Chains

Chapter 26

"Why exactly are you living,here?" 

I flashed my head towards the latino with an annoyed expression plastered on my face. He eyed my small space before he looked directly at me. I rolled my eyes at him then continued to mix the ingredients for Shakira and Gerard's cake. I wanted to congratulate them, even more than I did yesterday, for their next big step in life and what better way to do that than by pleasing their stomachs.However, I had to unfortunately deal with annoying side of Maluma that i hated.

"Because it's within my budget" I said without looking at him as I monitored the melting white chocolate on the stove. He made an unrecognizable sound then made his way over to me. His arms snaked around my waist as he placed his face in the crook of my neck. He landed soft kisses on my neck then began to mutter against my skin.

"You could always come live with me" he said,dipping his finger into the cake batter. I slapped his hand away and gave him a stern look. He stuck his finger into his mouth and sucked off the batter.He mutter a small "that was so good" as he reached for the batter once more.

"No" I said,smacking hand away. I turned around to face him and grabbed both of his hands.

"Was that no to living with me or no to the batter?" he asked,easily sliding his hands out of my grip and moved them to my waist.

"Both" I said plainly,trying my best to get out of his grip so I could take the melted chocolate off of the fire. But he held me tightly in place,refusing to release me.It puzzled me that he was still here,after all he's been here since he dropped me off after the party yesterday. He claimed that he wanted to spend some time with me but I didn't take him seriously at first. What made his claim more realistic was when he made himself comfortable on my couch with no intention of leaving that night.

Despite his efforts at trying to get us back to the place we were before the whole 'Belinda' drama,there was too much tension between us to get rid of in one night. And his constant jabs at my apartment and the occasional 'you should move in with me' didn't help very much.He sighed as he reached for the batter once more but I quickly slapped his hand away.

"But why?" he asked, hes lips tugged downwards into a pout.A playful glint was in his eyes.

"Because its for Shakira and Gerard,not you" I replied,trying once more to wiggle out of his grasps. The pout on his face deepened as the playfulness faded away.

"Not that.Moving in with me." he said. I gave him an incredulous look then got out of grasps once and for all. I quickly took the chocolate off of the stove. I turned back around to see him staring at me intently. I had to wonder for a second if this guy was insane. We were barely friends much less a couple and besides,why would I throw my newfound independence away so soon?

"1.We're not even together and 2.I like living on my own" I said bluntly then made my way over to the cupboards to take out my baking tins. I could feel his gaze on me as he processed my response.I began to pour the cake batter into the tin when his firm hands stopped me.He spun me around to face him but he remained silent. Without warning,he attached his lips to mine. My initial shock wore off a few seconds after,then I began to kiss back. It was slow and soft and no doubt laced with passion.He pulled away moments after and rested his forehead on mine.

"But we can be together" he said,cupping my cheek with hand. Before I could reply he brought his lips back to mine once more.He took advantage of my lack of preparedness and slipped his tongue inside my mouth.I let out an unrecognizable squeal which probably sounded more like a moan than I had wanted it to.His hands traveled down my sides and landed right under my butt but not before giving it a little squeeze.Within a split second he picked me up and placed me on the counter before me without breaking the kiss.The kiss would've undoubtedly led to something else if there wasn't someone at my door. The persistent knocking was enough to drive me insane so we reluctantly pulled away from each other. I opened the door to reveal a certain englishman who ,I assumed just came back from his trip.

"Zayn" I cooed,wrapping my arms around his torso in a quick hug. He returned the gesture then pulled away with a big smile on his face.

"Someone missed me" he said, wiggling his brows and poking my sides. I let out a small giggle which was cut short when Maluma appeared beside me.He gave me a quick glance then focused his hatred on Zayn. Zayn rolled his eyes at his presence the turned his attention towards me.

"I got you something" I immediately got excited and clapped my hands like a little child. Maluma glared at my actions which made stop. Zayn noticed my change but decided to ignore it for now. He handed me a medium sized,hand crafted bag which contains various sweets and small souvenirs from Valencia. He even threw in a photo of himself along with his painting in the museum. I smiled widely at the gift then wrapped my arms around him once more to thank him.

"Thank you!" I cooed as he returned my embrace.

"No problem,baby" he said which was followed by a small kiss on my cheek. I quickly glanced at Maluma who was throwing daggers at Zayn but his glares towards me didn't go unnoticed either. After a few minutes we said our goodbyes and he went back to his room which was only 3 doors away from mine.

"So that's why you don't want to move" Maluma said as I closed the door and hurriedly made my way back to the kitchen. I ignored his statement which infuriated him even more.

"Louisa" he spat when I didn't respond.I sighed inwardly then turned to face the fuming latino beside me.

"If you're implying that I'm only here for some guy then you are sadly mistaken. Do freedom and independence mean nothing to you?" I asked as calmly as possible so as to not escalate the situation. He glared at me once more then rolled his eyes.

"What exactly do you want from me ,Louisa?" he asked,making my brows furrow in confusion. "I'm here trying to make us work while you have another man calling you baby?"

I watched as the fury built in his eyes. He was fuming but my mind couldn't help but to notice just how attractive he was when mad. I mentally slapped myself for thinking such things when it was obviously a serious situation. My snide remark of how I couldn't control what Zayn says as neither Zayn himself could control the words that left his mouth did not make my situation any better.

"I broke off my relationship with Belinda for you and you still don't seem happy" he said as he calmed himself. 

"Why does that have such an effect on you,I thought it was fake?" I questioned.I still didn't understand why a fake relationship had so much value to him. He shot me a look which would've made old Louisa cower in a corner in fear.But new Louisa was better than that. "Or was it?" I asked,pondering on the possibility that this all was a lie and he was actually in a real relationship with her. His face hardened as his stare grew colder.

"You really think so lowly of me?"He asked inching even closer to me. He backed me against the counter and placed his arm on the counter while the other cupped my cheek.His expression began to soften when I didn't reply.

"Lou?" he said once more, hoping to get a reply but I said nothing. His thumb circled my cheek but I remained stoic. He sighed loudly before muttering something to himself. I swore I swore I heard something along the lines of 'I guess I have to show her how I feel'.

The next thing I knew his lips were smashed against mine once more,almost knocking the air from my lungs. His tongue licked the seam of my lips,pleading for entrance. With my permission  this time,he slipped into my mouth,exploring every inch of it. He picked me up once more but this time he didn't put me on the counter.He began to walk without breaking the kiss. Once he set me down, I realized that we were now in my bedroom. 

Once he set me down,I knew we were going to do something I'd regret in the morning.