Aurora stiffened."I didn't… I have been having lectures all day and I only just got back after having lunch at the restaurant," she ratted out at once, "I'm so sorry. I can get you to a hospital.""We only just met, Aurora. Why do such a thing to me?"Jocelyn shook her head, staggered and fell. Aurora was quick to catch her and gently laid her on the floor. The knife clattered to the ground next to her feet. She jumped away, her breathing heavy. She pulled out her phone and dialled the emergency line."Hello? Please, I need help. Someone has been stabbed…"Afterwards, she called Zik, countless times but he never picked.*Ezekiel was trapped in his own mess. After his lectures, he had avoided going home for as long as could but somehow Cole and Adam had found him and forced him to return home with them. Now he sat next to Aris, forcing himself not to choke from the excessive smoke they breathed out."You wanna do some?" Cole asked, offering him a cigarette."No," he said with a shake
Aurora Maria Grazia brought out the keys to her apartment and unlocked the door. She picked up the bag of groceries on the floor and staggered in, burdened with the weight of the bags in her hand."Oh good God," she muttered, dropping them all at once on the floor. She shut the door and carried the bags one after the other to the kitchen."Enough foodstuffs for the rest of the month, thank you Jesus," she sighed with content, washing her hands.She loved the house. The neighborhood gave her the peace and tranquility she needed and it was quite close to her workplace.She ventured into her study to get some work done. At least, two hours of work before she prepared something to eat. Zik was going to come by later in the evening and she wanted to treat him to a feast.She unpacked her hair as she sat at her desk. She was happy, things were working out well but there was still an emptiness in her heart that refused to be filled up. It had been years now, over six years and she could bare
Sebastian winked."My little secret."Her eyes narrowed."Have you been stalking me?" "Kind of," he admitted with a sheepish grin."You are still so cute," she gushed, pinching his cheek. He blushed but didn't look away from her."it's time to tell you my life's story," he added quickly before she could speak.Their hands still intertwined, he told her all what had been going on in his life."He didn't touch me again after that," he said of his father's abuse, "I recovered well but he still kept me locked up in my room until the day I threatened to blow up his warehouse."Her eyes widened, "did you?"He smiled, "my father is a hard man and I've always been timid before him so he didn't take my threat seriously. I knew he wouldn't. Yes, I did. I blew up the warehouse where he kept his preferred equipment and the guns he traded. He was furious but he let me out of my room then and I could move about the house freely.""Why did you always move around with a bodyguard?" She asked."My fa
Aurora ventured out of her first class of the day. Teaching a bunch of hormonal youths was quite tasking, coupled with the fact that the male students were too hypnotized by her beauty to concentrate on her teaching."Hey, Mark," she greeted her lecturer colleague."Rora, how was your lecture?" He smiled at her."Great," she settled at her desk opposite his. There were three occupying the office. She, Mark and Isabel. She was the youngest lecturer in the entire university and she took pride in it. Mark was in his middle forties, Isabel was in her late thirties while she was just about to clock twenty-five.Her phone rang. Mother."Good morning, mum. How are you doing?"She had never returned home since she left to attend college."I'm definitely not great, Aurora. Why won't you return home? Why won't you take over our company? Instead you waste your talents as a mere lecturer. I understand you are still in your rebellious years but th
Aurora's heart sank in guilt."I… he…" she stuttered then paused, getting herself. Why was she acting like the 18 year old former her?"Yes," she answered confidently, "I am seeing him. What does that have to do with you?"Cecilia glared at her."I have warned you severally, Aurora, yet you never listen to me!""Maybe when you start acting like a real mother, I will listen to you," Aurora rolled her eyes and turned away. The words 'murderer' registered in her head at that moment."Good evening, ma'am," Sebastian greeted, "I don't think you should judge me based on your history with my father. I…""You killed your father, didn't you?" Cecilia accused, "how are you any better than him and how can I trust my daughter in your care?"Aurora looked at Sebastian."I am nothing like my father," he repeated, "my father is dead. No threat will come to her."Cecilia shook her head and slammed the door in her face. Aurora sighed, looking at Sebastian apologetically."I'm sorry, she just…""What h
"What would you like to eat?" Sebastian asked as he and Aurora walked out of the museum together."Whatever you eat," she replied, adding a wink after.She stared at him as he drove, admiring his handsome features. She couldn't see his eyes because they were fixed on the road ahead but she could already imagine them gleaming with happiness and twinkling with mischief. The ticking of his jaw had her know that he was uncomfortable with her stares."Do I make you uncomfortable, Bastian?" She asked, shifting closer.His jaw ticked once more."You make me nervous," he answered.She grinned."Why?"He glanced at her."You know why.""Did you date any girl while you were away?" "No.""Why? You didn't find any attractive?""I found a few attractive, actually," he said, glancing at her again, "but not enough to keep me awake at night."She blushed."I guess we both make each other nervous," she muttered, looking away."Did you date anyone?"She scoffed, "like you don''t know my entire activit
