Mind Games | Tom Riddle | DISCONTINUED

Fifteen: As Dignified as Deadly Can Be

Azalea glared daggers at the ceiling, filled with frustration at the fact that she succumbed to her darkest desires once more. As she looked upwards, she thought about the sequence of events that brought her to Tom Riddle's bed for the second time.

Thinking back to the night before filled Azalea with an inordinate amount of joy. Still, she couldn't figure out what caused her to do what she did besides her carnal desire.

Azalea felt a hand brush against her cheek, and she turned to look into the dark, devilish eyes of Tom Riddle. "Good morning," she murmured.

"You're awfully cheery," Tom muttered sarcastically. His hair was slightly tousled, and the skin under his eyes was darker than usual, but he was handsome nonetheless.

Azalea rolled her eyes and buried her head back into her pillow. "I can't believe I've done this again," she grumbled in a muffled voice.

Tom chuckled. "I find it flattering that I'm your guilty pleasure," he responded with a smirk.

"You're hilarious," Azalea sneered.

Tom rolled his eyes and sat up, the white sheets falling and bunching at his hips.

Azalea's eyebrows lifted as she glanced at his bare torso. Tom had a lean, yet oddly muscular form that would make any woman, as well as a fair share of men, stop and stare.

"I didn't know you were that attracted to me, Verdine," Tom sneered. Then, he grinned at the dramatic eye roll Azalea gave. He leaned down and whispered, "Don't worry. I feel the same about you."

There was no reasoning behind Tom whispering besides bringing a blush to Azalea's cheeks. The room was empty, and the inn could easily be compared to a ghost town, so the whispering was unnecessary.

"So, what's on the agenda today?" Azalea asked, rolling on her side and clutching the sheets around her to try and get warmer.

"It's Christmas, so not many places are open. I do have something planned, but it'll have to be done at night," Tom responded.

Azalea had completely forgotten about Christmas. With all of the events from the days before, the holiday had slipped her mind. "I see," Azalea muttered. Then, she rolled out of bed and picked up her discarded underwear.

"Where are you going?" Tom asked as the girl disappeared into the adjoining room. The lack of response didn't surprise him, but it was just as frustrating as it was when the two began working together. Azalea was the most infuriating person Tom had ever met, and that's what drew him to her like a fly to honey.

Azalea returned to Tom's room wearing a simple sweater and pants. The high neck of the sweater covered the patchwork of love bites on her neck.

"You've got all you need here, yet you choose to go out," Tom said with a roll of his eyes.

Azalea dryly responded, "Yes, because spending all day with you sounds absolutely riveting."

"I'd stop being so sarcastic if I were you. You did choose to come here with me," Tom responded with a smile.

"Is that a threat?" Azalea asked.

"No. Just a suggestion," Tom answered warmly. "Since you are going out, I suppose I could use the fresh air," he said, standing up.

Azalea chuckled. "Afraid I'll run off with another man if I leave you here?" she teased.

"No," Tom said while pulling on a shirt. "I'm confident that I'm much more appealing to you than anyone you'd find here."

Azalea rolled her eyes, a small smile crossing her lips. "I don't have much of a plan today. You don't have to come," she remarked.

"Azalea," Tom said sternly, "I'm coming because I want to. Believe it or not, you're one of the only tolerable people I know."