**passage subject to slight change within the book**
With his name slipping repeatedly from my lips as we lay tangled in each other's limbs, I ride the wave of a dark yet exhilarating high, throwing my head back to call out his name in one last, lou...
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A/N: Shortest chapter I've ever written lol.
"You're mine," he whispers possessively into my ear.
"I'm yours," I breathe.
With our senses heightened, each touch, sound, and taste pulls us closer to our undoing. The atmosphere around us competes with the otherworldly energy flowing between us, like a euphoric tonic coursing through my veins. Our audible responses to one another fill the air of the night as our breaths grow shallow and desperate.
I dig my fingers into his dampened skin, and he groans in response, our climaxes nearing at a dangerously explosive pace.
His breaths against my neck grow warmer as he brings his lips near, latching his mouth on the skin and grazing off with his teeth. This is all it takes to push me over the edge, in turn erupting his own volcano in this inhumane peek of pleasure.
Lips parted and profanities spilling into the air, our minds disappear into a haven, leaving our hearts and bodies behind as they ride out the unending waves, releasing the final sounds of our blissful undoing.
*******************
I bolt upright with a scream, drenched in cold sweat, eyes darting around the room. Sunlight streams through my curtains, and I blink, furrowing my brows.
I take a moment to catch my breath. Why was I screaming?
Bad dream? my conscience whispers.
I rub the side of my neck and roll it out. "Damn nightmare gave me neck pain," I mutter.
Shaking off the weirdness, I kick off the bed covers and stretch overhead with a satisfying crack. Today, I feel... like myself again.
"Yasmin, sweetie, you're going to be late for academy!" Mom yells from downstairs.
"I'll be down in a sec!" I shout back, tapping my phone to check the time. My alarm hasn't even gone off yet. I've got time.
Famous last words.
I only scoff in response, wondering why my conscience is so talkative today. I sit on the edge of my bed, running my fingers through my hair as I scan my rose-gold sanctuary. Light grey walls, matching curtains, and a fur rug that covers most of the floor—cute, cosy, but nothing too fancy.
And then, I realise I'm completely naked. Oh, snap. Wasn't Neil here last night?
The euphoric memories flood back, and I blush, giggling. Last night was... something. Soooo not happening again—too risky. But oh, last night.
I flop back onto the bed, staring dreamily at the ceiling. What had gotten into him?
"I don't hear your shower!" Mom yells again, her tone sharper.
"OMG, Mom, stop stalking me!" I groan, sitting up again. I calculate the time in my head: twenty-five minutes to get everything done. Ten minutes for a shower, five for body butter and perfume, five for hair and makeup, and five to get dressed. Easy.
I smile at my calculation, glancing at my phone. My confidence evaporates when I see the time. I've already wasted a minute.
Yeah, was wondering how long you're going to be crowding the space up here with thoughts of your boyfriend.
"Crap." I leap to my feet ignoring that comment, only to trip over my jeans on the floor and stumble into the wall with a loud thud.
"Ow! Fudge!" I hiss, clutching my shoulder.
Hahaha! Instant karma for ignoring me.
"You okay?" Mom calls from downstairs, her concern sounding more amused than worried. My clumsiness is nothing new.
"I'm fine!" I huff, pushing through the pain and stomping toward the bathroom like a soldier on a mission.
Stepping into the shower, I yank the tap on, and icy water blasts me straight in the face. I let out a squeaky roar, my back arching away from the freezing stream. "No, no, no! Hurry up!" I hop from foot to foot, shivering until the water finally warms.
Once it does, I dive under the stream, grabbing shampoo with one hand and my toothbrush with the other. My hair foams into a wild mess as I realise... I forgot the toothpaste. Again.
"You want me? Come and get me," the tube practically taunts from the sink.
"Damien!" I shout, knowing my brother's the culprit. "Stop using my stuff!"
In my haste to grab the toothpaste, I slip on the wet floor. A loud clang echoes through the bathroom as I hit the ground with a thud.
"Yasmin!" The chorus from downstairs follows immediately.
Graceful as ever.
I close my eyes, sighing deeply in slight irritation at the constant voice in my head but mostly at my clumsiness. Why am I like this?
"I'm okay!" I call back, my voice exasperated. I scramble to my feet, hastily finish my shower, and dash back into my room with my towel barely holding on. Glancing at the clock, I realise I'm down to two minutes of my body butter and perfume time.
Yeah, good luck with that.
"Dude, shut up. Why are you so active today?" I snap at my conscience out loud. "Gosh."
I feel alive for the first time in weeks.
Okay, I can resonate with that. I feel wonderful.
"Gotta finish up here though." I slather on cream, leaving a thick layer on my tan skin. "Great. Now I look like a ghost," I groan.
I race back to the bathroom to slap on some makeup—simple, nude, nothing too bold. I give myself a once-over in the mirror. My big copper eyes stand out, and my lips look plump and glossy. It's the first time in weeks I've felt like putting any effort into my appearance at all.
I grin at my reflection, swaying my hips from side to side, admiring the way my damp, black hair curls as it starts to dry. Hmm. Maybe Neil would enjoy a little private show next time? I turn to the side, putting my hands on my knees, and give a playful little twerk, flipping my hair over my shoulder.
Get it, girl.
You have zero focus.
Good thing I don't give an oink what you think!
"Tell me how you want your gift, boy. Boy, you know I—" I sing to myself, but Mom's roar from downstairs interrupts my jam session.
"Yasmin! You and yo brother bof' 'bout to be late!"
I freeze mid-twerk, snickering at the way her accent changes from sweet high-end mom to hood gangster when she's mad, a side of her that I wish unleashed on not even my worst enemies. Seriously, her hood side, just like Damiens, is mad scary.
"I'm coming!"
Snatching up my uniform, I dress in record time, adjusting my knee-length grey skirt and blazer. My hair? Air-drying. Shoes? Tapped together for good luck. A wide, triumphant grin spreads across my face.
"That's how it's done." I dust off my shoulders before grabbing my bag and bouncing downstairs.
