not edited
— shinrin-yoku —
(n) "forest bathing" — going into the woods for a mentally soothing experience
origin ; japanese
"Well fuck you and your damned company!" I screamed over the phone, bloody outraged. Not waiting to hear what Samuel Christian had to say, I ended the call and slammed both my phone and venti earl grey tea on my desk. Utterly irritated and ballistic, I stood up, sending the desk chair to slam against the wall. And now, pacing back and forth in my father's office, my patience itself was walking on eggshells.
These past few days were rather a hustle, testing my patience, well lack thereof. My time was spent between the office, hospital, school, and Hunter family mansion. Becoming the CEO and taking reign on my father's throne has left me in the bloody compromising position of having no time.
The Worthington's seemed to be a thing on their own. As of late, they weren't exactly consuming my mind like times before, well they weren't, but Phoenix definitely was. More often than not, the gang seemed to be a forgotten concept to me, not being a top priority to me and the company becoming what I solely lived and breathed. Between not seeing them since I abruptly left the skating rink and rarely seeing them around school, which was rather concerning as it is, I had other things occupying my mind. But every time I seemed to forget them, even if it was just for a split second, I found myself thinking about Phoenix - pondering over him, having lingering thoughts about him - he consumed my thoughts wholly; thus all reminding me of my friends that I miss. But I don't miss him.
Who are you lying to?
Absolutely no one, I yell back at the voice.
It's not good to build yourself up upon lies.
Rolling my eyes at the irritating inner voice, I realise I've hardly even communicated with them as well, managing to send Pyper a text or two now and then.
And I'm sure they knew well enough the reason for my absence.
My eyes flickered over to my desk and fell on the newspaper laying perfectly on it. The front page's headline of The Miami Times was rather a surprise to anyone who knew of me and the business world.
"Adrianna Vasiliev of Vasiliev + Co. and shockingly Bazzi Enterprises, the notorious new CEO?"
The newspaper was issued yesterday; from the moment Kendall left it on my desk with a huge smile, well, lazily threw it on my desk and walked out not muttering a word, and my eyes fell on it, I was feeling prideful. And once again, right now, I felt pride running through my body as I read the headline a time or two again.
But the smile that made it's way on my face along with the light in my eyes left all too soon as I heard the phone ring and I grunted.
I was slowly becoming what I said I would never, a workaholic.
§
"Have I mentioned how utterly sexy you are, Ms. Vasiliev, especially now that Vasiliev and Co. is competition for Worthington Industries?" I moaned, feeling his erection against my back, feeling his hot, sinful lips against the flesh of skin on my neck.
I was grinding against him, throwing my arms back to wrap around his neck as my eyes were closed. Moans fell past both our lips and we were in our own bloody world.
Phoenix Worthington, and I, Adrianna Vasiliev, were at a party, drunk off our asses, dancing and grinding like no tomorrow in the very middle of the dance floor, not giving one single fuck. As our bodies moved against each other's, people were greedily flashing photos, probably recording videos, happily posting them on social media, just waiting for the world to turn on it's tables in the after hours.
You're probably wholly and utterly confused as to how we got here, so let's just go back a few hours and I'll explain.
—
T H I R D P E R S O N P O V
[ just a retelling of the previous hours ]
After Adrianna left her office earlier, she met up with Hunter at a local coffee shoppe and they had a bite. Hunter informed her about his mother's condition, she was to be released in a day or two and all was well. With those words in mind, they left, both in their own directions.
Adrianna surprised herself, not realising where she was headed until she pulled into the driveway of yes, Phoenix Worthington. Much - not - to her dismay, he answers the door and she greets him with cold eyes and an even icier glare. She felt she had absolutely no business with him. But watching as the gang all stood behind him, worried and lost, the coldness of her CEO exterior melted and a wide smile took over. She threw herself in the midst of them, and they all embraced in a hug. Whether they were a 'forgotten concept' in her head or not, she missed them.
Still continuing to ignore Phoenix, blatantly rather, she makes her way to her room, in search of some clothes to take back to Hunter's.
"Where are you going, Adrianna?" Came the voice behind her, the voice she really did not want to hear.
"Hunter's," she simply stated back.
"No you're not, you're staying right here," he growled as he encircled her waist, roughly pulling her against his body. She gasped as she felt her mind blurring and her emotions mixing into one. All because of him. She became flustered feeling his erection against her lower back and she had no fight for him. Just being in his arms melted the hatred she had for him. And she felt weak.
