Third Person's POV
"Y-You?" Liora stammered, her eyes widening to the size of saucers.
The face staring back at her was one she knew well, though it took her panicked mind a few frantic seconds to place where she had seen it before.
"You... you're the man who came to Mr. Brown's house that day? The one who bumped into me in the hallway?" Liora asked, the pieces of the puzzle suddenly falling into place.
It was Michael Lewis.
"Where did you steal this necklace?!" Michael suddenly yelled, his voice echoing sharply against the cold tile walls.
Liora's defensive walls immediately went up, her brow furrowing in deep offense. "Do you honestly think I'm a thief?" she asked, a sharp edge of anger bleeding into her voice.
Ignoring the question entirely, Michael stepped closer, pinning the girl tighter against the wall. "I am asking you this for the absolute last time. Where on earth did you get this necklace?"
"W-Why are you doing this to me?" Liora cried out, her voice shaking as she struggled against the man's iron grip. "Who are you to Ronan anyway?!"
Michael let out a cold, mocking scoff. "Huh. Ronan? Do you seriously think you have the right to call him by his actual name so casually?"
The weight of Michael's words hit Liora instantly, making her realize exactly how low the man thought of her. But instead of shrinking back, a wave of profound, burning anger washed over her.
"Yes, I have that courage!" Liora shouted back, hot tears finally spilling over her lashes. "I will call him whatever I want! And no matter what I call him, why do you care?! Why are you bothering me like this? Why won't anyone just let me live my life in peace?!"
"You can live your life as freely as you want." Michael hissed, his expression hardening. "But you will do it far, far away from Ron."
Liora's breath hitched, a deep frown settling over her features. "What are you even saying?"
"You cannot get close to Ronan. Don't you dare even try." Michael threatened, his voice dropping into a menacing, dangerous register. "I am giving you one final chance to walk away. Get away from Ronan right now, or you will pay for it with your absolute life."
Hearing the deadly threat, a sad, bitter smile broke through Liora's tears.
"You don't even have to bother killing me." Liora whispered, looking down at the ground as the tears flowed freely. "Because forcing me away from him is exactly the same as saying I'm already dead."
Mentally, Liora couldn't help but compare her bleak life before Ronan arrived to the beautiful, vibrant world she had known since meeting him. Ronan had opened an entirely new, breathtaking chapter in her existence.
"Even though everything between us started so strangely and mysteriously... in the end, he became my entire strength." Liora sobbed, the memories of Ronan rescuing her flashing before her eyes. "Without him, I am just a weakling. A walking corpse. I am only truly alive right now because of him."
She paused, her chest heaving as she looked up at her captor. "I don't know why you are so desperate to keep me away from him. But please... if you're going to kill me, just do it right here and now. Don't murder me piece by piece by forcing me to leave him."
Exhausted and overwhelmed, Liora's legs gave out, and she slid down the tile wall, sitting on the floor as she panted heavily. She flatly refused to return to her old, hollow life without Ronan.
Michael stood entirely frozen, a wave of profound confusion washing over him. He had never anticipated that the bond between these two would have grown this incredibly deep, this incredibly fast. His brow furrowed in deep suspicion, a sudden realization striking him that he had drastically miscalculated something big.
But before Michael could process another thought, the real world crashed back in with terrifying violence.
A brutal, heavy punch collided squarely with Michael's face. The sheer, superhuman force of the blow sent him flying backward across the room, his body crashing heavily into the far wall.
Gasping for air as blood began to trickle from his split lip, Michael looked up, and his breath completely stopped.
"R-Ronan?!" Michael stammered in absolute horror.
Ronan stood in the center of the washroom, his chest heaving as he panted heavily. But it wasn't just his sudden arrival that made Michael gasp; it was Ronan's terrifying supernatural appearance.
Ronan's eyes were glowing a violent, brilliant red, and on his forehead, a sharp diamond-shaped crest pulsed with an intense, otherworldly light.
Down on the floor, Liora raised her head, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at the man in sheer awe. "R-Ronan?" she whispered softly.
Ronan's cold, entirely emotionless gaze flitted down to Liora for a fraction of a second before snapping back onto Michael. His left hand was still resting on the heavy washroom door, which he had forcefully locked behind him. Out in the hallway, a frantic crowd of shoppers and security guards had already gathered, drawn by the terrifying screams echoing from inside. Liora couldn't even begin to fathom how Ronan had managed to get inside so fast.
