SULTRY INFERNO: His Command, Her Temptation

Seraphina stirred her hot chocolate absently, eyes glued to her book, while she literally escaped from the world around her.

She's petite, with soft curves and her dark long curls fell loosely around her face, giving her an innocent look.

At nineteen, she still had a touch of youthful shyness in her behavior.

Her reserved attitude was a quality that made her enjoy the cozy but upscale café that late afternoon.

She was barely aware of the other people around but as she reached for her cup, a deep voice startled her out of her daydream.

"Mind if I sit here?"

Looking up, her heart skipped a beat when her eyes landed on the man standing beside her table.

He was tall- so tall- well over six feet, with a muscular but not overly bulky build and tattoos peeking out from under the sleeve of his dark shirt.

"Oh... um... sure," she stammered, suddenly feeling 'very' small.

He pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down, without taking his eyes off her for a second.

Then she realised, with an uncomfortable flutter of whatnot in her stomach, that he was handsome.

"You come here often," he stated, saying it like it was a fact he was sure of, while he studied her.

Seraphina blinked, tightening her small hands around her book.

"I... I do, actually. It's a nice, quiet place."

He chuckled; a low sound that sounded sweet to her ears.

"Not many people notice quiet spaces these days. They're too busy... existing. But you're different, aren't you?"

Her face heats up.

"I don't know what you mean."

He leaned back, one arm draped casually over the back of his chair.

"I think you do."

They both fell silent for a moment but in that quiet while, as she pretended to have gone back to her reading, she felt his gaze on her.

Finally, she gathered some courage to say something, looking up from her open book.

"So... Do you come here often?"

"From time to time," he answered.

"But today, I came here for you."

That confused her, "For... for me?"

He replied, giving her a slow smile.

¿_- Oh it's beautiful, that smile. -_¿ She thinks.

"I noticed you the last few times I was here. You stand out, Seraphina."

Hearing her name from his lips made her jolt; she hadn't mentioned her name to him and she was sure of it.

"How do you know my name?"

"Knowing things is how I stay ahead."

Worried and confused, her eyes drift down to her mug of hot chocolate and she then; her name was written on it with a paper tag.

"Who are you?" She decided to ask, afterall, he had just scared the hell out of her.

Letting go of the back of the chair he sat on, he leaned forward, close enough that she could feel his body heat roll off him.

... And his scent-leather and a cologne she couldn't name - wafted into her nostrils.

"Vnox," he says calmly.

"But you can call me Nox."

She didn't see the difference between both pronunciations but felt a thrill at the sound of his name.

Vnox.

The name was as unique as the man himself.

"What... what do you do?" She voiced, trying not to oogle him.

"Business. I run multiple chains of businesses."

His answer was vague, almost purposefully so, making her not to press further.

"Oh, that sounds... intense."

"They can be," he replied, studying her reaction carefully.

"But I'm drawn to intensity. It makes life more interesting."

She found herself unable to look away from him, especially his eyes - Onyx, stormy eyes.

He was definitely a walking red flag.

"What about you, Seraphina? What's a quiet, thoughtful girl like you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm... I'm a student," she answered, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Art history. I'm still in school."

"Art history," he mused.

"Fascinating subject. A study of beauty and darkness, wouldn't you agree?"

She nodded, a bit taken aback by his understanding of it; not many did.

"Yes, actually... it is."

A ghost of a smile touched his lips, "Tell me. Do you believe that beauty can exist without darkness?"

His question throws her off, but she immediately finds herself thinking about it.

"I... I'm not sure," she admitted.

"I suppose they might complement each other."

He gave her a slow nod, almost as if she'd passed some sort of intellectual test.

"You see the world differently," he says.

"That's what makes you... interesting."

She could feel her cheeks flush, but she kept her eyes on him, thinking.

¿_- I want to know more about this strange man. -_¿

Vnox relaxed his back on the seat again, folding his arms across his chest.

"We'll be seeing each other again."

Her eyes widened.

"I... I don't think-" she started but didn't finish as he held up a hand;

"We will, Seraphina. It's inevitable."

She wasn't sure how to respond to that, especially to how oddly sure he was.

But before she could find her words, he stood up, towering over her.

Even if she stood up, her 5'2 height would still be dwarfed by him.

"Goodbye," she says, in the stead of anything else she probably should have said.

"For now," he added.

Those onyx eyes linger on her blue ones for a while before he turned and left.

_

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_

Seraphina was back home at her parents apartment, but she couldn't get over the café scene from her mind, even now that hours had passed and it was evening.

Vnox's presence, his deep voice, the way he seemed to see through her.