"Sir?" Sebastian's hand halted midway to the door. A male hotel staff was staring at him, obviously displeased. "I'm sorry, sir but you're disturbing the peace of our guests." He looked at Aurora's door then stepped back. "I'm sorry," he said, "but it's urgent." "You can try calling whoever it is. You do own a smartphone, don't you?" He caught the sarcasm. "I'm sorry, I'll leave now," he said and went back to his room. He called several times but she never picked up. She didn't even cut the call, she simply let it ring out loud. He called Zik next. "Watsup, coz?" Zik's cheery voice came through. "Zik, can you please call Rora? I just told her about her brother's death and she won't speak to me again. Please." "You should have expected that. Give her some time, she'll come around. I'll still call her anyway." "Thanks, I owe you," he said with a relieved sigh. "You owe me heavily already, I own you." "Shut up." He cut the call and waited. Zik called back five minutes late
"Good morning, Mr Mark.""Morning, Rora. What happened with you yesterday? You left all of a sudden.""It's the day before yesterday," she corrected kindly, taking a seat at her desk, "I just finished explaining myself to my superior. My father died."Mark's curious face morphed into one of extreme sadness."That's sad. I'm so sorry," he spoke after some seconds of silence.She nodded, "it's fine. It's been a while anyway. I just got to know.""I have two kids and I can't imagine leaving them forever… wait, you just got to know?""Yeah. Apparently, my mother didn't think I deserved to attend his funeral," she answered, giving him a fake smile."Oh, I'm so sorry," Mark shook his head, still trying to understand her words, "that's… well, she's your mother and… well, I'm so sorry. You must feel terrible."She laughed, "I sure do."She began to sort out files on her desk and students assignment."You are not close with your mother, I guess?" Mark asked, probably to keep her occupied."Nope
The next two days, they spent letting the fire burn. No one was satiated yet, no one could stop them, no worries could bother them. On the third day, they finally stepped out to get some cool evening air and some groceries. "Everything feels different, better," she spoke as they walked into a store together, their rented car parked outside. They were in Tanzania. They rented a lone beach house which required a twenty minutes drive to get into town. It was perfect, just what they wanted. "And why is that?" He teased as they perused through shelves, hands locked. "Because we are finally finally together and my expectations of you in bed was superseded..." "Isabella!" He whisper shouted, wide eyes fixed on her. She laughed, pressing a quick kiss to his agape mouth. "What?" She asked with a smile, "do I not get to compliment my husband's bedroom skills?" He shook his head, looking around to make sure no one heard. He looked back at her, "Isabel, seriously?" "We should expect a baby
"I think you have done really well for your first week. You should be able to do things without supervision now... I guess that's the person that's been picking you up since you first arrived. Your boyfriend?"Isabel's lips twitched. "My fiancee," she answered with a smile. "Oh, wow, that's great. When's the wedding?" Isabel opened her mouth to reply just as Ezekiel rounded the car with a big smile in her direction. "What?" She heard Irene gasp but her mind was clouded with too much love for it to register. Her legs carried her across the road to him. "I love you," she mumbled as he enclosed her in a hug. "I think our engagement is making both of us jelly," he laughed, kissing her cheek, "I didn't even realize I was smiling so wide." She kissed him lightly and stepped back a little. Oh heavens, she laughed internally, remembering she abandoned her supervisor. "Irene?" She heard Ezekiel mumble. She turned around, seeing the dazed look on Irene's face. "Don't tell me..." she mu
Ezekiel whirled laughing Isabel around. She was clad in a purple graduation gown, her cap hanging loosely in her right hand."I'm dizzy," she forced out between laughs, holding unto him tightly. He set her down on her feet and kissed her loudly."How does it feel?" He asked, beaming."I don't know," she laughed, "you are rubbing your excitement all over me and I don't even know how I feel.""Exactly," Lily intervened, "you are acting like you have never experienced a convocation before. Get off her."His entire family came to celebrate her, his cousin and his beauty wife included, with their baby."She's not your girlfriend, Lily, mind your business," Ezekiel eyed her playfully.They moved off to a little spot they set out for a picnic and they spent the rest of the day being happy for her. The group stayed an extra day before leaving. It was just two of them left now.When their relationship was a year old, they sat down for a serious conversation. They rented a beach house for the w
