42

I couldn't sleep.

Because I have already taken 5 hours of sleep during the day. It wasn't the sole reason for my restlessness but still, I regret dozing off. Now, I couldn't do anything but twist and turn on my bed. I groaned and sat up in my bed feeling restless. The loud voice of thunder boomed, making me startled. I gulped and wiped the sweat from my forehead. The storm has just started. My anxiety started to grow, walking towards the closed window, I pulled the curtain, hiding the scary weather from my view.

Then, I searched for my mobile and looked at the time.

It was 2:39 a.m.

The winds were howling fiercely, causing the trees to rustle loudly. A million thoughts were going through my mind, making it hard for me to sleep again.

I tied my hair in a messy bun and put on the slippers.

Exiting the bedroom, I stared at the door of Advik's room which was just right next to my room.

Battling in my mind if I should go inside or not. I decided to go in, and without knocking, I opened it a little. The lights in his room were on. I furrowed my eyebrows, pushing the door a little more and peeking inside, only to find him sitting on the bed, with a laptop on his lap and working on it.

His tired eyes went up and I smiled.

"Why are you awake at this hour?" He asked with a confused smile, as I entered and went near him.

"I should ask you the same. What are you doing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I sat down on his bed beside him. My eyes drifted to his laptop screen, where an Excel sheet filled with numbers and charts was open.

"Nothing, I just thought to finish off some work," he replied nonchalantly, his fingers still tapping away at the keyboard.

I gave him a blank look, my lips pressing into a thin line. He is just too much of a workaholic.

"It's done now," he said with a chuckle, noticing the stern expression on my face. He shut down his laptop and placed it on the bedside table. Then, he turned his full attention to me, his eyes softening. "What are you doing here? Do you need anything?"

I shook my head, "I just... couldn't sleep."

"Good," he replied with a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

I glared at him, crossing my arms. "You should have woken me up during the day. It's all your fault."

He chuckled, turning to adjust his pillow before glancing back at me. "Now, don't tell me you want me to sing a lullaby to you."

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension easing from my shoulders. I patted his arm, "Good night," I said, getting down from the bed.

"But are you alright?"

I nodded my head.

He studied me for a second, "You're not scared, right?" he asked, his tone suddenly serious.

"No, why would I be scared? I'm not a kid." I replied with fake confidence, looking away.

No. Tell him about your phobia. Don't hold back. I pushed that voice down and cleared my throat.

I don't want him to think of me as weak. I'm not weak.

Plus, he already knows too many things about me, while I don't even know his favorite color.

He held my hand again, making the goosebumps spread all over me, "Okay, then, but if you ever need me, I'm just next door. Don't hesitate."

I gave him a reassuring smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Thanks, but I won't need any help," I whispered, squeezing his hand before letting go. I turned and left his room, the door clicking softly behind me as I entered mine.

I should have accepted his offer.

Going under the warm quilt, I tried to sleep. And after a while, I dozed off only to woke up covered in sweat.

The storm outside was relentless, each flash of lightning illuminating my room in stark. The thunder followed a deep, rumbling growl that seemed to shake the very walls. I curled myself in bed, my heart racing, every muscle in my body tense with fear. I hated storms. They always brought back memories of that terrifying night when I was a child. I tried to see a doctor about my fear. They said it was just anxiety and gave me some exercises to do, but nothing really helped. It's like this fear is a part of me that I can't shake. My grandma was always there for me during storms. She would hold me and try to distract me until I fell asleep.

But now, in this dark room, I felt lonely. I had no one.

A particularly loud clap of thunder jolted me awake. I sat up, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The room felt too big, too dark, and the storm too close. I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to calm myself, but the fear was overwhelming. Tears gathered in my eyes, as I wished for the storm to end.

Suddenly, I heard a soft knock on the door. "Ria, are you okay?" It was Advik's voice, gentle and concerned.

I couldn't bring myself to answer. The fear had stolen my voice. The door creaked open, and he stepped inside. His presence was a small comfort amid my terror.

"Hey, it's just me," he said softly, approaching the bed. "Can I sit with you?"

I looked up at him, my vision blurred by tears, and nodded slowly. I couldn't speak, but I desperately needed him to stay. He sat down beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. The warmth of his embrace and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat began to calm me.

"It's okay, Ria. I'm here," he whispered, his voice soothing. "You're not alone."

I buried my face in his chest, clutching his shirt as if it were a lifeline. The storm still raged outside, but with him beside me, it felt a little less frightening. He stroked my hair gently, murmuring comforting words that I couldn't quite make out but appreciated.

"It's okay to be scared. You don't have to face this alone. I'm always here for you." He spoke, brushing a tear from my cheek, and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me closer. He instructed me to take deep breaths, and I did, which ultimately helped me in calming down.

As the storm finally seemed to pass, we stayed there, wrapped in each other's arms. The fear had subsided, replaced by a sense of safety and comfort. At that moment, I realized just how much he meant to me, and how much I needed him in my life.

==========================

The next morning, I awoke to the soft touch of sunlight gently caressing my face. My eyes slowly opened to find Advik's sleeping face just a few inches away. His arms were draped over my waist, holding me close in a loose embrace.

A quiet smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I took in his cute, innocent face. His hair looked particularly soft and tousled in the morning light, and I fought the overwhelming temptation to reach out and run my fingers through it. After a minute, my brain interrupted, telling me to stop staring like a creep and get ready as we were going to have a hectic schedule today.

