Zaria's pov
I woke up sore. Not just tired, but sore—deep in my thighs, a throb between my legs, and a tightness in my walls that made every little movement feel like a slow burn. It was the aftermath of last night. A night that had stripped away everything I thought I knew about pleasure.
Baal. His name echoed in my mind like a spell, one that lingered in my bones and skin. I stretched slowly, feeling the silk sheets graze against my bare skin. I was naked. Completely naked. But strangely, I wasn't shy… not even surprised. He had taken every ounce of my innocence last night—stolen it, shattered it, and replaced it with something far more dangerous: desire. And yet, I didn't regret a thing.
I sat up, the soft ache reminding me of how intense everything had been. My hair fell over my shoulders in waves, messy from sleep and sex. I walked over to the tinted windows, still bare, standing tall like a goddess in the dim morning light. The entire city stretched out before me, glowing faintly beneath the overcast sky. From inside, I could see it all… but from the outside, no one could see me. I was safe in his tower of shadows.
Then, the door creaked.
Baal walked in carrying a tray—toast, eggs, and a steaming cup of tea. His presence filled the room before his voice even spoke. I didn't care that I was naked. I ran toward him like a wild thing, my breasts bouncing freely with every step. His eyes darkened, but he said nothing.
I grabbed the tray from his hands and placed it on the side table, then leaped into his arms. He caught me easily, like I weighed nothing. My legs wrapped around his waist, and he held me up—his large hands gripping my ass with firm, teasing pressure. It was like he was holding two ripe fruits, kneading them softly, deliberately.
I kissed him.
First on the lips—slow, deep, lingering—then down to his neck, trailing kisses along his collarbone, teasing the edge of his ear. I felt his body respond to mine, his warmth growing, his breathing changing.
He groaned. A deep, animalistic sound that vibrated from his chest.
His right hand slipped between my thighs and found the wetness already pooling there. He slid two fingers inside—slowly, torturously slow. I gasped, my head tilting back in pure pleasure, my spine arching. I felt the pressure of his fingers curling in me, the slow rhythm of his movement echoing inside my veins.
But just when I thought I'd melt right there, he pulled his hand away.
"The tea will get cold," he said, like nothing had just happened.
I blinked. The spell broke. I climbed off him slowly, body still pulsing, and reached for my robe. I slipped into it with a faint smirk, trying to steady my breath.
I walked to the tray. "Did you make this?" I asked, glancing at the perfectly browned toast.
He nodded with that cool calmness he always wore, then disappeared into the bathroom. A moment later, he emerged, a towel wrapped low around his hips, his skin still glistening from the shower.
My breath hitched. He looked like a fresh snack from the oven—hot, delicious, and utterly edible.
Without a word, he got dressed, then handed me a shopping bag with neatly folded clothes. "For school," he said simply.
I took the bag to the bathroom, showered, and dressed in the outfit he'd picked: a tailored cream blouse tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt, with gold-accented flats and a soft perfume that smelled faintly like vanilla and musk.
We headed downstairs. A new car awaited us—sleek, brown Bentley with chrome wheels and tinted windows. Definitely not the one that had picked me up yesterday. This one screamed luxury. It looked like it cost an arm, two legs, and maybe a soul.
The ride was quiet and smooth. Baal didn't say much, and neither did I. Somewhere along the way, I dozed off, lulled by the hum of the engine and the warmth in my chest. When I opened my eyes, we were parked at the school gate.
I blinked, slightly disoriented. My head was resting on his lap—no, more like his abs—and my hands had somehow curled up around his stomach like he was my oversized teddy bear.
I jerked up. "Oh my God, we're here already? Why didn't you wake me?"
He looked down at me with a slow, teasing smirk. "You looked so pretty sleeping… I didn't want to lose the moment."
My cheeks turned hot instantly. My ears too. This man had a way with words that always made me melt.
As I was about to get out of the car, he leaned in slightly, his eyes piercing into mine. "Let's date."
I froze. Just like that?
I slid back into the seat and stared at him, heartbeat thudding. Every part of me wanted to scream yes, but that would be too easy, right?
So instead, I leaned forward, grabbed his tie, pulled him close, and kissed him—deeply, slowly, deliberately. When I pulled away, I whispered against his lips, "I'll think about it."
Then I got out of the car, adjusting my skirt with a smile that wouldn't leave my face.
Just as I was walking toward the gate, I heard him call out, "I'll come by 5 to pick you up… sweet temptress."
That word.
Temptress.
It hit me like a lightning bolt of confidence. My entire soul lit up. No one had ever called me that before. It made me feel like I could do anything, be anything.
I stood there for a moment after the car zoomed off, still smiling like an idiot.
Then I snapped out of it and called Viola.
"Where are you?"
"Lecture hall," she said, clearly annoyed.
I rushed in.
The moment I stepped into the hall, she didn't even let me sit. "Zaria! You left yesterday, no call, no text—nothing. And now I'm just seeing you?"
"I'm so sorry," I said, hugging her tightly. "I forgot."
She kept a straight face but eventually cracked a smile when I started repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" like a child caught stealing candy.
"I won't do it again," I promised.
Time dragged. Professor Ken was still talking—going on and on about the sculpture midterm. It was already 4:30. My phone kept lighting up. My fingers tapped the back of it restlessly.
Viola leaned in and whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I replied, lying. "I just… need to meet someone."
"At five?" she asked, suspicious. "You better wait. He'll give the area of concentration."
But I couldn't wait. My phone buzzed again. A text from Baal: I'm outside.
I stood up suddenly.
Heads turned.
It was like I'd shouted fire.
"Madam, are you okay?" Professor Ken asked.
I nodded quickly. "I really need to use the toilet."
He waved me off. I leaned down and whispered to Viola, "Please take my bag. I'm not coming back."
She looked at me like I had lost it. "What happened?" she whispered, frowning.
I gave her a mischievous smile. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and nodded.
I dashed out of the hall.
At the school gate, I saw him standing with his back to me, phone to his ear.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Turn around," I said.
He did—slowly—and when his eyes found mine, something flickered in them. A smile crept to the corners of his lips, barely visible… but his eyes gave him away.
I ran into his arms and hugged him tight.
He asked, "Done with class?"
I smirked. "No. But… fuck it."
He laughed. I laughed too.
And just like that, I knew this day was going to end just as dangerously as it began.