"Étoile filante, there's a party tonight, go with me," he more so demanded.
"O-Okay," came out as a soft moan as she felt his lips against her neck. He pulled away rather quickly and turned her around even quicker so their eyes would meet. And meet they did, but as his held sadness, she guarded him with cold and tired eyes. What she was rather oblivious to was how turned on she was currently making him. Those same cold and tired eyes mirrored his that were such on almost a daily basis. Seeing Adrianna as the heiress she was more than meant to be, it made him see her under another light. And goddamn was it sexy. But no matter how cold her irises were, they held such an innocence and Phoenix Worthington felt entirely angry with himself. He just always seemed to be repeatedly fucking over his relationship with Adrianna.
"Adrianna," the name rolled off his tongue smoothly. She looked at him from under her lashes, feeling daring enough to refuse to answer him. She had no idea she was driving the man before her absolutely insane.
"Étoile filante," he growled out. A delicate smile spread across her face as she swiftly pulled away from him, and walked into her closet. He followed her like a lovesick fool for there were constellations and galaxies within her; stardust danced in her soul, stars danced in her eyes.
She pulled a yellow pencil dress that stopped right above the knee from the rack and held it against her body, "Thoughts?" She asked simply with a perfectly ached brow.
"Putain de parfait," he said as more of a praise. Lust clouded over his beautiful irises and Adrianna found herself getting lost deeper and deeper in the depths of them. She was partially upset with herself, she didn't know what to think of herself. She was going against every morale she had for herself, breaking apart from what she deemed ethical when it came to Phoenix. But at the same time, she couldn't find it in herself to care when she was with him. She was wild, free, and most definitely reckless with him and she loved that part of her. As did he, she would soon come to know. (fucking perfect)
"I suppose that's yes," a whisper left her lips. She was feeling lightheaded, intoxicated, just by being in his presence. And unknowing to her, some part of her wanted the feeling greedily. She craved him. She had no idea yet, just how much she wanted to succumb to her - what should've been ruled as forbidden - desires and let him have his way.
Without waiting for him, she turned away once again and walked out of her closet; and once again Phoenix followed her. He watched the beauty in utter silence with his jaw dropped to the floor as she stripped down to her strapless lacy white bra and matching hipster panties.
"Zip up the back for me will you?" She asked in that soft, delicate tone he loved oh so much as she pulled the dress on her body. Slowly, he took long strides over to her and finally, finally when he was right behind her, he placed his rough hands on the soft skin of her back. He took an excruciatingly long time, taking his sweet slow time to zip up the dress, finding the perfect excuse to just be near her. He also didn't fail to let his fingers brush on her skin itself every now and then, eliciting a shiver from her small body.
Once he'd finish, his hands gripped either side of his waist, pulling her back flush against his chest, "Adrianna," came his voice with a rough Italian accent. But she managed to pull away like his grasp was nothing at all and walked over to his vanity. He stumbled to her bed, taking a seat at the edge, watching her with such intensity. He took note how the dress looked divine against her sun kissed skin and how it accentuated her curves perfectly, wanting to commit it to memory. Her fingers moved hurriedly as she did double dutch braids and once she finished, she topped off her look with a pearl and diamond choker. Her makeup was light, only having on mineral powder, bronzer, and blood red lipstick. She didn't feel the need for a clutch, skipping right over to find the perfect shoes, deciding on a pair of nude stilettos.
Phoenix watched from her bed, enticed and captivated. It wasn't until she was completely finished, standing up straight between his parted legs with her head held high, her aura oozing of power, that he muttered the very words, "You are a fucking dream, Adrianna Vasiliev."
He stood up slowly, his eyes dazed as he was absolutely entranced and mesmerised by the girl before him, the angel with devil eyes but tattered wings. He watched her with a certain desire and foreign look in his eyes. And of course, she was hopeless with thinking what it could've been.
It was love because ultimately, he was in love with her and she would be his undoing. Unknowingly to her, even through a hazy mind and drunken eyes, he'd look at her with a certain love in his eyes.
His lips slowly descended onto her, lightly, but before she could kiss back, let it become something more, give him a taste of all she want him to do to her, their names were called from down the hall.
Stolen kisses, she sighed as they walked hand in hand with each other out her room to the crew standing by the front door.
