’Why am I even asking this question? This is ridiculous!’ But as these thoughts ran through him, Ian found many reasons to convince himself that he needed to hear this. But did he? Deep down, he wanted to find out how he had ’invited’ Shelby into his home and apparently tied to him.
He could not also explain why he seemed to want to adhere to her needs. Nothing made sense, but what he really wanted to get to the bottom of was the glaring glowing rings on both of their fingers.
Something he had never noticed on his finger until she appeared.
’Had it ever been there? Have I been too caught in my sorrow of losing Aliya to notice it? That’s not possible!’
From the time he had noticed the glowing rings on their hands, the pale one on his pulsed stronger and stronger because it was getting clearer and brighter by the minute.
It was like he had opened an infinite box of temptations and many other emotions when it came to her, like a pandora’s box of a sort.
"You’re hurting me...." She squeaked out as her eyes reddened. He had unknowingly squeezed her hand again.
"Oh, I’m sorry!" He let go of her hand as if he had been scalded, guilt-stricken!
"Are you okay?" Worry was evident in his voice and demeanour, further confusing her.
She nodded, shaking out her sore hand, and then met his gaze.
"First," she began slowly, "I kind of understand what you say. You are speaking in circles now, and I don’t understand much. But from all you have said, I know that you deeply love Aliya even though I heard she is no more in the land of the living... my condolences. For now, I just need to check that your fever is abated. I will respect your feelings; besides, it’s not like I signed a contract to love you..."
She reached towards him again, and this time, he stayed still, very disturbed by her words as her warm hand touched his cool skin. He tried not even to breathe in her lovely, subtle scent that was now driving him crazy.
He had itched to counter her words but could find no reason nor justification to. He had made his stance clear.
"That is good. You don’t feel that warm anymore. The fever seemed to have subsided."
She observed, muttering under her breath, "That was fast though,"
She examined him in a new light, "First things first, though. Your hair is all wet; let’s get that dry before you catch a cold."
He let out a wry smile,
"Don’t worry about it; I am never going to catch any trivial illness like that!"
"Don’t worry about it, little girl."
That name again, she thought as she frowned with a pout at being addressed as such.
She put some distance between them by going to her initial place at the head of the bed and pulled the duvet around her legs. A look of dissatisfaction crossed his face. This time, he also moved and sat close to her by facing her instead.
Shelby did not react to the fact that he had done that; after all, it was his room and his bed, and he could choose whatever he wanted to do there.
His eager gaze held hers, waiting for her to answer his question.
Looking into her eyes, dazed, he did not know when he had leaned forward. His eyes were only focused on her lips, and before he realized it, he licked her lips and pecked them.
"What are you doing?!" She screamed, and she pushed him back, pissed!
"What is wrong with you?"
"You should know what you want. The fact that I entered into a contract marriage with you does not mean that you can confess your love for a dead person and then kiss me in the same time span! I am not -"
’Ian! What is wrong with you?!’ He beseeched himself. Now, he was getting scared of the hold Shelby had on him. He did not understand his own thought process.
He watched in bewilderment as she got out of the bed, gathered her folded clothes and headed for the door. Her whole being and demeanour showed that she was upset.
"Where are you going?" He blurted out, almost panick-stricken.
"I have to give you and myself some space-"
"Wait!" Ian hurriedly got off the bed.
Just then, her stomach growled in the quiet room. She blushed in embarrassment.
"I really should go. I will return your clothes after I get them washed. But now, I should go get some food...."
He stopped short, his mind wheels turning rapidly. He wanted to apologize. He also wanted to stop making a fool of himself. Most importantly, he wanted her to stay and tell her about the day at the park because that was how he could probably get the answers to what he sought.
And then he got one of the answers he sought when she added,
"... but your door will not open. Please get that for me, and I’ll be out of your hair!"
Ian glanced at the door, and a small smile threatened to appear.
"I am sorry about that. I will keep my hands to myself and will not bother you with any unwarranted touches, but can you stay and tell me?"
Shelby was indeed upset at the fact that he had tried to touch her again when he had talked about his lost love to her, but then she asked herself,
’What am I going back to do? My ’project’ is here, and he wants to talk about what happened that day; I might as well get that done instead and tell him.’
"But, I’m hungry. I skipped dinner yesterday, and it’s almost midday by the looks of it."
"I don’t think anyone is looking for you anyway. Will you stay if I get you something to eat?"
She didn’t react, but then, she was very curious as to what he could get her.
Ian dashed off behind one of the closed doors and returned a while later...
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