Zai didn't bother getting dressed in the morning.
It's exhausting how undeniably and utterly attracted I am to him, and seeing his bare skin sends my brain straight to the dirtiest of gutters.
"So... what happened with your mother?" he asked, sitting up in bed and stretching.
"She... explained why she did it. Her excuse was bad," I replied.
Talking about my mom's actions upset me, but that only made me feel guilty for still being in an amorous mood.
"I think it would've been better if she and my dad never met," I mumbled. He ran his fingers through my hair and said,
"I don't agree."
I felt my face heat up, but he removed his hand and added, "I do feel sorry for what happened to your dad... but I'm glad I got to meet you. You're the most interesting thing in my life."
I swallowed hard. How do I reply to something like that?!
"Are you hungry?" he asked
I sat up and shook my head.
"No."
Zai frowned.
"When did you last eat?" I thought for a moment.
"Right before we left home."
Zai sighed.
"Snowe... seriously? You've been gone for five days," he grumbled.
I gasped. I forgot time is condensed in the teleporter, so passengers don't feel it, but the trip to and from Infaniya takes a day and a half. I should've been starving, but maybe the stress during my travels suppressed my appetite.
"I feel like I've been bullying you now," Zai mumbled while holding his head.
"I liked it!" I shouted.
Dammit, Snowe, think before you speak! Where is your dignity?!
Zai smirked, and I looked away from him.
"Let's order room service," Zai offered.
Everything was available on the hotel's app. I ordered steak with a baked potato and chocolate cake for dessert.
"How much does this all cost?" I inquired. Zai glanced at me, then silently put in his own order.
"That's not for you to worry about. Since you're broke," he answered.
I pouted. Once he finished, a notification popped up saying there would be a 25-minute wait for the food.
Then it hit me.
"Wait! Won't a server be coming to deliver the food? We should get dressed," I reasoned.
To calm me down, Zai held my cheeks and kissed me.
"Hmm... no, that's too much trouble," he replied.
Then he spent the next 25 minutes kissing me and stroking me, making me desire him all over again.
How has he hidden this side of himself from me for so long? Time seemed to pass too quickly because, before I knew it, there was a knock on the door.
Zai grabbed a robe hanging by the door, and I covered up in the comforter. The server delivered the food, accepted the tip, then smiled and left quickly. Maybe because this is a hotel, our appearance didn't shock her.
We sat at the dining table to eat, and I put on the other robe in the room.
I was hungrier than I realized—Zai had drained me of most of the carbs I had left.
I was surviving on stubbornness and whatever calories Zai hadn't stolen from me.
I eyed Zai's plate: breaded and seared fish, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes. I need to remember what he likes.
"What kind of fish is that?" I asked.
"Bluefin tuna," Zai answered. Then he cut a piece with his fork and held it up for me to try. I took a bite and was amazed at how much it tasted like steak, but it was so tender as well.
"It's good," I noted and gave him a thumbs-up. He laughed.
"I don't need the reassurance. I didn't cook it," he retorted. A few seconds later, we were both done eating.
"…It's probably time for us to go now..."
I didn't want to say it, but it'd be annoying if we got kicked out of the room. Plus, Zai would probably want to start driving before it got dark. That's the only reason we're even here.
"I rented the room for seven days," he revealed nonchalantly.
Seven days?? Was wanting to drive at night and stay here, just an excuse to get me to himself?
"But... this room has to be expensive. Staying here for seven days would cost thousands of dollars!" I commented. Zai scoffed.
"That's what money is for... spending."
But where is he getting all this money from? Is that a question I should ask... or one I want answered?
Zai pressed his lips to mine, causing my thoughts to stop and my brain to turn into mush.
"Snowe... do you want to take a bath?"
All I want is him right now.
No matter what he asked, I would have nodded regardless.
He gently took my hand and led the way to the bathroom. Zai got into the bathtub first, then I got in, sat in his lap, and faced him.