—
"Bazzi really flipped shit on me, étoile. What's he gonna say when he finds out about our very compromising position," he whispered roughly in my ear as we were more likely than less, tearing up the dance floor. There was a literal circle of people around us, phones in hand, cups in the other, howling, cheering, and hooting for us. The both of us kept on mindlessly dancing, grinding, and occasionally kissing. We were a beautiful mess and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Turning around so our chests were aligned, I whispered to him once our foreheads were touching, "what did he say?"
"You know, he called me, yelled at me, spat incoherent after incoherent," he laughed wholeheartedly. He wasn't threatened by Hunter in the least.
"Sounds like my best friend," I snickered obnoxiously. Through a hazy mind, I still loved Hunter with my heart, he did so much for me, I couldn't help the smile etching its way on my face.
Hiking my leg up his waist, he dipped me low and then pulled away slightly, pulling me by my hand right after. Our chests collided with one another as we shared a look, that only happened between him and I. We were both breathless, our chests heaving up and down against each others.
§
The party was nowhere near over as Phoenix and I left together. Wisely enough, the drunk sod called an Uber to take us home and that is how we found ourselves making our way to his room.
Upon entering, the bloody bloke pulled away from me, stumbling on his footsteps as he made his way to his bed. He flopped on his bed, quite literally, and sprawled himself out rather comfortably. I followed suit, almost falling myself as I swayed from side to side and laughed, letting myself fall on his bed.
Everything was silent between us, only our breathing was audible. As I situated myself indian style at the foot end of his bed, he looked over at at me with an adorably drunk smile, "Adrianna?"
"Phoenix?"
"Tequila talks are sober thoughts," he whispered and got up, sitting up against his bed's headboard. My eyes widened slightly, a million ideas of what he was possibly talking about ran through my head. Our gazes locked and silence settled between us.
Until he quietly blurted out, "I'm in love with you, Adrianna."
Here's to the start of what would be some very drunk confessions and I think my heart already stopped.
Or maybe you're just delusional, a voice laughed in my head.
Or utterly drunk that you're just hearing what you want to hear, another sarcastic voice.
My eyes were as wide as saucers and I was sputtering to say something, anything. His eyes bored into mine as I held his gaze, coming up blank trying to formulate even the simplest coherent sentence. But it seems like my English is fucking failing me!
"I think, I've been in love with you, Adrianna," he stated crystal clear. I remained quiet, genuinely not knowing what to say in the slightest.
"Say something, please," he pleaded in a hopeless voice.
Clearly I was not in my own right mind because I would've never said what I said next, "I'm in love with you, too." Immediately my hand came up, covering my mouth. I stared at him in surprise, unblinking as his stared back at me, his eyes just as wide as mine, if not more.
"Adrianna," left his mouth as a breathless whisper. My eyes were painfully tight shut, fearing his next words and actions. As if I hadn't drank the night away greedily just hours ago, right now, I was feeling sober as ever; everything was in clear cut clarity and my heart could get shattered at any moment. Peering into his piercing blue eyes, I could see clearly, everything was blurry, but the feelings were not. And sitting across from him, only feet away, I felt vulnerable, like an open book and all my emotions were out on display for him to see.
"I-I never thought I'd hear such words from you," he stuttered in such a raw and broken voice that almost broke me.
"Adrianna, do you know how long I've waited, just to hear those words from you? All the sleepless nights I've had just thinking of what this moment might be like if it were real. And all the nights I've slept, dreaming endlessly of this exact moment.
"God, I'm in love with you," he praised, looking up at the ceiling.
"Y-You're in love with me?"
"You don't realise how perfect you are. Adrianna, you are the epitome of temptation, making me want to succumb in every moment," he continued, "From the very moment I caught you in my arms on the first day of class, goddamnit, I knew I loved you.
"I'm anxious right now, from fear that this," he waved to the space between us, "this isn't real. That this is just another dream."
"This is anything but," I whisper, almost inaudibly.
He doesn't acknowledge me as he continues, "Étoile filante, I've told you once before, and I'm telling you again; in all my years, you are quite rare.
"Adrianna, remember I said I'm a bit infatuated with you, yeah? God, how I love your hair, your smile, your eyes. I love the light shining brightly on your face. The way your eyes crinkle from smiling and shine so bright, the stars would be jealous.
