13

Word count: 2193

~Kiva

There's only one thing that's going to get me through tonight.

Rifling through the cabinet, I push various cans and preserves to the side before my hand grasps the exact dusty bottle I've been looking for.

"Look what I found," I sing out, straightening to examine the bottle in the light.

I learnt my fathers proclivity for hiding his whiskey amongst the pantry foods that he figures I didn't like when I was a teenager. Now, it's going to get me through the night with Ark.

"Put that back where you found it," Ark warns.

I pop the top off it. "Why?"

He studies me from the far side of the room. It's clear he wants to get through this night with as little annoyance as possible on his part.

"You are not drinking," he mutters, as I wave the bottle around, trying to tempt him.

"We have been here for hours and both of us are bored," I wine, sniffing the bottle, trying not to wince at the strong scent it emits.

"Have you drunk before?" Ark questions irritably.

I narrow my eyes on him. He thinks of me as a child, and it's so frustrating I could crush the glass between my hands.

He's not so much more experienced than me...I mean, he probably is but I don't need to think about it.

"A small amount. I'll just have a tiny bit." I hold my fingers up as a physical representation.

He doesn't even blink. "No."

I talk across the room toward him, weaving around the outdated furniture. Father demanded none of it be touched after my mother died, considering it was her design choice.

"What's the worst that could happen? I'm here with you, no one can get to us. For once, I'm truly safe," I assure him, motioning out the window.

The sun has officially set, meaning nothing can be seen through the glass. Beyond, there is a beautiful lake surrounded by trees.

No one can get us here. But if they did, there would be no where to run or hide.

Ark rolls his eyes. "Fine. Just one sip."

Grinning, I pull the bottle to my lips, taking a long drink. It burns deliciously on the way down, and I don't stop with just one drink.

Ark is quick to pull the bottle from my lips, some spilling down my chin as I laugh animatedly.

"Kiva," he scolds darkly, holding it just out of reach.

My eyes trace the length of his strong arm all the way up to the bottle in his hands. This is the first time I've seen him without a jacket or long-sleeved tunic, allowing me to see the extent of the tattoos I figured he had.

On some days I've seen them barely peeking above the collar of his shirt, but not I examine them with a curious gaze.

I want a tattoo, I've decided. But whether that is in my future is an entirely different question.

"That was hardly any..." I drawl, although by the way it burns in the pit of my stomach, it may be enough to get me tipsy.

His brows draw together. "No more. I mean it."

He sets it down on the counter. As he turns away, I grab it, sprinting across the room as fast as I can, dodging around furniture until I feel I'm at a safe enough distance from Ark to drink a few more sips.

He rolls his eyes, advancing on me with a purposeful stride before plucking it straight from my grasp again.

"No..." I complain, painting a pout over my face.

"Remember when I told you to not disobey any of my commands?" He crosses the room again, toward the kitchen.

I trail after him. "Can't we just have one night of fun."

"If I allow you to get drunk, who knows what you would do," he mutters, looking out the kitchen window as if he suspects a threat may be near.

His weapons are strapped to him, and so far he's done three rounds around the house. I know we are safe out here, and I want him to relax.

"I'll be good, I swear. I'll give you no grief for an entire week's training," I tell him. I would too, for a night where I don't have to think about the horror of my life waiting at home.

He shakes his head at me. "No manipulating."

To put the issue to rest, he turns, going to pour the alcohol into the sink, but I grab it before much can drain away.

"No, Ark!" I complain. I'm not exactly bothered that I cannot drink, it's more about the principle of Ark telling me what I cannot do, even if my father is the one who is paying him to be like this.

He doesn't let go of it, although doesn't resist as I bring the rim back to my lips and drink.

I watch, transfixed as I slowly turn it to his lips, encouraging him to take a sip.

He stares at me for a long time, an untamed heat in his eyes before he eventually swallows a couple mouthfuls, bringing his hand up to brush away any leftover on his sensuous lips.

"Good," I whisper, entranced.

He sets the bottle back down, motioning for me to back away from it. I have a happy buzz going anyway, so I don't need to drink anymore.

Ark taking a drink was enough for me to feel as though I won.

Flopping back onto the couch, I watch him stride across the room, eyes pinned out the window. I narrow my eyes, wanting him to pay attention to me, knowing there is nobody lurking outside the window like he suspects.

"Do you have a mate?" I ask.

He doesn't look at me. "Not that I know of."

In my clouded state of mind, nothing seems to be scandalous enough to talk about. It's late, we are alone out here and I'm bored out of my mind.

"I have one," I murmur lowly.

Ark turns around suddenly. "Wait...What?"

I blink, unsure of why I just admitted that to him so openly. "Huh? I didn't mean that."

All of a sudden he is right in front of me, crouching down so he is at my level sitting on the couch. I giggle at his serious expression. If this gets back to my father, I'm screwed, but I can't find it in myself to care now.

"Kiva...What did you just say?"

