Chapter 51 Fifty One
DANIKA
I drop my phone onto the bed, my hands trembling. My chest feels like it's being squeezed in a vice, but I can't make a sound. Tyler... all this time... he'd been playing me. Every word, every "I missed you," had served as some kind of bait. My stomach twists, bile rising in the back of my throat. I can't breathe.
I feel Kaziel stir against me. His eyes flutter open, startled, and they immediately fix on mine.
"Dani?" His voice is thick with sleep and worry. "Why-what's wrong?"
I shake my head, unable to meet his gaze. I can feel the tears beginning again and the hot sting against my lashes.
"It's nothing," I choke out, trying to pull away, but he gently takes my face in his hands.
"Don't... don't hide it from me," he murmurs. "Please."
I try to speak, but all that comes out is a soft, broken sob. And that's enough. Kaziel doesn't push or demand. He just wraps his arms around him, letting me cry into his chest, rocking me gently as I let everything pour out.
I don't know how long I stay there, exhausted and shaking, until my tears finally dry and sleep drags me under.
The next morning, I wake up to warmth. I blink and find Kaziel's body pressed to mine. He plants a gentle kiss on the crown of my head. My heart flutters, my chest loosening.
"Morning," I whisper.
"Morning," he replies. We both share a soft smile.
"How are you feeling?" I ask, running my fingers through his hair.
"Much better," he says, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "And you?"
I nod, squeezing his hand. "Overwhelmed... but okay."
He shifts slightly, pulling me closer, and I melt against him, letting the tension of the night dissolve. His warmth wraps around me like a shield, and for a moment, everything outside this room doesn't exist.
"I just want you to know that I'm always ready to listen to you whenever you're ready to talk," he says, and I nod, closing my eyes.
"Thank you," I whisper, and he hums. We stay like that for a little while. Then he breaks the silence.
"So... get ready," he suddenly utters, and I open my eyes to look at him.
"Ready for what?" I ask.
"For our date," he says, tilting his head. "Remember the last time we planned it? We canceled. It's going to be different this time."
I grin, my gaze locked with his. "You're serious?"
"Completely," he murmurs, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "Now, get ready."
I nod, feeling a flutter in my chest. For the first time in days, I feel a fragile, steady hope. How I missed this.
...
A little while later, I'm standing in front of the mirror, barely recognizing myself. The red mini dress hugs my waist before flaring out softly, the hem brushing mid-thigh. The halter straps tie behind my neck, pulling the neckline low enough that my cleavage frames itself tastefully.
Heat blooms across my cheeks instantly.
"Oh my God..." I whisper to my reflection, mortified and a tiny bit impressed.
I smooth my hands down the sides, trying to calm the fluttery feeling in my chest. Then I gather my hair into a high ponytail, letting a few loose strands fall around my face. It somehow makes the dress even bolder.
Right as I take another breath to steady myself, there's a knock on the door. My heart skips a beat.
"Kaziel?" I ask.
Another soft knock reaches my ears and I swallow hard. "You can...come in."
The door opens slowly. Finally, Kaziel steps inside... and stops. As if someone hit the pause button on him.
His eyes drag over me slowly from the ponytail, then the neckline, then back up again with a focus so sharp it makes my heart pound.
My thighs clamp together reflexively.
Why is he staring at me like that?
Why does it feel like the room suddenly got smaller?
"Kaziel...?" I whisper, unsure.
He inhales shallowly, his jaw tightening, and for a long moment he doesn't blink. Even his hands look tense at his sides, his fingers curled just slightly.
Finally, he manages a word.
"...Danika."
For some reason the sound of my name in that powerful growl sends heat rushing straight to my face.
I look away, flustered. "Is it... too much? I can change if—"
"No," he responds instantly. Then he moves closer, his blue eyes fixed on me. "Don't change."
I gulp as he moves to stand behind me, making me face the mirror.
"Red suits you. More than you know."
And suddenly I'm very aware of every inch of skin this dress is showing and of the way he's looking at me like he's staring at the most appetizing meal possible.
"I do have one request though, dove," he whispers in my ear, his hand slowly sliding up my thigh. I shiver, barely breathing as his fingers graze the hem of my dress.
"What request?" I rasp, and his lips curl darkly.
"You can't wear panties under this dress, sweetheart," he says, his voice dropping by an octave.
"W-why?"
