/Zane's POV/
I blinked several times before my brain regained control of my body, which for some reason I couldn't seem to move for some reason.
The faint scent of coffee drifted through the air, mixing with the cool, sharp tang of the morning breeze seeping through the curtains. My limbs felt heavy, my skin prickled against the leather of the sofa, and every sound—the soft hum of the air conditioner, the rhythmic tick of the wall clock—seemed to echo twice as loud in my groggy head.
I remember falling asleep in the study trying to get Allison's phone to turn on and when it did, I was passworded so I had to try and unlocked his phones with few of her password combinations I was familiar with but after none worked, Kept the phone aside hoping to catch up with work.
The faint blue glow from the laptop screen still burned at the back of my eyes, the dim light flickering against the glass desk where my half-drunk cup of coffee had gone cold. My back ached from the awkward sleeping position, the faint creak of the chair beneath me a reminder that I must have dozed off mid-thought.
I thought Miss Snow showing up to my private house unannounced was an anomalous situation that could jeopardise my plan or at least cripple it but Noah's feedback a few hours after they made me realise it had brought nothing but satisfying results.
Snow telling her friends about seeing Allison and the condition she was in had brought quite a few satisfying reactions since everyone now expected Allison to return to the company sooner than later.
At the same time, I'm left to wonder if what happened isn't tied to any of Allison's friends. It could be out of jealousy or hatred.
While the investigation has been annoyingly stagnant, both on my end and Vikram's since he still couldn't bring Elias to confess more reason as to why he'd abducted Allison except to the fact that he loved and wanted to protect her from me. Which is crazy because I'd never hurt her.
But what if Allison did something to make me consider that option? No, that's bullshit. I have a rigid principle I've never compromised for anyone, you stab me in the back and I stabbed you in the fucking face.
I was the type to repay grudges tenfold but there was nothing she could have done that'd earn my grudges, because I knew how much she loved me.
I fell asleep while reviewing the files Noah sent me, result from the ongoing secret investigation in my company. To find the motherfucker who thinks he has double lives by stealing from me.
The faint hum of the computer fans and the scent of inked paper had filled the room that night. My fingers had gone numb from typing and scrolling, yet I kept going until my vision blurred.
But I was a lot more tired than I anticipated. I'd planned to pull an all-nighter but thing started to get blurry at one point and though, I fought back the sleep. I'd eventually lost.
The soft buzz of the city outside lulled me into unconsciousness, the faint flicker of light through the blinds tracing patterns on my skin.
Maddy was still mad at me, it didn't take a genius to figure it out since I woke up duct-taped to the sofa in her room.
The sticky pull of the tape tugged painfully at the hairs on my wrists, and my muscles tensed instinctively. My back pressed against the soft fabric of her couch; I could smell her faint perfume lingering in the air—floral, with a hint of spice—and it was maddening.
"You awake?" She asked with a smirk after my brain scrambled to understand the situation I woke up in. "Coffee?" She offered and I glanced down at my hand still child to the chair, making me realise she was mocking me.
"Oh right…your hands are tied." She smirked, the pun rolling off her tongue with just enough sarcasm to make me glare. "Look at that, they literally tied."
"You did this—"
"Well, your majesty, you were all over me yesterday…it's was kinda hard to keep my hands to myself y'know. I wouldn't want to touch your noble body." She said with a deadpan expression, if it wasn't for her words I would have taken her seriously.
Scoffing in disbelief, I asked. "And there was no other way than to tie me up?"
Maddy walked over to her desk then returned to me with a pair of scissors. The metallic glint caught the morning light, and the sharp sound of the blades snapping open made my pulse quicken.
Grinning, she replied. "Like I said, I wouldn't want to touch your majesty's noble body." Her grin disappeared and her face turned blank. "I'm heading down for breakfast." She declared, walking off without glancing back and leaving me completely amused and shocked.
But I guess I did learn one thing, Maddy is also big on grudges…why didn't I think about it before. It's literally what brought us together.
I laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet room, before immediately getting to work on setting myself free which was no easy job since none of my hands were untied before she left, but at least she gave me something to use to get out of.
The adhesive tugged at my skin each time I moved; my wrists stung, the tape snapping with small pops that echoed in the silence.
After more than thirty minutes I was finally out of Maddy's chair and in my room taking a shower.
The warm water hit my shoulders in rhythmic bursts, washing away the ache and stickiness clinging to my skin. The faint scent of soap and steam filled the air, the hiss of water against tile a soothing lullaby.
I smiled recalling the fierce look on her face, and that body-hug dress she had on, hugging her in the right places.
I wore a one-sided grin recalling how hard it was to keep my eyes off her as she walked out on me, stylishly but confidently.
Her walking steps were still yet to be corrected since it's a long time habit but that alone makes her unique. She wasn't catwalking but her strides speaks for her attitude, confident and fucking nonchalant.
"What the—" My jaw dropped as I hardened at the mere thought of her walking off on me even after realising the helpless situation I was in.
The heat in my gut spread lower, my breath hitched, and I cursed under my breath as her image burned behind my eyelids.
I certainly do not have a fetish of being tied up, so if I'm like this, it only meant one thing, I want her.
Shit! I thought as the image of that night together filled my head while my hands worked my length, chasing the release I so badly craved.
It's been quite a while yet I could still remember every single thing like it was yesterday, her moans, her touch, the searing heat of my skin to hers…it was enough to set me off.
The rush hit like a wave, my muscles tensing, my breath coming out in ragged gasps against the misty air.
I'm so fucked! I thought as I exploded with a burst of colour just from replaying the night in my head.
What the fuck did I just do? I frowned realising I'd literally just used Maddy as a jerk-off material.
What am I? A teenager. I wondered as I watched the liquid wash away together with the water running down from the shower, onto my slowly relaxing skin.
I stayed a few more minutes in the shower before walking out to my closet, where I settled for a simple button up shirt and tucked into a blue trouser.
The crisp fabric brushed coolly against my damp skin; I could still feel the faint sting on my wrists where the tape had rubbed raw. I almost reached for a tie out of habit.
My hands had just started working on my buttons when I heard a loud crash downstairs.
The sharp sound sliced through the silence, followed by the faint clatter of something metallic. My heart raced, not for me but for Maddy who I'm damn sure was still downstairs.
I rushed over to my desk and retrieved a gun, I'd immediately had licensed after the last incident.
The cold metal felt reassuring against my palm as I tightened my grip. I wasn't always a fan of carrying firearms but this was highly necessary.
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