Chapter 7 – Ten Seconds

MIKAELA carefully opened her office door. It was still ten minutes before seven. Her bodyguards were still waiting outside. She reasoned out earlier that she still had many photos to edit that’s why she needed to work overtime. It was true anyway, but she already finished them an hour ago. She was too inspired to work after Blaze’s call. She was the only one in her studio now. Her two other female assistants left at exactly five o’clock.

Mikaela gasped when she saw two of her bodyguards sleeping at the receiving area. Both of them were even snoring and had goofy smiles on their faces as if they were having the best dreams of their lives at the moment. This was the first time this happened. Back then, back when Mikaela was still behaving so well and had never tried escaping from them, they would still be wary and alert at all times. But now, they had completely and miraculously let their defenses down. She quickly took a picture of them. If worse comes to worst, she could use it as a leverage.

But she should not celebrate yet. There was one more obstacle waiting just outside her studio. She tiptoed and tried her hardest not to make a sound as she went to the sliding door. When she opened it, she caught Dante, her driver and bodyguard sleeping soundly as well. He was on the driver’s seat of her car. What happened to these guys? Were they that exhausted from guarding her all day that they were sleeping when it was only seven in the evening?

After a while, Mikaela shook her head. She didn’t want to think about it anymore. Things were working out in her favor after all. That was all that mattered. At least, for now. She would just send them a text later to stop them from worrying so much. Hopefully, she could make a bargain with them so they could keep this from her mother and so they could keep their job at the same time.

She anxiously stood in front of her studio and waited for Blaze while praying that her bodyguards would not wake up anytime soon.

Thankfully, Blaze did not make her wait too long. Within a few minutes, she saw a red sports car approaching her. And from there, Blaze came out looking as dashing as ever in his white long-sleeved and gray coat. He let his shoulder-length hair down this time, and it suited him. He looked like a modern prince charming. This sight alone was giving her butterflies in the stomach.

“Hello there, beautiful,” he said in a soft voice. “Are you ready to go?”

Mikaela nodded while smiling.

Blaze glanced at Dante before opening the car door for her. “Your bodyguards are not doing their job at all. They had no idea I’m going to take their master away.”

“Yeah. Even I was surprised. Dante and the others must have been so tired. Maybe they didn’t get a good sleep after what happened last night. I will make it up to them when we get back.”

“Shouldn’t you just fire them?”

“Why would I? Everyone gets tired. That’s normal.” She winked. “This is like hitting two birds with one stone anyway. They get to have a good rest and I get to have a date with you. Let’s go before they wake up,” she said while giggling. This felt like an adventure, far from her monotonous everyday life.

“This is the second time you are riding a stranger’s car. I can’t decide whether you are too trusting or just fearless, Mikaela,” he said when they were both inside his car.

Mikaela glanced at Blaze. She caught the dangerous glow in his eyes as his fingers traced her cheek down to the side of her neck, to her slender throat, across her collarbone while waiting for her answer.

She swallowed. The heat of his fingers was tickling her skin. And she realized she wanted more. She wanted him to touch her more. She did not realize that she was a woman capable of being like this until she met him that she found it almost impossible to contain her desire to be held by him.

“What if I turned out to be a devil and devour you right here, right now?” Blaze added as he leaned closer. Mikaela was wearing an off-shoulder maroon dress which barely reached her knees. He was so close that she could feel his hot breath against her neck. “Remember, whatever I do to you, nobody would know since only you and I are here. Even if I do this,” she shuddered when he suddenly bit her shoulder. It was painful at first, but it was enough to spread fire all over her body especially to the soft juncture between her legs. “Even if I do more, nobody would be able to stop me. What if I take you to a place where nobody would be able to reach you and never return you?”

“You won’t do that,” Mikaela replied, panting.

His mouth went up her neck as his teeth grazed her skin which made her moan. “And how do you know that? Hmm?”

“Because I believe you are not the devil you said you are. You are not a bad person, Blaze.”

“Then what do you think of me?”

Blaze could control the darkness within him. That only meant he had a strong resolve. And she admired that about him. Even now as they talked, his white aura was dazzling her. But she could not possibly say that. She smiled when their eyes locked. “I don’t know. You’re just Blaze to me. You’re just… you.”

“Fuck. Was this what Silas was talking about? Your innocence can drive a man over the edge, Mikaela.” Blaze groaned. “This is not a part of my plan but I’m giving you a chance to get out from this. Make the most out of it because an offer like this will not happen again. You have ten seconds to get out of this car and to be free from me. If you don’t leave after ten seconds, you will be stuck with me from now on. Even if you end up begging to be freed, I won’t let you. That’s the kind of man I am, Mikaela. Your ten seconds starts now.”

Blaze began counting while staring at her lips. “I’m telling you I won’t be kind anymore after this.”

He was already warning her. He was right. He was a total stranger and her mother had warned her many times about him, too. She ought to avoid him. He was a puzzle himself. And if they will continue seeing each other, he might give her some pieces that would help her solve the puzzle.

But would she like the answer waiting for her at the end?

“Seven, six, five. You better think twice right now, Mikaela. You can’t handle me.”

There goes his aura again. This time, the black outshined the white one. She knew she had to make a run for it now. She held the door. And yet, she could not move her feet.

“Four, three…”

Blaze smirked. “You are one tough cookie, huh? You are really not going to leave? You only have two seconds left now.”

Mikaela bit her lower lip as she opened the door to her side. But when she met his beautiful green eyes, she stopped. It was like he was anticipating she would leave, but his eyes were saying an entirely different thing. How could he look at her like he wanted her to stay? Like he needed her to stay?

“One. Time’s up.”

Mikaela knew her mother wouldn’t forgive her for this. And yet, she closed the door and decided to stay put. His eyes glowed.

“I gave you a chance and you didn’t leave. Whatever happens now is all on you, Mikaela. You’ve been warned. You should have listened to your mother, you know,” Blaze said as he grabbed her nape before his mouth south hers like a hungry lion feeding on its prey for the first time. Her eyes widened when he deepened the kiss.

This was not her first kiss, but she had never been kissed like this before since the last time she dated was during her college days. Her ex-boyfriend even called her frigid because she did not respond the way he wanted her to. That was the first and last time she had a relationship. He could not even kiss her again because her bodyguards were always around. Her suitors would often back out after seeing how tall and bulky her bodyguards were.

That’s why Mikaela was secretly glad that Blaze did not change after his encounter with her parents or after seeing her bodyguards. And now, it felt like he was rewriting her first experience as his tongue probed deep inside her mouth.

So, this is how a real kiss is like…

A few seconds later and Mikaela closed her eyes. Her hands clutched on his coat as she slowly responded to his kisses. Their tongues mated. His tongue was so hot against hers that she felt like melting.

Mikaela was gasping when Blaze finally released her mouth. He brushed the side of her mouth with his fingers and smiled. She could feel her heart slamming against its rib cage. God, she wanted this man. She had never desired anybody the way she desired him. He had awakened something in her and only he could do something about it now. And he knew it judging by the look in his eyes.

Blaze lightly bit her lower lip before he spoke. “Don’t worry, you will have more of me tonight, my sweet Mikaela. We’ve only just begun.”

His eyes promised many wild and sinful nights after this. And Mikaela could not believe that she was anticipating those nights already that she could feel her nipples hardened even if he did not touch them. What have you done to me, Blaze? To my heart? And to my body?