"Love, behave a little," Zeus murmured, his tone filled with gentle amusement as he tried...and failed...to unlock the penthouse door.
Because every time he entered the security code, Ceres, being the little minx that she was, would press random numbers, causing the system to error out.
She giggled mischievously, clearly enjoying the way Zeus's frustration built up.
But he wasn't actually frustrated.
No, he was entertained.
Because this was Ceres...his Ceres...being utterly reckless, utterly bold, and utterly his.
He had already decided to end the night early.
The moment he saw how drunk she had gotten, he knew it was time to leave.
And since Ryzel was still at the club, it meant Ciena would have a ride home, leaving him with only one concern.
Ceres.
His drunk, stubborn, and uncontrollably possessive Ceres.
He would have let her continue, let her drag him into more chaos, but then, she had insisted on drinking even more, and that was where he drew the line.
Because tomorrow, she was going to wake up with a hangover, and he hated seeing her in pain.
So, he made arrangements.
He called his secretary and canceled all of his meetings for the next day.
And unless it was a life-or-death situation, he made sure that no one would bother him.
Because tomorrow, his only priority was her.
"Love, stop, please," he said again, his voice deeper, more commanding, when she pressed another wrong button on purpose.
Ceres, in her drunken haze, simply grinned at him, leaning in close, her breath warm against his neck.
Then, she pressed the wrong number again.
"Ah, that's it." Without warning, he grabbed her, lifting her effortlessly onto his broad shoulder like she weighed nothing.
"Ahhh!" she shrieked, thrashing playfully, her laughter bouncing off the penthouse hallway walls.
She tried to fight it, but Zeus was too strong.
Then, she yelped again when he smacked her ass...firmly, but not too hard.
"Behave, love," he ordered, his grin widening.
Finally, without any more distractions, he entered the correct security code, and the penthouse door unlocked with a quiet beep.
But Ceres...always the troublemaker...decided to get revenge.
Still hanging over his shoulder, she wiggled her fingers and pinched his ass.
Zeus stiffened, momentarily caught off guard, before laughing in disbelief.
"You little minx," he muttered, swiftly kicking the door shut behind them as he strode through the massive penthouse.
His steps were quick, and powerful, heading straight for his bedroom.
He didn't come here often, but he had housekeepers maintaining the space regularly.
Still, as he walked through, he briefly hoped that everything inside was as pristine as he liked it.
Because right now, nothing mattered more than her.
Zeus was almost to his room when he felt her shift.
Ceres squirmed, trying to lift herself enough to face him.
When she finally got a good look at his face, she placed both hands on his cheeks, trapping him in her soft, delicate hold.
She smiled, her lips curving as if she was planning something.
Then, without a word, she kissed him.
He stopped walking.
Completely.
She had surprised him.
This night had already been full of surprises, but this?
This was something else.
At the start of the evening, when she announced that Ciena would be joining them for dinner, he had thought...for a moment...that the night would be ruined.
He had planned the dinner perfectly.
Every detail was designed for just the two of them.
But instead, a third wheel had been added.
Then, at the club, Ryzel had shown up, further testing his patience.
Especially when the bastard had kissed Ciena right in front of Ceres as if to prove that he had chosen that lesser woman over the perfect Ceres.
He had expected her to be upset.
To be bothered by Ryzel's presence.
But instead, she had turned the tables.
She had played her game, effortlessly setting Ryza and Ciena against each other, making Ciena doubt her own friendship.
And after that, she had simply stopped acknowledging them altogether.
She had focused only on Zeus.
And now, she was kissing him.
And not just any kiss.
It was reckless.
It was messy.
It was possessive.
She claimed him with the same boldness that she had earlier in the club.
Like she was staking her claim all over again.
He groaned softly, his control slipping as he deepened the kiss.
But even as he kissed her back, he kept moving, his feet never stopping until, finally, he reached his bedroom.
With deliberate slowness, he lowered her onto his bed, the plush mattress sinking beneath her weight.
And just as he was about to pull away,
She grabbed him by the collar.
"Hey!" she whined, her lips pouting, her golden eyes hazy from alcohol and desire.
Zeus chuckled, brushing a thumb over her flushed cheek.
"I'll get you water, love," he murmured. "Wait here for a moment."
Before she could protest again, he pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead.
And when he pulled away, she pouted harder, crossing her arms like a spoiled princess.
He shook his head fondly.
He had expected her to be asleep by the time he returned with the cold water.
She should have been.
With how drunk she was, she should have passed out already.
But she wasn't.
Her golden eyes...still hazy with intoxication...were wide open, watching him with a look that made his chest tighten.
He sat beside her on the bed, offering her the glass of water.
"Here, love. Drink this."
She took it from him, sipping until half of the glass was empty, then wordlessly handed it back.
Zeus set it on the bedside table, thinking, maybe now she'll sleep.
"Do you want to..."
He never got to finish.
Because she pulled him down for another kiss.
And this time, it was different.
It wasn't just reckless and possessive like before.
This one was desperate.
Raw.
Unspoken emotions spilled between their lips.
He groaned against her mouth, responding instinctively.
His hand went to her waist, his body pressing against hers as her fingers tangled into his hair.
