Chapter 52

**Kapittel 52**

**"Where are we going, Hades?"** asked Allison as she noticed that William was driving them to an unfamiliar place. Hades was using his unexpected tactics again. She was planning to decorate the mansion with Christmas decorations and was about to tell him about it after they ate breakfast, but unfortunately, as soon as they finished, he dragged her to their room and told her to dress. She thought they were going to the mall or somewhere, but she seemed wrong.

"You'll know soon, love," was his only reply with a cryptic smile on his face.

Tired of figuring out what he was planning to do with her today, she only shrugged and looked at the view behind the window. The snowflakes were tirelessly falling from the sky. Most were landing on piles of snow, while others fell and got stuck on the car's tinted windows. Allison entertained herself by tracing the different patterns of snowflakes with her fingers, squinting her eyes, and leaning to the window close so she could get a good view of their intrinsically beautiful patterns.

As the trip went by, she was slowly becoming familiar with the buildings passing by, but she ignored it as it was futile to assume which place they were going to this time. The drive didn't take long, and they finally pulled over to a curb, and she was able to take a good look at where they stopped. It was a jewelry store, sparkling in all its trinkety glory.

"Why are we here? Haven't you already given me a ring?" Allison asked as she left the car, roaming her eyes around and looking at the vast, polished, shiny window's accessories.

"The one I gave you was our engagement ring. We'll be picking our wedding rings now," Hades answered as he went to her side and placed a hand on her waist, guiding her to the entrance of the edifice.

As they walked in slow steps to avoid slipping on the icy ground, she felt a sting in her chest hearing him say that. It was a waste of time to be here, looking at rings, finding the best they could find like a couple genuinely in love, and they weren't that kind of couple. They were arranged, more like she was forced because of this silly act made by a promise. Nevertheless, she catered to his desire and helped in finding the perfect ring. After finalizing the design for the wedding ring, they immediately went back in the car to avoid the sudden cold wind blowing.

Allison hoped they were going back to the mansion while rubbing her hands together, devising to move her plans on buying decorations tomorrow instead since the wind was blowing too hard. She would probably ask Miracle if they had hidden or spared decorations too.

"We're going to Charlotte's," he answered as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to his side. 'He's being clingy once again,' she thought.

Days after that night, she noticed that he had been weird lately. And if what she meant by weird, she meant weird. The man had gone pretty damned recently. He'd gone clingy as if he was planning not to get away from her with just one inch!

"You mean, your cousin's boutique?" she asked as she faced him.

"Yes," he answered that made her wonder. What for? Was there going to be another occasion?

"Why?" she asked him with her brows almost kissing in confusion.

"Because we're buying you a gown," he answered as he faced her and reached a hand to caress her cheek.

"Gown for?" her forehead creased.

"For our wedding, of course," he said as he gave her a sudden and unanticipated peck on the lips.

Allison went stiff, not because of his kiss but because of what he said. A familiar burdensome feeling arose in her chest. So that was what he was planning, she realized. He was starting to prepare for their wedding. She thought of the occurrences coming too soon. Just the idea of her and him getting married makes her shudder and dread. She was not prepared for that yet. "We're buying for a gown, yet we haven't planned for the wedding, and we haven't booked a wedding planner yet," she excused. Shouldn't they take things slow and on fleek first?

"Ah, no," he scratched his nape. "Charlotte's going to be busy the following months, and she wants to know your sizes first so she can put in a schedule when to make your gown," he explained.

"W... Wait. Wait," she pushed him away slightly by his hard chest. "Uhm..." she bit her lower lip.

"Don't bite your lip, baby," Hades said, rendering her confused once again.

"Wh... Why shouldn't I?" she stammered as he was making her intimidated.

He placed his forehead on hers, looking at her in the eyes with smoldering, pure lust. Never did she know that deep in his mind, he was stripping her bare, sexily, sensually. She never knew that he was plotting how to swoon her in positions they would make if she gave in to him deep in his mind.

"You're biting your lip again," he said before she felt his fingers holding her jaw. She let go of her lower lip from her upper teeth. "Now... now..." he said soothingly as he pinched her chin. "You better not bite your lip if you don't want me to make love to you right here, right now." His words rendered Allison seal her lips shut. His fingers left her chin as his other hand held the side of her head and pushed it softly to his broad shoulder blade. She almost exhaled in delight as his musky cologne assailed her nostrils. He smelled so minty and dominating, just like his overbearing personality.

She reminisced the day back when they first met. She was so empty that day. She was still sulking over her breakup with Dane and was soaking wet because of the sudden rain. She felt like exploding that day, she wanted to spill everything she felt, but she was afraid to do so. She was so alone and depressed that day. But then, she dropped and spilled her white coffee on his expensive shoes. That was when she first met him.

She was afraid of him that time, fearful of what he'd do to her when she saw anger in his eyes. But when those steel eyes met hers, it changed into something tender, something soft that tugged her frail heart, but it all flushed gone when he told his parents about their personal affair. It changed to anger, but now, it was slowly melting when he first comforted her when she had a nightmare. He comforted her in ways more than one that sometimes tugged her heartstrings. But that was just it. Soon, she will part ways with this man, and that soon might be tomorrow or today.

Allison looked up at the man who was resting his head against hers with his eyes closed. Suddenly, a strange feeling arose inside her. A feeling that was so familiar to her. A feeling that she used to feel when she met Dane. The feeling of being in love. She shook her head before taking her head off his shoulder. While Hades, who was utterly clueless, was startled because of the sudden jerk.

'No,' she thought while shaking her head. She was not in love with him. This was just a fixed feeling because they had been together in the same house for some time.

"Is there something wrong, love?" he asked worriedly.

She looked at him and almost melted at the sight of his face. She mentally shook her head. No! She must not fall in love with him. She thought she must never fall in love with him, not with someone forcing her to be with him. She managed herself before shaking her head and answering him nonchalantly, "No. Nothing at all."

He was about to ask again when William pulled over the curb and announced, "We have arrived, Master Hades, Mistress Allison."

She almost sighed in relief. Her mind was in havoc right now, and she didn't want to be interrogated by him. She might screw up even more. She held her forehead.

'I'm not in love with Hades.'

'I'm not in love with Hades.'

'I'm not in love with Hades.'

She mentally told herself repeatedly like a broken vinyl played by a turntable. She shook her head. She noted to herself that she shouldn't think about these things. She shouldn't ponder at all.

"Love, are you all right?"