Without a single word, Ronan marched straight toward Michael. He aggressively grabbed his childhood best friend by the collar, lifting him off the ground, and began raining down a succession of brutal, devastating punches. Because of Ronan's extraordinary, unnatural strength, Michael stood absolutely no chance, his body absorbing the terrifying impact.
Watching the one-sided beating unfold, panic gripped Liora's heart. She realized with absolute certainty that Michael was going to die at Ronan's hands if this continued. Outside, the mall security guards were already violently throwing their weight against the locked door, the wood groaning under the pressure.
"R-Ronan, stop it! Please, let him go! You're going to kill him!" Liora cried out.
But Ronan was entirely lost to his blind rage, continuing to strike Michael as if he couldn't hear a single thing.
Desperate, Liora scrambled to her feet and sprinted across the room. She threw her arms around Ronan's waist, hugging him tightly from behind. She knew, deep down in her soul, that her touch was the only thing in the universe capable of tethering Ronan back to reality.
As expected, the moment their bodies met, Ronan's fist froze in mid-air. The blinding rage receded from his features. He let go of Michael's collar, turning around in Liora's grip to pull the girl tightly against his chest, burying his face in her blonde hair.
Down on the floor, breathing heavily and clutching his bruised ribs, Michael's eyes widened in absolute shock. For a split second, he saw a glowing blue diamond mark flash brightly on Liora's forehead before completely vanishing into her skin.
Ronan's expression remained perfectly rigid. He could hear the security guards outside on the verge of breaking through the door hinges. Knowing exactly what kind of national scandal would erupt if they were caught in this bloody scene, his mind worked at lightning speed, searching for an escape.
Tightening his iron grip around Liora's frame, Ronan closed his eyes. In the next heartbeat, a massive, blinding flash of crimson light engulfed the two of them, and they vanished into thin air, leaving the locked restroom entirely empty.
Liora's POV
Just as I had hoped, the moment I wrapped my arms around Ronan, his violent rage completely evaporated. He pulled me into a fierce embrace, his body radiating an unusually intense, burning heat.
With the security guards on the absolute brink of shattering the washroom door, Ronan held me even closer against his chest. Suddenly, a brilliant, blinding red light exploded all around us. I quickly squeezed my eyes shut, unable to bear the intense brightness.
I kept my eyes closed for what felt like an eternity. For several minutes, a heavy, dead silence enveloped us. I simply didn't have the courage to open my eyes and face whatever was waiting for us.
"Little master!!"
The sound of a deeply familiar voice instantly made my eyes snap open. I blinked against the lighting, moving away from Ronan's chest slightly, only to realize with a shock that we were standing directly in the center of his massive master bedroom.
So... we actually came all the way here through teleportation?! W-Wow! I thought to myself, completely stunned. Did I somehow inherit the teleportation power too? It was becoming undeniable, our supernatural gifts were rapidly increasing every single time we interacted.
"L-Liora? My daughter?!"
Hearing my name, I quickly spun around to see Miss Scott standing by the door, staring at the two of us in a state of profound shock.
I quickly turned my attention back to Ronan's face. His eyes were still glowing a dangerous, vibrant red, and the luminous diamond crest remained etched onto his forehead. He was staring blankly ahead, entirely unresponsive. But a second later, his knees buckled, and his entire body went completely limp, collapsing toward the floor. I let out a terrified scream, barely catching him.
"Miss Scott, please! I know you must be so confused right now, but you have to help me get him to the bed!" I begged frantically, my mind spinning. "Only I can pull him back to normal when he's like this!"
To my utter surprise, Miss Scott didn't look bewildered or frightened by the display at all. She moved quickly, her expression shifting into one of deep maternal concern. "I understand completely, Liora. You focus on bringing him back. Hold on, let me help you lift him."
As we carefully guided Ronan's heavy frame onto the mattress, a realization struck me. Maybe Ronan already confessed everything to her? About our strange, cosmic powers. It was the only logical explanation for why she was so calm.
Once Ronan was safely settled, Miss Scott quietly stepped out of the room, leaving the two of us in absolute privacy.
Left alone, I immediately set to work. I gently unbuttoned his heavy coat and slid it off his shoulders, followed quickly by his dress shirt. I had to admit, I didn't possess anywhere near enough courage to try taking off his trousers. But looking down at his beautifully sculpted, muscular chest, I couldn't help but swallow hard, practically drooling at the sight.
Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, I forced myself to focus. I closed my eyes, quickly removed my own shirt, and climbed onto the bed. Laying directly over his naked chest, which felt so hot it was practically burning my skin, I wrapped my arms tightly around his torso. I knew from experience that direct skin-to-skin contact was the only way to absorb the volatile energy and bring him back to his senses.