She kissed him like she wanted to drown in him.
And he...he was more than willing to let her.
"Take this off." Her fingers tugged at the knitted long-sleeve shirt he was wearing, trying to pull it over his head.
He froze.
Because he knew what she wanted.
And if it had been any other woman, he wouldn't have cared.
Sober or not, it wouldn't have mattered.
He would have taken her, pleasured himself, and forgotten her by the next morning.
But this was Ceres.
His Ceres.
And she was drunk.
And he could never take advantage of her.
Because he knew that tomorrow, she would regret it.
And worse, she would hate him for it.
So, as much as he ached to say yes...as much as his body screamed for her...he forced himself to stop.
"Love, you're drunk."
She scowled, her lips twisting in frustration.
"So?" she challenged.
He sighed, brushing his thumb over her cheek.
"I don't want you to regret this tomorrow, love."
"I won't."
She said it with such conviction, her fingers still stubbornly tugging at his shirt.
"Love..."
Zeus tried again, but this time, she cut him off.
She narrowed her eyes at him, the irritation in her expression suddenly twisting into something darker.
"What?!" she snapped. "Don't tell me you'd rather sleep with that Natalie bitch than me."
He blinked, caught off guard.
"Who the hell is Natalie?"
She glared.
"Don't act dumb!" she accused. "That slut who offered to pour you a drink! You didn't even refuse her!"
He frowned, genuinely confused.
"Her name was Natalie?"
"Unbelievable." She huffed, crossing her arms.
Then, her expression shifted into something far more vulnerable.
And when she spoke again, her voice was softer, weaker.
"Do you like her more than me?"
He stared at her.
For a moment, he was completely stunned that she would even ask that.
"Of course not." His voice was low, firm. "I didn't even remember her name. I don't even remember her face."
Ceres bit her lip, her eyes flickering with something uncertain.
Then she whispered, "Do you want me to beg instead?"
Zeus's stomach twisted.
Because there was something broken in the way she said it.
Like she thought he would only want her if she pleaded for it.
"Love..."
"And here I thought you could handle me," she continued bitterly. "That you wouldn't try to change me..."
She cut herself off, but Zeus saw it.
The single tear that slipped down her cheek.
And his entire chest ached.
"You're just like Ryzel," she whispered. "You just want to change me too."
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his expression.
"You know that's not true."
"Isn't it?"
She laughed bitterly, shaking her head.
"You say you love me, but you'd rather have a woman who says yes to everything."
His eyes darkened.
"Am I not indulging you?" he asked, his voice controlled but intense.
"Haven't I given you everything you've ever wanted? Have I ever told you to do something you didn't want to do? Have I ever told you 'no' before?"
Ceres's lip trembled slightly.
"You're saying 'no' to me right now," she whispered.
He clenched his jaw, his patience breaking.
"Because you're drunk."
He let out a slow, heavy breath before adding...
"You know how much I want you, Ceres."
The frustration in his voice was clear.
And for a moment, she just stared at him.
Then, she reached for him again.
"Then take me now."
Her voice was soft, pleading, a mix of desperation and defiance.
She pouted slightly as if trying to tempt him.
He closed his eyes for half a second, forcing himself to calm down.
"My love, please… you're drunk."
Zeus tried one last time.
One final plea.
But instead of pulling away, instead of listening, she looked him straight in the eye.
And with a soft voice, she whispered, "I want you."
Zeus froze.
Because he had expected manipulation.
Ceres Monteverde was a master at getting what she wanted.
He had seen her twist people around her little finger and had watched her play every game with precision and cunning.
And yet, right now, her eyes were clear.
There was no deception.
No hidden scheme.
No power play.
Only truth.
Only want.
And it undid him completely.
He swallowed hard, his hands moving on their own, cradling her face.
She closed her eyes, leaning into his warm touch as if she was memorizing the feel of him.
His thumb brushed over her cheek, his breath uneven.
Then, with a voice low, strained, and laced with a desperation he could no longer hide, he asked "Do you know who I am?"
It was a foolish question, but it was his last attempt at reason.
He needed to be sure.
He needed to know she wasn't just saying this because of the alcohol.
That she knew it was him.
That she chose him.
Her lashes fluttered, her golden eyes blazing with emotion as she met his gaze.
Then, she smiled.
A soft, genuine smile that broke him completely.
"Of course," she whispered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You're my Zeus."
And that was it.
That was all it took.
Zeus Falcon lost control.
Four years.
He had waited four long years to hear those words.
To see her look at him this way.
To be wanted the way he had always wanted her.
The restraint he had been clinging to shattered.
He captured her lips in a kiss that was no longer gentle, no longer careful.
It was hungry.
Desperate.
Ravenous.
He poured everything he had been holding back into that kiss.
Every frustration.
Every aching desire.
Every year he had spent waiting for her to finally see him.
Ceres moaned softly, her fingers tangling into his hair, pulling him closer, deeper, rougher.
He growled against her lips, his hands moving to her waist, gripping her tightly, needing her to know just how much he wanted her...how much he needed her.
And when she pulled away just enough to whisper against his lips, "Don't stop."
Zeus knew.
There was no turning back.