¿_- Why can't I stop thinking about him? -_¿

She was staring blankly at her nails, not actually looking at them or the books beside her which she was supposed to read.

Then her phone buzzed.

It was a message from an unknown number and clicked on it to view the message.

> "Sleep well, Seraphina," It read.

She was baffled; how did he get her number, wait, was it even him?

"It must be", she mused, biting at her lips.

"He did say he likes to knows things."

¿_- Still he could have typed 'hi' and introduced himself or asked for my number earlier, like a normal person. -_¿

There's a soft knock on her window.

"Hello?" she called; not like anyone would answer, it was mostly likely a stray cat.

Walking over, she opens up the window, but doesn't see anyone.

Only a single black rose lies on the outside sill with a note beside it.

Picking both of the items up, she feels the softness of the rose's velvety petals between her fingers.

Unfolding the note, she read aloud:

"Until we meet again."

Seraphina woke up the next morning still holding the black rose in her hand

Rubbing her eyes grouchily, she stretched her arms out and eyed the rose.

¿_- How does he know where I live? -_¿

Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought while starting to prepare for her day.

Her classes were waiting, and she's had a busy schedule today.

¿_- Oh well, strange interesting males can wait. -_¿

-------

Seraphina moved through the crowded corridors of the university, going over her last lecture in her head.

Art history has 'always' been her refuge, one where she could escape into beauty, color, and meaning and everything else.

"Hey, Sera!"

She glanced up to see Mia, her best friend, waving her over.

Mia's eyes were, as usual, sparkling with mischief, and her long, blonde hair kept bouncing while she walked closer.

"Hey."

Mia gives her a curious look.

"You seem distracted. Everything okay?"

She clutches her bag a bit tighter. "Yeah... just a lot on my mind."

Mia grinned, "Is it a guy?"

The question literally catches Seraphina off guard, and her face becomes the color of a tomato.

"What? No! I mean... kind of," she stammered, looking here and there.

Her best friend's mouth fell open, "Woah! Spill! Who is he?"

Seraphina bit her bottom lip; she barely knew him herself.

"It's nothing, really," she finally said.

"Just someone I met. It's not worth talking about."

"Oh, come on, Seraphina," Mia whined.

"You never talk about guys. You can't just leave me hanging like that."

But before her friend could get to convincing her, Seraphina felt her phone vibrate in her jean pocket.

She pulled it out, seeing a message from an unknown number popped up on the phone's screen.

> Meet me at St. James Park at 7 tonight.

It was from Him, from Vnox, she could tell; she didn't really need a genius to tell her that.

"Is that him?" Mia asked, moving her head to try to take a peek at her phone but her reluctant friend quickly slipped it back into her pocket before she could see anything.

"No! It's just... I'll catch you later, okay?"

Ignoring her friend's protests, Seraphina turned and hurried off.

¿_- Why does he want to meet me? -_¿

---------

The park was completely deserted when Seraphina reached the park, it seemed like it had closed hours ago which was odd;

St James Park was one of the busiest locations she knew of, usually, they closed by 9.

Looking around anxiously, she finally spots him-standing underneath the panned up light by the fountain, as if he'd been waiting all day.

"Good evening Seraphina."

She flushed and mildly chided herself for forgetting her manners while she drew nearer to stand in front of him.

"Good evening Vnox. Why are we here?"

"Because you're curious."

He stepped closer to her, and she noticed again just how tall he was.

Her eyes then narrowed at him accusingly.

"You left a black rose at my door and sent a text with no name. Who does that? Why didn't you even ask for my number when we first met?"

He cocked his head to the side, "Do you think I needed to ask?"

Seraphina was shut up for a good whole minute, and some, staring at him, in disbelief.

"Most people introduce themselves properly you know. But you... just appeared out of nowhere."

"Would you have met me if I'd done it any other way?" he asked.

"I don't know. Maybe," she paused, looking to the side.

"You're just... you're not like anyone I've met."

"That's intentional," he said, though his deep voice made it sound darker than it probably should have.

Looking back at him, her voice was softer now, "How did you get my number? And my address?"

"Like I said before, Seraphina-I make it my business to know things. Especially things that interest me."

"So... I interest you?"

"In ways I'm not sure you'd understand."

He took another step closer to her but stopped, tilting his head, "How old are you?"

"Why?" she retorted.

"Aren't you supposed to know everything?"

A low chuckle escaped his lips, "Indulge me."

"Nineteen," she said quietly, suddenly feeling shy.

"And you? You look... older."

There's an amused gleam in his eyes. "Guess."

