Yannis said, โIf you couldnโt get it undone, why didnโt you ask me for help?โ Zinnia sat at her dressing table, pouting slightly, while Yannis stood behind her, carefully untangling the strands of hair wrapped around her head.
โI didnโt think itโd be so hard to take out,โ Zinnia pouted. โItโs my first time trying this hairstyle.โ
โNext time you need anything, just come find me right away. We canโt have you feeling unhappy,โ Yannis said, his voice playful but gentle. He looked at Zinnia nibbling a strawberry.
She mumbled through a mouthful of strawberry, her cheeks puffed out. โWant some?โ she asked, holding up a white strawberry and offering it to Yannis without turning around.
Yannis chuckled. โHold it up a little higher, Zinnia. I canโt reach it from here.โ
Zinnia looked into the mirror. Yannis was so tall that his head didnโt even show in the reflection. All she saw was his slim waist in a tailored black suit, cinched by a dark belt that showed off his nice figure.
Zinnia moistened her lips, thinking, โI want to touch his waist.โ Turning her head, she held out the strawberry.
Yannis murmured, bending down to take the strawberry with his teeth, his eyes meeting hers.
With her makeup gone, her delicate face was clear, soft, and youthful. Her lips were rosy pink, shiny with strawberry juice.
Lately, whenever Zinnia wanted something from him, she would flatter him first. He wondered what she wanted this time. Sure enough, the next second, she asked, โCan I touch your waist?โ
Zinnia bit her lip, looking at him with bold, honest eyes. She thought, โHis waist looks so perfect. I wonder how it feels to touch. Probably amazing.โ
Last time she hugged him, she hadnโt even felt his waist. This sudden question left Yannis speechless. She really had a way of catching him off guard.
His eyes met Zinniaโs. Her clear eyes were full of hope, her gaze eager but innocent. She was genuinely asking, with no hidden motives.
โWhy?โ Yannis asked lazily, not refusing outright. He really wanted to know.
Zinnia said, โBecause your waist looks so touchable and beautiful.โ
โWhat if I say no?โ Yannis asked, a playful glint in his eyes.
โThen I wonโt,โ Zinnia said with a shrug. โIt was just a quick thought.โ
His waist looked so good that she couldnโt help but ask. If he didnโt want her to, she wouldnโt push it.
โGo ahead,โ Yannis said, raising an amused eyebrow at her quick surrender.
He thought, โHonestly, she gives up so easily. She doesnโt even try to act cute or wheedle, no persistence at all. Lucky for her she met me; with anyone else, sheโd never get anything done.โ
โYou agreed!โ Zinnia beamed, her eyes lighting up.
โWhen have I ever refused you, Zinnia?โ Yannis said with a gentle smile.
Zinnia paused, realizing, โHeโs never said no to my request before.โ
Yannis hardly ever refused her anything. She was very curious. The more someone told her she couldnโt do something, the more she wanted to try. One mistake, and she could easily go astray.
Chapter 178
Within safe limits, Yannis would let her do whatever she wanted to keep her happy. Once she experienced something, the excitement would fade, and that way, he could keep her safe.
Yannis thought, โReal protection isnโt about hiding someone from danger. Itโs about helping them see the risks themselves.โ
He wanted her to figure out right from wrong, learn about things, and decide for herself. By guiding her to make her own choices, he hoped she would grow independently.
โIโm going to touch you now, okay?โ Zinnia put down the strawberry and looked up at him, seeking his approval.
Yannis muttered, โOkay.โ
โCan you take off your jacket?โ Zinnia asked, looking up at him. โItโs hard to feel anything through the fabric.โ
โShould I take off my shirt too?โ Yannis chuckled, teasing Zinnia who was pushing her luck. Even as he teased, his fingers unbuttoned his jacket, then shrugged it off.
Zinnia shook her head. โNo way! Then youโd be naked.โ
Zinnia thought to herself, โMaster said itโs not right to look at a naked man.โ As clever as always, she chose to do the right thing.
Yannisโs smile widened. โShe does have some sense of decency after all,โ he thought.
Zinniaโs hand rested on Yannisโs waist, her fingers moving over his silky black dress shirt. โThereโs something hard here,โ she whispered, curious.
Zinnia looked at Yannis with wide eyes. His stomach had firm, springy muscles. She couldnโt resist and poked them twice.
โThatโs called abs,โ Yannis said, amused by her naivetรฉ.
He thought, โHow did Nathan raise her? She has almost no boundaries with guys. Luckily she met me. If it were anyone else, sheโd be taken advantage of.โ โAbs? How many do you have?โ Zinnia asked curiously. โIโve heard Maisie talk about them before. Maisie says a guy needs eight-pack abs.โ
โWant to count them yourself?โ Yannis asked, smiling amusedly.
โOkay!โ Zinnia said eagerly and reached out to count his abs with her fingers, one by one.
Yannis immediately regretted it. He looked at her hand on his waist. Her face was so delicate, and her long lashes lowered in concentration. He could feel her gaze intensely on his waist.
When her eyes traced over him, a warm feeling spread under his skin, making his eyelashes flutter slightly.
He watched her fingers carefully measuring his waist. In the quiet room, he felt her fingers slowly move across his skin.
Finally, after tracing his abs, her hand moved to his lower back. He felt her soft fingertips press on his spine, and a tingling sensation shot up inside him, spreading through his whole body.
The faint smile on Yannisโs lips faded, and his fingers clenched involuntarily.
โWow, eight-pack!โ Zinniaโs eyes lit up, still tracing the ridges sheโd just counted.
When she pulled back her hand, Yannis took a quiet breath. He knew letting her do this made her happyโbut he also felt intensely sensitive. Every touch felt like tiny ants crawling under his clothes. โZinnia, you must never do this with other guys, okay? Theyโre not me. They might try to take advantage of you,โ Yannis warned softly.
Yannis suddenly felt worried. After spending time with her, he saw she probably grew up in a simple, sheltered world, with little defense against others, and no real sense of boundaries with men and women.
Chapter 178
โIโve only ever touched yours, Yannis,โ Zinnia said sweetly, with innocent happiness.
Hearing that, Yannis felt a small surge of happiness. She really knew how to sweet-talk him. Watching her bright smile, he thought, โSheโs so easy to please!โ
But Yannisโs happiness only lasted a few seconds before his smile froze.
โYannis, when you die someday, can I have your ribs?โ Zinnia looked up at him, her eyes shining with genuine excitement.
She couldnโt help but think how perfect his ribs were. They would make a beautiful display. Looking at him with shining eyes, she said, โYour ribs are so lovely. Theyโd be perfect for my collection.โ