Chapter Eighteen:
(Edited by: Kaylee. Thanks babe x)
Emberly's POV:
Feeling too warm the next morning, I began to stir. My legs were tangled with something, while my torso was being pressed down. I groaned at the weight slowly crushing me, and tried to push it off me. I managed to wiggle out from under it, but decided to leave the legs as they were for now. I drifted into a peaceful sleep once again, when the weight returned. This time an arm snaked around me, pushing me backwards. My back hit someone else's chest. I opened my eyes confusedly. Slowly, I took in and processed my surroundings.
Not recognising the room, I began to panic instantaneously. I felt a hand on my stomach, a leg between my legs and lips on my neck. I could hear a light snoring and feel hot breath fanning the side of my face. I closed my eyes instantly, trying to compose myself.
It's probably a dream.
Did I mention the arm and chest were hard as a rock?
I breathed in and out, trying to relax. Something hard poked my back as I stilled knowing what it might be.
My eyes snapped open. Turning around slowly, I had to clamp my mouth tightly with my hands in order to stop myself from screaming.
Shit, shit, shit.
I've slept with Arran.
I've slept with my boss.
Oh my god.
He was still sleeping. His arms were wrapped around me securely, bringing me impossibly closer to him. My face was literally squashed in his bare chest. The idiot I am, I poke his face to make sure I am not dreaming. I cursed inwardly when he stirred in his sleep.
He is so going to kill me if he finds us like this. Like always, he is going to blame me. However, I don't know what he will blame me for. Would it be for sleeping with him, or for accepting his offer to sleep with him? I felt a bit happy knowing he won't remember a single thing happened last night. I did threaten to kill him. Even though it felt good to have him this close, I know he is not mine to keep. Arran is just my boss who will regret finding his assistant like this. Moreover, he will be confused as to what on earth I was doing in his bed. Thinking about last night, I grinned like an idiot. He is funny when drunk. Still annoying though. I guess arrogance is simply embedded into his very instinct. Whatever he'll do or say will always be laced in confidence and superiority.
'Promise me you won't leave...'
I could still hear the desperation in his tone. I doubt if he wanted me to hear it, but it made me think about the Arran his father and Luke knew. According to both of them, he wasn't like this before. Something really awful must've happened to make him like this. I wanted to know the reason or the person who made him like this. He can be so arrogant, and yet caring at the same time. It's like he is trying to control himself. He is trying to become something he isn't. Even worse, he is trying to prove to himself that he can be harsh and mean. I just want to see the old him for once. I wouldn't mind bearing his scolding at all if he starts smiling more often.
I took a moment to study his face. He looks so peaceful and innocent. Even in his sleep he had his brows knit together and lips pressed into a thin line. Ever the worrier and grouch, even in dreamland. I was about to touch his face when he suddenly turned around so his back was facing me. This meant nothing, right? Then why do I feel like this is how it's always going to be? Me, trying to figure him out, only to have him turn his back to me and not letting me see through his façade. I sighed deeply, feeling my heart constricting.
Why I am feeling this way? Why does he make me feel this way? Maybe I am overthinking this situation. I should just stop trying to solve him. The job was hard enough without having to attempt to peek through the wall Arran spent countless hours perfecting.
I managed to push him back lightly and got up quickly, too caught up with my thoughts. My toe contacted with a table and I bit my lip, stopping myself from screaming bloody murder. I hopped on one leg, holding my toe tightly in my hand. Jesus Christ, it's hurting like hell.
Luckily for me, he just stirs. Boy, he is a heavy sleeper. After recovering from the painful incident, I quickly freshen myself using his bathroom. I smiled inwardly remembering when he told me to use his toothbrush. I seriously didn't get why he had two sinks in his bathroom when he was the only one using it. After washing my face and brushing my teeth, though not with his toothbrush, I took a long, unpleasant look at the bird nest on my head. Using his hairbrush, I work on the individual knots until it's to the point where I can tie it in a neat ponytail. I cleaned the hairbrush just in case my hairs were there. God forbid if that happened.
I left him to sleep and made my way to the kitchen. My stomach was basically roaring in hunger. Seriously, he had the whole kitchen stocked up and I couldn't find anything to eat. In order to do that, I had to cook and it's not a secret that I'm no Gordon Ramsay. In fact, I'll be the chef voted off just based on the appearance, and he wouldn't even attempt to eat it. That's how awful my cooking is. Even at home, I am okay with frozen meals everyday.
