Chapter 656: Not Ready

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟏𝟖+

Ian was toweling his hair off when Zane walked into his office. He had only just put his things back on his desk, and his friend narrowed his eyes at him curiously. Ian rolled his eyes and pulled the door to his office bedroom shut, making the man react comically.

"Where were you two?" Zane asked, eyeing the sofa suspiciously.

"Not there..." Ian replied, and Zane sat, still eying the surfaces of the office wearing a disgusted expression. He noticed the shoes sitting under Ian's desk, and not wanting Mina to have to deal with Lisa, he pulled out his phone, hoping to change where they would meet. "Who are you calling?" Ian asked as he leaned on his desk.

"I had dinner plans with Mina, I want to see if she-" Zane's words were cut as he heard the buzzing of a phone coming from Ian's desk. He recoiled his face before realization and shock hit him. "How long?" He asked, but Ian just raised an eyebrow at the man. "No, you don't get to play coy with me." Ian chuckled at his friend, not seeing the harm in being honest, especially since Zane had invited Mina to dinner for unknown reasons.

"It's been a few weeks."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"She doesn't want anyone to know."

"I'm your best friend you as*hole." Ian laughed at Zane's reaction, but then his face became serious.

"You may be my best friend, but she is something more. Also, you can't tell her that you know?"

"Bullsh*t."

"Zane…" Ian said in a warning tone. "Please don't ruin this for me."

"Fine, but what are you going to do? You can't have her and Lisa." Ian screwed up his face, and Zane tilted his head at his friend. "Aren't you getting back together?"

"Absolutely not," Ian replied, and Zane made a guilty face.

"I'm pretty sure that's not what Mina thinks." Zane went into detail, telling Ian that he had been visiting Mina at work with the intention of a possible romantic relationship because he believed that she would soon be free. "You don't understand, the way she had been looking at you, I knew she was beginning to grow attached, but I promise I had no idea." Ian stared at the door that led to where Mina was sleeping, and he wondered if that was why she had been crying. He was angry with Zane, but more worried than anything.

"Did you say anything to her about sex?"

"Oh sh*t," Zane said, covering his mouth in a way that would have made Ian laugh if he weren't displaying actual regret. "I swear I didn't know she was with you or anyone for that matter; I just thought she was asking general questions." Ian rubbed at his temples.

"What exactly did you tell her?"

"It wasn't me, but Willow West told her some things and I agreed with them." Zane explained further, and Ian finally understood why Mina wanted to be moved to a bed. She wanted to see if he respected her boundaries, but he always did. "There is something worse though," Zane said. He looked guilty and Ian narrowed his eyes. "She is my date to Adir's ascension dinner.

"What the hell did you do?"

"It isn't my fault. I was surprised she agreed, and even more shocked when she didn't know."

"That's because she wasn't invited. Something is going to happen that night and she cannot be there." Ian glared at Zane, who just looked confused. "Lisa told me that the Loam's are planning to snatch and ransom Mills. If Mina knew her friend was going to allow herself to be taken…"

"Sh*t," Zane said, realizing his mistake.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to ask you to stay with Mina, but you had other intentions." Zane flashed a guilty expression and Ian sank into his chair. "No wonder she doesn't want to be with me." Zane tilted his head and Ian filled him in. "I want to stop using protection, but she doesn't."

"Whoa," Zane replied. "I know how you feel about her, but don't you think you are moving a little too fast? She still believes that you were cheating on Lisa with anyone who would agree." Ian winced. He had not been able to convince Mina of his innocence of that particular crime.

"How do I make her feel more secure?" He asked.

"First, show her that you are safe to be with. I remember how she felt about that sort of thing, and so should you."

"And then?" Ian questioned. "What if she still refuses?"

"Ian, you only just started out. To be honest, I'm shocked she even gave you a chance. Don't ruin it by being impatient, but let's get back to important matters. What do I do about Adir's dinner?"

"You can't possibly cancel on her now. She may show up on her own. Just make sure she doesn't leave your side."

----

When Mina awoke, she searched for her phone, knowing that she had likely stood Zane up. She hoped the man would not be worried for her, and when she cracked open the door to where she had been sleeping, President Lee looked up at her wearing a smile, despite her having just ruined their intimate moment by crying.

"Shower and change, I want to take you somewhere." She had already seen the clothes, but she was conflicted about what to do about her previous commitment.

"I had plans with Zane."

"He texted to cancel them." Ian picked up Mina's phone and brought it to her so she could read the message herself. "I didn't check your phone, but I was there when he sent the message. She nodded at the man before starting to get ready.

