ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ

Third POV

He pressed his lips gently against her neck, his kisses trailing with slow, deliberate tenderness. Her breath hitched, a low moan escaping her as he kissed from the curve of her collarbone, back to the soft skin of her neck. Every time his lips met her skin, his eyes locked with hers, silently communicating his desire, each touch feeling like a promise.

"Ciel... the door," she mumbled, her voice hushed, barely more than a breath.

He hummed a soft reply, his lips brushing against her ear as he continued his slow descent, pulling at the straps of her cami top, leaving a trail of kisses down her chest.

"Boy, if you don't stop," she said with a quiet chuckle, her words muffled by the intensity of the moment. "I forgot that Eve and Desiree are coming over today... sorry."

His lips paused, a groan escaping him as he kissed her cheek, then her forehead. "Okay," he whispered, though the reluctant edge to his voice was unmistakable.

Akira smiled softly, running her fingers through his hair, a tender touch that said everything. She stood, smoothing down her clothes, before heading to open the door.

"Hey!" Eve greeted, her voice light, filled with surprise as she stepped inside.

"Well, took you long enough. What were you doing?" Desiree quipped with a teasing smirk as she followed Eve in. Her eyes flickered towards the hallway as Ciel emerged, and she raised an eyebrow, glancing at Akira with a knowing look.

"Hello," Ciel said, his voice calm and composed, though a tinge of frustration lingered. "I'll just give y'all some time." He picked up his jacket and keys.

"Where are you going?" Akira asked, her voice soft, with an undercurrent of concern.

"I need to grab some things from my place. I'll be back later." He said, pulling the jacket over his shoulders, then walking over to her. He placed a kiss on her forehead, lingering for a moment. "I'll be back soon."

"Okay," she whispered, closing her eyes as his lips brushed her skin, the warmth lingering long after he left.

Ciel slid into his car, the engine hum soothing as he drove to his penthouse. His thoughts felt scattered, distracted, and when he arrived, a flicker of unease washed over him. There, lying on the floor, was an envelope. His fingers hesitated before picking it up, curiosity gnawing at him as he tore it open.

The words written inside chilled him: I Know What You Did.

A frown tugged at his features. "Is this for Cayden?" he thought to himself, his mind racing. What was going on? What had Cayden gotten into?

But he quickly shoved the paper into the trash, not wanting to add more to his brother's burdens. Better that Cayden never sees this, he thought, making his way to his room to finish packing a bag. His space was eerily neat—too neat. It was as if no one had ever lived there. He was always at Akira's, wrapped up in her world, her presence comforting and constant.

After packing, he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, the quiet of the penthouse surrounding him like a suffocating weight. Then came the knock.

He peered at the monitor, seeing Helena standing at the door. His frown deepened. What was she doing here?

Without waiting for him to speak, she barged in, her presence commanding, unapologetic.

"You can't just barge into someone's house like that, Helena," Ciel muttered, annoyance lining his voice. He stood at the door, still holding it open, a barrier between them. He sighed and closed it behind him, turning to face her. "What do you want?"