𝑆𝐸𝐶𝑅𝐸𝑇𝑆 𝐵𝐸𝑁𝐸𝐴𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝑈𝑅𝐹𝐴𝐶𝐸

Five

Aaliyah's POV

The night felt almost surreal as Aaliyah and Ken sat across from each other in the dimly lit restaurant. The low hum of quiet conversations and soft clinking of silverware created an intimate atmosphere, but it wasn't the ambiance that had Aaliyah's attention. It was Ken.

Tonight, he was different—more intense, more silent. His deep brown eyes locked on hers, unwavering, as his gaze shifted from intense to something more—almost predatory. Aaliyah shifted in her seat, feeling an odd tension building between them. Ken didn't say much, but his eyes spoke volumes. They bored into her, dark and unreadable, as if he was memorizing every detail of her face, every flicker of emotion in her eyes.

"Ken?" Aaliyah spoke up softly, breaking the silence. But her voice faltered when she met his gaze again. She could feel the weight of his stare, his unblinking attention on her, like she was the only thing that mattered in the world right now.

He didn't respond with words—just a slow, deliberate blink, followed by a faint smirk that made her heart race. His voice, when he finally spoke, was deep, low, and rough. "You look good tonight, Aaliyah," he said, each word seeming to stretch out longer than it should have, dripping with something she couldn't quite place.

Aaliyah swallowed hard, a heat creeping up her neck as she tried to keep her composure. Her mind raced, but she couldn't escape the pull of his presence.

"I'm gonna go to the restroom," Aaliyah muttered, pushing herself out of the booth. She needed space, needed a moment to breathe, to gather her thoughts. She had no idea why Ken was making her feel this way, but the tension in the air was suffocating.

She headed toward the family restroom, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. But as she walked, she didn't notice Ken slipping quietly behind her. The door to the restroom opened just as she reached for it, and before she could react, Ken's strong hands gripped her waist, lifting her effortlessly off the ground.

"Ken!" she gasped, her body going rigid in surprise as he held her against him. She felt the cool air of the restroom hit her skin, but Ken's warmth completely surrounded her. His lips were right next to her ear as he whispered, his voice dark and teasing.

"You're so fun-sized, Aaliyah," he chuckled, his grip tightening slightly as he lifted her higher. His fingers brushed against her stomach, pulling her shirt up in the process, and in that moment, Aaliyah felt the cool air on her bare skin, revealing her flat stomach and the new belly piercing she had gotten recently. The silver jewelry gleamed under the light. But it wasn't just her piercing that caught Ken's attention—it was the tattoo just below it. His middle name, "gray ," was inked in small, delicate script that she'd gotten without him knowing.

Ken's eyes lingered on it for a second longer than necessary, a soft smirk curling on his lips. "I didn't know you got this," he murmured, his tone a mix of surprise and amusement. "Gray , huh? Guess you really are mine, huh?"

Aaliyah's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pulled her shirt down, avoiding his gaze, but the heat in her cheeks gave her away. She hadn't meant for him to see the tattoo, but now it was out there, and Ken was clearly noticing every detail.

When they finally returned to the table, Ken settled back into his seat, his eyes never leaving Aaliyah. He leaned back, stretching his long legs out in front of him and crossing his arms. There was something predatory in the way he watched her, but it wasn't threatening. It was possessive, as if he was silently claiming her in front of everyone.

"You want dessert?" he asked, his voice calm and low.

Aaliyah nodded quickly, trying to shake off the awkwardness of the restroom incident. A few moments later, a slice of decadent chocolate cake arrived at their table. Ken grabbed a fork, cutting a piece before slowly bringing it to her lips. His eyes stayed locked on hers as he fed her, his gaze never breaking.