The water was so hot that steam filled the room. Zai lathered up a cloth and gently washed every inch of me. I was trembling when he finished. So I clung to Zai. He lifted me up from the tub and wrapped me in a towel, then carried me over to the bed.
Before returning to the bathroom to clean himself separately.
I wrapped myself up in the comforter for warmth.
When he came back, Zai discarded his towel onto the carpet, then he sat beside me on the bed and stroked my head lovingly.
"For your sake... you should start saying no to me," he noted, seemingly out of nowhere.
I blushed at the implications, but my curiosity was piqued.
"No."
I replied, and Zai laughed. Then he leaned down and kissed me sweetly.
"No, what?" he inquired, keeping his eyes on my face while stealthily opening my towel.
"I... don't want to say no to you," I clarified, and his eyes lit up again.
"Are you sure?" Zai asked. How many times is he going to make me repeat myself?
"Ye-Yes!" Oh my God, I stuttered!? I covered my face with my hands to hide my embarrassment.
"If you're serious... then don't hide from me," he whispered, and I reluctantly revealed my face. He responded by kissing me over and over again, so many times that I lost count.
I wrapped my legs around his waist.
Zai's hands slid up my thighs, slowly, deliberately, like he was savoring every inch of my skin. He then pinned my knees back against the bed. His eyes locked on mine, watching every twitch of hesitation, and every breath I took.
"Should I stop?" he whispered, his voice a low vibration in my chest.
My breath caught. Every nerve in my body screamed for him. My heart pounded against my ribs, heat spreading under my skin like wildfire.
"No," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I don't want you to stop."
A wicked grin curved on his lips, the kind that made my stomach twist and anticipation tighten my core.
"Oh..." he murmured, brushing his mouth over mine, "I don't need to worry. You already know how to say no."
His kiss deepened then... possessive... hungry. It was pulling me under like a tide I couldn't resist.
The next day, I woke up face down, and all my muscles were sore.
I may have really reached my limit this time. I struggled to turn my head and look at Zai, who was sitting up beside me on his phone.
He looked fine. I heard the chosen had almost limitless stamina, but I didn't know this was how they used it.
"Oh, good, you're awake," he said, looking at me and putting his phone down on the bed between us. "I already ordered breakfast. You should eat while you can."
His words sounded like a mixture of seductive and threatening, but I couldn't get up right now even if I wanted to.
"I need to lie here for a few more minutes," I answered. Zai pouted.
"I see..." he replied softly.
To pass the time, I decided to make conversation.
"You... you are really... um, good at that," I noted. Zai stared at me with a blank face.
"At what?"
I blushed and pouted.
"You know what I'm talking about!"
That's when Zai's expression broke, and he let loose an infectious laugh. I couldn't help but join in, and once I calmed down, I said,
"You must have lots of experience."
He stopped smiling and seemed deep in thought for a second, then replied,
"No, I've only been with three people before you."
In 19 years, Smoke slept with countless girls... whoever came his way. It was well known across campus. He'd sleep with anyone, but not be in a real relationship with anyone.
Zai, who is presumably the same age, has only had three relationships.
I guess I had normalized Smoke's behavior in my mind, but perhaps Zai is the normal one.
"Were they all long-term relationships?" For some reason, imagining the same woman clinging to him for longer than a month hurt more than thinking he was promiscuous.
"No... I never thought of sex as something to do with a person I liked. It was always a means of control, so all my experiences were short-lived."
Zai seemed uncomfortable talking about this. Did I perhaps ruin the mood?
"That sounds... sad," I commented. He scoffed.
"It's fine... because I like you... so it's different this time, right, Snowe?" he said sweetly.
I felt flustered and stared at him while he gave me puppy dog eyes.
"Yes, of course!"
Zai chuckled.
"You're my first, though..." I confessed quietly, "I had always imagined my first time would be painful or scary, so I'm glad it was with you."
