Page 191 of Taeja

His dick stirred in response. As enticing as it was, he couldn’t allow himself to give in. Zain realized that Taeja loved pleasing people; she’d burn herself to give anyone warmth. He didn’t want her to do that for him. If anyone should burn, it should be him.

“No.” Zain loosened his grip on her ass. “Let’s just… talk. If you want to. Damon will throw a fit if we leave too soon.”

She laughed. A sweet laugh. That laugh he found himself attracted to since the day at the pool.

“True,” Taeja said. “But he’s probably busy with Cassedi’s friends. Everyone loves him. I hope I don’t have to fight for him when we leave on Thursday.”

Zain chuckled. “That’s Damon for you. People gravitate toward him.”

“I think that’s one thing I admire most about him.”

“I hate it.” Zain scowled, remembering when they were younger, and Damon insisted on making friends everywhere they went.

“You hate everything.”

“I don’t hate you.”

“I never said you hate me.”

He furrowed his brows. “But you’re everything to me.”

“Zain,” she laughed, giving his body a slight squeeze before pulling away. “I have another question. Is this hers?” She hesitantly reached for the dog tag around Zain’s neck and trailed her thumb over it.

“Yeah. Sea didn’t have family or anyone to collect her belongings.” He freed it from Taeja’s hold and tucked it inside his shirt.

She looked at him for a few seconds before laying on him again. “What else is making you angry?”

“My ex.”

“The one with the terrible interior design skills?” she asked, and he nodded. “Why?”

“I put my hands on her. Once.”

Taeja shot up, her eyes wide. “Yu beat woman?!”

He looked away as shame settled in him. “I didn’t want to hurt her. But she kept nagging me when I came off tour and she hit me first, then I snapped. I could hear her crying for me to stop, but I wasn’t in control of myself. It felt like I was back in that room with the army, finally getting my chance to do them like how they did me. If Damon didn’t come when he did, I probably would’ve killed her.” He sighed. “She was in the hospital for two months, but she didn’t press charges.”

“Why does that make you angry?”

“Because I saw her the other day… with Damon. I feel like she’ll try to ruin what we have because she doesn’t know how to let go.”

Taeja hummed, laying back down on his chest. “Me will beat her this time if she try step to yu.”

“Taeja.”

“I’m joking… I can’t fight.”

“You don’t have to fight for us. We’re yours. I’ll show you a picture of her. Let me know if she ever comes to you.”

“What will you do?”

He kissed her forehead and rubbed her back. “Don’t worry about it.”

She nodded. “Okay, now off her. Do you believe in God?”

Zain chuckled, amused by how she was trying to distract him. “Short answer? Something like that.”

“Wa—”

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