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recap: Roman and Avyanna, on their way back from the amusement park, faces some goons.

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping

stone to greatness." ― Oprah Winfrey.

Avyanna's POV:

"Give us everything you have!"

The fluctuation of my rapidly palpitating heart deafened me as my eyes met Roman's.

Roman held his arms up in a surrendering motion, "We were just out for a walk-"

"I said SHUT UP!" I flinched as his loud voice splitted my ears into half, the grotesque smell of weed wafted around me like a serpent coiling around its prey. A retch broke through me as I struggled against the hold of the man.

The grip on my arms tightened painfully, making me wince. I thrashed against the goon, hoping to catch him off-guard.

A burst of pain resonated through my skull, fast as lightning and I went limp against him. The absolute rush of pain made me dizzy.

"Stop moving!" He grumbled, "Someone tie this bitch up."

"Motherfucker!" Roman grumbles, as I feel the gun on my temple digging deeper into my skin. At that moment, his eyes glowed and burned behind his glasses, as if a raging inferno wreaked havoc in them.

Dots of black danced in front of my eyes, illusive and blinding. The world faded away as half of it was covered in the monochromatic shade of it. The warmth at the back of my head soaked my hair. Blood. I was bleeding.

I straightened it just this afternoon, motherfuckers had to ruin it.

"Listen," His voice sounded light, like a feather whispering away in the wind. Concerned, enraged, deep, rich. I could listen to it all day, "I will give you everything I have. Release her."

Ah.... he sounded so cute when he threatened them. Maybe, because of my sake, I should pretend to be a helpless damsel in distress?

Maybe I will get to see him fight off these goons? That would bea sight worthy of watching.

The motherfucker tightened his grip around my neck, painfully so. A hiss escaped my lips, that seemed to only have given him some sort of sick satisfaction.

Getting mobbed was not in my schedule today.

The grotesque man pressed the front of his pelvis against back and that was the moment everything seemed to have zeroed down to a dot.

A ringing sensation in my ears, and utter pitch black dancing around me, engulfed me in whole. In that moment, I had the urge to rip his throat out and make him eat it.

"You fucked up," I warned him, the chaos in my head intensifying by hundred folds. At that moment, I saw my carefully crafted persona crumbling like a house of cards. Maybe a card represented my patience, maybe another perseverance, another a tactical mindset- everything came crashing down in a matter of seconds.

An obscene shade of scarlet blurred my vision before I grabbed his fucking gun and jammed it right inside his mouth. A kick on his left leg, like a well-orchestrated dance I had been practising for years. He was a lefty; it was apparent from the use of his hand. His friends surrounding us shot some open fire; it was terribly miscalculated, I must say.

Roman seemed to have unarm the man that had been holding him and slammed him on the ground effortlessly. The man that had been holding me, groaned in agony as I kicked him where the sun doesn't shine.

"Cover for me," I commanded Roman, as I elbowed the little whining bitch on his chest. Roman carried out my instruction meticulously, beating the shit out of the goons around him. If I weren't so consumed by my own rage, maybe I would have stood and admired his large body moving with a sharpness akin to a panther.

"You shouldn't have done that," I whispered, twisting his arm, pining it on his spine.

"L-Let me go," The man howled in agony as I applied pressure on his ulna, "Let me go you crazy bitch!"

"Oh honey," I laughed, "You haven't seen anything crazy... yet."

I kicked him to the ground, sitting on top of him, holding his own gun at the back of his head.

"Say goodbye to your hand if you intend to move," I grabbed his neck, twisting his body so I could take a better look at his terrified face. His eyes stared at me as if he had seen biblically accurate Seraphim.

I shot him a smile, and said, "You should not have touched me like that."

"I-I am sorry," He shook beneath me. I have barely ever seen anyone this frightened, "I am poor and homeless. I was just hungry and looking for money-"

"Looking for money by sexually assaulting me?" I raised an eyebrow, "It is not nice to bite the hand that feeds you, is it?"

"N-No, but I-"

I jammed the gun in his mouth, "Are you perhaps interested in a game of Russian roulette?"

He shook his head vehemently.

I felt Roman's warm presence behind me, a sharp echo amongst the distant groans of pain.

"Tell me Roman," I tapped the gun against his lips, "Should I break his hand or kill him?"

"Both."

I smiled sinisterly, "Thank you, but I think I'm not in the mood to get blood on my hands."

I slammed the gun in his mouth and punched his jaw. He choked, tossing about in immense pain. I stood up, delivering a final kick to his shin.

"I don't take unconsented touch very well," I took out my wallet and threw a couple of thousand dollar notes over his body, "Get yourself treated. Every time you scream in pain, you will remember not to touch another woman given her vulnerability."

"I have called the cops," Roman said as he glared at the writhing man, "They will be here at any-."

"Watch out!"

It was too late.

Swiftly, like a silhouette of the night, a man moved behind him and sunk his knife into the flesh of his bicep. My legs moved before I could comprehend the situation, kicking the burly but wounded man's hand before he could do more damage. Another kick to his face and he knocked out like a light.