He eyed me expressionlessly.
"So am I. Though it wouldn't matter if you had partners before me. I'd just make sure you forgot about them and focused on me," he declared cheerfully.
I tried to analyze his words, then he leaned down and laid his forehead against mine.
"If you don't hurry up and eat, you'll miss your chance..." he warned gently.
I jumped up, my legs still wobbling as I made my way to the table. I hoped it wasn't as noticeable as it felt.
There were crepes, fruit, bacon, and an omelet on the table, with a glass of orange juice. I ate silently, and Zai stayed on the bed, staring at his phone. When I finished eating, I came and sat beside him.
"What are you up to?" I asked, laying my head on his shoulder.
"Just texting Rai." Then he smirked and added, "Are you full?" I opened my mouth to reply, but we were kissing before the words had time to leave.
Hours later, we lay together, locked in an embrace. It's hard to think of anything else when Zai is touching me, but I should ask the things I was afraid to ask Smoke...
"Am... I your girlfriend?" I probably should have asked this before things got so far along.
"What? Girlfriend?" My heart fell at how shocked his tone was.
"You're my wife," Zai clarified.
Then I sat up and shouted, "What?!"
Zai squinted at me.
"Is the marriage ritual different on Infaniya or something?"
"Ritual?! Marriage??"
"You said I'm not your first... so are those other girls your wives too?" I asked for clarity, and Zai frowned.
"That's different. I was only with them for a few hours. The ritual of marriage requires consummation for over 30 hours total."
Wait, wait... wait... I'm married... to an Afarian??? We did it for 30 hours? I guess that's possible, it has been almost a week... Is there even a way to look it up to see if he's pranking me?! But his face looks too serious for it to be a prank!
"Are you okay, Snowe?" he asked.
"N-no... I'm not okay... is that why you brought me here? Why didn't you warn me ahead of time?" I rambled.
Zai smiled sweetly and cupped me cheek.
"I'm sorry, I thought it was obvious," he said while looking deeply into my eyes.
My head was spinning. At that moment, the shock from his information made me faint.
I heard him shouting my name, but soon it was quiet and dark.
When I woke up this time, Zai was kissing my cheek and smiling down at me.
"You had me worried... are you alright?"
I sat up.
"You... are we married?"
Was I dreaming, or did he just drop that bomb on me? Did he rent this room with this intention?
Zai held up my left hand and showed me my ring finger. There was a tattoo that looked like a bolt of lightning circling it. There was a matching tattoo on his.
"This mark will never disappear; we're bonded forever. Are you that shocked?" he asked, giving me the same puppy eyes he used earlier. My heart melted on impact.
"I'm fine... I'm not upset." I can't be upset when he makes that face... I'm weak.
No, I should stand firm and press him. I can't let this go so easily! Marriage is a serious commitment. My teachers warned me that Afarions are dangerous, maybe they were right!
Zai kissed me sweetly.
"Good... then I'll let you choose a physical ring tomorrow," he said cheerfully.
So fast! I feel like Zai always forces me to follow his pace. I wasn't expecting to be married so soon... is this a good thing?
I looked at the mark on my finger, then I heard it sparking and saw the tattoo move. I could feel his energy swirling through me... we really are bonded now.
I'm... really not upset at all, but I am confused. Did Zai truly not know I wasn't aware of the ritual... or did he do this to permanently tie himself to me?
Zai took my silence as a cue to continue where we left off. He intertwined his fingers through my left hand, then kissed the mark he'd given me. Then he kissed my lips and touched me until all my thoughts vanished. He didn't let me leave his embrace for the rest of the night.
When I awoke, Zai was staring at my face, grinning as he said,
"Good morning!... Also, in case you don't know... if you cheat on me, you'll die."
My eyes grew wide, and my heart shook erratically.
Zai continued.
"It won't be immediate, but it will be slow and agonizing."