He smirks. "For easier access, sweet thing."
"O-okay."
"Good girl," he utters, pressing a tiny kiss to my neck from behind. "Now take it off."
I gulp, reaching under my dress and hooking my fingers into the waistband of my panties. Heat pools low in my belly as he watches me the entire time through the mirror. I shimmer out of my red panties, and he holds out a hand. Locking eyes with him, I slip it onto his palm. Then he tucks it into his pocket and smiles, his wicked dimples popping out. Just when I think he's going to touch me, he straightens.
"I'll wait for you in the car," he says. Then he turns for the door. He pauses briefly at the door and glances over his shoulder at me.
"Your list. Don't forget to bring it with you," he drawls. Then he walks out, leaving me shaking and flustered.
Holy shit.
After mentally prepping myself for a few minutes, I grab my bag and the tiny journal where my dirtiest thoughts are written. Then I slip on a pair of heels, grateful for Kira's generosity.
As soon as I step outside the house, I'm greeted by the sight of Eve standing there in front of Kaziel. She's doubled over, clutching at her stomach. Her cinnamon scent hits me like a punch to the face, and my eyes widen. She seems to be in tears as she tugs at Kaziel's sleeve. He simply ignores her, scrolling through his phone.
"What's going on here?" I ask, and she rushes to me.
"I...I'm in heat. It hurts so much. I don't have a mate yet. Only Kaziel can help," she croaks, her voice dripping with desperation.
Pushing her off me, I scowl at her.
"Why should he help you?"
"I'm the vessel! Is he really going to let me die?!"
The nerve of this bitch. I should burst her bubble and announce what I discovered, but I really just want to focus on the date. When she rises to her feet in an attempt to hurry back to my man, I grab her by the hair and push her to the ground.
"Go home, Eve. You look pathetic like this," I drawl, moving over to the door of the car, which Kaziel opens swiftly. He takes my hand and helps me settle in before joining me in the driver's seat.
He pulls out of his property, entwining his fingers with mine.
"How's my lady feeling?" he asks, and I grin.
"Excited," I tell him, and he nods in approval.
"Hold on tight."
The drive feels relaxing. His hand stays laced with mine the entire time, his thumb stroking slow circles against my skin.
My breathing hitches when we pull into a private road lined with carved stone pillars and gold-laced lanterns. At the end of it sits a building that looks like it stepped straight out of a luxury magazine.
A massive glass structure, shimmering with warm champagne light, fountains reflecting the glow like liquid diamonds. The sign at the front reads:
LAKEWOOD LUXE HOTEL & SPA
My eyes go wide.
No way.
"Wait..." I turn to him. "Kaziel, Lakewood…as in…your family name?"
He smirks slightly, his eyes darting to me before returning to the road. “As in mine, yes."
"You own this?" I choke out.
"Among others," he says casually. As if he didn't just pull into a seven-star palace.
My jaw hangs open. I look at the hotel again, almost dizzy. “You took me here for a date?"
He squeezes my hand. “You deserve the best."
Heat rushes to my face again. He parks in a private underground entrance, and the moment he steps out, two suited staff members rush forward to greet him with bows.
"Alpha Kaziel," they say in unison.
I blink again.
Kaziel opens my door himself, offering his hand. I take it, letting him help me step out gracefully in my heels. The soft hum of classical music drifts from somewhere ahead.
We walk towards the private elevator, but before we reach it, a tall man in an expensive navy suit approaches, smiling when he spots Kaziel.
"Kaz!" the man says, clapping him on the shoulder. "You never told me you were in town. I thought you were still abroad for that merger."
Merger? Abroad?
What exactly does this man do?
Kaziel smirks lightly. "Plans changed."
The man laughs. "They always do with you."
Then he finally notices me.
"Oh," he says, his eyebrows rising as understanding dawns. "So this is the reason."
I smile politely, giving him a small nod. "Hi."
"Pleasure," he says warmly. "I'm Damien, one of this menace's business partners."
"Ignore him," Kaziel mutters.
Damien chuckles, shaking his head. "No wonder you answered my calls with your 'busy' voice. You should've just said you were with your woman."
My cheeks heat up. Kaziel simply smirks, sliding his hand to the small of my back.
I'm about to respond when a familiar feminine voice speaks from behind us.
"Danika?"
That sounds a lot like Ember, my stepmother. That’s not possible though, right?