It was her turn to tilt her head, scrutinizing him, seeing the mature look about his face, the faint lines around his mouth, the dark eyes that seemed to hold years of memory, and the sharp angled jawline.

"I'd say... thirty?"

He raises an eyebrow, "Try again."

Her brow furrowed, "Thirty-two?"

A small smile played on his lips, and he leans in whispering into the shell of her left ear:

"Thirty-four."

Her eyes widened and more quickly than she'd ever been in her entire life, she back away from him, moving up to four feets away.

He let her.

"You're... you're almost twice my age."

She said 'twice' like itself was a spell of its own but he just shrugged.

"Does that bother you?"

She looked away, "I didn't expect it."

Then paused and returned to look at him, still keeping her distance.

"Are you always like this?"

"Like what?"

"Cryptic," She described, gesturing around.

"Who sends someone a message demanding to meet, without even saying 'hi'?"

"I suppose I don't usually entertain curiosity."

"Then why are you entertaining mine?" she asks rather quickly, puzzled.

"Because you're worth it."

"That doesn't tell me anything."

"Let's just say... I'm a businessman. I acquire what interests me."

¿_- That doesn't tell me anything either. -_¿

"I won't tell you anything until you're ready," He added, taking a step of his own backwards.

"For now, all you need to know is that I have resources, connections... and a reason to keep you safe."

She frowns at this, confused.

"Safe? From what?"

++++ Where is he going with this?++++

He doesn't answer, simply watches her and as seconds pass, she realizes he won't offer any more details.

¿_- Why do I feel like he drank before coming here? -_¿

She shifts uncomfortably in her position at the thought.

"I should get going. I have classes tomorrow."

"I'll walk you home."

Somehow, it surprises her that he agreed do easily.

Maybe he wasn't that much of a threat.

"I... I can walk myself."

"I insist."

"No, I don't want my friend seeing you, she'll get the wrong idea."

"Let her."

But she ignored him, turning back in the direction she came from, and started making her way home.

"Goodnight Vnox, don't follow me."

Watching her leave, he feels a smile coil up his cheek at her attitude.

"Goodnight Seraphina."

_

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Seraphina lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, she'd just finished taking dinner and brushing her teeth and was quite ready to sleep.

It was so late and all her assignments were done but her brain was giving her another one.

She didn't understand the man but she understood one thing.

If he texted her again or she bumped into him, she won't speak to him or involve herself with him.

¿_- He doesn't seem normal and he's too old. -_¿

With that settled in mind, her eyelids drope, falling shut but just as she's about to fall asleep, she hears a soft sound.

Opening her eyes again, she listened for only a second and closed them back.

Then the sound started again a bit stronger this time, it sounded like a tap or a knock- she wasn't sure- so she sat up, feeling disgruntled.

Who was disturbing her sleep?

Turning with sleepy eyes to look at her room's closed door frame, she realised the taps were coming from behind her, not from her door.

Her eyes and ears followed the sound till she was face to face with the shape of a shadow forming on her window's curtains.

And honestly, both the sleep and the disgruntled feeling flew out of her body.

Seraphina opened up the window, not even knowing what was making her to do so.

And...

Vnox appeared into view from where he'd watched her open the curtain and window, just as he knew she would.

"Good evening, Seraphina."

Instead of replying, she crossed her arms, "I have some questions for you."

He didn't seem to mind the little display of attitude though, "Ask away."

"What is it you want from me, Vnox?"

"I would think that's obvious."

"What do you mean?"

"You, Seraphina. I want you."

Her cheeks flushed, and she shook her head, no one had ever shown interest in her like this before but...

"You... you don't even know me."

"Oh I know enough," He said, enjoying making her talk more than necessary.

"Enough to know that I want you. You're meant to be mine."

She scoffed at that.

"You haven't even asked me properly. You didn't... you didn't ask if I'd want to be in a relationship with you."

Chuckling lowly, he leaned into her, "Do I look like a man who asks for permission?"

Seraphina didn't like how close he had gotten to her, so she moved backwards a bit.

"I'm not... I don't want to be in a relationship. Especially with an older man. It's... it's wrong."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

"Aren't you an innocent thing?"

The words sent another rush of heat up her neck, and she felt herself blush.

And yet...

"Go away, Vnox. You're... you're probably married or something," she stammered.

"Stop chasing me. I'm practically... I'm practically a child to you."

"Don't mistake me for someone who has limits, Seraphina. If I want something, I claim it."

This only made her to take another involuntary step backwards.

"Then you're... you're crazy."

Now he smirked, "Maybe."

His long hands reached out then, brushing away a loose strand of her hair from her face with his fingers.

