17 jealous

Aliyah


“You’re blushing, love. Do you remember how I shook the bed as well?” Raige asked, his face slowly leaning toward mine, his breath warm against my cheek.

I swallowed hard, the minty freshness of his mouth lingering on my senses. I couldn't move, trapped in the car seat, my body stiffening under his gaze. His words, laced with a knowing smirk, had me completely mesmerized. The memory of that night, the heat of our bodies tangled together, sent shivers rippling through me.


“Raige, shut up. Why do you always bring that up? We both know that whatever happened that night meant nothing. It was just a one-night stand. Are you teasing me because it was my first?” I asked, my cheeks burning.

I saw irritation flicker in Raige’s eyes, but beneath it, I glimpsed a flicker of hurt. Suddenly, I felt a pang of guilt.

“Why do you keep thinking that way? Do you think I’m some kind of rich, entitled son who doesn’t respect women? Do you think I just sleep with random women? Do you really think I slept with you just because I was drunk? Damn it, be thankful that I liked you so much, love. If I hadn’t, I might have just thrown you somewhere. You really hurt me, love.”

Raige returned to his seat behind the wheel, his silence heavy in the car. I stole a glance at him, and saw his jaw clenching in frustration.

He pulled over to a restaurant, but still didn’t speak. He opened the door for me, his actions a stark contrast to his silent anger.

I sighed. How gentlemanly. I felt a pang of shame for my earlier words. But I had been honest, hadn’t I? I wasn’t the type to have grand expectations, to believe that a man like him would be interested in me, or maybe even want to marry me. I wouldn’t use someone, especially a man like Raige, to lift myself out of poverty.

“Are you mad at me?” I asked, my voice small.

I asked again, but Raige remained silent. I followed him as he strode into the lavish restaurant, its air thick with the scent of fine dining and hushed conversation. We found a table in the farthest corner, away from the hubbub, and Raige called for a waitress.

He was the one who ordered for us, his choices a testament to his refined tastes. I raised an eyebrow as he spoke to the waitress, a young woman, probably my age.

“Is that all you want, sir?” she asked, her voice a sweet lilt.

Raige smiled, a slow, deliberate curve of his lips that made my stomach clench. “Yes, please. But if you have something else to offer, besides food, I’d be delighted.”

The waitress erupted in a laugh, a harsh, high-pitched sound that grated on my nerves.

Because hello, what if I was Raige’s girlfriend? Would she still be doing that? Clearly flirting with a man who was already with someone.

The girl’s laughter only fueled my irritation, and I abruptly rose from my seat.

“Where are you going, Aliyah?” Raige asked, his voice sharp. Was he actually noticing me?

“Restroom,” I said, rolling my eyes. “And if you want me to stay there longer, you know, to give you more time to flirt with that girl, just message me.” My voice dripped with sarcasm.

“You’re jealous of this girl?” he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

The waitress, sensing the rising tension between us, quickly exited the restaurant.

“Jealous? Why would I be? I’m not your girlfriend, and even if I was, I wouldn’t be jealous of a blatant flirt like her. She’s nothing compared to me.”

Raige shrugged, a slow, sly grin spreading across his face.

“I thought you were. I almost wanted to celebrate, you know, the fact that the girl I like was jealous over some random girl. Tsk, I can’t stay mad at you for too long, love.”

Ugh, this man was dense as hell. Did he really not see the difference between mad and jealous? Was he playing dumb, or was he truly that innocent?

“I’ll come with you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re kidding, right?” I asked, my disbelief evident. I was still fuming, but just like that, everything seemed to be back to normal. Ugh, it was always his tactic to smooth things over.

“I have to,” he said, his tone serious. “I told you, I’m soon to be the king of our clan, and by now, some of my enemies know how important you are to me. Whether you like it or not, I’ll be your shadow, wherever you go.”

“Do I have to believe that? Am I really that important to him? Do his enemies really see me as a target because of my connection to Raige?”

I was skeptical, my mind struggling to grasp the reality of his words.

“Do you think someone could actually harm me here? With all these people around, surely if I screamed for help, someone would hear?” My eyes scanned the crowded restaurant, searching for a sense of security amidst the bustling diners.

“Believe me, my enemies have a way of silencing screams, no matter how loud they are,” he said, his voice a low, dangerous growl.

I shook my head, my mind spinning. What kind of power could they wield? Money? I chuckled, a shaky sound, perhaps that was the answer. What else could it be but the corrupting power of wealth?

“Fine, I’ll stay, but don’t you dare flirt or even glance at those women, Raige. I’ll leave you here in a heartbeat,” I warned, my voice tight with a mix of annoyance and possessiveness.

Raige threw back his head and laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through the air.

“So this is how my love gets jealous, huh? How cute.” His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“I said I’m not jealous, I’m just annoyed, okay?” I insisted, trying to sound nonchalant, but my cheeks burned under his scrutiny.

Raige’s laughter only grew, a playful sound that made my heart beat faster.