"I know who my mate is," I repeat. I may as well admit it, it's not like Ark can do anything to stop a mate bond, as much as he may want to prohibit a lover from my life.

"Who is he?" He demands.

He doesn't sound angry, just cold and calculated, as if he plans to hunt my mate down and murder him for having the audacity to be connected to me in such a way.

I shrug. "I don't know."

"Liar. Tell me," he insists.

I burst out into laughter again. I do sound like I'm hiding something from him, but I'm really not. I wish I could tell him, because that would mean I know too.

Ark's expression is unmoving, unamused.

"I don't even know his name," I admit, running a hand down my face, realising how ridiculous and drunk I sound.

Ark tilts his head, frowning. "How can you not know?"

"He never told me." I throw my hands up, not knowing what else I can say. My mate doesn't want to be with me, otherwise he would have revealed his identity when he could.

We were alone together...what was his excuse?

"Be serious Kiva. Your father will want to know," Ark presses. His gaze is so intense, and selfishly, it feels nice that he has finally decided that staring out the window isn't all he should do tonight.

"I'm not lying. I touched my mate, and he ran off and I haven't seen him since," I say, sobering from my laughter. That part isn't funny.

Even drunk, it hurts.

Ark's gaze softens. He believes me.

"Really?" he asks gently.

"Really."

He doesn't need to know that my mate is a part of the resistance, that we found out we were mates on the first night they broke in. That would lead to a reaction I'm too tired to deal with tonight.

"I'm sorry Kiva. I had no idea." He sounds genuine, his tone softer than I've ever heard come from him.

I guess my suspicion that Ark is incapable of kind emotions isn't true.

"Who cares, he's probably a terrible person. I'm better off without him," I say dismissively. Even if the bond draws us together, I should start thinking about my life beyond him.

Ark nods slowly, although I can hear the hesitation in his response. "You truly are."

Standing back up, he turns away from me, still shaking his head.

I stare at him, thinking. How did I end up with him as my personal guard? Maybe I'm drunk, but I can hardly comprehend how such a beautiful man exists.

He must have a lover beyond his job, although I don't have it in me to ask.

I know I tempt him. Sometimes his stares linger, during training and outside of it. He won't allow himself to admit it, keeping so professional it's irritating.

"Can I say something that I most definitely am going to regret," I whisper.

The alcohol still burns in my stomach, fuelling my confidence. Under the gilded light, he looks magical, my mouth drying the more I look.

"That's not a good idea." He still doesn't look at me, as if he can't trust himself to.

The tension in the room is heavy, shrouding us. Outside, a strong breeze strums against the windows, but other than that, it's nearly silent. And out here, in the middle of nowhere, it's just us.

Alone.

Even with that, I look up at him through my lashes. "You're crazy hot. Like so attractive it hurts."

"Kiva..." He scolds, although it holds no firmness.

I get to my feet, closing the gap between us. This is dangerous, I know that, but I can't help myself. Tomorrow is for regret. Now, I want to see how far he will let this go.

I reach out to draw my hand down his arm. "You're strong, muscular and these tattoos-"

In a move so swift I don't catch it as it happens, he grabs my wrist, pulling my hand away from him.

"No touching," he warns.

"Why not?" I pout.

He leans closer, until I can see every perfect detail of his face. "Because then things will not only be said that we will regret, but also will be done."

A thrill shudders through me and I go still. I could stop now, but my true desire for this has surfaced, and it isn't going to be forced down easily.

"No one has to know...it would be one night, in that bed in the other room." I point behind me. Ark's gaze shifts to the door to the bedroom.

He winces, both emotionally and physically holding himself back. "This isn't what you want."

"You won't even have to be gentle if you don't want to. I can take it." At this point, I'm trembling with excitement, images flashing through my mind of what he is capable of doing to me.

His eyes are heated, but his expression is neutral. "You are so drunk. You don't want that."

"Say's who?"

"Me. Now sit down and drink some water." He gently pushes me back by my shoulders until I fall down onto the couch, then turning to go fill a glass with water.

I sit up, staring at his strong back. "You don't look like you would want to be gentle. I think you like it rough and dirty."

When he turns around, he's smirking. I think I'm right about my assumption.

"There is nothing you can say to get me to have sex with you," he says, handing me the water. I take it, only to set it down on the coffee table.

"Why not?"

He folds his arms over his chest, looking down at me. "You really think I'm going to give you what you want, after you've consistently gone against my orders? Consider this your punishment."

I gape up at him. "I...Ark..."

"You're a pretty girl, Kiva. But I have a job to do, and last time I checked, your father isn't paying me to fuck you."

I slump into the thick cushions of the couch, irritated. I'm not ashamed, I know he wants me, he just wants to keep this job more. I can't blame him, he is getting paid handsomely.

"Ugh. Time to go back to hating you," I grumble.

He smiles, turning back to look out the window. "Good girl."

💚••💚

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! and as always it is available 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

THE DARKEST TEMPTATION— OUT NOW ON WATTPAD!!

~Midika 💜🐼