"But I think you like that. Don't you?"

She shook her head, "You don't know anything about me."

"Oh, I know more than you think, I know that you feel this, too."

"I don't... I don't feel anything."

He tilted her chin up with two fingers, making her meet his gaze.

"Lying doesn't suit you, Seraphina."

The way he looked at her-like she was something precious, wasn't something her young mind was ready for.

She tried to pull away but his fingers only dug deeper into her cheeks.

"I'm not married. Ask me anything you want, and I'll answer."

Strangly, she found herself blurting out the first questions that came to her mind.

"Why did you leave that black rose? What does it mean?"

He wasn't exactly expecting THAT question, but he replied her nonetheless.

"A black rose is a symbol of darkness. Of mystery. And sometimes... of an inevitable fate."

"Inevitable?"

He nodded, tapping her cheeks lightly, "Once I set my sights on something, Seraphina... there's no turning back."

That answered most of her questions, in a way that is, so she decided to tell him off there and then.

"I don't want... whatever it is you're offering.

But the male had the audacity to smirk at her words.

"And yet, here you are."

Her eyebrows furrowed at this, "I'm not the one squatting on a window sill."

His eyes darkened immediately and he plopped down from her window, into her room.

Pale faced, she began taking steps backwards with him following her.

"Look, I didn't mean to insult you..."

But her words got cut off when her leg collided with her bed behind her and she tumbled, falling onto it.

Vnox was above her in an instant, holding her her chin and jerking it up so she gasped, roughly.

Then he dipped his head and captured her lips.

Seraphina went still for a while, shocked and... unsure of how to respond to the kiss but his hand guided her jawline, guided her, showing her how to move her head.

Drawing her lower lips between his teeth, he sucked it into his mouth.

Slowly she raised her hands, touching his cheeks and he sighed, stroking her jaw as though he was rewarding her.

He nipped and nibbled on her lips and she followed, bumping him in his nose with hers so she could bite down on his upper lip so softly, sucking it.

Pulling away slightly and moving to her upper lip, Vnox increased the force of the kiss making her curiously follow him, latching to his lower ones.

Her hands somehow found themselves wound about his neck, gripping the nape of his hair while her breasts rubbed against his chest as their lips moved over each other

Her nipples hardened under her rather light night wear and her wide nipple opening gripped Vnox's own nipple through his shirt.

He groaned and she gasps, shocked, and with pleasure.

It was new and strange but it felt so good.

His lips moved faster and she pulled away, turning her head to the side and pressing deeper into the bed to catch some breath.

Only for her to jerk when she felt him latch onto the skin between her collarbone and neck.

She mewled, wrapping her legs about him when he sucked on it.

A knock on her door startled her, "Seraphina, what's that sound?"

Her Mum.

She froze but Vnox doesn't stop, instead he starts trailing his kisses down.

"I...I thought I saw a spiiiider."

"Why is your voice like that?"

Vnox reached down the valley of her breasts and started to take them out of her night wear but she pushed him, pulling away while she tried to get up.

In the process, Vnox's mouth ended up landing on her nipple through the nightware and he bites down on it.

She arched and falls back to the bed, throwing her head back.

"Seraphina!!"

She placed her hand on her mouth, and then removed it.

"I'm fine Mum, that spider scared me out of my sleep."

"Don't ever scare me like that again. Do I make myself clear Seraphina?"

Vnox circled her covered nipple and hooked on it pulling it with his teeth.

Her tongue drops to the floor of her mouth, causing her to stick it out, closing her eyes.

"Yes Mum. Goodnight. Sorry, I'm feeling sleepy."

"I've heard, sleep well."

Vnox palms her breasts and she jolts.

"Fuck what I said, you look beautiful when you lie."

He raised himself up, kissing her lips and gets up, adjusting her nightdress before pulling her to the window.

She followed him though, even while she was in a daze.

Cupping her cheeks with both hands, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, leaving his hands on her cheeks till he saw the confusion leave her eyes for a bit.

"Lock the window immediately I leave. Okay?"

She nodded looking down to the soft carpet of her room's floor, so he pinched her right cheek, causing her to look up in puzzlement as he rubbed circles on it, soothing the sting.

"Words Jewel."

"Okay."

He smiled then let go of her, climbing out the window and blending with the darkness outside.

She, on her own part, locked the window and hopped down on the bed touching her lips with her right hand and cupping the breast Vnox bit with her other hand.

Just as her fingers start to trace over her lips, her phone vibrated so she brought her fingers down to pick it up.

Blinking, she stared at the white bubble of message:

> I love that you kept your first kiss for me.