Oliver wondered where the music came from. The music Kayla was moving along to as she cooked. It was like a music only she could hear. She looked so at peace, at home here.
When she had finished, she served the food and Oliver glanced at her, "You cooked all of this?"
"Yes. Allow me to introduce my specialty!" She beamed proudly as she introduced the dishes and Oliver listened intently because, to him, she was the only that mattered. So fascinating.
"So this is called Fried Rice with eggs and vegetables! Since you bought me all those healthy foodstuffs, I have been preparing healthy meals that are very delicious. So this is cooked rice stir-fried with scrambled eggs, diced bells, pepper, onions and carrots." She pointed at it, explaining to Oliver.
"As you can see, this is grilled sausage at the side and I included avocado drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper to add texture to the rice. This bowl is just mixed with slicked fresh fruits from your pantry. What do you think!?" She sat, observing Oliver's expression as he took the first bite.
He didn't say anything as he took the second, third, and tenth bites. "Well..... Is it good!?"
"It's good. Now eat." He urged her and she nodded, pleased with herself. They looked like a married couple and this felt normal to the both of them. Nothing was out of place. They were comfortable.
"Where did you learn how to cook, Hastings?"
Kayla paused her eating. What kind of question was that? Why did he want to know?
"My sister. She was diagnosed with a very serious illness when she was born so my parents have always been paranoid and I was the one who had to cook all the meals."
"Why you? Since they were paranoid they could have done it themselves rather than ask you, the younger sister to cook." There was a sharpness and coldness in his tone that made her jump. Why was he getting upset?
Wait. Was he worried about her? The thought made her heart warm.
"I got used to it and amongst all the things I learned in my life, it's actually my favorite." Which Oliver noticed but it still wasn't right. She didn't have to become a maid for her sister, sick or not.
Seeing his dark face, Kayla changed the topic. "What about you? That burned toast you made is that the poison you eat every morning?"
"I don't eat breakfast." He admitted and Kayla's brows shot up. He didn't eat breakfast but he cooked today for her?
"Why?"
"Because I don't like it." Kayla scanned his face and saw that he was being serious. "Is there a human being alive that doesn't like breakfast? Are you even human? Why the fuck won't you like it? Did no one cook it for you?"
"On the contrary, my mother always cooked it some mornings, when she was in her senses." He didn't say the latter part he didn't say it out loud.
"So why don't you like it?" She asked softly, noticing the way the air around him changed. He looked so vulnerable, so human that it made her stomach squirm. God what this man did to her should be a sin at this point.
"Because she always wanted something in return. Something I couldn't give." He replied with a blank face but his whiskey eyes said something different. The emotions pouring out from them almost swallowed her whole.
She wanted to ask. She wanted to know more about him but he didn't continue. Maybe he didn't want to talk about it.
Oliver prayed that she would ask what happened. She would want to know him more just like how he was obsessed with knowing every single thing about her. He saw the question in her eyes and all she had to do was ask and he would tell her everything. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her if she didn't ask.
But Kayla bit her tongue not uttering another word and Oliver gazed at her disappointed but he didn't push her.
"So tell me, Hastings why did you go drinking the other night?"
"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me." She forced a laugh.
"Humor me."
She exhaled. "My ex-boyfriend and do you remember Wyatt?"
"The Blue-eyed witch?" Kayla rolled her eyes. "Both of them are rivals and I got invited to the soccer match not knowing that both of them were rivals in the game and real life."
"Then what happened?"
"Well, both of them got into a fight that spoilt the game because Wyatt kissed me to celebrate a goal and I got so embarrassed that... I ran away."
They were childish. Both boys. He didn't even see them as a threat because there was no reason for them to do something that put his Hastings in a difficult situation.
Oliver leaned in, "Tell me Hastings, how did it feel to see two boys fighting over you?" His hot breath fanned her face and she found it difficult to breathe. Three if one included him but why would he need to fight for what was already his?
"It wasn't fun. They both behaved poorly," she frowned.
"I want to know about this your ex-boyfriend, Cantu."
"Andrew." She corrected. "That's what I said."
"Why? Are you jealous?" She teased.
"Jealous? Jealous of an immature boy who managed to lose you as his? No Hastings, that can't make me jealous."
Her pulse quickened because of his words. "He didn't lose me. I broke up with him. He was an amazing boyfriend, a little hot-headed at times and we always had amazing sex." She didn't mean to say that last part out loud but Oliver chuckled.
"Is that so? It was so amazing. Enlighten me on this, Hastings..." his hands stroked her thigh, inching dangerously close to her core making her gasp.
"Was he able to make you cum in under four minutes like I did at the resort and I hadn't even touched you bare, yet?"
"Oliver, stop." Kayla tried to swat his hand away but his grip tightened. She could feel the wetness between her thighs and she closed them to create friction.
"Answer me, Hastings, has he ever made you feel this way with words alone?" The darkness had shrouded him again and she was aware that he could do something because this was his turf but she didn't want to be a good girl. She wanted to be punished, so she replied, "Screw you, professor."
For minutes, his hand played at the entrance but he didn't do anything. The anticipation made it all the more exciting for Kayla.
"Good." Oliver laughed and removed his hand. The sudden loss of contact for both of them felt cold and just like that he changed again.
"I'm going out so do you want me to drop you at campus? Your clothes should be dry by now."
"You... you washed my clothes?"
"Yes, Hastings. You puked on my clothes and yours, don't you remember?"
"I did what!? Oh my god! And you didn't throw me into the gutters!?" She exclaimed covering her face with her palms.
"I considered it multiple times last night because even as a drunk you are still stubborn. You never listen do you?"
"It's a natural response for my body to not heed to anything assholes say." She flipped her middle finger at him.
"Yet you listen to yourself every day." He retorted.
"Fucking bastard, that's what you are, Oliver Wilde!"
"Ah! I've received a promotion from asshole to bastard!" His reaction wasn't what she expected and she groaned in frustration.
"You are just so insufferable!" She wanted to strangle him.
Her nose was scrunched up and her freckles were more visible. "Whatever you say, Hastings. Should I drop you off or not?"
"No!"
"Why? Don't you have classes?" She did but how could she face people after what happened last night?
The school spirit was a big deal at Sylvester so she would be criticized to death and she unknowingly shuddered.
Oliver saw this and raised a brow. "Where are you going? Can't I come with you?"
Oliver didn't expose her and nodded. "Sure why not?"
She went back to the room and changed her outfit to what she had worn last night, but the problem was the shoe. She couldn't willingly wear these death traps without a reasonable occasion, could she?
The door opened and Oliver strode in, holding a bag.
"Sit," he gestured to the bed.
"Why?" She could never do as she was told without asking questions. He walked up to her, grabbed her shoulders forcing her to sit on the bed.
"Hey!" He didn't mind her protest and grabbed her leg.
"What the fuck are you doing!?" She tried to kick him away but he held her tightly. "Stay still and stop fooling around." The seriousness was clear and she grumbled.
He crouched down on one knee, removed her boots, brought out a pair of blue sneakers, and placed her feet into them before lacing them up. He scrutinized them, happy they fit.
"When did you buy these sneakers?" She asked stunned.
"I didn't buy them for you but for Asher and I thought they would fit so I gave it to you since you needed them more." He clarified and Kayla nodded repeatedly.
That was when she noticed he was kneeling in front of her in between her thighs. He followed her line of sight and smirked.
"Do you like it? The sight of me kneeling in front of you?" He smirked and Kayla refuted instantly, "Hogwash!" She pushed him away and ran out of the room and Oliver smiled to himself.