It's you, babe. And I'm a sucker for the way that you move, babe
And I could try to run, but it would be useless
You're to blame
Just one hit of you, I knew I'll never, ever, ever be the same
-Camila Cabello
C A D E
"I'm going to jump from the window if you ask me to sit in an airplane again this week," Athalia complained, adjusting her hat to shield herself from the blazing sun overhead.
"I'm going to melt in this heat," Nathan chimed in, emerging from the car along with Naomi and Asher. The black car pulled up in front of us, and Eleanor stepped out with a smile. Once Dad's second-in-command, she had now joined the research group.
"I hope I'm not late," she said with a smile, arranging for the driver to retrieve our luggage.
"I just want to throw myself into a pool filled with ice," Naomi grumbled from inside the car.
"Wanna go to Antarctica?" Nathan joked.
"To meet your dead granny? I'm fine," Athalia retorted, shrugging her shoulders as she settled beside me, seeking relief from the sweltering heat in the cool air conditioning.
"We are here for work," I reminded them, prompting collective groans of discontent.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the penthouse where we would be staying. Perched atop a dried hill, the big glass building overlooked an outside area adorned with small rocks and cactus plants. From here, Athens was completely visible.
"Hanniel!" Naomi shouted from inside, struggling with her suitcase.
"What?"
"There are two rooms, who am I sharing it with?" She asked. I guess I can't be with Lia all the time here, and the other two rooms are already occupied by Eleanor.
"With Athalia, is that okay?" I asked Athalia, and she nodded.
"What about mine? I'm not sleeping with Asher," Nathan asked, pointing at him. I really don't want to see his face in the mornings; he is not my Athalia after all.
"Cadeeeee!" Athalia wrapped her arms around me and placed her chin on my chest. I can't believe my world is spinning around this short, little bird. She tilted her head, giving me a smile as I pulled her close by the waist.
"Baby," she said, trailing her finger up and down my jaw. Baby? Usually, she calls me Mr. Arrogant or stupid. Why baby all of a sudden? I raised my eyebrows to ask what she wanted.
Her fingers slowly started to crease my hair. I could sleep all day on her lap if she kept doing this. "The flight was so stressful. Can I go out with Naomi for some shopping?"
My eyes were closed, feeling her every touch. I slowly lifted her up by her thighs and made her sit on the nearby wooden table. She was wearing a sundress, so it was easy for me to move my hand inside.
"Your Highness is asking for my permission?" I teased, parting her legs and stepping between them. She wrapped them around my torso with a cheesy grin. "Your Highness needs your credit card because your father froze my bank account a few days ago," she complained, making a pout.
I pulled her nose, pulling her close enough to hit my chest. "And why would Dad do that?" I asked, and she looked away. It took her a minute to reply. "We got into an argument, and I spent all the money available on his platinum card."
Did she really do that? I burst into laughter. "What was the argument about?" I knew exactly what it could be, but I still intended to ask. "I wanted to pet a baby sheep, and he refused and sent the sheep away," my Lia and her choice of pets.
"I would lend you my card, but first satisfy my lips."
Her left hand traveled to my shoulder, and the other creased my hair. She slowly moved her lips towards mine. I'm totally whipped! She bit her lower lip and let out a moan when she felt my hardness. I bent down my head for her, but before we could kiss, she pushed me away.
My credit card was between her two fingers. When did she? I checked my back pocket, and my wallet was still there. "Do you know the best way to steal someone's wallet Mr. Hanniel? You have to grab their attention on something else and then aim for where you want to take it."
She jumped off the table, swinging my card. Did she just make off with my credit card along with my heart? Talk about a two-for-one steal!
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Six hours, twenty-four minutes, and nine seconds. Where the heck is Athalia tonight? I tried dialing her number again, but it was still switched off. Naomi wasn't picking up my calls either. It's nearly midnigth, The glittering Athens was clearly visible from the balcony where I stood. I took the last sip of my coffee in frustration.
Athalia is strong and wise enough to protect herself, so where on earth could she possibly have gone? I grabbed the car keys from the drawer, wondering why she never listens to me. I rushed towards the living area to leave but stopped when I heard the front door open.
A dark-tanned girl with green eyes entered, holding a black helmet in one hand. She didn't look like a civilian from around here.
"You really shouldn't let your girl out alone at this hour in this area," she remarked casually, as if she owned the place.
"And who the heck are you to give me advice, Miss Uninvited Guest?" I growled, my mind solely focused on Athalia at the moment.
The door creaked open again, revealing Naomi and Athalia sneaking in. Athalia was carrying her heels, her cheeks flushed. Was she tipsy? She noticed me and smiled sheepishly, stumbling towards me. I caught her and took her heels from her hand.