"But I look at you, chérie, and your ability to mask your pain and sadness with a smile of pure happiness fails to fool me. I know Adrianna, I know. I know you're still mourning your late mother and father. I know you stay up late at night, crying your heart out, just wanting your family to be whole again. You long for a way to ease the pain.
"I know you're an utterly beautiful wreck. Adrianna, I want to be the one to fix you. I want to mend your broken pieces and help you let go," his voice was thick with emotion. Tears streamed down my face and it was no use in trying to wipe them away. They wouldn't stop falling.
Sitting before me was not the brooding bastard I'd come to know. This, this was Phoenix Worthington, stripped. The haziness and drunken traces had disappeared. He was sitting up straight, eyes wide open, his aura brooding of course. But something was different, something about him held such a warmness I never knew I needed.
"Adrianna, I love everything about you, even the parts you don't like about yourself. The way you glow in the moonlight, like a heavenly goddess; when you bake, for every time you seem to get flour in your face and hair," I giggle through my tears, "I love that damned look you give me, daring me to challenge you.
"Since I'm feeling a bit daring as it is, dare I admit how bloody jealous I am that I haven't seen you as the powerful CEO you've quickly become. I hear you've got quite the ice cold and emotionless exterior, love. I want to see it all.
"You're slowly ruining me, goddamnit, if you asked me to give you the world, I'd bring it in my hands just for you. I love you.
"Adrianna," my name rolled off his tongue in his rough Italian accent. Just the way I loved it.
"Phoenix," his name is a breathless whisper. I became flustered before I even started talking and felt a blush spread over the apples of my cheeks. Getting up from his bed, I went to the window overlooking the beach. The waves of the ocean crashing against the shore was paralleling my feelings whilst I stood silently. With my back to him I started speaking for I could not handle looking in his eyes when he looked back with such an intensity.
"I've known I've loved you from the moment you caught me from falling on August 27 in the hallway of Paradise Creek," my voice is soft, "That moment when our eyes locked with each others, it was only us, gold to teal. Something about you screamed dangerous, wild, and well, reckless. And like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to you, but loving you is a feeling darkening over itself, I am loving you blindly and I can't walk away.
"I don't think you understand but with just one look in my direction Phoenix and you get my heart beating rapidly, anxiously awaiting your next moves. I crave you, I want you, Phoenix, in every possible way. Just like yourself, you make me want to succumb to these desires in my head. I have these temptations, lustful desires, that should be forbidden.
"Phoenix, you make me lose every morale I ever held for myself, you make me lose sense of what I once believed was ethical and not. You declared that you love me, yet all I want is for you to fuck me like you don't," I whisper, "I want your hands to wander all over my body. Touch me in places I haven't been touched before," I whisper, closing my eyes. I gasp as his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest. I involuntarily let my head fall back on his shoulder, feeling his hot breath against the flesh of my neck.
"'I want you irrespective of the repercussions,' I love your irises, those oceanic blues, filled with compassion, love, and light, yet masked by coldness and desolation. I love that damn smile of yours, however rare it might be, the one in a few times I see it, it's enough to light up my world. I love that lazy half grin half smile, and that smirk you're always wearing, making you look devilishly handsome.
"I've always seen past your charade of brooding bastard, you're hiding away under so many layers, Phoenix," I frown whilst my eyes are closed, "I know you bury a whole lot of hurt and pain and sadness deep down. I know you miss Elliot. And I want to be your person, the one you always come to.
"Phoenix, every time we've kissed, it's as if the universe swirls within me. When we're together, stars glisten brightly, and they marry me with the moon.
"Sure, you've done some rather questionable things, to me, Phoenix. But every time, I find myself letting go and forgiving you. Haven't you heard? I'm in love with you. You could break my heart time and time again and yet, I'd still be willing to love you," I sniffled.
"I love you, you brute," I whisper.
"Phoenix," I shrieked and my eyes shot open. He spun me around and picked me up quicker than I could process. Instantly, I responded and wrapped my arms around his neck, legs around his waist.
"God, I fucking love you," he whispered, walking us to his bed. Gently, he threw me on the bed; my hair was splayed out, my eyes wide open, and lips slightly parted as he climbed on top me. Balancing himself on his elbows on either side of my head, his legs in between mine, I smile brightly as my hands threaded in his luscious hair.
"You, my dear, are my shooting star," he murmured before his lips smashed against mine in a passionately beautiful and bruising kiss.
———
whose drunk confession did you like more?