Chapter Seven
Hazel folded the dried bed sheets that she washed and went upstairs to her bedroom. She changed and lay down to rest when Axel came into her room with his math book. "Hazel, I can't go ahead with my homework. Can you help?" He asked, handing her his textbook.
Allen came into her room too and smiled at the two. Then he climbed onto her bed and lay down folding his hands behind his head and staring at her.
Axel sat down in front of her with his notebook and pen.
"Where are you stuck?" Asked Hazel, flicking through the pages of his math textbook.
"Exponents, especially negative exponents," he said, with a grimace.
"Let's start exponents from scratch then?" She asked and Axel nodded.
The next two hours Hazel explained to him the concept of exponents, making him solve the exercises too. He completed his homework at last and went out for soccer practice.
Allen had fallen asleep while she was teaching. Too tired with the day's activities, she fell asleep too.
She suddenly woke up too hot. She tried getting up to find the remote control for the air conditioner but couldn't budge. Opening her eyes to check, her face flushed as she stared into two dark chocolate brown orbs staring down at her. His arm was around her waist, brushing with her breasts. He held her close to his chest, while her head lay on his biceps. With his face an inch away from hers, her breath hitched and she tried to regain her composure.
"Allen, I," she started but his hypnotic gaze upon her lips made her close her eyes and rethink what she was about to say.
She lost her senses when his soft warm lips lightly brushed against hers. She gasped at the touch of his lips. He took the opportunity and claimed her lips firmly, hungrily with his. What started as a gentle peck turned into a fully passionate kiss, as his tongue plunged inside her sweet mouth, tasting every recess. His hand went into her hair as he hovered over her, lost in the kiss.
His tongue dominated and played with hers, his other hand moulding her body into his. She was acutely aware of the hard length of his body against hers. She kissed him back and he groaned. He broke the kiss for a minute before again hungrily smashing his lips to hers.
He didn't know what possessed him but he couldn't stop himself. His body was on fire and didn't listen to any reason. He wanted her badly. He was tired of living alone. He wanted to meet his physical needs now and that too only with Hazel. He never felt such a need to kiss someone as he felt with Hazel.
His phone vibrated beside him on the bedside night stand and he reluctantly broke off and breathing hard, checked his mobile. It was his private investigator. Swearing at the wrong timing, he looked at Hazel,"I need to take this call," he said and she nodded at him, embarrassed at her reaction to him.
He got up from his bed, adjusted his pants and walked away to his bedroom.
Allen called back his PI, Gerard Samuels, "Yes, Samuels, tell me," he said.
"Sir, I've found out everything about Nicholas King and his lady love Hazel Ferguson. I've emailed you everything sir. Do inform me if you want anything else," said Samuels.
Allen didn't want to see the file yet. He wanted Hazel to trust him enough to be able to tell him everything. He wanted to hear it from her own mouth.
"Thank you Samuels. You'll receive your payment. I will inform you if I need any more information," said Allen, disconnecting the call.
Axel came in tired from practice. "Hazel, I'm hungry," he said, dumping his dirty bag and sitting on the couch.
"Go and shower first. I'll prepare something," she said. Allen was sitting in the living room, busy on his laptop. He liked the way his son had opened up to Hazel. It seemed as if they had known each other for ages.
Hazel prepared omelette with avocado spread on toast. Axel came down, fresh from the shower and eyed the food excitedly. Hazel handed a plate of food to him and one to Allen too. She then sat beside Allen to eat hers.
"Dad, I have a parent teacher meeting next week," Axel said to Allen with a sulk.
"Ok, give me the details," Allen asked.
"I want Hazel also to attend this time," Axel said, hesitantly eyeing Hazel in case she declined.
Allen's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He couldn't believe his ears. "I'm sure Hazel has other work to do, " he said, trying to save the situation.
"I will attend. I want to," said Hazel with a smile. She felt honoured that Axel had included her in his world.
"Yay, thanks Hazel," He said, grinning.
Allen went to the kitchen to rinse his plate. Axel came to Hazel and said in a serious tone, "Dad gets furious at these PTMs. Thank you for accompanying him. He will stay cool this time."
Before Hazel could open her mouth, Axel said,"I promise to be a good boy from now on."
"That's settled then," said Hazel with a smile.
Allen continued with his office work while Hazel helped Axel with his science homework. While she was preparing dinner, Allen's phone buzzed and he went to the deck outside to talk.
After 20 minutes, Allen came back with a worried expression. "Anything wrong?" Asked a worried Hazel.
Axel went upstairs to the entertainment room to play video games.
Allen sat down next to her. "Your grandma called up just now. Your uncle and his family have returned home. Your dad is in the hospital from the injuries sustained because of Nicholas's assault. Nicholas and his men are hunting for you everywhere," he said, with a grave expression on his face.
"Oh, I can't go to see dad now," said Hazel sighing heavily. Allen came closer and held her by the shoulders. Hazel broke down completely and cried on his shoulders. Allen wrapped her in his arms to comfort her.
"My life has become hellish for the last four years, Allen. I don't know how to normalize it. I'm tired of running away from Nicholas King," she said trying to compose herself.
"How did you meet the bastard?" Asked Allen.
Hazel composed herself and told him everything that had happened to her for the last four years of her life. He listened to her intently.
"Thankfully he didn't sexually assault you while in his custody," said Allen. "I would still have kept you forever with me. It doesn't matter to me at all."
"He did kiss me forcefully and I showered immediately after it," she confessed.
"I will save you Hazel. Please have faith in me. I don't want you to go out anywhere after attending Axel's PTM. Lie low here as no one knows you're living with us. That way Nicholas wouldn't be able to find you. Your grandma hasn't informed your uncle that you were with her," said Allen.
"Ok, I won't go out anywhere. I have faith in you, Allen, more than I have in myself," she said and he smiled at her.
