Out For My Ex.

A Choky Encounter

She should feel grateful.

Glee should be coursing through her veins as blood, but rage took its place.

The emotion oozed greatly from her body, and the countless drops of water raining on down did nothing to lessen the hotness.

Once again, Aveline felt hot — her heart, pumping heat instead of blood. But this time, it wasn't because of hurt.

Nor her shady divorce with Pierre. Or Eveline's betrayal.

No — Aveline was livid with fury.

“He…he tried to kill me” Her hair, thoroughly drenched, rested on her back like molten lava as she palmed the tiled walls.

The coldness that stung the flesh, seeped into it yet heat easily overshadowed it.

“Pierre tried to f*****g kill me!” Aveline barked, those orbs of green dilating in their sockets as she folded her fists, her chest rising and falling.

“Normal people thank God for their damn lives after surviving s**t like that” In a snarl, those words erupted from a lip, coated by a voice Aveline hadn't heard in a while.

The voice of her mother, Genevieve.

Swirls of body wash, appeasing and pleasant, hovered in the air of the capacious and all so elegant bathroom.

It was equipped with a spacious bathtub, a Jacuzzi too and all with one sole intention — to ease the troubled mind and body.

But standing under the shower, nude and with back turned, was Aveline, Genevieve's daughter.

She was an epitome of…rage.

It boiled harshly beneath her skin, and not even the balls of frigid water blessing her body would quench the curse.

As she stood beside the partly opened glass for a door, her gaze lingered on her daughter before a smile crept up her lips.

Regardless of her mother's utterance, Aveline remained mute, granting the sounds of falling water droplets to rent the air.

“You should be grateful you're alive, Aveline. But should kiss his feet — y'know, he's responsible for saving you from drowning in that car of yours” Genevieve paused, her words laced with opulence bouncing off the tiled walls as silence prevailed.

Still, her heels remained glued to a spot, arms crossed over her shoulder as an exhale fell from her lips.

“I was always so confident that son of a b***h was going to burn you. Never knew he'd loved water so much he'd try to drown you” This time, a chuckle rumbled from Genevieve's chest.

Aveline tensed, her jaw tightened as her body became rigid once Pierre's face struck her mind.

As if struck by a thunderbolt, her bones beneath her skin tensed as she chomped hard on her lower lip.

A trail of blood was birthed, the crimson liquid gliding off her lip.

“And Eve. My!” Genevieve rested half of her body on the door, her gaze drifting from Aveline to the window.

“I wasn't so wrong about her — I knew I birthed a b***h. But a smart one. Tsk. Believed that was you, Aveline” Genevieve smiled, then glanced at her daughter once more.

Her tongue seemingly was frozen. Alongside her body as she remained there, neither glancing at her mother.

Genevieve's attention lingered on her, her green eyes glinting with ounces of disappointment.

She expected Aveline to fire back at her.

She gave birth to a quick-witted girl, but…that bastard had turned her into this woman.

Drawing in a breath, Genevieve straightened up.

“Do come downstairs for lunch. We're treating your savior, and we'll announce your be–”

“f*****g leave maman! Leave!” Abruptly, Aveline shrieked, her tone loud and sharp, causing Genevieve to flinch.

“Leave” Slowly, Aveline turned, finally meeting the regally dressed woman.

The fire in her eyes burned Genevieve's intentions of taunting her any further.

“Don't stand there for too long. You might drown” Still, she added that, her lips curling into a smirk before she spun around, ambling out of there with elegance.

Left alone, Aveline's gaze fell on the water pooling beneath her, and soon, her tears joined.

“I… I swear to God I'll kill that bastard! I'll…!”

Her body shuddered with each ragged breath as her chest felt tight.

The emotions became overwhelming, clenching at her lungs until…

“H-huh?”

Suddenly, Aveline straightened up, her nose twitching as she drew in a peculiar scent.

It was smoky, unique, and she only perceived such while at the hotel with the stranger she had a nightstand with.

Confusion seeped into her system, tangling with rage as she slowly turned to the side.

Their eyes met.

Time froze as those eyes, dark — void of color — and so… Unforgettable gawked at her.

“Y-y-” His gaze, so piercing and cold, froze her tongue, leaving her numb. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with tension, as his eyes held hers captive.

Her mind jumbled, body going motionless — unlike his.

He began a stroll, his leather pair of oxfords eating the distance between them, the soft creak of the leather echoing through the bathroom.

Yet, Aveline's shock remained.

Wordless, even as his huge frame loomed over her, casting a shadow.

“Wh-what are y-” Her attempt to form a comprehensive statement died once he sharply lurched a hand at her.

“Ah!” Before she could react, he wrapped his hand around her neck, his fingers closing around her throat like a vice.

His touch sent shivers down her spine, his palm warm against her chilled skin. Her back kissed the cold walls, the tile biting into her skin as he held her in place.

“Let go! Let go of me!”

The slam shook the disbelief off Aveline, replaced by fright as he gawked down at her.

Those dull orbs of darkness were lustrous with awe as he stared down at her.

She was small — so tiny in his hands, yet her anger was gigantic. He felt it from her. Even at the pub, and now…

Aveline's thoughts swirled, her mind racing with questions. Why was he here?

What did he want from her?

His grip on her neck tightened, his fingers digging into her skin. She felt a flutter in her chest, her heart racing with fear.

His hold remained firm, and arching his back, his forehead nearly brushed hers.

“You're such a fierce little birdie. Even when drunk. Or…sober” He spoke, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down her spine.

His breath fanned against her face, warm and intoxicating. Aveline's eyes locked onto his, her gaze trapped in the depths of his dark eyes.

“What are you doing here? Why are you here? Who are you? f**k, I'm even naked. Are you some kind of r****t?!” Aveline rasped, her questions rolling out of her mouth with sharpness.

She couldn't understand any of these.

Why was this man here?

Sure, they shared a night together, but being in her family home — in her bathroom.

This was–

“This is wonderful!” Genevieve's voice sliced through Aveline's thought, and for once, she was glad it did.

“Maman!” She glanced at her mother, eyes glimmering with plea.

“Ah, I see you've already met your savior and betrothed, Aveline” she beheld Genevieve smiling, her ears shaking slightly with glee.

“Be…be… betrothed?!” She bellowed, eyes so wide they'd fall out of their sockets.

“Yes, little birdie” Again, his voice sent shivers down her spine, and using his other hand, he tilted her chin. Their eyes met again.

“Wh…who are you really?” Shakily, Aveline questioned, feeling her naked cleavages caressing his coated chest.

“The name's Viktor Cesario, little birdie”