"Feel free to use kisses to shut me up anytime."

                           - Anonymous

It was to Theo's luck that the limo came to a halt in front of a sumptuous mall.

Theo didn't spare another second as he slipped his arms under her and effortlessly lifted her as soon as the door soared up.

With her in his arms like a weightless ragdoll, he rushed to the entrance of the mall in which six guards opened the doors for him. "I'm sorry, love. I'm so so sorry," he apologized profusely to Athena who was cleaning the dirt in her nails with the hem of his somewhat wet turtleneck.

It must have been one of his maids who dry-cleaned his car just the night before who placed the scented oils there when he had taken them away already.

"Can you like put me down now? Where are you taking me anyway, you kidnapper?" She played with a few undried curls that hung above Theo's eyes as she swayed her legs in the air with an arm tugged around Theo's neck, slightly pulling the fabric of his turtleneck, confining his throat all the more." Actually, don't put me down, this is quite fun." She shook her legs more, causing her weight to double.

Theo set her down on a red couch at the lounge of the mall, a few feet away from the entrance; this made her scowl at him.

Athena folded her arms, lips protuberant as she looked at him discontentedly through the hood of her eyelids. "Why did you put me down when I clearly told you not to?"

Theo went down on one knee before her, grasping her creamy hands into his, shaking them slightly as if the gesture could help wake his girl within. "Listen love, you have to do exactly what I say, yes?"

Athena's eyes slimmed almost into a straight line. "And I should do what you say just because you resemble a daddy dom I fantasise so much about?"

Theo's eyebrows raised inquisitively, his mind a surging perplexity; it was a first where someone would say that about him. He didn't like to exude those sort of vibes— an unfitting image of him, he would say. But, if it was the only way to tame her, so be it. "Yes, exactly."

Athena bit her lip, crossing her legs while her hands were on both side of her, palms caressing the soft cushion of the couch as she leaned closer to him. "Hmm... Would I get a reward if I say yes?"

Theo smiled, not a trace of irritation towards her fatuous responses. He actually enjoyed this side of her from the beginning; it made him think of his needy sister when she was much younger. He was too familiar with dealing with this sort of situation. "No, you don't have to say yes. Only by doing as I say, three rewards will be proffered. How about that?"

Athena's smirk were gone from her face. Theo had caught her ruse. She rolled her eyes, leaning back onto the couch so harshly that she bounced, crossing her arms again. "Three? You think you are a genie? Make it four and I will consider."

"No need to contemplate. I will give you only three. Take it or leave it," he said in a ludic but also firm tone. With his smile still intact, he lightly placed his chin on her lap as he watched her uncomfortably move her eyes from places to places, deciding if it was an offer that could satisfy her." Fine!" She spat in Theo's face. "Only if you name the reward first."

Theo went for her hand, making her folded arms to loosen as he let his fingers interlock with hers, suggesting for more intimacy— just the way he love it when he's with a lover. "But where's the fun in that?"

"You're so manipulative!" She pushed his hand away roughly, eyes peering at him like he was a piece of rusted can ring that was tossed at the side of the street. "And who gave you the permission to touch me?"

Theo found it interesting how different she was back then; it was unconvincing to think how much someone could change so drastically— absolutely oblivious he was the paramount factor why she did.

He gave her the space she wanted. Irking his date was the last thing he wanted as he switched his knees, feeling the soreness and heat creeping up to it.

"Okay so start spilling it already! What do you want me to do? Take a drug? Jump off the building?"

Theo gave a satisfied grin, pulling out a strip of pills.

"Well how right can I be?" She scorned with a hand reached out, expecting Theo to pick up his pace in taking the pill out. "If this is a sleeping pill, I will sue you, and if this turned out to be a suicide pill, I will haunt you," she warned.

It was a wishful thought to even think of suing an invincible man, but Theo coolly promised her with a pinkie held up. "I give you my word, you won't have to do any of the two."

She brushed aside what seemed to be meaningless things like a pinkie promise as she plopped the pill into her mouth as soon as she got it. She didn't care what the pill really was nor did she needed water to swallow. Call it desperate for the unrevealed rewards.

She forced the gold tablet to run down her oesophagus, and with a hard gulp, it did. "There, happy? Now grant me all the three prizes I very much deserve."

Theo shook his head leisurely, Athena didn't find a difference from watching a slow motion clip. "There's one more thing."

Athena slammed her palms onto the couch. "That's cheating! I didn't agree on doing two of your ridiculous requests!"

"Yet you didn't disagree either," Theo spoke with a neutral tone in a moderate whisper.

Athena picked at her nails while narrowing her eyes at Theo— something she always did when she's deep in thoughts or dwelling on an answer. "Hmph! Just so you know I'm not a coward to do the 'tasks', I just wouldn't do it if your rewards are meagre." She flipped her hair. "However, if you would say one of the things I will get out of this is a white glove worn by MJ himself, I will compromise."

Theo laughed.

Athena's lips transformed into a smirk, positive he wouldn't be able to get it. "What? Don't tell me your wealth is nothing but a sham. It's impossible for you, isn't it?"

Theo cooled from his chuckle, showing off his perfect teeth to Athena but quickly covered it with his hand. "No. I just thought it would be something big but it turned out to be an easy wish. Its already in my home if you wish to see it for yourself."