Sirens blared in distance, the combination of red and blue bathed us in purple.

"What do you say, madam?" He said as our eyes locked and I saw a whirl of warmth in them. They gazed into me so intently, it made me feel almost.... naked.

"Hey! You two! Why did you beat these men up?!" A voice in the distance yelled.

He extended his hand, a mischievous smile shadowing at the corner of his lips that made him seem almost like a boy, "Do you want to make a run for it?"

My eyes fixated on his bleeding wound. He seemed too nonchalant to it. I placed my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze, "My schedule is not empty enough for a visit to the police station."

With a bright smile, he ran. I ran with him, perfectly in sync like a practised pirouette. My lungs burned in the delicious thrill and suddenly a hit of dopamine numbed every bit of pain. I had the urge to laugh and that I do. I laughed freely, as our footsteps echoed into the night.

"Catch them!" And what seemed to be a hundred footsteps began to chase us.

My gaze lingers a bit too long on Roman. A sculpted body, his hand clutching mine as if he was afraid to lose me. When was the last time someone touched me with the intent to protect me?

My dad at the hospital?

"Stop! We need your statement!"

We discover ourselves at the face of a dead end. Roman stopped, panting, seemingly out of breath. With a quick scan of the surrounding area, he shoves us into a narrow space between two buildings.

Suddenly, I became aware of his presence. My senses heightened and I discovered myself surrounded by the smell of his blood, sweat and warmth... everything that was purely his.

I couldn't bring myself to look up into his eyes. What the hell?

My heart palpitated outrageously. His injured hand rested on my shoulder, as if protecting me from the harm that may have been looming in the darkness. My breasts touched his chest. His breath fanned my forehead, mine fanned his chest. Both of us breathed heavily, given to our exertion and injuries.

I... wanted to touch him.

Before I could put a leash on my thoughts, or justify the logical outcomes of my doings, my quivering fingers went to the seam of his shirt. I gently traced the buttons, keeping my gaze intently on my hand. I did not know what I would do if I met his eyes.

I would probably end up taking his virginity right here, in this alley. He deserved better than that.

Blood roared in my ears as my fingers delved dangerously close to his exposed skin. The hand on my shoulder tightened, I could feel his chest rising and falling at a faster rate.

My fingers continued to trace down his shirt. It was sensual. Devious. It was the pain of not touching him. It was the pleasure of giving him a taste of something he had never had. It was the anticipation of what was to come, what I might do next. Would I touch his skin? Would I leave it here before both of us lose our resolution and start a game neither of us could finish? Would I take it a notch further and refuse to touch him but still give him a sneak peek of heaven?

The possibilities were endless. So were the methods of torture.

A human could be pleasured in many ways. I prided myself with the thought that I knew most, if not, all of them.

"Wh-What are you doing?"

I was at a loss for words. Another rare occurrence. His little stutter did something to me. It brought out the animalistic instinct I harboured within myself. The tips of my toes were tingling. I had never felt so overwhelmed for touch.

His heavy breaths echoed on the wall. I teased him, touching the fabric but never actually touching him. Playing with his buttons, growing a bit bolder and tracing the shadow of his hairs that dusted his chest, all while depriving him of touch.

Goosebumps dusted his skin, and I finally dared to meet his eyes.

They were dark, haunted by something I could not comprehend. He looked feral, actually starving for my touch.

"Touch me."

My lips tilted in a devious smirk.

Cutesy, stuttering Roman was actually commanding me.

He gripped my exploring hand in a swift, powerful motion. For some reason, my hand seemed much smaller compared to his. His tortured expression told me he was not finding this as amusing.

His jaw was clenched, he seemed angry and that made him look even hotter.

I tilted my head, bringing my lips closer to his.

"Touch. Me. Avyanna." He spoke, emphasising each of his words on my lips.

If I stood on my tiptoes, I could touch his lips with mine.

"And if I don't?"

The anger melted into pure suffering. He looked tormented beyond any resolution.

"I-" He heaved, my breasts pressed against him in a firmer manner, "Please."

I licked my lips, aware of his gaze that seemed to devour them. The man was destitute for a simple touch and I felt evil for not giving it to him.

"And what if I kiss you?"

He trembled against me. My very words seemed to have done a number on him. My poor poor Roman.

"Th-Then do it."

I slowly stood on my tippy toes, grabbing his collar.

He closed his eyes firmly and then, a loud siren resonated in the narrow alleyway.

__________________________

Author's Note:

First of all, my dearest readers, I am sorry for updating after seven months.

So much has changed in these months, I went into a prolonged procrastination episode and everything feels different you know? The world has changed so much.

I am halfway through my CSE degree so that takes up a lot of my energy. I suddenly, randomly may I say so, felt the volatile urge to come back to writing.

I haven't written in a long long time. Please please let me know if you like it.

I was very sad to discover that Wattpad deleted the DM option. I have had so many beautiful messages there.

I also bought a new laptop back in January so it is my first time writing in it.

I will try my best to be regular again, thank you again for waiting patiently. I love you, you are the best <3