Chapter Twenty-Seven: Chaos Comes Trolling 

Thane’s POV

‘Change is inevitable, it comes with the tides and heights of our growth, it's the larger she'll that accommodates us…’

I listen to the radio presenter speak on alterations that come with life, while I slice veggies on the chopping board, trying to dice them beautifully.

‘Be good to people, kind, welcoming with warmth and love and…’

“Shut up.”

I tap the button on my phone, shutting the fucker up.

Her words are like bullets, shooting directly at me. All my life, I've been like a cold beast, and listening to her, makes me envision Avery nodding her head to everything the presenter says while giving me the side stare.

“Some other time.”

I wave the presenter bye and continue chopping the last of the spinach, shoving it to the edge of the board.

There are about a dozen freshly boiled eggs, salad dressing, and slices of bread, at the side of the cooker. I'm making coleslaw and egg toast, hopefully, I won't embarrass my heritage.

Going for the onion, I dice it in halves and put it beneath the running water in the sink, turning off the faucet when I'm done.

Dropping it on the board, I begin chopping, when the scent wafts into my face, almost making me wild.

My eyes are watery… Screw that, I'm going blind.

“Fuck.”

I groan, settling the onion down, and searching for nothing in particular.

A loud rumble startles me, but I'm too blind to look in the direction. The laugh continues, in sheer mockery. It can't be the radio, I turned that off a while ago… Avery?

Not my good biting me in the ass. If I had just ordered takeout, pizza, or whatever, I wouldn't be having a grown-ass woman laugh at me.

“This is not funny.” I scold her, heartbroken.

“I'm sorry,” she keeps chuckling. “You just look so adorable.”

“Avery, stop.”

“Let go,” she takes the knife from my hand. “Before you hurt yourself.”

I'm just temporarily blind, not stupid. I try to defend myself, but I just swallow instead.

I feel her wrapping her hands around me and pulling me in a hug.

What is she doing?

Her bump is between us, and she gently lifts her petite frame on the table, so I can lean on her shoulder when she makes me to.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm protecting you.” She rubs my head, raking her hands through my hair.

“I'm not a baby.” I try to pull away, but she locks her legs around me, slightly hitting her bump.

“You’re my baby’s daddy… My big baby inversely…”

“You are a surrogate…”

“Hush, lil baby.” She shuts me up, and cups the back of my head, making me bury my face in her neck.

Seeing it's best to not push her off, or hurt her in the process, I just stay still. For two minutes or more, I remain in her arms like a child.

“How do you feel now, better?” She cups my cheeks to look at me.

“Humiliated.”

I sigh, standing upright.

She cackles, enjoying my torment. She adjusts on the table and pulls the chopping board closer.

“Let me help with it, I hate seeing people cry.”

“Avery?”

“What, I'm sorry.” She chuckles. “What are you making though?”

“Coleslaw, toast, maybe a cup of coffee too.”

I proceed to pour the dressing on the bowl of veggies.

“Could you help me with that?”

She asks, pointing at a small dish.

Trying to pick it up at her request, I hit the bowl of salad, as it pours on the counter, with some spilling on me.

My hard work!

“What the heck?!”

“Oh, my god,” she sighs. “I'm sorry, Thane.”

Why do I feel like she's having a grand show? Her last word has a hint of mockery. I'm out.

“Ouch.”

She moans, jumping down from the table and wriggling her feet from the impact.

“I'll make us something fast.” Her voice comes closer as she approaches me. “You don't have to bother.” She compensates me.

Dousing another cup of humiliation, I shrug off my shirt and set it on the chair. Returning to the counter to clean it up, I catch her staring, and immediately averting her gaze once she sees me.

“Uhm…” Her throat moves up and down. “What…” She tries to act rational.

She tries to get salt but pulls out the sugar tin.

“That's sugar, Avery.”

“Uh?” She turns to look at me, wide-eyed.

Like a magnet, she keeps her gaze on my body, and I see the quick rise and fall of her chest walls.

“You’re staring.”

“Oh.” She slightly shakes her head and still goes ahead to pour the sugar into the egg mix.

“That's sugar,” I say again, my turn to watch her suffer.

She sighs loudly and looks at me, demanding if she can trash it.

I had better get my shirt on before she sets the house ablaze.

“I'll be right back,” I wink, reveling in her misery.

Picking up my slipped shirt and heading to my room, a wicked grin lurks around my lips. Is she attracted to me?

Even though I hate to admit it, I think I feel the same way… It's somehow stronger than how I feel towards Lily. With Lily, I just want sex and a good friendship with profound boundaries. With Avery, I want more than that. I want to protect her and own her and…

But I can't, for fear of misconception.

You set the rules, you moron! My brain scolds me.

Getting into my room, I shut the door, and just lean on it, reliving the sweet smell of her lotion when I buried my nose in her neck… Gosh, Avery!

I slump in bed, lust consuming me as I feel my member harden.

Oh, no.

I roll on my stomach, applying pressure on the area. I can't get humiliated for the third time in a row.

There's a gentle tap on the door.

Rufus?

“Food is ready, Thane.”

It's Avery. How fast did she pull that up?

“I'll be down shortly, thanks.”

The sound of her footsteps vanishes in seconds.

Unable to figure out what to do with my arousal, I get out of bed and settle into stronger jean shorts, and baggy polo to conceal anything if there's a need to.

Going downstairs, I join her at the dining table. There's a beautiful plate of fine toast, and a cup of coffee by my table. She has the same, just an addition of the coleslaw in a dish.

“You’re swift.”

“Not really, you ain't the kitchen guy.”

I chuckle and bite into the brown toast, humming and nodding alongside.

“You’re right.” I agree foolishly, covering my lips and hiding the balls of moist food in my mouth. “This is good.”

“Thanks.”

She eats hers.

“I've been meaning to ask, why do you treat Lily like that? She seems sweet.”

“The damn business that pays you, Avery, mind it.”

“Ouch.”

She stuffs her mouth the the salad and there's an awkward silence that follows. I don't mind, instead, I munch on the food and slurp on the mug.

Done, I dab my lips with the napkin and stand up to do my dishes since she's still having hers. I'm not much of an eater.

Drying up the dish after washing, I pause to think about our moments. She seems to be the happiest when pampered and bubbly, when not caged.

Just maybe I'd tweak the rules a bit more, for her sake.

Sure? Just for her sake?

My little man sticks out, alongside the need to have her trapped to myself, with her legs around me like earlier. But this time, in blissful union.

A gentle hand touches my shoulder.

“What are you…”

“Fuck!”

I startle the hell out, with the wet dish slipping off my hand and crashing on the floor.

“What was that for?!”

I groan, and my heartbeat spikes through unhealthy levels, as I struggle with breathing.

No… No, please… Not now.

I'm experiencing a relapse, right in front of Avery.

It's bad enough that I'm at the end of the kitchen, with no place to hide.

“Thane?”

She comes closer to touch me, but I flinch, curling up like a toddler and pressing myself against the wall.

“St-stay away,” thick veins bulge out of my neck, straining my muscles. “from me.” I struggle to get my words right.

I see her panicking, her eyes glisten with tears unshed. She is confused as heck.

“What can I do to help… Should I call Rufus?”

I shake my head aggressively, pressing my eyes shut and willing the symptoms to go away.

The voice of my younger self, screaming for help and mercy, pierces my ears, and the face of my predator laughing at me.

“Than…”

She tries to touch me against my will, and I shove her hand off, the impact too much as she's sent flying to a side, and crashing on the floor soon after.

What the heck have I done?!