Chapter 137 - (Hundred) Thirty-five: Smut

A glass of water in one hand, wetting her parched throat, and a book in the other. Her throat dried not because she saw something completely shocking in the book but because, just like the story, it lacked everything, no moisture like the desert.

It was past eight, Becca laid in her room, on her bed, reading. It was what she usually did right before going to sleep, reading. The only problem here was the book she was reading, the torture she had to endure in the name of being a good friend. Somehow, Navaya managed to cajole Becca into reading the fairy smut book. Becca wasn't sure how or when she agreed to it but she did, despite all her brain cells keening at her not to, and boy, was that one heck of a decision.

So the question here is; was the book worth the hype? No, it wasn't and that was one of the reasons why Navaya, other than being the vice president, was also the head of the marketing department. That woman could make anything sound good.

Secondly, was the book worth reading? 

Now that is a tricky question even though the answer was spelled boldly with red paint. No, it was terrible.

Right after work, Becca stopped by the book store to purchase the book, to read it, and get it over with. To support a friend in any way she could even though it meant reading a book she would most likely dread, at her own expense. Little did Becca know that she wouldn't only have to get one book but two, since there was, unfortunately, a novella released in continuation to the book series. Little did Becca know that she would loathe herself for life for making such a reckless decision, that she would feel tortured just by wielding those books.

The cover was iridescent, comely, beautiful but the words on the pages weren't even good enough to be whispered at the dead of night. Take away the fame cladding it and watch it crumble and burn. Yet people swear by it like it was their bible. Becca wasn't the type to shirk away from duty, she wasted money buying that dumpster fire and she was determined to finish reading it. So that's what she did. Ordained to suffer, Becca plunged herself like a falchion through the heart of the shit show that was that book, trudging through it while her brain cells languished one after the other until there was none left. Until she was but a mere shadow of herself.

It wasn't that the book was relatively bad or anything. It simply just wasn't Becca's thing.

It wasn't by any chance resembling Game of Thrones, not even a little. Hence it was what people tend to call fake advertising. Plus, the entire story completely ruined her perception of fairies. Right from childhood, Becca had always known fairies to be these magical flying creatures that go around sprinkling happiness. From what she had read so far, it was crystal clear that the author didn't watch Tinkerbell and even if she did, she clearly didn't focus on the right aspects.

Becca didn't know what made her eyes roll harder; the meretricious reference to feminism to make the unlikable protagonist a little bearable— which was a tacky move in her opinion— and the amount of ridiculous sex featured. Becca didn't have anything against sex, hell Leo made her love it, it was the words that constantly kept repeating during those scenes that truly irked her. 

The bedroom door made a click as the doorknob twisted. Becca heard it, saw it, and quickly shoved the book into one of the drawers of the nightstand. It was probably Leo who was coming in but there was no way in hell she would let him or anyone for that matter, catch her reading fairy porn, not over her Christian soul. She fixed up her hair, composing herself. 

No one could possibly guess what she was just doing, right? They wouldn't be able to, right?

The door screeched open and slow, almost silent steps plodded in. Quiet, if he wasn't with his cane. Her attention followed the faint sound of his cane greeting the floor in a light clank and hoisted her eyes to meet Leo's gaze as he stepped in, smiling. She always wondered how he was able to walk so silently, like a ninja.

Walking cane in hand, Leo stood tall, not quite back to his usual self but he was much happier than he ever was in his wheelchair. He wasn't too bothered by his legs and now went out at will. He didn't do that when he was on his wheelchair. To be honest, he didn't even like seeing people back then.

Becca stayed quiet, permitting her eyes to drink up the sight of him. Dressed in all black, his dark curls combed back and his gaze fixed on her, only her, his eyes smoldering her. Melting her. His jaw twitched, then slowly, his smile formed a grin. Her heart fluttered.

" Hey," He said as he took steps forward, his grin still brilliant. Rippling muscles flexing with his every movement, nailing Becca's gaze to him even more, which he loved. He always wanted her eyes on him. She was cute when she had drool trickling down the corners of her lips.

" Hey," She managed to respond, trying not to choke on the drool pooling out but for some reason, her throat still went dry. That wasn't even the eluding mystery here. After living in the same home with Leo, sleeping in the same room and same bed with him, somehow she couldn't seem to stop getting giddy when he did as much as smile at her, losing brain cells when he did other things with her, things she was sure were gurgling like fierce billows in his mind as his eyes remained locked on her, looking away simply preposterous for the both of them. 

The temperature heightened despite the air conditioner and it left Becca wondering if she was truly horny or was it just because she was reading smut about thirty seconds ago. It had to be the smut. She blamed the smut.

More clanking echoed as he neared the bed Becca laid on but didn't quite make it before Becca sprang up to her feet, sauntering towards him, to lend a hand which he didn't refuse. Her sweet fragrance whiffed into his nostrils— murking his senses— relishing the best part of his life as he let her help him to sit on the soft mattress, gripping it with his free hand while Becca's fingers grazed the fabric of his shirt, slinking down as she worked his buttons.

A strange glint mirroring worry glossed through her eyes, barely lasting seconds before ebbing out of sight. Leo saw it, obviously. How wouldn't he when all he did was focus on her?

" Have you eaten dinner? We can have some together if you like? " Leo said and Becca shook her head.

" I already had some." Her gaze drifted to the clock. " You seem to be coming home later by the day ever since you got your walking cane even though you technically still haven't fully recovered." 

Becca knew she probably sounded like a controlling girlfriend but she couldn't help it. She endured the distress of watching the man she loved return home bleeding and till this day, she still didn't know why he got shot. Leo almost died and apparently didn't deem her worthy enough to know why. Thinking about it seared her with pain and anger but being angry would do nothing but push them apart. They would just end up fighting again and that was the last thing Becca wanted, especially after finding out that she couldn't survive a night without him. Thus, she chose to give him space, time for him to open up on his own, to realize that he can trust her with his pain just like she trusted him with her whole being. And if that doesn't work then… 

She sighed again. She wouldn't know what to do anymore. 

" I had a lot to handle, I guess I lost track of the time," Leo said, flashing his thigh-squeezing smile as Becca slouched off his shirt but her thighs weren't squeezing. Not anymore at least 

She hummed in response and her eyes fell on his tattoos. His scars. He hadn't told her about that either.

" You can freshen up in the bathroom." Folding his shirt in her hands, she cocked her head in the direction of the bathroom door and gave a smile that barely reached her eyes. 

Leo didn't move though, still staring at her seconds after, then gripped his cane tighter and rose from the bed, heading for the bathroom but when just mere inches separated him from it, he couldn't help glancing at Becca. She now had her back to him while she stared at the white walls of their room.

He let out a sigh. 

She wanted to know.. She needed to know.