Leanna

[Dark Side]

I didn't know how it happened, but Cain and I teleported inside my room in one of the five-star hotels in Vegas.

When we arrived before, Estela had already booked a room for each one of us in this hotel to get ready for the masquerade party.

I didn't even get to say goodbye to Estela and Zoe when Cain pulled me out of the casino and drove all the way here in haste.

Little Pluffy greeted us upon opening the door. Seeing Cain again, he circled him as he trotted to his paws in excitement.

Cain just grabbed little furball and placed him on top of a table, knowing that the little guy was afraid of jumping from such height.

How cruel . . .

Cain was about to grab me from behind when I circled my way towards the puff of whimpering fur and placed him down. The little inconsiderate furball, without even glancing at me, he ran to Cain as he wagged his tail. He jumped and circled the cold man as he slobbered Cain's pants with his drool.

Again, Cain just grabbed little Pluffy and this time –– put him on the sofa.

Arf! Arf!

Little Pluffy span to and fro, finding a desirable height to jump without much success.

I was about to put him down again when my phone rang.

"Hello, Leanna? I'm sorry, but I have to go back ahead of you. Something came up," Zoe said, voice laced in urgency.

"What's going on?" I asked, worried as I tried to get away from Cain when he approached me, motioning to snatch my phone.

"Don't worry . . . it's nothing serious. I just . . . uhm . . . have something to do. That's right! I have a project I needed to finish!"

Come on, Zoe. You can lie better than that.

"Alright. Call me if you have landed in New Haven."

I didn't probe much further. Thinking it was nothing serious, I ended the call –– ready to give all my attention to the growing impatient man who was now hugging me from behind. Not letting go.

"Who was it?" he asked, tone thick with threat. Warning me to choose my words carefully.

I gulped and gripped his hands that were enveloping my waist when his hold tightened.

"I-It's my friend, Zoe. Y-You remember her, right?" I said, stammering.

Cain's gripped somewhat loosened, and I sighed a mouthful of air.

I think he became even more dangerously possessive and domineering than before.

I wonder if this is how he truly is? Does that mean, he was holding back before?

The thought thrilled and excited me. Like I couldn't wait for him to dominate and conquer me.

My eyes widened when a realization hit me.

A-Am I . . . 

. . .

. . .

A Masochist?

SLAP!

I realized what I did when my cheek signaled for pain.

Cain was surprised and turned me around to face him.

"What's wrong? Why did you slap yourself?"

His usual stoic face faltered as he caressed my reddened cheek.

"I-I-I think . . . I'm a . . . masochist."

I know I would find the humor in this after my brain fixed itself from the explosive new truth of the dark side of my inner self.

----

[Your Eyes]

Ahahahaha!

Cain released me and held his stomach as he laughed so hard.

This was my first time seeing him laughed like there was no tomorrow. His laughter was like soothing melodies playing in my ears.

So even the cold man with a thousand-years-paralyze-face can laugh like this.

I didn't mind doing something stupid or say something ridiculous just so I could see him laugh like this again.

"Leanna . . . I don't care if you're a masochist or a sadist."

Cain collected his calm after a moment of losing his cool.

I felt his hand trembled, resting on my shoulders. He was still apparently trying to hold his laughter.

"If you're going to be a masochist, I'll be your sadist. If you're going to be a sadist, I'll be your masochist."

He grabbed both of my hands and intertwined our fingers and kissed my forehead.

"Like this . . . we are perfect for each other."

I giggled.

We lost ourselves in our moment, forgetting that little Pluffy was still stranded on the sofa –– whimpering. He gave up on trying to jump down as he contented to play dead instead.

----

"Cain . . . Tell me why you were labeled as asexual."

Cain's fingers stopped caressing my hair.

After we took a bath, we turned off the lights and snuggled ourselves to bed. We were lying facing each other. My head resting on his chest, and my hand on his waist while his fingers stroked my hair as our legs intertwined, refusing to be apart.

"Hmm . . . I think it was at that time when my father became sick, and I was training to take over our business."

"How old were you at that time?"

"Fourteen."

I seized a gasped from escaping my mouth. I was a little uncomfortable and regretted asking the question weighing in my mind ever since the start of our relationship.

Cain chuckled and continued, "It wasn't a secret that the Fay's entire family fortune will rest on my shoulders in the future. Although father . . ." He paused briefly, seemingly thinking about his next words. ". . . has a brother . . . uncle Hardin is not married and doesn't have an heir."

I noticed when Cain spoke of his family, his usual sharp tone turned mellow and soft. It was evident that he loves his family.

I couldn't restrain a smile. It was rare to hear him speak so many words, so I let him. It was like a lullaby –– his voice. Soft and comforting.

"I don't know how many times I was poisoned, drugged and schemed at, and women did most of it. If not for August, Russell's father, I'd end up dead or lost everything to those scheming people. I develop a sense of disgust and loathing towards women ever since."

His voice was calm and flat, yet he couldn't hide the bitterness in his tone.

. . .

. . .

I didn't know what to say. I was not good with words, and I was clueless on how to comfort people.

"Then how did you even fell in love with me if you loathe women in the first place?" I said instead, trying to lighten the mood.

Cain held my chin and stared at me in all seriousness. "Your eyes."

As if being hypnotized, I couldn't avert my gaze.