“Always, Forever, Running Back to You”
Pairing: Naoya Zenin x Reader
CHAPTER I CHAPTER II
Some time had passed since your last visit to the Zenin estate. Your father had informed you that it was another one of those meetings, for reasons only the gods knew. You dreaded attending these gatherings, where drunken Zenin men harassed you while their bitter, miserable wives judged your appearance and nitpicked your every move. The Zenin clan was beyond saving. All you had to do was endure.
Still, after exchanging polite gestures, rehearsed greetings, and displaying forced smiles, you found yourself back in the same gardens that had long served as your silent refuge, offering solace away from the chaos and dysfunction these gatherings brought.
Nothing much had changed, but you had noticed an abundance of white camellias. The shrubs became their sky, milky petals scattered across them like stars. Were they always this full?
Had you paid closer attention, you would have noticed the blonde-haired man who usually kept you company was nowhere to be seen all day. Perhaps he had been kept occupied with his duties elsewhere. But why would you care? You were not his keeper, nor anything of the sort. A wave of uncertainty washed over you as thoughts of where you stood with him began to spiral—only for a familiar voice to cut through the haze.
“Hm. Time has actually treated you well for once,” the man remarked. As you turned to see who the voice belonged to, you were met with none other than the arrogant son of a bitch, Naoya Zenin.
“What? Lookin’ at me like I’m dead,” Naoya quipped, tilting his head to get a better look at your puzzled expression, a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
You would be lying if you said his absence did not bother you, though a part of you felt relieved that it was him—and no one else.
He took one good step forward, closing the distance between you. “You missed me or somethin’?” he taunted, looking down at you as if you were a child, his smirk unwavering.
“Not a chance,” you shot back at him, turning to admire the surroundings that enclosed you both.
A comfortable silence settled between you, one you had long come to recognize.
“Well? Does it please you?” he asked abruptly as his eyes scanned the small trees that held the white petals, expecting praise for his ‘work’.
“Mhm,” you hummed.
Your approval seemed to feed his pride as he caught the faintest smile forming on your face.
His pleasure at the sight of you was short-lived, his thoughts drifting back to the conversation he had with his father moments after you had left him alone in the gardens during your last visit to the estate.
“You’re running out of time, Naoya. You’re not getting any younger. Find a woman of proper standing. Take her as your wife. The clan needs an heir to inherit the technique. I won’t have you waste your talent on self-indulgence.”
His father’s words rang in his head, drowning out every other thought.
You glanced over at him—he was lost in thought. His expression hardened, demeanor turning sour, until your voice snapped him out of the noise consuming his mind.
“I didn’t know you liked flowers”
“I don’t.”
It suddenly dawned on you. Naoya Zenin had filled his gardens with white camellias for you.
He had done this for you.
Warmth crept into your chest, heat rising to your cheeks. You suppressed a small smile, ignoring the fluttery feeling stirring in your stomach.
“Zenin”
His brow lifted as his gaze landed on you.
“Did you do this for me?”
For a split second, Naoya’s eyes widened, taken aback by your words. His body stiffened before he quickly regained his composure.
“Tch. Don’t flatter yourself,” he scoffed, his words coming out a little too quickly, a desperate attempt to salvage whatever pride he had left.
“Don’t think so highly of yourself. You’re no different from the rest.”
“Am I?”
No.
“Quit looking at me like that. It’s pathetic.”
His words fell flat, lacking bite. Your smile threatened to spill out as you watched the man in front of you struggle to save face.
“You pain me, Naoya~” you teased, clearly pushing your luck.
You looked up at him, almost as if daring him to speak, but he didn’t. Instead, he held your gaze steadily, unmoving. The air around you grew heavy. He leaned in, his lips grazing your ear. Hot breath fanned against your neck. It was cruel.
“That mouth of yours…”
“Doesn’t know its place? Does it?”
He murmured into your ear, only to pull back, studying your face like he was memorizing it.
His tongue clicked.
“We’ll have to do something about it. Hm?”
Those fox-like eyes locked onto yours, expecting you to actually answer.
You nodded.
Satisfaction flashed across his features at your response. His eyes flicked to your lips before returning to yours.
“Good girl.”
His lips ghosted yours; you could feel the slight curve of his mouth. He was enjoying this. And then he kissed you. Slow. Unrushed. Taking his sweet time, like he feared pulling away would make him forget your taste. His rough palm cradled your jaw as he deepened the kiss.
“Stupid woman…” he mumbled in between kisses. “Always challenging me…”
His pace grew hungrier as he kept kissing you, chasing your mouth. His other hand rested firmly on your back, anchoring you.
“Never learns her place..”
He reluctantly pulled back, brown eyes boring into yours as he caught his breath, cheeks still flushed.
Your chest rose and fell as you steadied your breathing while his hand lightly brushed up and down your back.
“See? Was that so hard?”
He finally spoke, his voice low and teasing.
“Shut up”
You rolled your eyes, wrapping your arms around his neck. Calloused hands found your waist as you kissed him once more. A breathless laugh escaped his lips, meeting you halfway.
ʚɞ
Author’s note: Made him a lil’ meaner. Prepare for some angst in the next chapter! Hehe. ♡