Fallen 29

Fallen 29 Summary

Meadow finds herself caught off guard as Alaric confronts her about snooping in his room. She feels exposed and nervous under his intense gaze, especially as he inspects her outfit and questions her intentions. Meadow tries to deflect, unwilling to reveal that she was searching for clues about her missing sister Juniper, knowing Alaric has forbidden such actions. Despite her attempts to maintain composure, the tension between them grows palpable.

 

Alaric’s demeanor is both playful and serious as he demands honesty and eye contact, gently touching Meadow’s face and neck, which stirs a mix of desire and anxiety in her. He notices her glasses for the first time and teases her about how they make her look innocent, adding to the charged atmosphere. Meadow struggles to focus, caught between wanting to close the physical distance between them and the overwhelming emotions swirling inside her.

 

When Meadow finally admits to snooping, Alaric reacts with a low chuckle but remains guarded, refusing to reveal the secret behind the mysterious door she discovered. He unbuttons his shirt, revealing a tattooed back, but insists she doesn’t need to know what lies beyond the door. Meadow presses him, teasing that he always ends up giving her what she wants, which provokes a fierce reaction from Alaric as he pulls her close, calling her a spoiled brat.

 

The chapter ends abruptly with a sudden crash, leaving the intense moment between Meadow and Alaric unresolved and heightening the suspense about what will happen next. Throughout the chapter, the mix of curiosity, attraction, and secrecy drives the emotional conflict between the characters, deepening their complex relationship.

CHAPTER 0029

Meadow’s Perspective:

“I-I was just…” My words faltered, the heat rising rapidly up my neck and flooding my cheeks with warmth. I felt utterly exposed under Alaric’s intense gaze.

His eyes slowly roamed over me, lingering for a moment on the lower half of my body before drifting back up to meet mine. Then, without warning, they dropped again. I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, trying to steady myself.

I dared a quick glance down at my outfit—a red tank top that had ridden up slightly, revealing a sliver of my stomach, paired with black shorts. This was my usual comfy attire, but right now, Alaric was staring at my shorts like they’d somehow offended him.

“Snooping in my room, were you?” he finished smoothly, stepping inside with a calmness that made my heart skip a beat. I remained rooted in front of the secret door, frozen in place. He tossed something onto his bed, and I caught sight of his phone bouncing briefly before settling. “That’s rather rude, Meadow.”

“I wasn’t snooping,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, breathy with nerves. “I was just…” I stopped myself before I could reveal too much. I wasn’t ready for him to know I’d been searching for anything linked to Juniper. He’d already made it clear that wasn’t allowed.

Besides, I wanted to figure this out on my own. I wasn’t sure what I’d find, but trying wouldn’t hurt.

Alaric raised an eyebrow, silently urging me to continue.

“I was…” My voice cracked as my heartbeat thundered in my chest, his presence so close it was nearly overwhelming.

He finally stopped right in front of me. Too close. So close that focusing on my words felt impossible.

His hands slipped casually into his pockets, and I fought the urge to reach out, to touch the smooth fabric of his shirt, to feel the warmth radiating from him. I forced my eyes to stay fixed on him—not his piercing ink-blue eyes, but his neck, his jawline… anywhere but those hypnotic orbs.

“And you were what, Meadow?” His hand slid from his pocket to gently cup my jaw, tilting my face up until I met his gaze. “I hate it when you avoid looking at me. Honesty means everything to me.” The corner of his mouth twitched, and his eyes narrowed slightly, playful yet serious.

“Eye contact helps,” he added softly.

I froze under his touch.

His hand left my jaw and traced a slow path up my cheek. He remained calm, collected as always, while I was a tangled mess of nerves and desire. I could hear my own ragged breathing, loud in the quiet room, and I knew he could hear it too.

There was something about the energy he carried—an intoxicating force that unraveled my thoughts whenever he was near. Even without touching me, he held complete control.

