LIANA"What? No, not me. Look at him," I replied, gesturing towards Aaron, who was still engrossed in conversation with Kiara.Zaylen followed my gaze, and his expression softened as he observed the way Aaron looked at Kiara. "Oh," he murmured, the realization dawning on him."See? You are too quick to jump to conclusions," I scolded gently, giving him a reassuring smile."Is that what a man in love looks like?" Zaylen wondered aloud, his gaze lingering on Aaron and Kiara.I smiled warmly, nodding in affirmation. "Yes. I wish somebody would look at me with so much love like that one day. At least James never did. I hope somebody else comes along—" I paused as my eyes fell on Zaylen. I found him staring at me with a look very similar to Aaron's, and my heart skipped a beat. Suddenly feeling flustered, I fumbled for words and quickly averted my gaze."Anyway, be ready for your date tonight. I will join you later," I said, trying to regain my composure."Okay," Zaylen mumbled, but I coul
LIANABefore I knew it, we were already in a room of a nearby hotel.Zaylen's lips were on mine, his touch igniting a fire within me that I couldn't resist. Our tongues danced, twining together and exploring the depths of each other's mouths. I could taste the sweetness of his lips, feel the warmth of his breath as it mingled with mine.His hands, gentle yet strong, cradled the back of my neck, pulling me closer as the kiss deepened. I could feel his heart racing against my chest, matching the rapid beat of my own. The world seemed to melt away, leaving only the two of us in a cocoon of pure passion.As our kiss intensified, so did our desire. Our hands roamed, exploring every curve and contour of each other's bodies, as if trying to memorize every detail. I felt Zaylen's fingers trail down my back, over the small of my spine, and enter the hem of my top.Our kiss deepened, igniting a fire that had been simmering between us for far too long. His other hand tangled in my hair, pulli
ZAYLENAs Liana finally uttered the words I had been yearning to hear, my heart swelled with relief and desire at the same time. I was relieved to know that I was not the only one who wanted this, and I was overwhelmed with desire because… it was her.I cupped her face gently in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the tears that had formed in her eyes."I want you too, Liana," I whispered, my voice low and sincere. "I have wanted you for so long.”“Really?” she asked, her voice vulnerable.“Yes. I never wanted to go on those dates. All along I have been wishing that you were the one sitting across from me at the table,” the confession tumbled out of my lips before I could stop it.Hearing my earnest words, a smile formed on her lips as she placed her hand over mine on her cheek, as if truly giving me permission.With a newfound urgency, I lowered my lips to hers, our tongues meeting in a passionate kiss as our bodies melded together.My hands slipped under her top once again, and this t
LIANAI woke up to find myself in Zaylen's arms, his embrace warm and comforting. For a fleeting moment, I basked in the sensation, reveling in the feeling of safety and security that enveloped me.Rolling in his arms, I hugged him tightly, seeking solace in his presence. His strong embrace provided a sense of reassurance, and I found myself clinging to him, unwilling to let go.But as the haze of sleep began to lift, realization dawned on me. The events of the previous night came flooding back, and with them, a wave of guilt and regret washed over me.“Damn you, Liana!” I cursed myself under my breath as the reality of what had transpired last night hit me like a ton of bricks.What had I done? How could I have let things go this far?How could I have been so foolish? I pulled away from Zaylen's embrace, a rush of shame washing over me as I realized the gravity of my actions.Gathering my clothes in a frenzy, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at my insides. I had lo
LIANADuring lunchtime at the office, I found myself seated with Aaron and Kiara, engaged in light conversation. "So, did you hear about the new project that's coming up?" Aaron asked, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin.Kiara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "No, spill the beans!"I chuckled, amused by their curiosity. "Well, rumor has it that the deadline might be pushed back due to some unexpected delays in the development phase."Aaron nodded knowingly. "I heard that too. It's causing quite a stir among the higher-ups."Kiara leaned in closer, her interest piqued. "Do you think it will affect all our departments’ timeline?"I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "Hard to say at this point. But knowing our team, I'm sure we'll find a way to make it work."Amidst the chatter, my gaze suddenly drifted towards Zaylen, who just stepped inside the room.I hesitated, contemplating whether to acknowledge him or not. After all, I had made it clear that nothing would change between us, de
ZAYLENAs I stared at the message from Liana, a surge of emotional turmoil swept through me, leaving me with hurt and confusion. "Why are you so mad at me?" the text read, each word a painful reminder of the ‘mistake’ that we both willingly made."You can't even comprehend why I am mad," I muttered under my breath. “If you could, you wouldn't have to be asking me this question right now.”It was true — I couldn't bring myself to explain the tumult of emotions that raged within me, but neither could I bring myself to word out my pain to her.The truth was, I felt utterly devastated by Liana's response to our night together.I had allowed myself to hope for something more, to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for us to build something meaningful together. But her request to forget about it all had shattered those hopes like fragile glass, leaving me feeling hollow and alone.I couldn't understand how she could be so blind to the depth of my feelings, so oblivious to t
ZAYLEN"What's wrong? What happened to Liana? Is she okay?" I asked the doctor anxiously, my heart pounding in my chest as I awaited his response.The doctor furrowed his brow, studying the monitor beside Liana's bed before turning to me with a somber expression. "I am afraid we are not entirely sure," he admitted. "She doesn't seem to have a fever, her blood pressure is normal, and her heartbeat is steady. But despite all that, she is still unconscious."My stomach churned with dread at his words, a sense of helplessness washing over me. “What do you mean you are not sure?” I demanded, hating this entire situation. "Isn't there anything you can do to help her?"The doctor shook his head, his expression grave. "We will need to conduct more tests to determine the cause of her condition," he explained. "In the meantime, all we can do is monitor her closely and hope for the best." I clenched my fists in frustration, a surge of guilt washing over me. I had been so consumed by my own em
LIANAI found myself staring at the bloodied patient, my eyes locked on the sight of their mangled body, especially the visible bleeding flesh.A deep hunger stirred within me, gnawing at my throat like I hadn't eaten in days. The scent of blood filled my senses, triggering an instinctual urge that I struggled to resist.Suddenly, Zaylen's voice broke through the haze of my thoughts, snapping me out of my trance-like state. I blinked, feeling disoriented for a moment before realizing where I was."What happened? You okay?" Zaylen's concerned voice reached me, and I quickly nodded in response, trying to push aside the unsettling hunger that still lingered within me."Yeah, I am fine," I replied, forcing a smile onto my lips. "Just feeling a bit thirsty, that's all,” I blurted out.I didn't dare to tell him the truth, to admit the dark desires that had momentarily consumed me. Instead, I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind, burying them beneath a facade of normalcy."Do you want