chapter eight:Time starts now.
1344 Words
*Ariana’s POV *
It wasn’t long before Kian worked his way through the crowd and stopped in front of me.
“Let’s go.”
I was too tired to argue. I just nodded and followed him out without a word.
He opened the passenger door for me, waited until I slid in, then shut it and walked around to the driver’s side. The drive started out quiet, smooth, the city lights blurring past.
Then he turned.
Not onto the main road we came in on.
I frowned, sitting up straighter. “Where are we going?”
“Making a quick stop.”
Silence again.
A few minutes later he pulled into a parking spot in front of a place with frosted glass and neon lights. I read the sign twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing things: _Playthings & Pleasure_.
My eyes widened. “What is this place?”
“What place do you think this is?” he said, already unbuckling his seatbelt. “You coming?”
“You can’t be serious.”
He didn’t answer. He just got out, shut the door, and walked toward the entrance.
I hesitated. The street was darker than the club parking lot, and the car’s interior light wasn’t helping. With a muttered curse I got out and hurried after him before I chickened out.
The bell chimed when we walked in.
It smelled like vanilla and something expensive. Soft music played low in the background. Kian walked straight to the counter, said something low to the woman there, and she nodded, pointing toward the back aisle.
He didn’t even look back to check if I was following.
I saw it before I was ready.
A shelf. Displayed in neat rows. Different sizes, colors, shapes.
“Hmm,” Kian said, picking one up.
“No. No no.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. “Hell no. That will never fit.”
He smirked, turning it over in his hand like he was checking produce. “You took me in, remember? This is nothing." "You’re not that huge.” I didn't even know if that was a lie or not.
I said it before I thought it through. “Ouch. Then this one.”
He pointed to the next one up. Bigger.
He raised a brow.
“Please noooo,” I said fast, grabbing the first one back and shoving it toward him. “This one’s fine. Here. Take it.”
He took it, still smirking, still enjoying this way too much.
“How the hell did I end up here?” I muttered, running a hand down my face. “My foolish self. I shouldn’t have—”
We walked to the counter, he paid, and I kept my eyes on the floor the entire time.
The drive home was worse.
Me cursing under my breath, facepalming every thirty seconds. Him silent, relaxed, like we’d just stopped for coffee and I’d signed a contract I had to comply with.
When we pulled up at the mansion,he killed the engine and turned to me. I stepped out of the car immediately, he trailed behind.
When we reached the top of the stairs.
“Good night,” he said, leaning over just enough that his breath fanned against my ear.
That was it.I was so tired I couldn't even worry about my dilemma.I had fallen asleep without even taking off my clothes.
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I woke up to a sharp knock against my bedroom door.
For a second I just groaned, dragging the blanket over my head like it could block out the world. My body felt heavy, my head still fuzzy from passing out in yesterday’s clothes.
The knocking came again. Louder this time.
“Ugh, I’m coming!” I muttered, sitting up and immediately regretting it. My neck cracked, my hair was a mess, and my mouth tasted like regret and cheap club soda.
I stumbled out of bed, twisting and turning as I tried to shake the sleep off. I yanked the door open without checking, still half-blinded and pissed off.
And there he was.
Kian. Standing in the hallway like he owned the place, holding a small black box in one hand.
His eyes dragged over me slowly. “Morning, Ariana.”
I folded my arms, blocking the view of my wrinkled dress. “What are you doing here?”
He lifted the box slightly. “Do this. Put it on. Your time starts now.”
My stomach dropped. I didn’t even need to open the box to know what was inside.
“And come down for breakfast when you’re done,” he added, like he was talking about the weather. Then he turned and walked off, leaving me standing there with my mouth half open.
I shut the door with a slam and leaned against it, breathing out hard.
Ten minutes later I was in the shower, scrubbing my skin raw like I could wash off the whole situation. I dressed in the first thing I found—High-waisted wide-leg trousers in soft linen with a loose silk camisole as if hiding could help.
When I came back out, the box was still sitting on my dresser.
I stared at it like it might crawl off and attack me.
“f**k this,” I muttered under my breath. “f**k him. f**k me for agreeing.”
A few curses later, I grabbed it, opened it, and did what he said.
The moment it was inside, a sharp sound slipped past my lips before I could bite it back. My knees almost buckled. I gripped the edge of the dresser, breathing hard, trying to get used to the feeling.
“Okay. Okay. Just walk,” I told myself.
Walking downstairs was a nightmare. Every step sent a jolt through me, and I had to move slow, holding the railing like my life depended on it. My face was probably red, and I was praying he didn’t notice.
I froze immediately I reached the dining area.
My parents.
Both of them were sitting at the table, my mom sipping tea, my stepdad reading the paper like it was a normal morning. They looked up when I stepped in, and my mom’s face softened instantly.
“Ariana, good morning, sweetheart,” she said, like I didn’t look like I’d been hit by a truck.
My dad just gave a short nod. “You’re up late.”
Late? It was barely 9 a.m.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to move forward and pull out the chair next to my mom. My legs felt unsteady, and I had to focus on keeping my movements slow, normal.
Kian hadn’t said a word. He was still sitting there, coffee in hand, watching me with that infuriating calm expression. Like he knew exactly what I was feeling right now.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming home early,” I said to my mom, my voice coming out a little too high.
“We decided last night,” she replied, oblivious. “We wanted to have breakfast with you before we head out again.”
Great. Perfect timing.
I kept my eyes on the plate in front of me, pushing eggs around with my fork. I could feel Kian’s gaze on me every few seconds, and every time I shifted in the chair, I regretted agreeing to this.
My mom frowned slightly. “Are you alright, honey? You look flushed.”
“I’m fine,” I said too quickly. “Just… didn’t sleep well.”
I shot him a glare across the table, sharp and silent.
He just took another sip of his coffee, completely innocent.
I forced myself to look away and focused on my plate, shoveling down the last bit of eggs as fast as I could without making it obvious. The sooner I got out of this chair, the better.
Then I felt it.
A low, deliberate vibration.
My breath hitched, and before I could stop it, a small, involuntary sound slipped past my lips.
- Writer