Sebastian was just bringing the car around when Isabel and Aurora walked out of the airport."You must be Isabel," the man she recognized as Ezekiel's cousin spoke when he got to them."Yes," she replied with a warm smile, watching how he casually put an arm around Aurora's waist and kissed her hair, "it's nice to meet you."They shook hands. They definitely had good genes in their family. Ezekiel was her boyfriend, the man she loved but she couldn't confidently say he was more handsome than his cousin."Ezekiel is bringing the luggage, we can wait in the car. You don't mind, Isabel?""Of course not, he left me with the luggage in the first place," she answered with a roll of her eyes. Their little group chuckled and they moved to the car. Sebastian hovered over his fiancee as they chatted heartily about school, life, and anything else. Ezekiel arrived soon and Sebastian assisted him in getting the luggage into the trunk.Aurora and Sebastian's wedding was a week away so the atmospher
Ezekiel knew that there was a Supreme Being helping him to restrain himself because it was a miracle he didn't lose control after what she just said. Was she so oblivious that men were easily triggered sexually or was she doing it on purpose? She worked at a bar, she had to know."Your body belongs to you," he said slowly, blowing out a breath, "and to the God who made you. If we are married, you can say that but your body will belong to me and mine will belong to you only because we chose to let it be so. Do you understand?"She clicked her tongue, laying her head on his chest. "Let's get married then, you won't have any excuse to deny me what I want.""Oh heavens," he laughed in disbelief but somewhere deep within him, he began to consider it.*Weeks flew by and Isabel didn't think she had ever lived life so happily before. She woke up happy and blushing, she was much more interested in her boring classes because he always praised her when she performed well in the tutoring session
When she awoke bright early the next morning, he was still asleep and she was late for class. She stood at the entrance to his hospital room at a loss for what to do. She could rush to class and return after school to take care of him or she could stay and be with him throughout the day. She wanted to do the latter as she was the cause of his accident but on further reflection, she decided to choose the former, he'd prefer that.Ezekiel trudged into his apartment, burdened with a load of emotions. Drugs, really?"Stan found me, he sent me threat notes and has been stalking us."Was that true? He sighed, lowering himself unto a fur-covered couch. He didn't even know what to believe. What was her deal? Was it just the aftermath of the rape incident? It scared him that she would go as far as drugging him, how much damage did the incident cause her?If Stan was secretly stalking them then she wasn't safe. The police needed to be alerted and they needed to move away from town for some time
"Are you mad at me?"Isabel said nothing instead she focused on stabbing the potatoes on her plate."Have I ever refused you anything?"She blinked, thinking of an answer to his question though she didn't plan to reply, she discovered he always did what she asked and did more except for a few nos here and there but... He was always there."No," she answered curtly, guilt nagging at her. "Then you must know I have a very good reason for refusing you this one thing. Trust me, Isabel, please."She stared at her meal, fighting with her emotions. She thought of the drugged wine."Ezekiel," she began, looking up. Her eyes widened in horror seeing him bring down his glass from his lips."What?" He questioned, cleaning his mouth with a serviette.She opened her mouth and shut it. "I drugged your wine," she croaked out."What?" His eyes bulged out and he looked into his glass, "what are you talking about?"She kept silent, staring at him with wide eyes. He stared at her, his eye size matching
She was awfully alert the next day, constantly looking back and sideways, being suspicious of every male she came across, staying in open places where there were a lot of people. She didn't realize she was so on edge and tensed up until Ezekiel came to her at the cafe and she almost stabbed him with a fork.He dodged, his eyes wide. "Watsup!? Do you want to kill me!?"She sighed, her tense shoulders falling. The fork landed with a clattering sound on the table."I am sorry. I was... I thought it was someone else," she said apologetically.He raised a brow, sitting next to her, "is someone stalking you?""Don't worry about it," she sighed again and relaxed back in her seat. His presence was immensely comforting. She didn't know whether to be pleased or irritated, he was her boyfriend now."You could really have stabbed me if I didn't have quick reflexes. You wanted to harm the person. Why? What's going on?" He inquired.She kept silent. Why was she keeping it a secret?"Isabel..."She
"You're my girlfriend now," he murmured into her hair, "so you can't cheat on me ever again, you hear? You can't go kissing another man or letting another man touch you because you feel like getting down with someone. You are mine now and I'll tell you, I am very possessive and I get easily jealous."She blinked. What did she just do?"You forgot the second part," she mumbled, not sure of what she was feeling."No, it isn't enough to make me sleep with you."She groaned, surprisingly not feeling annoyed. "Why?" She whined."It only makes me want to protect you more, keep you clean and pure. I'll be your god and I'll keep you away from any filth," he replied.She fought the smile that crawled its way up her cheek. He pulled away a little and looked at her with so much tenderness, she felt she could melt from it."Do you still feel like getting down with me?" He asked, smiling.She shook her head."Good," he grinned, "I'll call your father now and tell him you're safe with me. I'll call