Athena felt a rock strikes her in the face, eyes twitching in disbelief. "You're kidding right?"

Theo shifted onto his other knee again; both were equally sore and red, he could barely feel them attached to his body anymore. "I wouldn't dare."

Athena glared at him. "It can't be both of them?"

"Gloves comes in pairs, love."

"Fine! Say the second one. After this, I'm done with your bs, hear me? And, don't call me love."

Theo nodded, causing his moist curls to fall directly into the auburn in his eyes as he beguiled her closer with a beckoning finger. "Come here."

The haughty Athena noted how gorgeous Theo was from the shadow his light hair created in his eyes, and for that she gave in, gravitating towards the fallen angel who was bowing at her feet.

An angel on his knees to the Devil. And now, the devil was coming close to the light.

She was around fifteen inches away from him, her body inclining forward, her arms squeezed between her thighs and chest.

"Closer," Theo breathed, his finger still moving, enchanting her.

Athena pushed herself further out of the couch, resuming to lean closer. "Like this?"

"No. Closer," Theo ordered.

The tips of their nose were grazing, ethereally, tenderly, as if they were both holograms, afraid to touch each other as they might just glitch.

Theo bore into the depths of her cavernous eyes. "Closer." His hot breath reached her face in a rush and she welcomed it willingly.

"What the hell are we doing?" Was the question that struggled to roll of her tongue but it never did; the problem was she was enjoying it too.

Their noses were side to side, forehead touching as she inhaled the expensive scent of his cologne.

"Closer," Theo said again.

"I don't think I can get any closer." The top of her lips touched his soft once, with that alone she could tell the sweetness that comes with it if she advanced further.

"Why not?" Theo urged, tracing a finger at the hairline near her ear, making the ice that surrounded her heart to melt.

Athena shook her head, building a small friction between their foreheads and looked at him like he was retarded; it was an answer even a five year old would know. "Because..."

Theo outlined her jaw with the same finger, acting innocent. "Because?"

Athena thought to pout, to figure if he was taking advantage of her in exchange for the rewards but her lips would surely come in contact with his, so she only bit her inner lip. "Because we will kiss duh."

Theo's finger that was admiring every feature of her face retreated out of the blue to touch his own lips. To Athena's utter surprise, he tore the flesh of his lips with his nails swiftly, triggering blood to pour out of it.

"What are you—"

Theo wrapped his large hand around the back of her neck as she froze. "That's the point." He pulled her down, locking his bleeding lips with hers.

Only a teensy-weensy drop of blood from a person whose immune to Tatiana's concoction, along with the golden pill to help fuse the blood with the troubled person; it will overcome the lingering scent in their lungs and they'd go back to normal in less than a second.

It was proven right when Athena's eyes was just about to go round, it fluttered thrice and closed, savouring the moment— and who could ever wallow in their fairytale-like kiss of their Prince who was saving his Princess in deep slumber better than the ethical, considerate, the current— Athena Rose?

When Theo felt her teeth against his lips, indicating she was smiling, he was certain she was back and pulled away, not wanting her to think he was making use of the situation. "I'm sorry. What a way to ruin a date." He shook his head, replaying the far-fetched event.

Athena released a stressful giggle. "No. I'm sorry, the way I acted." She cover her face with a hand. "Oh my God. That's so humiliating." She ran that hand in her wet hair, her head at a level slightly higher than him but she still felt smaller as she shrunk further in embarrassment. "I really couldn't control myself. I mean I tried but..."

Curiosity, perplexity darted into her blood. "What happened exactly? It's like I... this interesting scent you have in your car—" She halted, clueless on how to describe it.

"Someone close to me gifted those aromas for health reasons but inverted side effects will befall to those who is prone to it. I'm sorry for everything. I was too careless." Theo tried to stand up but several of his nerves were still asleep as he stumbled a bit before getting on both feet perfectly, offering her a hand. "Will you let me make it up to you?"

He brought up his watch, taking a peek at the time. "This mall closes early but we still have two more hours. I booked the whole mall for today just for you. You can run around, shout the things you are afraid to bring to light, or shop and take anything you desire." He smiled, looking up to the ceiling which Athena followed. "You can even climb on that chandelier for fun. Anything you'd like. It's just you and I."

The corner of Athena's lips curled, clearly interested with the things he said, accepting his hand, rising from the couch. "And if I fall?"

"You know I will catch you."

Athena beamed, happiness surging like never before, believing joy really did came in many different, heavenly flavours, and without thinking she tip-toed as much as she could to reach Theo's lips, capturing his tongue immediately, tasting a little metallic savour of the dark red fluid altogether. She enjoyed that a little too much.

He returned the same amount of vigour, zeal, only much more proficient.

When her toes went numb from how much it stretched, she parted with the best smile as she pulled Theo's arm, leading him to explore the mall together.

This was where their date really, finally, began.

They both had so much fun that they were unaware of a desperate paparazzo taking endless pictures of them— one including their french kissing.

Theo had broken rule number four—the most important rule, and he didn't even know it.

______________________________

So we've come to an end again 😌 both of these chapters are for those who are on Theo's side.

If you are on Xerus', stay tuned for the next one🌹

What do you think would happen?

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