She seemed drunk and quite high on alcohol.
"Someone spiked her drink with cocaine. You should be thankful I was there, because for a moment she forgot how to fight," the girl explained, standing up and adjusting her helmet. Athalia wrapped her arms around my neck, her gaze fixed on me with doe eyes.
"Do I have permission to know the name of this Unknown Savior?" I inquired as the girl was about to leave. She extended her hand for a handshake.
"Maya. I'm Maya Ruya, Athalia's old friend. And who are you to her?" she asked. Before I could respond, Athalia turned towards Maya, placing a hand over her lips as if sharing a secret.
"He's my sugar daddy," Athalia whispered, winking at Maya before bursting into giggles. Totally high on cocaine.
"I'll come again in the morning to check on her. Be careful; she's a lot clumsier when she's drunk," Maya said before disappearing. Does she think she knows Athalia better than me?
I looked down at her small figure, now playing with the hem of my t-shirt. There's no point in scolding her; she's not in her senses, and I can't leave her drunken self alone. She's not supposed to sleep early.
I picked her up and started moving towards my bedroom. She placed her forehead on mine and bit her lips when she felt my hand on her thighs. I made her stand on the soft mattress, her lips playfully moving on mine as she whispered, "Cade," teasingly. I nodded softly to let her know I was listening.
A small smile curved on her lips. This time it was a moan instead of a whisper. "Cade, I want to..." Her lips moved closer, and her breath hitched when her fingers trailed down my neck. She moaned again, "I want to..."
"You want to what, Lia?" I asked slowly, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I want to... I want to dance!" she exclaimed, pushing away lightly and starting to sway to whatever song she was singing. Her hands were up in the air, and her little dress was seductive whenever it lifted up.
I didn't mind her dancing like this; it was a pleasure for my eyes. But I just wanted her to step over Asher's sleeping body. She missteped and landed on him, I really wouldn't mind if you break his rib-cage love.
Asher's eyes shot open, and he groaned in pain. "What the fuck, who the fuck!" He stopped when he noticed her. "Rose, what the!" She didn't move; her face showed guilt with a little sobbing. "Rose," Asher tried to touch her cheeks, and then she hit his face with a pillow.
"What the heck are you doing in my husband's room!" she shouted, stunning me with her words. My lady is totally high on cocaine.
Before she could actually break his bones, I made her stand, and she hugged me. I'd never seen Asher burning up with jealousy like this.
"When the hell did you marry him?" He shouted back, sitting up and holding his ribs.
"He is my husband! Only mine," her cheeks brushed against mine as an act of stubbornness. What am I, a soft toy? Ah right, her warm teddy bear.
"What's wrong with you, Rose?" Asher asked was that concern on his face? "She's highly drunk. I can't let her sleep anywhere else. You should leave before she starts throwing vases at you," I explained, and he got up, not even arguing. That's not like Asher. "Take good care of her," he said with a hurt expression and left.
No need to tell me, bastard. It was you who hurt her in the first place.
Athalia was mumbling something against my cheeks. I sat her down on the bed and filled a glass of water. She shook her head like a child when I brought it close to her lips. She placed her index finger on my lips and said, "I want to drink it, from here."
I couldn't help but force her to drink from the glass. "My feet," she pouted sadly, looking at her dirty feet. She loves her feet to be clean before going to bed. I wet a towel and gently cleaned them.
She closed her eyes, laying down on the bed. "Kiss me," she said as I was climbing up. "No, you kiss me," I replied, taking off my t-shirt. Her eyes glittered. "You are my husband. Oh my god," she said, covering her face with both hands.
"And when did we marry, wifey?" I played along with her bubbly self. "Today," she grinned, and I softly stroked her cheek with my thumb. I pulled over the sheets and laid beside her.
She gradually moved closer and cupped my cheeks with her hands, her wavy hair falling all over my chest. A hiccup escaped from her lips before she asked, "Do you know what's hotter than the sun, your highness?"
"WR 102, from the Sagittarius constellation," I replied, and she groaned, throwing her head onto my shoulder upon hearing my reply. I guess it was me for her.
"Logical, boring physicist," she mocked, hitting my chest.
"Oh, but I can do illogical stuff to your body, with every and each equation, writing down on you, with my tongue, while you hold the sheet," I smirked, nuzzling into her breast and continued, "trying to solve 'em up with your moans."
A loud gasp left her mouth when I squeezed one of them. "That's so... stop, your highness," she said dramatically, throwing her head.
"I haven't even started yet, my lady."