Chapter 19 — You Own Me

*Present Day*

“NATASHA, I’m outside your door. I am trying so hard not to break this door since you told me to quit using magic when I’m with you. I am abiding by your rules so open this damn door right now and let me hug you.”

Those words from Cain had brought my mind back to the present. I slowly lifted my face when I heard him banging the bathroom door. I took a deep breath before I stood up to open the door.

And there I saw him. His arms were already spread wide open for me.

He sighed as if he could tell what happened to me inside the bathroom. “Agatha told me what happened. She said that for someone who had achieved victory, you looked upset.” He softly smiled. “Come here, Tash. Let me give you a hug.”

I didn’t hesitate anymore. I ran to his arms. Just like that and slowly, my breathing went back to normal. The demons in my head had all been silenced upon hearing his voice. He lifted me up and embraced me tenderly. I buried my face on his neck before closing my eyes.

Every time Cain would embrace me, I would realize that the things I once read on romance novels were wrong. They said that you’d forget all your problems the moment you are in the arms of the person you love.

I couldn’t forget my problems whenever I’m with Cain. My wounds were still there and they still ached so much. But somehow, whenever he was around, he could make me feel like healing was on its way. My rage was slowly disappearing, too. Because of my Beast, I could now look back on the saddest memories of my past with a smile. Because Cain was in those memories, too. He was there with me. And he made those memories endurable.

In the past, all I could remember was the pain. Now I had something beautiful to remember, too. And that was his warm embrace. He would always make sure to give me his warmest hug every time I was going through something.

Just like today.

It was as if Cain knew exactly when I was having a rough time. And he could choose to ignore that. But he would always show up time and time again. Cain saw me for who I truly was, with the messy hair, crumpled clothes, and swollen eyes which was far from the composed Natasha whom the public knew. He had seen me many times in this state. But he had neither judged me nor accused me of being weak.

“You’re here again,” I whispered.

“I always want to be in a place filled with things about you. Why? Don’t you want me to be here?”

Of course, I want you here. I want it so badly. But what if I get used to this? We only have about nine months left before our contract is over. What if after the contract, I long for this? What if I end up searching for you whenever I’m sad and in pain and you are nowhere to be seen?

But just like before, I didn’t have the courage to say those things. Cain had given me more than what I asked for. It would be too greedy of me to keep asking for more.

“It’s not that. You give the best hugs, Cain. Actually, I’m very thankful. I met you at the darkest time of my life. And it was crazy. What we have is the craziest thing ever.” I sweetly smiled. “But it was real. It had its flaws. But I still think it was beautiful.”

“It is.”

“And I will surely miss this.” I will miss you, everything about you.

“So, do I, Tash. So do I.”

Tash. I bit my lower lip when I heard him call me by my nickname. I had been called that way by so many people in the past. But whenever Cain would say that, it was like I’m hearing that nickname for the first time because it sounded so special in his lips. Or was it just me?

I embraced him tightly. Up until two years ago, Cain was just a myth I grew up hearing. Who’d have thought that he was real and that he was going to be with me in days like this? I thought I could keep things purely physical. I thought I was being really careful this time around because I didn’t want to have my heart broken again.

Before, I was like a prisoner. I used to mark the calendar. I used to count how many more days and months I needed to work on before I could be freed from our contract.

But this morning, the minute Cain called out to me while warning to break the door, I could tell he was worried. And I felt like my heart jumped out of my chest. Like a fool, it wavered by the mere idea of being in his arms again.

That was when the realization hit me. I wanted Cain to stay in my life because I needed him. And I needed him because I had fallen in love with him. I thought I needed him because I was scared to be alone again. But I realized that that was far from the truth. I could stand being alone. I had been through that even before I met him. But I couldn’t stand being without him now.

How silly of me. I couldn’t believe that after all that took place, I would still be a sucker for love.

“Cain…” I know it’s wrong but I sometimes wonder what it would feel like if you were mine.

“What is it? Do you somehow feel better now?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you.”

“In the future, just call me when you’re in pain, Tash. I will always do what you ask me to. All you need to do is say the word.”

Then what if I ask you to never let me go? Would you still do it for me? “Are you saying that you will give me whatever I want?"

“Yes, whatever you want.”

“Including yourself?”

He was quiet for a few seconds. When he was about to answer, I covered his mouth with my hand. Suddenly, I was scared to hear his answer. “I’m just kidding. But what if I ask you to give me the ‘Marker’? Would you do it?” I asked teasingly to distract both of us.

Cain softly kissed my fingers before answering, “You silly girl. Marker has always been yours.”

I looked at him wide-eyed. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

“All the Marker Companies are under your name, Tash.” He winked at me. “You are wealthier than your Grandfather now. I plan to tell you that once our contract expires but since you asked for it today, then I guess the secret’s out.”

“But I never ask for that!”

Cain shrugged as if we were only talking about something so simple instead of businesses worth billions. “Everything that you think I own belongs to you now. I know you never asked for it but it was my decision. And you can’t return them. That’s a part of our agreement.”

My heart pounded. “But you said that the Marker belongs to the person who owns you.”

“You own me, Tash,” Cain said before he evaded my eyes. “I mean didn’t we own each other until our contract is over?”

“So that’s what it was.” I lowered my head. He almost had my hopes up. “Still, that’s too much. You’ve already given me lot, Cain. I can’t even give you something in return.”

“After all this time, you still don’t understand, do you?” I lifted my face and looked at him. “A place is just a place until you fill it with your presence. You see, everything changes when you are here, when you are with me. That is a gift itself, Tash. Believe it or not, but you gave me the most incredible gift of all. And it’s you. It’s your presence. That’s why from now on; don’t be discouraged again, hmm? And don’t be afraid because I will always be by your side.”

Why… why do you always say the things I want to hear? How could I not fall in love with you when you’re being like this? My eyes watered. It had been a while since I last cried. I could be misunderstanding the situation. We could be on different pages. Nevertheless, I feel so thankful. “Really?”

He pinched my nose. “Really.”

I embraced Cain once more.

“Tash?” he whispered a few seconds later.

“Hmm?”

“Can I sleep over tonight? My butler broke the bed when he was cleaning my room.”

My brows furrowed. I know his butler. I met him a few times before. Frank was among Cain’s followers who also woke up after a hundred years since he asked Silas to be put under the same slumber spell as Cain. That was how devoted his followers were. It seemed that Frank still couldn’t control his strength that’s why he kept destroying his master’s belongings.

We live in the same village. He was just seven houses away from mine. But Cain would always sleep over at my house because of his butler. Last time, he said that Frank broke the air conditioner in his room. And just two days ago, they had a power outage because one of his servants forgot to pay the electricity bill since they weren’t use to the civilization yet.

Cain could be telling the truth but sometimes, I couldn’t help but dream whenever he’d give me different reasons to be with me because there were many women who would do everything just to be a part of his life. And he didn’t need to give those women reasons. Despite the contract, Cain could still be anywhere he wanted to and with whomever he desired, but he was here with me.

“Tash?”

“Of course, you can sleep over, Cain.”

Deep inside, I’m hoping that Frank would break something in his master’s room again tomorrow and in the following days to come.

I shook my head. I’m really going crazy.