Settling with ice cream, I jumped on the couch in the living room like yesterday. Turning on the news only to zone out, I take a huge spoon of ice cream. After a while, I heard light footsteps. Since I was little, I had this huge crazy obsession with Power Rangers. I used to live for them. So in circumstances like this, my inner Ranger gets awakened, ready to attack anyone and anywhere. I was in defence mode using my borrowed spoon as a weapon, ready to attack whomever it was. All the excitement died when I saw Arran coming down. However, my heart started pumping wildly seeing him. His hair was slightly damp, and had a white t-shirt and blue jeans on. But even in that simple attire, he was looking good.
He caught me gawking at him and winked. I quickly looked away, blushing deep crimson. He just caught me checking him out. Kill me now, please. I quickly took a spoonful of ice cream to distract myself.
"Disgusting." He muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Morning to you too, good Sir," I replied slowly, making sure not to look at him at all.
"What happened last night?" He questioned me slowly and I look up to meet his confused gaze.
"You don't remember?" I gasped involuntarily. A part of me was disappointed, but I kind of had it coming. He complimented me and he was kind of sweet to me, of course he had to be drunk!
"Remember what?" He asked me whilst rubbing the back of his neck.
Here's the deal. He was piss drunk, no doubt about that. He doesn't have a clue what happened last night. So I had two options: I could either tell him the truth, which is that nothing happened, or I could come up with a bizarre story and make him feel guilty. Even God would've told me to go with the second option.
"Are you serious?" I asked in a highly annoying over pitched voice.
"Remember what?" He snapped at me irately. Not a morning person I guess. He looked around for some painkillers for his hangover I assume and swallowed with the water that I brought for myself. I was about to protest when I saw he was still waiting for my answer.
"It's okay, there's no point talking about it," I shrugged my shoulders and turned my attention to a weird dude doing who knows what on the TV. What the hell am I watching?
"Talk about what, Emberly?" He questioned me again, standing in front of me.
I dramatically turned my face away from him and pretended to sob. "How you brutally took my virginity away from me."
"What?" He looked beyond stunned. Man, I am good at acting. Screw you drama teacher for telling me I can't act.
"I knew it, you wouldn't remember. But I was stupid, thinking you will remember. After all you were my first time," I buried my face in my hands, knowing I will end up laughing at his face, which was turning paler by the second.
"Emberly I..." He opened his mouth but no words came out.
"I know it's not a big deal for you but it is for me," I peeked through my hands and I watched him running his hand through his hair furiously. I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing at his face.
"I..." He really seemed out of words. Then, the mood broke, and his everlasting smirk reappeared once more on his face. "So how was it?"
Wait... WHAT?
"How was what?" I questioned him, looking at his face. All the humour was gone as I stared at him horrifically.
"You know... Did it fit?" He smirked casually leaving me stunned. This isn't how it supposes to go. He was supposed to be feeling guilty and apologising profusely.
"What are you on about?" I asked him bewilderingly. He looked down at his jeans and my eyes travel down with his and it nearly popped out.
"What the hell Arran?" I reddened furiously, looking away immediately.
"I mean it was your first time," He sat next to me very closely and placed a hand on my knee. I stilled. "It must have hurt a lot," He whispered huskily in my ear and rubbed my knee slowly. "I do remember you screaming my name..." His whispers were barely audible and my heart started pounding nervously. His hand founds its way up my thigh, slowly caressing it. "Telling me to go fast."
"STOP! Fine, I quit. I was lying," I jumped up in shrieking and he started laughing. He continued to laugh and I flushed in embarrassment. I glared at him and he managed to stop laughing.
"I knew the second you bit your lip to hide the smile. Also if it were your first time you wouldn't be standing like this...I like it to take it rough," His smirk grew ever wider. He knew he had me where he wanted me, and he is doing this to make me more uncomfortable.
"I think that's too much information," I respond, suppressing the urge to gag.
"Never stop hoping. Just think about it: you under me, or even top of me. Whatever you prefer," He winked at me suggestively and I sat down again, sitting as far away from him as I could.
"That's enough. I was joking. I will never ever joke with you. Seriously, lesson learned," I said a little too loudly. I could feel heat emerge in my cheeks.
"I'm not," He said mischievously, smirking at my glare.
"Jerk," I muttered under my breath. Technically speaking, I can't call my boss a jerk but when you have a boss like Arran, I think it's allowed, considering his personality.
"Whatever," He flicked some channels, settling on a sport one.
"So what are we having for breakfast?" He asked me after a while startling me from my thoughts.
"I am having ice-cream. You can have whatever you want," I shrugged my shoulders as he rolled his eyes.
