CHAPTER 3: CLAIMING SHADOW

Seraphina opened up the window, not even knowing what was making her to do so.

And…

Vnox appeared into view from where he'd watched her open the curtain and window, just as he knew she would.

“Good evening, Seraphina.”

Instead of replying, she crossed her arms, “I have some questions for you.”

He didn't seem to mind the little display of attitude though, “Ask away.”

“What is it you want from me, Vnox?”

“I would think that’s obvious.”

“What do you mean?”

“You, Seraphina. I want you.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she shook her head, no one had ever shown interest in her like this before but…

“You… you don’t even know me.”

“Oh I know enough,” He said, enjoying making her talk more than necessary.

“Enough to know that I want you. You’re meant to be mine.”

She scoffed at that.

“You haven’t even asked me properly. You didn’t… you didn’t ask if I’d want to be in a relationship with you.”

Chuckling lowly, he leaned into her, “Do I look like a man who asks for permission?”

Seraphina didn't like how close he had gotten to her, so she moved backwards a bit.

“I’m not… I don’t want to be in a relationship. Especially with an older man. It’s… it’s wrong.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

“Aren’t you an innocent thing?”

The words sent another rush of heat up her neck, and she felt herself blush.

And yet…

“Go away, Vnox. You’re… you’re probably married or something,” she stammered.

“Stop chasing me. I’m practically… I’m practically a child to you.”

“Don’t mistake me for someone who has limits, Seraphina. If I want something, I claim it.”

This only made her to take another involuntary step backwards.

“Then you’re… you’re crazy.”

Now he smirked, “Maybe.”

His long hands reached out then, brushing away a loose strand of her hair from her face with his fingers.

“But I think you like that. Don’t you?”

She shook her head, “You don’t know anything about me.”

“Oh, I know more than you think, I know that you feel this, too.”

“I don’t… I don’t feel anything.”

He tilted her chin up with two fingers, making her meet his gaze.

“Lying doesn’t suit you, Seraphina.”

The way he looked at her—like she was something precious, wasn't something her young mind was ready for.

She tried to pull away but his fingers only dug deeper into her cheeks.

“I’m not married. Ask me anything you want, and I’ll answer.”

Strangly, she found herself blurting out the first questions that came to her mind.

“Why did you leave that black rose? What does it mean?”

He wasn't exactly expecting THAT question, but he replied her nonetheless.

“A black rose is a symbol of darkness. Of mystery. And sometimes… of an inevitable fate.”

“Inevitable?”

He nodded, tapping her cheeks lightly, “Once I set my sights on something, Seraphina… there’s no turning back.”

That answered most of her questions, in a way that is, so she decided to tell him off there and then.

“I don’t want… whatever it is you’re offering.

But the male had the audacity to smirk at her words.

“And yet, here you are.”

Her eyebrows furrowed at this, “I'm not the one squatting on a window sill."

His eyes darkened immediately and he plopped down from her window, into her room.

Pale faced, she began taking steps backwards with him following her.

“Look, I didn't mean to insult you…"

But her words got cut off when her leg collided with her bed behind her and she tumbled, falling onto it.

Vnox was above her in an instant, holding her her chin and jerking it up so she gasped, roughly.

Then he dipped his head and captured her lips.

Seraphina went still for a while, shocked and… unsure of how to respond to the kiss but his hand guided her jawline, guided her, showing her how to move her head.

Drawing her lower lips between his teeth, he sucked it into his mouth.

Slowly she raised her hands, touching his cheeks and he sighed, stroking her jaw as though he was rewarding her.

He nipped and nibbled on her lips and she followed, bumping him in his nose with hers so she could bite down on his upper lip so softly, sucking it.

Pulling away slightly and moving to her upper lip, Vnox increased the force of the kiss making her curiously follow him, latching to his lower ones.

Her hands somehow found themselves wound about his neck, gripping the nape of his hair while her breasts rubbed against his chest as their lips moved over each other

Her nipples hardened under her rather light night wear and her wide nipple opening gripped Vnox’s own nipple through his shirt.

He groaned and she gasps, shocked, and with pleasure.

It was new and strange but it felt so good.

His lips moved faster and she pulled away, turning her head to the side and pressing deeper into the bed to catch some breath.

Only for her to jerk when she felt him latch onto the skin between her collarbone and neck.

She mewled, wrapping her legs about him when he sucked on it.

A knock on her door startled her, “Seraphina, what's that sound?"

Her Mum.

She froze but Vnox doesn't stop, instead he starts trailing his kisses down.

“I…I thought I saw a spiiiider.”

“Why is your voice like that?"

Vnox reached down the valley of her breasts and started to take them out of her night wear but she pushed him, pulling away while she tried to get up.

In the process, Vnox's mouth ended up landing on her nipple through the nightware and he bites down on it.

She arched and falls back to the bed, throwing her head back.

“Seraphina!!”

She placed her hand on her mouth, and then removed it.

“I'm fine Mum, that spider scared me out of my sleep."

"Don't ever scare me like that again. Do I make myself clear Seraphina?”

Vnox circled her covered nipple and hooked on it pulling it with his teeth.

Her tongue drops to the floor of her mouth, causing her to stick it out, closing her eyes.

“Yes Mum. Goodnight. Sorry, I'm feeling sleepy.”

"I've heard, sleep well.”

Vnox palms her breasts and she jolts.

"Fuck what I said, you look beautiful when you lie.”

He raised himself up, kissing her lips and gets up, adjusting her nightdress before pulling her to the window.

She followed him though, even while she was in a daze.

Cupping her cheeks with both hands, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, leaving his hands on her cheeks till he saw the confusion leave her eyes for a bit.

“Lock the window immediately I leave. Okay?”

She nodded looking down to the soft carpet of her room's floor, so he pinched her right cheek, causing her to look up in puzzlement as he rubbed circles on it, soothing the sting.

“Words Jewel."

"Okay.”

He smiled then let go of her, climbing out the window and blending with the darkness outside.

She, on her own part, locked the window and hopped down on the bed touching her lips with her right hand and cupping the breast Vnox bit with her other hand.

Just as her fingers start to trace over her lips, her phone vibrated so she brought her fingers down to pick it up.

Blinking, she stared at the white bubble of message:

> I love that you kept your first kiss for me.