Addicted To Travis

A few days passed. Travis sat in front of his computer, the dim glow of the monitor illuminating his focused face. It had been a great few days. Lyra's company detected the breach, but none of their best experts could trace him. He had hidden himself so thoroughly that their efforts only amused him. In the meantime, he had watched them scramble, even picking up a few new tricks that made his defenses even more impenetrable.

But after a while, he decided to let them think they'd caught him. It was a calculated move—give them just enough to feel victorious while still maintaining his access undetected. He smirked to himself, a silent acknowledgment of his cleverness.

Alright, time to jot down my plan for everyone else, he thought, fingers poised over the keyboard.

Just as he began typing, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Lyra. The corner of his lips curled into a smile as he read it. The wait had been worth it. She wanted to meet him—privately. His smirk deepened at the suggestion.

He quickly replied, asking for the location. When her response came, he blinked in surprise. A hotel? That was unexpected, but he wasn't about to complain.

Travis stood and began getting dressed, pulling on a sharp outfit that balanced style and stealth. As he adjusted his jacket, Mariana stepped into the room. Her warm presence filled the space, and she leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"You look good," she said with a soft smile, tilting her head. "I take it you're going to see her?"

He paused, meeting her gaze. "You already know."

She chuckled lightly and stepped closer, brushing a hand against his arm. "What would you like to eat tonight, honey?" she asked, her voice soft and teasing.

"Anything you cook is perfect. I can't even pick a favorite," he replied sincerely, which earned a sweet giggle from her.

She stood on her toes, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "Well, okay. Just… have fun. And make that woman pay," she added with a playful smirk, her tone carrying both encouragement and affection.

Travis turned fully toward her, resting a hand on her waist. "Don't worry. I've got this," he said with quiet confidence.

Mariana leaned her forehead against his for a brief moment. "I know you do. Come back to me," she whispered.

"I always will," he murmured before stepping past her, his determination renewed as he left for the rendezvous.

.....

An hour later, Travis arrived at the hotel Lyra had directed him to. The building was upscale but unassuming, the kind of place where discretion was expected. He made his way to the room she had mentioned, the quiet hum of the hallway amplifying his curiosity. Reaching the door, he knocked firmly and waited. His eyes wandered down the corridor, noting the polished woodwork and soft lighting, when suddenly the door flew open.

Before he could react, Lyra grabbed his arm and pulled him inside, the motion so sudden it nearly made him stumble. She slammed the door shut behind him, locking it with a sharp click.

"Lyra, what—" he began, but the sight of her stopped him mid-sentence.

Her hair was disheveled, strands sticking out as if she had been running her hands through it repeatedly. Her blouse hung loosely, as though hastily thrown on, and her expression was a mix of frustration and vulnerability.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his brows knitting together in concern.

She didn't answer. Her body began to tremble, and she turned away slightly, hugging her arms to herself. Alarmed, Travis stepped closer, his hands gently gripping her shoulders.

"Lyra, what's going on? Talk to me. What's wrong?" he urged, his tone firm but caring.

For a moment, she didn't respond. Then, she looked up at him, her lips curling into a shaky smile. "It's nothing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just... God, I don't even know. I wanted to see you, Travis."

Her words carried a weight he didn't fully understand, but her trembling told him more than she was letting on.

What Travis couldn't know was the storm raging inside her. For days, Lyra had been consumed by thoughts of him—his voice, his presence, the way he carried himself. Ever since they'd met, he had taken root in her mind, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake him. It wasn't just attraction; it was primal, almost maddening. She couldn't focus, couldn't think clearly without her body betraying her with raw, insatiable need.

The idea of finding relief elsewhere had crossed her mind, but it revolted her. The mere thought of anyone else touching her was unbearable. Only Travis stirred this fire in her, and it was relentless. The last few days had been torture, her thoughts spiraling until she couldn't take it anymore.

Travis searched her eyes, trying to piece together what was happening.

' What the hell is going on with her? Is she high or something? ' he wondered, baffled by her erratic behavior.

Suddenly, Mariana's voice echoed in his mind, clear and slightly amused.

"Nope, that woman is under your spell. I'm guessing you haven't learned much about your abilities yet. That's partly my fault—I didn't bother explaining—but essentially, she's love-bound. It means she'll only love you for the rest of her life. When she's not around you, she'll get... aroused, to the point she can't function normally."

Travis froze, the weight of her words sinking in. He glanced at Lyra, her trembling form now slowly settling as if on cue. Her breathing evened out, her hands stopped shaking, and her eyes, once clouded with turmoil, began to focus on him.

"What?! How do I turn it off?" he demanded internally.

"You can't at this point," Mariana replied with a hint of mischief. "So just... use it to your advantage."

Travis sighed inwardly. "This puts me one step closer to the second last state. Might as well ride the wave," he thought.

He leaned against the wall, forcing a casual smile. "Oh, so you missed me that much?" he teased lightly, trying to gauge her reaction.

Lyra blinked, her lips curving into a soft smile, a hint of color rising to her cheeks. "Yeah, I guess so," she admitted, brushing her hair back. "Sorry—I didn't want us to meet at a hotel, honestly. But it's the only place that respects my privacy. Most other places would have people snapping photos or spreading rumors."

Her explanation made sense, but Travis couldn't shake the lingering tension in the air. "Well, let's go. I need some fresh air," she added quickly, taking a step toward the door.

He raised a brow, glancing at her reflection in the nearby mirror. "Don't you think you should fix yourself up first?"

Lyra stopped, following his gaze to her reflection. Her cheeks burned as she noticed her disheveled appearance—messy hair, rumpled clothes, and slightly smudged makeup. She let out a small, awkward laugh, brushing her fingers through her hair in a futile attempt to tame it.

"Yeah, that'd be a great idea," she said, her voice light but tinged with embarrassment. She turned back to the mirror, fumbling to tidy herself as Travis watched silently, his thoughts still lingering on Mariana's words and the strange new reality he was beginning to uncover.

' I need to learn more about my abilities ' he thought.

TO BE CONTINUED