A few quiet minutes ticked by in the silent room. Slowly, the unnatural, scorching heat bleeding from his skin began to cool, regulating back to a perfectly normal, human temperature. I let out a massive sigh of relief as I watched the glowing diamond crest fade completely from his forehead.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't that I disliked the mark. But it was always deeply terrifying when he transformed like that. In those volatile moments, he didn't feel like my Ronan anymore.
Wait... what did I just say? My Ronan?! My brain screamed, my cheeks instantly bursting into a furious blush. Ahh! I am seriously going crazy. I am overthinking way too much lately.
Letting out another soft sigh, I raised my head slightly to look at his sleeping face. He really is breathtakingly handsome, no matter what state he's in, I thought to myself, a beautiful, tender smile spreading across my lips.
After studying his flawless features for a few minutes, my gaze inevitably dropped, anchoring onto his long, beautifully thin lips. An intense temptation gripped my chest. How on earth was I supposed to resist kissing him at a time like this?
He's completely unconscious right now... this is literally the perfect opportunity. It's my turn to steal one, I giggled silently to myself, thoroughly amused by my own daring thoughts.
Leaning down slowly, I pressed my lips firmly against his, finally tasting the sweet, intoxicating lips that he had stolen from me without warning that night.
Third Person's POV
The moment Liora began softly kissing Ronan's lips, the quiet dynamic in the room shattered. Suddenly, two powerful, bare arms wrapped securely around Liora's waist.
Liora flinched in pure surprise, her eyes flying open, but before she could pull back, Ronan began to deeply, passionately respond to the kiss. A breathless, ecstatic smile broke across Liora's face as she melted into the touch.
Ronan was fully coming back to his senses, the magical healing pulling him out of his trance. In one swift, dominant movement, Ronan rolled them over, trapping Liora beneath his powerful frame. He pinned the girl into the mattress, taking absolute, breathless control of the kiss as his lips moved with a desperate, heavy intensity.
"Mmhhhh... M-Mister B-Brown..." Liora moaned softly against his lips, her head spinning from the sudden shift in power.
"Call me Ronan," the man murmured against her skin, his deep voice sending a shiver straight down Liora's spine as he pressed his solid weight flush against the girl's frame.
"Mmmmmhh... R-Ron...ronan...hh... Mmh..." Liora's soft moans only increased as Ronan began trailing a path of wet, agonizingly slow kisses down her jawline, moving to her neck and her little exposed chest like a man possessed.
Liora had only intended to steal a simple, innocent kiss while the man was asleep, but she had never anticipated a reaction this intense. She couldn't even begin to comprehend what had suddenly triggered this wild, passionate side of Ronan.
"A-Ah~ R-Ronan~" Liora gasped out.
Hearing that sweet, breathless honorific slip from the girl's lips, Ronan's desire flared exponentially.
But a second later, as Ronan pressed even tighter against her, Liora felt the undeniable, rigid hardness of the man's lower body straining directly against her thigh. Panic and embarrassment flared through Liora's veins. She quickly pushed against Ronan's shoulders, pulling away from the embrace.
Left without the comforting touch, Ronan let out a low, disappointed groan, his cheeks heavily flushed with a dark blush.
"I-I'm so sorry..." Liora mumbled, her face turning a brilliant shade of crimson as she looked down at the sheets, completely unable to meet man's gaze. After all, she was the one who had started the entire thing in the first place.
Ronan let out a breathy, deeply amused chuckle. "You really are a naughty bunny, aren't you?"
Liora blinked, thoroughly confused. "Huh? Who is?"
"Just look at what you went and did to me." Ronan teased softly, casting a subtle, meaningful glance down toward his own lap.
Liora followed his line of sight, her eyes widening in absolute horror as she spotted the prominent, heavy protrusion stretching the fabric of Ronan's pants.
"I-I am so, so incredibly sorry, Mr. Ronan! I-I swear I didn't mean to-"
"Hey, it's okay," Ronan interrupted smoothly, a beautiful, playful wink lighting up his features. "But I'm finally realizing that I have absolutely zero self-control whenever I'm anywhere near you."
Liora's face burned hotter, if that was even humanly possible.
Giving Liora one last lingering, suggestive wink, Ronan slid out of the bed. "Just give me a little bit of time to take care of this."
The moment the bathroom door clicked shut, Liora collapsed back onto the mattress, covering her entire face with both hands in sheer, unadulterated embarrassment before burying her head deep into the pillows to muffle her screams.
