My days had been running smoothly—no troubling incidents or unwanted advances, and my business was thriving. I had initially feared that my past might resurface and tarnish my reputation, but thankfully, that hasn't happened. It seems that everyone has moved on.
Every morning, Ezekiel continued to send me gifts, despite my requests for him to stop. He insisted that giving me gifts made him feel good, so I accepted them graciously and stored them away in my wardrobe. Since his change in behavior...
Things between us have been going well. We no longer argue, and he respects my boundaries—except for the time he took me to an amusement park and placed his hand on my thigh, claiming he felt "nervous" around large crowds. His excuses aren't always convincing.
"You shouldn't close your eyes while riding a horse, sweetheart," Ezekiel said, as he taught me how to ride a stallion. I had mentioned my bucket list item, "Ride a stallion," and he surprised me this morning by revealing he owned a stable and could ride horses.
I was thrilled when I saw where he took me; I couldn't hide my excitement.
"But it's a bit intimidating," I admitted nervously.
"Don't look down," he advised, making me focus ahead. He was behind me, holding the reins of the horse.
I could feel his presence close to my back, his usual scent making my heart race. He caught me glancing back at him, causing him to lower his gaze.
"If you want to look at me all day, we could always do that in my room," he said with a deep voice, smirking before turning his attention back to the front. "I was just admiring the view," I said, trying to cover my embarrassment.
"Oh, it wasn't me? It certainly looked like you were focused on me, my dear," he replied, giving the horse a gentle nudge, which made it speed up. I was caught off guard, feeling a rush of adrenaline.
I enjoyed the exhilarating sensation—the wind in my face, Ezekiel's hair flowing with the breeze, and his scent surrounding me. I felt his closeness more than I expected.
After two hours, we finished our ride, and he handed me a cola, joining me on a bench in a charming little garden.
"Did you enjoy the ride?" he asked with a smile as he sat beside me.
"Yes, I did," I said, looking at the cola in my hand.
"You wanted to learn to ride, but I ended up doing most of the riding," he observed with a smile.
"Well, my list said 'Ride a stallion,' not 'Learn to ride a stallion,'" I said with a touch of firmness.
"And it didn't specify that I couldn't enjoy the ride myself while you admired the view," he said playfully, which made me pout.
He smiled and said, "I first learned to ride when I was 10."
"Oh, you must have loved horses?" I asked.
"No, I did it to impress future romantic interests," he replied with a smile, and I playfully nudged his arm.
"I was quite the fun kid back then," he said softly.
"What changed?" I asked. He paused briefly, and I quickly added, "I didn't mean it like that. You're fun most of the time, but sometimes you seem so serious, almost like your world is in shades of gray."
He smiled and shared, "My father passed away when I was 11. He was my only family." I felt a pang of regret for prying, but his openness made me embrace him gently.
"Since then, I stopped smiling. The government noticed my father's passing and immediately groomed me to take over E-Tech. I've been involved in creating technology for them since childhood." I looked at Ezekiel sympathetically and hugged him, understanding that he needed comfort.
"Well, when I was young, my parents also passed away, and I ended up with an abusive uncle. I ran away and found refuge in a brothel," I shared with a sad smile. I wanted to convey that I understood hardship, even if I didn't want to dwell on it.
"I know. I've observed you for two years," he said with a reassuring smile. I wasn't surprised; Ezekiel always had a way of keeping me on my toes.
Before I knew it, our lips met in a tender kiss. It was soft, skillful, and delightful.
Ezekiel
After sharing a wonderful kiss with Kiyara, I decided to take her to my rooftop to stargaze. I had heard there would be a shooting star tonight, and I wanted to make her wish come true.
When we reached the rooftop, she was amazed by the transformation. I had arranged a romantic setup with roses, candles, heart-shaped balloons, and a TV.
I had prepared pizza, drinks, and fried chicken, and judging by her reaction, she loved it.
"Did you prepare all this?" she asked, her voice full of wonder.
"Well, I don't cook—my chefs handle that—but I learned to cook just for you," I said with a smile, which I reserve mainly for her and my little sister, Jasmine.
"Wow," she said, sitting down. If I weren't controlling myself, things might have escalated, but I chose to savor the moment.
I turned on the TV to show her "Grown-ish," the show she had been watching when I called her earlier. I thought it would be fun to watch it together on the rooftop.
"You know I was watching this same show when you called this morning," she said, fully aware that I had been watching her through the CCTV.
"Yes," I replied, feeling proud of my little surprise. As the show ended, it was time for the shooting star. I turned off the TV, and she looked curious.
"I want to show you something," I said, pointing to the sky. Just then, she saw the shooting star and was visibly thrilled.
"Oh my God, a shooting star!" She covered her lips with her hand and made a wish with her eyes closed. When she opened her eyes, she looked at me with a frown.
"Why aren't you making a wish?" she asked.
I chuckled and said, "Since the day I met you, all my wishes have been fulfilled. You are my shooting star, my love." I gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I could tell she was falling for me.
"What did you wish for?" I asked.
"I'm not sure I'm meant to tell you," she said with a smile. I moved closer and whispered in her ear, "You have to tell me. I'm the one who can make all your wishes come true, darling." I smiled, and she blushed slightly, stammering.
"W-well, I still won't tell you," she said, grabbing her bag. I took my jacket and followed her downstairs, driving her home and watching as she turned off the lights before heading back.
I couldn't help but think about how she didn't get upset with me today and how she kissed me back.