Chapter 35: His Doe
1588 Words
Chapter 35: His Doe
STELLA
Again, I f****d my ex-husband’s stepbrother, and there was nothing to be sorry for. I hated it too... but just as much as I wanted him.
Rhys had helped me wash up in the bathroom, running warm water over my skin, scrubbing my thighs with care, and even—against my own self-control—sliding a finger inside me again.
Seven orgasms in a row. Seven heart-stopping, mind-numbing, sweet explosions. I’d never felt anything as ecstatic as that.
While the early sun rays penetrated the window, I rolled to the side of the bed but didn’t reach for him.
His warmth lingered in the sheets, in the smell of him, in my own trembling skin—but he was gone. The bed felt emptier than it should.
It was morning already.
I yawned, stretching, feeling a curious surge of energy pulse through me.
Was it just afterglow? Or the adrenaline of being f****d raw by a man I didn’t know if I loved—or merely craved? Right. I loved being with him… but what would it mean if I asked how he felt about me?
The scent of cooking drifted from the kitchen—spices, sizzling oil, fresh herbs.
I padded barefoot across the floor, heart still fluttering from last night, and stopped.
Three women were there, moving with precision. Dressed like professional maids. One stir-frying, one stirring a pot, one chopping vegetables.
“Good morning, ma’am,” They chorused.
I blinked. “What are you doing here?” My eyes swept across the kitchen—no sign of Rhys.
“We were hired by Mr. Rhys. He requested that we make food for you,” One smiled, her pink lips glinting with gloss.
I swallowed, a mix of gratitude and confusion warming my chest. I turned to leave, but my phone buzzed from inside.
Hesitating, I walked to the room and answered the call.
“Good morning, Blaze.” His voice carried a grin I could almost hear.
“I saw tho—” I paused, biting my chapped lips. Politeness. Etiquette. Things didn’t matter much, but I tried anyway.
“Good morning, Rhys.” I licked my dry lower lip,unsure whether to speak.
“I saw the chefs,” I said simply. “I can always make my own breakfast,”
“Your own breakfast?” He sounded calm, almost amused. “We both know you leave your place at 7:45 AM every day when your alarm rings at 6:45.”
He paused like he was waiting deliberately.
Fuck.
He was right. Coffee in a hurry. A bag thrown over my shoulder.
Most days, nothing else. My routine, so personal… known to him.
I tried to think of something to say but my thinking slowed badly.
“You know you don’t eat well at the academy. Breakfast by noon, a snack at five, dinner as a nibble before bed.”
I swallowed hard. “Have you been stalking me?” My voice wavered, though I asked it half in jest… half in fear.
No answer. Just silence.
“Just make sure you enjoy everything you get,” he said softly, deceptively casual.
My intestines knotted.
I whispered his name. “Rhys… have you been stalking me?” I asked again.
Aside from being correct, it was strange. No one knew this about me.
“Do you think this is too much for me to know, Blaze?” His words teased me. I didn't know how to react.
My lips twitched.
“Stay home today. I already asked Cassian to give you a day off.”
My brain short-circuited. Two months to graduation!
“I’m graduating in two months. I can’t—”
“A day of rest won’t stop you from graduating, Blaze,” he said in a dangerously soft tone.
“You did well last night. I would’ve treated you myself, but urgent business with a few old men…” He cursed under his breath. “…made the timing impossible.”
I frowned.
“Fine. But you can’t stop me from leaving today.” I wouldn’t stay alone at the guesthouse.
He went silent then resumed with a sharp release of air over the phone.
“I knew it, Blaze.” I could hear his soft chuckle—like he'd won without putting in extra effort.
“But those men are working on my orders to never let you leave. You have no choice but be… my… little… baby… today.” His words were daring, teasing, soft velvet edged with steel.
Which men?
I peeked through the curtain. Fifteen, twenty men—all uniformed—stood outside.
“Are you crazy, Rhys?” That was the first line my brain could process.
Which sane person would deploy almost twenty men just so..
“Well, for you, I am.” f**k it. His casual audacity made my pulse race.
“I’m serious—”
“And who says I’m not?”
“What if word gets out that I live with you? These much people?” I wished I could scream out my lungs.
“They’re no ordinary men in uniform. You’re safe, Blaze” He assured, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
The same man who'd called me his angel last night, was the same who had me on a freaking house arrest!
**
Morning passed in the twinkle of an eye. The ladies left, and my fridge was stocked with food of every kind.
For the first time in ages, I felt the joy only homemade meals could bring. But even amid the comfort, boredom and frustration crept in.
Rhys cared…but a little too much.
Gratitude mingled with irritation through my veins—I hated to admit that I didn’t like being treated like a princess 24/7.
By noon, my phone buzzed again and for the umpteenth time today, I wished I didn't know how to operate a phone. I checked and it was a text from Louis:
“Didn’t see you at the academy today. Cassian says you’re sick. How are you doing?”
I didn’t trust his tone, I didn't like his vibe anymore. Over the last weeks, a lot of rumours about him had been flying around and honestly, I would be a fool to turn a blind eye.
I chewed on my cheek before lying “Yeah… not so good.”
“Alright then.”
What did that mean?
I didn't realize until he texted me again by 4:05 PM, asking me to allow the guards to let him in.
Apparently, he was here to visit.
He arrived, settling quickly into my living room, but I barely had time to breathe…or even talk about anything before my phone rang again.
A logistics company.
“You have a package from Mr. Rhys, ma’am.”
Confused, I signed, and the delivery woman pushed in a whole closet of lingerie. Over a hundred pieces.
My jaw dropped.
Only one person would dare do this. Only HIM.
Only Rhys could dare.
Louis, oblivious, was sitting there, mid-bite of a muffin.
“That’s…”I laughed nervously. "a lot.”
His expression said more than words could.
“Ma’am, Mr—”The delivery woman was about to say something else, but I cut her off.
“Don’t worry. I understand.”
I waited for her to leave.
“What the f**k is Louis doing in your house, Blaze?”
I rolled my eyes at the text that had just appeared on my phone's screen.
Was it a crime to own a phone??!
“He’s my friend and I'm bored. That’s not what we’re to talk about. What’s with the lingeries?”
“We can always talk about that later. THAT BASTARD IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.” His jealousy poured like larva, through the words.
“Send him out. I know that fool better than anyone.”
“No. He’s my guest today.” I slammed my phone off and slipped it in my pocket.
“Why do you live here with Rhys?” Louis asked after taking a greedy bite on the muffins I'd just served him.
“Is there a problem with Rhys being a friend?” I whispered with narrow eyes, surprising even myself with the lie.
Friend. My heart clenched at that word. We were far from it.
“Friends?” His knowing smile unnerved me. It didn't sound like a question, but more like he was amused.
“Let’s talk about something else, Albert.” First time I’d ever used his last name.
“Wanna hang out tomorrow? I have something to tell you and it's quite important”
My stomach twisted again.
One thing I hated about him was his eery smile and then his attitude of always asking me out on a date.
It was becoming too much to ignore.
“Um…”
“Don’t say no. I’ll get you a day off from Cassian.” He winked awkwardly.
“No. Let her be.”
Before I could react, a scent hit my senses—familiar and sharp. I turned.
“Rhys.”His name fell off my lips with excessive air from my lungs.
His eyes darkened, rage coiling like a predator.
“What are you doing here?” He faced Louis, brows drawn tight above his bridge.
My eyes travelled down to his hand, his veins bulging on his arm as he folded his fist like he was trying to keep himself under control.
- Writer
