They first met on a train.
She just came out from retirement of being a hermit while he was traveling incognito. He was reading a book when she interrupted his concentration.
"Do you want to know how fast I read?"
The man looked up, his black eyes peered at her, an eyebrow was raised.
How shameless can she be? But whatever, she needed to read that book.
"I can finish it in thirty minutes."
"So do I. If you stop talking to me," the man once again buried his head on the book.
"I can give you a very detailed book review?"
The man continued reading, treating her like an air. She pursed her lips, thinking how she can convince the man.
"Giving up so soon? I thought you want to read this book?" The man threw her a glance, raising the book in front of her face, tempting her.
"Okay. What do you want?" She braced herself for his outrageous answer.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm sure you can give it to me."
She squared her shoulders, indicating him to proceed with his request.
"Just a kiss," the man said, his dark eyes became darker.
She almost fell from her seat when she heard the man's request. She looked at the man's lips unconsciously then back to the book.
For the first time in history, Li Nuxie wanted both.
-This is an original story and not a translation. Cover is from Canva.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]