Then, with a sudden flick, he pushed up the glasses perched on the bridge of my nose. I flinched.

“I didn’t know you wore glasses,” he murmured.

I leaned back against the door, my eyes fluttering at the sound of his voice, the warmth of his breath brushing past me.

I met his gaze, trying to sound steady, though my voice barely rose above a whisper. “Guess you missed one little detail about me, Mr. Stalker.”

The glasses were just for screen time—without them, staring at a bright screen too long left me seeing black spots, so I didn’t wear them constantly.

Amusement sparkled in Alaric’s eyes, and he let out a soft chuckle that had no business making my core pulse with heat.

“You should wear them more often,” he said casually. “They make you look… innocent.”

I swallowed hard, unsure if that was a compliment or a warning. Maybe it was both.

From the moment I saw him standing in the doorway, a warmth had been pooling between my legs, but now? God, it was almost unbearable.

He leaned in slightly, his hand sliding from my cheek down to the nape of my neck.

What was he doing?

His fingers pressed gently to the back of my neck, and my eyelids fluttered involuntarily, my lips parting just a little. His eyes searched mine, the space between us shrinking with every heartbeat.

Part of me longed to close that distance completely, to kiss him. I hated that he’d already made me come twice, and our lips hadn’t even touched—not once. And I had no idea if he’d ever reached that point himself.

“Alaric…” I barely realized I was speaking until his name escaped my lips.

Something flickered in his eyes—something raw and intense.

Lust.

His other hand slid to the exposed skin of my stomach, resting at my waist, and a soft gasp slipped out. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched again.

“Innocent suits you, Meadow. But you’re terrible at pretending.”

A shiver of heat raced down my spine.

It took a moment for my brain to catch up, to remember we were having a conversation and not just lost in the sexual tension wrapping around us.

I was pretty sure if I slipped my hand inside my shorts, my fingers would come away drenched. God, I wished he would just—

“What’s behind this door?” I blurted out, forcing myself to steer away from those thoughts.

Alaric’s eyes flicked to the door I was leaning against, then back to me, but he ignored my question, letting out a low, dark chuckle.

Then, lowering his voice, he asked again, “What exactly were you doing in my room, Meadow?”

Oh, damn.

I wanted to resist, I swear, but some part of me—the part that would probably jump off a cliff if he asked—was pushing me to confess.

“Snooping,” I admitted, breathless. “I just… wanted to see where you sleep. And then I noticed the door.”

It was a lie, but not entirely. I left out the part about searching for clues about where my sister was being held.

I had no clue if Alaric believed me or if he thought I was still hiding something, but he bit his bottom lip gently and seemed to nod in approval.

He stepped back, turning away as he began to unbutton his shirt.

I wanted nothing more than to help him with that.

Clearing my throat, I asked, “Where does it lead? The door, I mean.”

His back remained to me, and my tongue dried as I watched him peel off his shirt, my eyes glued to the tattoo that sprawled across his muscled, stunning back.

His answer was blunt. “You don’t need to know.”

“But I want to,” I pressed.

I’d never been this curious about anything. The door was so mysterious, and the keypad beside it told me it wasn’t just some ordinary closet.

My skin tingled with anticipation, desperate to uncover the secret.

Alaric turned slowly to face me, his gaze lazy but piercing as it swept over my form. “You can’t have everything you want, Meadow.”

“Yeah, you’ve said that. More than once,” I retorted, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms.

Maybe it was just my curiosity talking, or maybe I wanted to tease him, but the next words spilled out before I could stop them.

“But you always end up giving me what I want. Always.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw, his eyes flashing with something fierce. In two long, confident strides, he closed the distance between us.

I gasped, unsure of what to expect.

Alaric’s hand gripped the back of my neck again, pulling me flush against his bare chest. “You’re a spoiled little brat, aren’t you?” he murmured, voice low and rough.

Before I could catch my breath or respond, suddenly—

CRASH!