Forbidden Heat novel Chapter 199

“Are you hurt?” Zak repeated the same question in a daze as his hands snaked out to caress my arms up and down.

“I’m not hurt,” I replied with certainty.

Zak’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he pulled me closer to inspect my body. Bringing my arm close to his face, he closely inspected my skin. His caressed the soft skin of my neck down to my collarbone before slipping further down to cup my breasts.

After satisfied that my assets were safe, his hands slowly slid down my ribs onto the plane of my stomach. I let him do as he pleased until he was satisfied enough that I was safe, unharmed and in one piece. For this loop, that was the only way to get him to revert. There were other ways out for other episodes.

Zak hugged my waist tightly as he buried his face in between my breasts. I hugged him back comfortingly. Although I was naked and he had caressed every inch of my body, none of this was sexual.

“Zak?” I called his name after a while of hugging each other.

“…what did I do this time?” Zak replied, clearly reverted back to normal.

“It doesn’t matter. You’re back, that’s all that matters,” I replied joyfully as relief swept over me. If that hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t know how else to bring him back.

“You look quite fine…but I was bounded to the bed, huh?” Zak said as he looked around the bed before picking up the strapped that was used to bound him.

“You really gave the staff a scare this time…” I said as I playfully slapped his shoulder.

“I’ll give them a special bonus, ok?” Zak replied like it was nothing.

“Zak…” Edward interrupted our reunion as he approached the bed.

I only remembered that I was completely naked when Edward draped his suit jacket over my shoulders.

“Edward…I wished I could have ignored your existence forever,” Zak teased with a small laugh. I would never be able to understand how Zak could be so carefree in situations such as these.

“Natalia, go and get dressed,” Edward said in a low serious tone. I’ve rarely seen him this serious before.

“But I…” my protest died on my lips when Edward’s sharp green eyes met mine.

“It’s ok. You should go, Natalia. I’ll call you,” Zak said with a smile before waving to me.

“Are you sure?” I asked, worried.

“Just go,” Zak replied firmly, and I knew that these two men will figure something out between them.

Without another word, I picked up my clothes and left the room.

…

Alone in the room with Zak, Edward heaved a loud sigh before pulling up a chair to sit next to the bed.

“What do you want to talk about?” Zak said casually as he sat up and adjusted his dishevel clothes.

“Explain what just happened,” Edward demanded.

“Why do I need to? You were watching so you should know what happened, right?” Zak said without a care.

“…how long have you been like this? Does Francesca know?” Edward asked, his tone dead serious.

“What about you? Do you think ‘whatever relationship’ you have with Natalia can last? Does it have a future?” Zak asked, his eyes meeting Edward’s green ones once more.

“…I do. At least, I’m trying my best to ensure that it does. The journey may be slow and unsmooth but, in the end, I plan to untangle Natalia from this family,” Edward replied truthfully.

“I really love Natalia, you see. So…I can tell that you really love her too,” Zak said before smiling a sad smile at Edward.

“I see. How much do you know?” Edward asked, getting straight to the point.

“I know more than you do, old man. I know everything. Everything,” Zak said as he unbounded his own ankles and swung his legs off the side of the bed and got up.

“Last question. Zak, will you let Natalia go?” Edward asked as he watched Zak’s flexing the muscles in his back and arms.

“If she’s willing, then of course. As I said, we don’t have a future together…and what I want for Natalia is a bright future. But Natalia is too kind, can she embrace a bright future knowing that she’s leaving me behind in the darkness?” Zak said questioningly as if he hasn’t quite figured out the answer to that himself.

“Zak…” Edward whispered Zak’s name in wonder.

“I don’t know…but I pray that she can. That would be like granting my ultimate wish,” Zak mumbled as if to himself.

Zak slowly walked as if in a daze towards the bedroom door before stopping and turning back to face Edward.

“I didn’t tell you all this without a price. At the end of all this, I will be the one to tell Natalia the last missing piece,” Zak stated with absolute resolution before turning and heading out the door.

--To be continued…