Inside the absolute privacy of the luxury bathroom, Ronan let out a low, strained groan as the throbbing ache between his thighs demanded immediate relief. Though he could have easily asked Liora to help him handle the tension, he had rigidly held himself back, terrified of rushing the girl or making her feel uncomfortable.
Stripping away his boxers, he took his junior into his own hands. He closed his eyes tightly, his mind instantly conjuring the vivid, breathless image of Liora's slender body, her milky skin, and her beautifully narrow waist moving beneath him on the bed.
The mental picture drove him straight over the edge. His pace accelerated fiercely as he threw his head back against the wall, his breathing turning ragged and uneven.
"Ahhhh~ F**k!" Finally, with a loud, deep groan escaping his lips, he surrendered entirely to the crushing wave of intense pleasure, releasing the built-up tension completely.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hearing the click of the bathroom door opening, Liora quickly turned away, squeezing her eyes tightly shut to pretend she was asleep. While Ronan had been occupied, Liora had quickly scrambled back into her shirt, desperately trying to look presentable.
She listened intently to the rustle of fabric as Ronan pulled on a fresh set of clothes. A moment later, the mattress dipped significantly, and Liora realized the man had climbed back into bed beside her.
Gently, Ronan reached out and turned Liora onto his side so they were facing each other. He leaned in close, hiding his face in the crook of Liora's neck as he wrapped his powerful arms around the girl's waist. Liora flinched slightly at the sudden intimacy.
"M-Mister Brown, you-"
"Shh... Just let me stay like this for a little bit." Ronan murmured softly, his breath warm against Liora's skin. "And please, stop calling me Mr. Brown."
Liora let out a soft, defeated sigh, ultimately relaxing into the comforting embrace. Her hand moved instinctively, her fingers sliding gently through Ronan's thick, silky black hair.
"Are you okay?" Liora asked quietly.
Feeling Ronan slowly shake his head side to side against his neck, Liora's brow furrowed, and he looked down at the man with deep concern.
"No, I'm really not okay," Ronan confessed, closing his eyes in sheer relief as Liora's fingers continued to soothe his scalp. "I don't understand any of this. I was so incredibly terrified, Liora. I was stuck in a corporate meeting when I felt it... and the moment I realized my childhood best friend Michael was actively trying to hurt you, my mind just went entirely blank."
"Oh... so he really is your best friend?" Liora asked softly.
"Hmm... he's the CEO of MYG News."
"Oh, wow," Liora murmured in surprise. "That's Sophie's big boss."
"Who on earth is Sophie?" Ronan asked, suddenly raising his head to glare up at Liora with a comical flash of protectiveness that made the girl burst into a melodic laugh.
"She's my sister, a girl." Liora explained gently, her eyes crinkling. "Not my biological sister, but she's practically family to me."
Ronan let out a long, heavy sigh of relief, lowering his head back into the comfortable crook of Liora's neck.
"Everything from this morning is just a blur in my mind." Ronan admitted heavily, his arms tightening around Liora's waist. "I don't even remember how I managed to get to that mall. I just... I remember hitting Michael. Hitting him over and over again. I completely lost control of my own body, Liora, it felt like it wasn't even me in that room. I brutally beat my absolute best friend, the person who has stood by my side since we were kids. I need to find a way to apologize to him."
He paused, a dark cloud settling over his features as he looked up into Liora's eyes. "Why did he attack you in the first place? What did he say to you?"
"He... he demanded that I stay far away from you." Liora explained quietly, her voice dropping.
Ronan's brow furrowed in deep confusion. "Why?"
"He wouldn't give me a reason." Liora sighed. "He just kept repeating that the further away I stayed from you, the better off my life would be. And... he was incredibly focused on my mother's silver necklace."
"Why would Michael do something like that?" Ronan muttered to himself, his mind racing as he stared into the empty room.
He stayed silent for a long moment before looking back at the girl in his arms. "I need to figure all of this out, Liora. Why do we possess these terrifying powers? What is truly going on between our lives? And what are these strange, overwhelming feelings that I've never known before... why am I acting this way around you? Why am I so desperately burying my face in your neck like this right now?"
Hearing his blunt honesty, both of them let out a soft, shared laugh, the heavy tension in the room lifting.
"I need to find the answers to all of this." Ronan finished firmly.
"Yeah... I need to know the answers too." Liora whispered back, a beautiful sense of peace washing over her as she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep wrapped in Ronan's absolute warmth.