Once in the car, Mina found herself unable to make eye contact with President Lee, who was driving them to an undisclosed location. He kept looking over at her wearing a smile that made her blush. She was embarrassed, and her pride was wounded, but the man seemed to be taking her silence well.

When the car stopped, Mina did not know where they were. She got out of the car and surveyed her environment before it dawned on her that it was wear the people who lived by the mining site were going to be relocated. It was amazing, and the way the structures were built told Mina that each home could house multiple generations.

"It's not ideal to have too many people living off the grid, so those who wanted to live within the city have been moved there and are being provided job training." Mina turned to face the man, finally realizing how he had stolen her heart; it was all in the unimportant things. "Are you satisfied?"

"Completely," Mina responded.

----

Ian gently laid Mina down on his bed. He had already removed her clothing, but he was taking his time with her. He wanted her to feel secure with him, and he wanted to show her how he felt. When the woman's hands caressed their way down to his abdomen, he shuddered, and not wanting to make her wait any longer, he pushed into her body and stilled. He showered her face with kisses and complemented everything from her scent to her intelligence. He was not in love with her yet, but he knew he could be, just like he knew she could.

"All of you belongs to me," he whispered into the woman's ear, surprised when she agreed by nodding. "Just like all of me belongs to you." Ian felt the woman stiffen before she frantically pushed at his chest, making him pull out in confusion. Hurt seized him when he noticed the woman look down at his girth, clearly expecting it to be unsheathed.

"I'm sorry; I panicked," she said. Mina was okay with having an undefined relationship with the man, but she was not okay with endangering her future until she had a commitment from him. He would drop hints, but he was never specific, and she wanted to hear it from him before she let her guard down.

"What are you afraid of?" The man asked, and Mina shut her eyes as she covered her face.

"What if you get bored?" Ian was glad that she had opened up to him because he wanted to talk about the things she was told.

"Do you think I could get tired of this?" Ian pressed a deep kiss onto Mina's lips and when her body relaxed, he flipped her on top, holding her in place so she could not run.

"I'm not ready," the woman said, and Ian, not wanting to ruin the mood, shifted her body back under his.

"When will you be ready?" He had misunderstood Mina's reluctance to go further with him as fear of an official relationship with him.

"I'm working on it," she admitted.

----

The whole ride to the Staton Family home, Mina felt somewhat betrayed by not just President Lee, but by Mills who had also neglected to tell her about the event. She could not understand why they would keep something like that from her, but when she walked into the ballroom and saw President Lee standing with his sister, Doctor Bell, and Miss Lisa, she had her answer. The man had a date, and when his eyes landed on her, she turned away, pretending that she had not seen him.

"It was probably a bad idea for me to come," she said, and Zane frowned before offering her his elbow.

"It's not what it looks like," Zane replied. He too had seen his friend standing beside Lisa, but he knew that Ian had attended the event alone.

"I would really like to leave now," she responded, hurt entering her tone, but Zane's response turned her hurt into irritation. "He told you, didn't he?"

"No, you left your shoes under his desk." Mina's face turned bright red as she stormed away from Zane who wore a cheeky smile. "I promise I won't say anything," he said, standing in her path.

"Please Zane, he and I aren't what you think. It's just a matter of time before it's all over.

"Did I not just tell you it isn't what it looks like?"

"You are his best friend, I wouldn't expect you to tell me the truth, but he told me himself." Zane arched a brow at Mina.

"What exactly did he say?" He questioned, wanting to clarify because if there was one thing he knew, it was that Ian and Mina were terrible at communicating because they both refused to speak about their emotions or concerns.

"He said that things between us would change." Zane flashed a smile that only he understood because Ian told him that he planned to marry Mina, but he did not want to ruin the surprise for her. He lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes as he spoke.

"Then let them change. You are a strong, beautiful, and talented young woman; Ian should know that." Zane liked Mina, and he wanted her to know that she was special. Even if things did not work out between the woman and his friend, it would not change her worth.

"Thank-" Mina was cut off by Ellie, who wrapped her arms around both her and Zane.

"You two look comfortable," she said, and Mina, having been on the receiving end of jealousy often, noted the hint of hostility. "I didn't know Mina was your date," the woman snarled, and Mina tried to slip away, but Ellie's grip was solid.

"Ellie, you and I can discuss this later," Zane said, barely able to ignore her growing beauty. It was obvious that she was misunderstanding, and the woman was pro Mina and Ian all the way. She had even suggested stranding them on a deserted island.

"Later," Ellie replied, pulling Mina with her.