Hellish Obsession - Chapter 22：Breathe You In

Song Recommendation: Breathe Me – Sia.

Hearing the deep, low-pitched voice that had chimed from the staircase, Aveline turned to sneak a look at the sight and her eyes were literally blessed.

She doubted if a man could be more attractive. Thanks to the man in front of her who was everything a woman can ever want. He was a complete package of perfection, flawlessly produced.

Though this perfectionist could attract everyone with his facial features, he could never attract anyone with his terrible manners. Even if anyone had ever fallen for his facial features, she would really run away to spare her life from terrifying mannerisms.

Dumbest – that was what he called Ave just now. He called a Princess the dumbest!

Despite her infuriated rage by his offensive insult, she had a soft grin materialized on her face. “Mr Gay!”

“Stop calling me that, hazelnut.” He blurted out as he approached her and gripped onto the handle of the luggage she was holding.

She loosened her grip and he pushed the luggage with him to the staircase. She blinked. “You are here to help me?” She never reckoned this nutcracker will do such a kind thing to her.

The fluttered tone of her voice stopped Xavier’s step on the third stair. He tilted to her side. “It’s my own luggage that was mistakenly exchanged with yours in the car. But seems like, you are too dumb to notice.”

Right, their luggage came up to be the same; the white samsonite luggage.

“Where is my luggage?” Ave glared. He was here to help her – even having the thought was much more than just stupidity.

“It’s in my room. Take it back to your room as soon as possible. I don’t like nutty stuff in my room.” He said before he turned his back against her and moved towards the upper deck.

Ave shuffled behind as she watched him swiftly carrying the luggage in his one hand. Indeed, it was too light to him. “Can’t you just help me?” Her lips parted.

“No!” His reply came out unpleasantly.

“Okay.” Ave sighed. “I am stronger. And… I can carry heavy bags. I can cook. I can sing. I can dance. I can swim. I can….” Whilst she mumbled about her capabilities alone, the stairs led them to the upper exterior deck side of the yacht. The deck had four sets of couches with a divan for relaxation stood between them. The curved railings were high and neatly polished. It had been set up for the 180-degree view of the ocean.

“Wow, the sea looks so amazing.”

Xavier heeded her distant voice fading in the air. He halted in the place to behold the girl behind him who was now busy scanning the entire arena. It was beautiful indeed.

As she placed her hands onto the rails, the breeze flirted with her, fluttering through her hair, freeing several stands from the ribbon. The whiff of wind blew strong and the gusts of water kissed her face. She enjoyed it; or maybe was enjoying everything.

However, it was only until a bark was heard from behind. She whipped around and the german shepherd that stood two steps away was given attention to. Her eyes seemed to pop out of their place as she stepped back and her back hit the railing.

Demonstrating the grip onto an imaginary sword, she lifted her hand and bounced it back and forth. “Go away, please. I am afraid of dogs.” She whimpered, probably didn’t notice anyone except the german shepherd and herself.

Dumbfounded, Xavier watched the dog trudging close to her while Aveline had been trying so hard to keep a distance. As expected, she was failed and lunged back. Placing her legs up, on the railing, she settled herself onto it.

The dog barked again and strolled to approach her.

Ave gasped and clenched her hands onto the rail. Hoisting her legs up, settling on there, she had been losing control of her position. “If I get murdered by this dog, I will be so fucked off.” She had closed her eyes whilst crying out.

“Childish.” Xavier attempted to ignore her and walk away but when the sound of water and her historical scream was heard, he knew the attempt was failed already. She had slipped from the railing and fell into the sea. “Fuck you, little troublesome nut.” Cursing her in numerous names, he hurried to the railing.

Through sheer survival instinct, Ave was forcing her arms and legs to move and pop her head up above the water only to repeat the cycle. Despite her constant movement, she started to sink lower in the water, with water rushing into her nose and mouth alerting her to the danger.

“I don’t want to die.” Ave barely let out her voice, kicking her legs as fast as she could and parting the water with huge strokes of her arms. The icy water had shocked her system as she plunged beneath the surface of the ocean again. Her heart raced and chest tightened.

She was failed, again and again.

That moment she came to realize that, – drowning is quiet unlike the downing in the movies that is loud and splashy. When people are drowning, they can barely make a single noise.

Her strength was gone and she was giving up until all of a sudden, she was exploded out of the water, spraying droplets everywhere. Her lungs filled with the sweet, life-giving air as someone wrapped hands around her waist and dragged her up. She blinked to clear the hazy blur vision, and after a few attempts, the rescuer she discovered in front of her was Xavier, Mr Gay. “Y-you…”

He pressed her tight against his chest, hauling the weight of her wet body. “You are such a troublemaker, Aveline. Why can’t you just ignore me? And why the hell I can’t ignore you?” His words blurted out in frustration.

Not after too long, he realized, she didn’t hear anything. She was too stunned to listen to anything. As the yacht horned, startled, she snaked her arms around his neck, sheltering herself.

His steady gaze ran over her frightened face as their eyes locked. The droplets on her skin had glittered her almost red face. And, because of the dangerous closeness, he could feel the soft stroke of her delicate body’s features that were now visible under her drenched robe.

Slowly, he leaned over until his lips brushed against her earlobe. “You can’t swim at all, can you?” He whispered in her ear, feeling the loud thumping of her heart.

She shook her head and the warmth of his lips’ soft whiff shuddered her in the cold water.

“Then you better hold me tight.”

His hand trailed up from her waist and midst the route to her nape, his fingers stroked the drenched fabric of her cloth, travelled across her abdomen, breast and shoulder.

She squirmed, not because of the cold, but the warm touches. Flares of heat shot through her. “W-what are you doing?” Her skin prickled and turned bluish whilst she held her breath.

He slid his hand under her hair. “By any chance, are you out of breaths?” His voice had a husky rasp.

Suddenly, she was so hard against him as she felt the rigid tension of his muscles beneath her palms. She was no longer afraid of the ocean or drowning.

“Yes, let me breathe you in.” She said before she curled her fingers into his wet hair and took his mouth in hers.