"Can you not cook something?" He eyed me suspiciously. Does he know about my 'wonderful' cooking skills? I hope not.
"Do I look like a chef to you?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Just a little bit," He said teasingly.
I laughed humourlessly. "Keep dreaming. It's your own house, so get comfortable," I said sarcastically.
"Wait... Are you telling me you can't cook?" He mocked a gasp causing me to smile.
"Yeah, so? And by the way, I can cook," I lied and crossed my arms defensively.
"What? Pre-cooked meals?" He scoffs, earning another glare from me.
"You know what? Just forget it," I shook my head, not wanting him to catch the fact I am a terrible cook.
Once I tried to make cupcakes with my mom and I don't know what happened but I nearly ended up burning the whole kitchen down. And then once, we had barbeque party and accidentally I sprinkled petrol on the grill causing the garden on fire and nearly giving my neighbour a heart attack. After that, everyone advice me stay away from kitchen. We both sat in a silence. Not sure if it was a comfortable one though.
"Little Miss Emberly can't even cook," He said after a while.
Oh that's it. I glance over his side where he was grinning. If he wasn't mocking my abilities I would've admired his looks but right know all I want to do was wring his neck with my hands.
"And you can?" I challenged him.
"Of course I can," He replied confidently.
"Never trust a man who says he can cook," I scoffed.
"I will prove it to you," He said matter-of-factly.
He took me to kitchen and started taking utilisers out from cabinets. He took four eggs out before whipping them. I watched him in awe as he was chopping the vegetables and sprinkling some flavours in the mixture. Maybe he can cook. He poured the mixture in the frying pan and when it was nearly done he sprinkled cheese on top. He placed it neatly in front of me as he took juice out and poured into a glass for me.
He waited for me to try and I picked the fork nervously. What if it doesn't taste well? I am not a great liar. I doubt it though it smelled amazing. Apprehensively, I took a bite and gave him a thumb up. It tasted greater. What else was I suppose to do? Moan and groan? I don't think it would be the wisest thing to do after the little episode back there in the living room. He looked fairly satisfied by my reaction.
"This is... delicious," I said after swallowing another bite. He looked up and smiled at me softly and my heart nearly melted.
"Thank you my lady."
I helped him cleaning up, making sure not to cause any damages. He looked at me weirdly, oblivious to my history. After we were done, we both were walking around his house. Well he was, I was staring at everything like a little kid. I've been his house for two times now but only at night. Now I could see everything perfectly, and I was fascinated by it. His house showed different sides to him. One to where I can relate like dark colours and the other, which I really want to know about him. Like there were a lot of pictures framed on the walls and surprisingly he was smiling on each picture.
"So what do you want to do today?" He asked, startling me.
"I don't know. It's up to you," I replied sheepishly.
"How about working on a new project?" He smirked, his eyes glistening with mischief.
"Ha-ha. You're on your own," I scoffed, causing his to chuckle softly.
The sound of his chuckle... Snap out of it, Emberly!
I turned my gaze to the collections of seashells he had on a particular table. They were so beautiful. I still remember the day when Cherry and I went beach for the first time and we looked around for the best seashells. We managed to find few but forgot to bring it with us. I smiled fondly at the memory.
"Come, I'll show you around my house," He said softly from behind me, and I nodded eagerly. I pointed at the seashells and he led me there, lowering his hand to my elbow in a way that made my arm's skin cover in goose bumps.
I took a while looking at the seashells. I sighed deeply, not even realising I was holding my breath. It was such a beautiful collection. I wanted to touch them but I wasn't sure whether he would approve it.
"May I?" I asked him and he looked at me intently and nodded. I took a smallest one in my fingers cautiously; it almost looked like Thor's hammer, which is why it's my favourite. "It's amazing," I mumbled to him and he kept his face blank, but his eyes were observing me carefully. I put it back to its original place.
"You can keep it," He said softly.
"But it's yours," I hesitated.
"Well its yours now," He took my hand in his, opening my palm and placed the seashell in it, closing my fingers around it. He smiled genuinely, making my stomach turn into knots. My mouth started to get dry, as I found hard to utter a word.
"Thank you, that's very sweet..." Much to my dislike, my voice was hoarse. I coughed multiple times to compose it.
"Don't go there." He warns me, playfully.
"I mean I never knew you were a real a softie inside there," I teased
"Whatever," He muttered, completely ignoring me.
What I didn't fail to notice a small, amused smile playing on his lips.
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Dedicated to everyone out there who supported me :)