Tempting Adeline

15

ADELINE

Walking out into the kitchen, I do a quick sweep of the tables and countertops. Beads of sweat and tears line my forehead and eyes respectively as I drop to my knees.

“Why are you crying?” The familiar voice came again this time startling me. I turned, thinking it was my delusions only to find

Elijah standing there with a creased brow. It was a rare sight considering he was the happiest of the flock.

I shot up, clunking the back of my head on the underside of the wooden table. “Oh s**t, sorry!” Eli laughs, his footsteps approaching. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He offers me his hand and I get up with it. I avoided his gaze again, he’s giving me that look again. “Why are you crying?”

“It’s nothing really.” I mumbled, trying to sidestep him but he kept blocking my path with his huge body. “I said it’s nothing. Why is it helpful to you if you know? Maybe you can tell Croix and you guys will tease me?” I bit out.

He shrugged but still pulled me into a hug, patting my hair. “It’s okay. I heard the fight. Sneaked in from the back door since Croix said you two needed some alone time.”

Croix really did that, for me? I felt appreciation so I leaned into Eli’s warmth accepting the hug. “Have you seen Croix?”

I have decided to go through with Josiah’s plan. I just need to strike a deal with him and print out a contract, that’s all.

Eli pulls away, saunters back to the living room, grabs something from the end table and sits on the edge of the couch. “You look hungry. I should prepare some Lasagne for you then.”

“Just answer the question. I need to talk to him.” I said walking closer to him.

“I’m not sure now is the right time to talk to him. He seemed pretty pissed. Last time I saw him, he was knocking out the windows of a Honda Civic before setting a trash can on fire. I’m pretty sure that this time he’d be shooting down an office building or something.” He said casually.

“Okay knocking out windows, setting trash cans on fire and shooting down buildings, got it.” I mentioned. “What a way to release anger. What about Josiah?”

“Hopefully out f*****g that blonde that was strapped to the back last night.”

His statement surprised me. “I thought...You aren’t...doesn’t that make you...”

“Jealous?” He peers up at me with an amused grin.

“Well yeah, I expected something other than this emotion.”

“No.” He laughs like it’s the most stupid question ever. “We are not together. We just like to have fun sometimes. Besides, he’s not really my type. He’s not into what I’m into.”

My brows lower. “Which is?”

“You are totally my type. If Croix messes up and your boyfriend...although, he’s messing up pretty bad but the point is, if they mess up I’m taking you.” He takes a drag of his blunt. “What happened that night with Sigh was he lost a bet and he had to be my pet for a whole week. So I was basically using him for my pleasure.”

His tone and casual demeanor has me questioning if he’s serious or not. But just one look of his lopsided grin with his signature pink locks falling into his eyes, I can tell he’s pretty serious as they come.

He’s a handsome guy with a sharp jawline, big blue eyes that melt you with their charm and some illegal s**t but his infectious smile and energy just emit so much love and positivity. Eli is just comforting to be around. Simple as that.

“I see.” I reply quietly, twisting my fingers on my lap. “I am sorry I was harsh at first. I want to be a photographer, that's all. It’s my dream to capture art. And I love what I do.”

“That’s sweet if you ask me. Can you draw? Let’s draw if you can.” His eyes shone with so much enthusiasm. He rushed into his room only to come out with a paper and a pencil. “Draw something you like.”

I smiled. His quiet voice and enthusiastic assurance urged me to pick up the pencil but when I wanted to draw him, Croix walked in making me pause in my tracks.

Eli glanced at the both of us and stood up to leave not before planting a kiss on my forehead.

I could see the glare from Croix before he turned to me. “Finally f*****g my friend, Del?”

“I wasn’t f*****g him. As you can see we were drawing.” I stood up quietly and made my way to my room. This isn’t what I planned to do but at this point I need to calm my emotions and approach him when I’m more levelled.

“I heard you were crying from Eli.” He called out, lighting a cigarette. “What happened?”

“It’s nothing really.” I mumbled, hugging my arms. “Goodnight.”

“Quit being stubborn, Del and tell me what’s going on.” He said calmly, his eyes boring into me.

“Why do you care all of a sudden?” I asked, my eyes narrowing.

“Because I want you to beg for it.”

Of course he already knows about it. Josiah must have told him everything. I rolled my eyes but silently rejoiced that it made my work easier.

“Okay yes I need something from you.” I made my way towards him. “And I know you need something too.”

“Get to the point, Del.” He groaned.

“Fine, I need you to be my muse.” I blurted out. “And I know you need me to be yours too.”

“You didn’t beg for it, Del.” He pointed out.

“Also, I don’t need you to be my muse. It’s just something anyone can fill. Which is why I recruit models.”

So that gig wasn’t a fraud after all.

I swallowed. “Please be my muse. I need you to accept it.”