I tried to remove his arms from my waist but it tightened. I turned to look at him and found him already looking at me. His ocean-blue eyes looked bright and full of life. A smile appeared on his lips, "Are you Alright?"

I nodded my head frantically while looking at the ceiling. "I'm perfectly fine. Thank you." Then, I tried to get down from the bed as my heart started racing under his intense gaze. But he pulled me closer, making me blush.

His smile widened as he saw my flustered reaction, and he pulled me closer against his chest. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, and my heart pounded even faster in my chest. "Where do you think you're going?" he murmured, his voice low and husky.

"I think we have a busy day ahead," I managed to say, looking up at him with nervousness.

"Yes, we do have. But..." His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, "Don't I deserve a morning kiss at least?" He whispered huskily making the blush on my cheeks deeper. I stared at him, the corner of my lips turning into a smile as those ocean-blue eyes stared into mine. Slowly, I held his jaw, and moved closer, placing a peck on his left cheek.

He chuckled, a playful glint in his eye. "Is that all I get?"

He moved closer, his face just inches from mine. "Don't I deserve something more?" he whispered; his breath warm on my skin.

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips, and I blinked, feigning innocence, "I don't understand."

He smirked, his eyes darkening, "Do you want me to enlighten you?"

The smile stretched on my lips. "You can try,"

Smirking, He pulled me closer to him, entangling our feet, and kissing my cheeks. His lips started going down to my neck, making my breath hitched. I clutched his t-shirt and closed my eyes in pleasure feeling the sensation he was giving me. I have never felt this way. My desire was growing with each passing second. He pulled back, making me open my eyes and I looked at him. His eyes were dark, and as they got locked with mine, I saw the ocean of desire and lust forming in them, making me gulp. He hovered above me, putting his elbows on either side of mine. Then, his eyes fell on my lips, he leaned slowly and hovered his lips on mine.

I closed my eyes, waiting for him to crash his lips and fulfill my desires. But he didn't. I opened my eyes, only to find him staring at me with his dark ocean-blue eyes.

He smirked and pulled back, creating a few inches of gap between our faces. "I think we will be late for the office. As you said we have a busy day ahead."

The disappointment and frustration washed over me by his words. He can't do this. A sudden boldness entered my body, making me hold the collar of his T-shirt and pull him closer.

"Who is important to you? Your work or me?" I spoke glaring into his amused eyes. The smirk on his face widened, and he leaned forward brushing his lips on mine.

"Of course," He spoke, and looked in my eyes, with a teasing smile, "...My work."

I pressed my lips in a thin line and tried to push him away, but he didn't budge. He chuckled and held me close.

"Go away," I spoke bitterly and pushed his chest lightly.

"Why are so frustrated?"

"I hate you."

"Really?" His smile widened.

I gave him a blank expression to which he smirked and leaned dangerously closer to me, "If you won't tell me what you want then how am I supposed to know?" He whispered in my ears, making a shiver run down my spine, and then his hand came under my loose t-shirt making my breath hitched.

As his rough hands contacted my bare skin, my eyes went shut. His large hands caressed my waist, leaving me with the feeling of contentment.

"Look at me." His husky voice came making me open my eyes and meet his. And I felt myself drowning in them. He smirked, "Tell me."

I stared at him, gathering the courage to speak. Then I spoke, "You... make me feel things I have never felt."

"And do you want me to stop?"

I looked at him, "No."

Without wasting a second, he crashed his lips on mine. My hands instinctively went to his hair as he explored my mouth. His hands came up caressing my jaw.

After a heated kiss, he pulled back, his face still close to mine as he gazed at me. My gaze dropped to his shirt button, and my hands went to open it. But as soon as the first button opened, he stopped my hand and took it in his. Intertwining our fingers, he put it beside my head.

I looked at him, and he was already looking at me with something swirling in his eyes, and then I saw uncertainty and fear flickering in them. I opened my mouth to say something, but the sudden ringtone of his phone interrupted me. He sat up and answered the call.

"Yeah?"

"Get those papers ready. I'm coming." He spoke all the while looking out of the window, and I just stared at his face.

Hanging up the call, he moistened his lips, looking away and trying to avoid eye contact and at that moment I knew. I knew something was wrong.

He was hiding something from me.

"Advik?"

"Yes?" He looked at me with a smile.

"What is it?"

"What?" He passed me a confused look, but I knew better. My gaze drops to the button of his shirt which he was closing. "Let's get back to work." He kissed my forehead and went out.

The following days were more hectic than I imagined. Advik was not joking when he said that we wouldn't be having time for enjoyment and vacation.

We couldn't even get time to eat properly, but I made sure he didn't skip his meals. And about sleep, I doubt if he even sleeps at night. I have never entered his room after that day. I get so tired at the end of the day that all I need is to throw my body on the comfy bed and sleep like a koala.

"Yes, Ruby?" I spoke picking up the call and staring out of the office building.

"Ria. I'm here with the papers. It just needs your signature, and we will be one step closer to our goal."

"Thanks, Ruby, I will meet you tomorrow. Send me the location." I spoke on the phone while gathering my things from the desk.

You know, this silence is kind of dangerous and scary."

"Yeah, just be careful, when are you leaving?"

"After 2 days."

"Ok, See you tomorrow then, Goodbye."