She keeps shaking her head.
I sigh, “I’m not trying to stick up for him, or make excuses for him, Mara. It’s just that I know him.”
“No, he does hate me. Why are you even trying to defend him? Just stop, fuck!” she curses, clutching her hair.
“Mara!” I call her name a little louder.
“No, Jonah. Stop, or I will go. I don’t want to hear excuses as to why my mate does not want me. All I hear are reasons why everyone else doesn’t! I don’t need you trying to convince me otherwise. Kyan has always hated me, always Jonah! It isn’t just a sudden thing, so stop, just leave it. Nothing you say will change this!” she finishes her rant, and the doors suddenly open.
Mara steps out, walks to the apartment, and grabs the spare key from under the potted plant beside the door. As she walks off and into the apartment, I sigh. I don’t know what to do. I have found myself in a predicament; Kyan is my best friend and like a brother to me. Marabella is the only person I’ve ever wanted, and she is exactly why I have never dated. I have loved her since I was a kid, always drawn to her for some reason.
But now it makes sense why Kyan would force me to the brothels, saying I need to get her out of my system and forget about her.
After the first time, I felt disgusted with myself, so I never went back there. Well, not to get laid, anyway. Although Kyan; he hates being touched in general, so I’m a little surprised he even went to them in the first place.
I know he isn’t a virgin, but I always joked that he would have the girl wrapped in cling wrap while he double wrapped his cock to avoid skin contact.
Kyan is not someone who enjoys physical contact. It repulses him, and he sees it as a weakness, while I’m the opposite. I love cuddling, which kind of sucks being single since forever, except when Kyan would sleep over, he always got the shits when we were kids, and he would wake up with me spooning him.
When we became teenagers, he opted for the floor beside my bed. But not actually laying down until he had vacuumed the floor repeatedly, saying he could see dust particles. The dude had major hygiene issues.
“I’m going to go take a shower,” Marabella calls out before I hear the bathroom door shut with a slam.
Sitting on the couch, I lean back and stare at the ceiling as I try to recall Kyan’s actions around her, but all come up the same. That’s just who Kyan is.
For the most part, he avoids being touched. He says it makes Kaif uneasy, and now I am wondering if it is the mate bond, and that is why he hates touching people or being touched. The only time I have caught Kyan being handsy with women was when he was completely drunk. And even those were the few times he would drag me to the brothel. Probably only then being able to suppress the thought of his mate.
So many things click into place now that I think about it. It makes so much more sense now.