Alyssa woke up suddenly feeling someone pick her up. Her eyes met Nicholas’s piercing gaze as he carried her in his arms and deposited her on the bed. “Why to sleep on a chair when you have such a comfortable bed?” he asked in a husky tone. Alyssa was immediately on high alert and scooted as far away from him as possible.
“I’m not sleepy at all.” Nicholas sighed and leaving her all alone, he went to his chair and took out his laptop to work. He felt a little upset at Alyssa’s attitude. He was just trying to make her comfortable since she was sleeping cramped up on a chair but she misunderstood his motive as always. Why couldn’t she see that he was indeed true to his words? He just indulged in harmless flirting with her. None of the kisses that he gave her were forced since she enjoyed them as much as he did. It was true that he had been totally honest about his feelings for her but he hadn’t given her any reason to tread so cautiously around him.
Sighing he continued with his work while Alyssa finally closed her eyes and took a nap. Watching her serene face, Nicholas felt a tug at his heartstrings. Why was she so stubborn and so difficult to convince? Why did she refuse to give him a chance? Did she still consider him an enemy? He was at his wit’s end wondering how he could get closer to her. How could he get her defenses down?
After an hour, Alyssa woke up to a start and looked at Nicholas. Seeing him still sitting at his laptop, she breathed a sigh of relief. Was she overreacting? Maybe, since Nicholas hadn’t made any move towards her to make her feel threatened. “Did you have a sound sleep?” asked Nicholas.
“Yeah.” She stretched and climbing out of the bed, went to freshen up.
Nicholas shut his laptop and gazed out of the window at the beautiful sky lit up by the lights of the setting sun. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” said Alyssa, coming over to sit beside him.
“Yeah, so what do you want to do now? Watch another movie?” he asked her.
“Okay,” she agreed. Nicholas’s face lit up and he surfed the options available.
“This time it’ll be of my choice.” The evil grin on his face was enough for Alyssa to realize what he would choose.
“Fine but then you will have to face the consequences since I’ll disturb you whenever I’m scared.” Nicholas’s grin broadened although he groaned in agony. It seemed as if he wanted to be disturbed!
They watched for a while and then ordered dinner. After dinner, they again watched the movie. Although it was scary, Alyssa tried to put up a brave face and remain unaffected but she had no idea when she had scooted towards Nicholas. With her eyes wide and scared, watching the screen for the ghost to reappear, she unknowingly sat wrapped up in Nicholas’s embrace, almost on his lap.
This was exactly what Nicholas had been wanting and he willingly gave her the comfort she sought. With her so close, his body was on fire and he hardly could concentrate on his favorite movie. “Where is he?” Alyssa whispered hoarsely, her frightened eyes searching for the ghost on the screen while Nicholas tried hard to control his excited organ down there. The ghost leaped onto the screen and Alyssa screamed and hid her face into his neck, her arms wrapping around him for comfort. Nicholas held her close and smiled at the ghost on the screen. If he could, he would kiss the ghost for making it so easy for him.
“Switch it off, Nicholas. I can’t see the movie anymore.” He switched it off and stroked her soft silky hair as a sense of satisfaction, of completeness, engulfed his heart. He could protect and hold her this way all his life.
“It’s okay, Alyssa. It’s just a movie. I’ve switched it off. Shall we go to sleep now? We’ll reach tomorrow at 5 o’clock in the morning.” Alyssa nodded and lay down to sleep but her mind was on the ghost and she forgot to put up a wall of cushions between them. She caught Nicholas’s hand and closed her eyes to sleep while Nicholas gazed at her with longing. Her addictive scent and her soft touch were making him go crazy but strangely it wasn’t just physical intimacy he needed. He wanted to be able to hold her close against his heart, to be the one to comfort her, to be the one to look after her but mostly to be always with her. The intensity of his thoughts confused him and he watched her sleep soundly clutching onto his hand. Was it just a se*ual desire he had for her? Then why was it that his heart wanted to protect her rather than devour her?
Alyssa stirred and snuggled closer to him in her sleep, causing his eyes to fly open feeling her hot breath upon his neck. It wasn’t at all possible to sleep this way with her so close to him. He wrapped an arm around her soft body and pulled her flush against himself. A strange sense of comfort filled his mind. It was bliss and he could get used to this every day. When Nicholas fell into a deep slumber he himself wasn’t aware but when he woke up, Alyssa wasn’t there on the bed with him.
It was 4:30 in the morning and they would reach anytime. “Why is it still sunny outside?” said Alyssa coming from the washroom and looking out of the window.
“It’s late afternoon. The sun’s about to set. Singapore is 12 hours ahead,” Nicholas pointed out.
“Right. I almost forgot,” said Alyssa. They soon got ready and waited to land in Singapore. Alyssa felt a little disappointed deep in her heart since she really enjoyed being with Nicholas in one room. Like a true gentleman, he kept his word, not touching her inappropriately at all. In fact last night too he didn’t make her feel uncomfortable even once when he held her. She was impressed by his sweetness and sensitivity. Having always seen a goofy and flirtatious side to his character, she had never expected these traits in him.
Nicholas smiled at her while he felt a little tug at his heartstrings knowing that he wouldn’t get another opportunity to sleep with her again. He wouldn’t give up. He would strive harder till he found another opportunity to hold her again in his arms. He didn’t understand this intense need that was making him go crazy and didn’t wish to ponder over it now. Whatever it was, he would figure it out later.
The sun had set as the car sped along the streets of Singapore towards their hotel, which was a towering iconic structure overlooking Marina Bay. They were led inside the hotel for express check-in while Alyssa took in the conversation going on between the receptionist and Nicholas with avid interest. How many rooms had he booked here? Would she get a separate room all to herself? Suddenly, she didn’t want a separate room anymore. The spooky ghost from last night wouldn’t allow her to sleep peacefully.
“Here are your keys, sir. Have a nice stay!” said the receptionist, handing him the keys.
“Please come this way, and I’ll show you to your rooms.” The porter wheeled their luggage into the elevator and they were taken to the top floor towards a suite room. After placing Nicholas’s luggage the porter walked away with hers, causing her to rush after him.
“Wait, where are you taking my luggage?” she asked with confusion. Nicholas followed her out as well.
“Your room is down the corridor. I didn’t get adjacent rooms,” said Nicholas. Alyssa’s jaws dropped as she peered towards the far end of the corridor. It was too spooky. How would she stay so far away all by herself? She would have to run down the spooky corridor all the way to Nicholas’s room if the need arose. No, she couldn’t risk that!
“Why can’t I stay in your room? It has a double bed. I’m sure you won’t be inconvenienced in any way if I stayed,” she said, her glance going towards the porter who stood in front of her room at the far end of the corridor. Nicholas gaped at her scared face with disbelief. Did he hear her correctly? Did she want to stay with him in his room?
“Are you sure? I won’t be inconvenienced in any way. I thought you didn’t want to sleep with me,” he muttered.
“No, I want to stay with you. That room is so far away. I’m scared to stay there all alone.” Nicholas’s lips twitched as he tried hard to curb the happy smile struggling to break out. He wanted to kiss the ghost and thank him for making his job so easy.
“Okay, go inside my room. I’ll send the porter inside with your stuff. I’m the meantime I need to cancel the other room and get a refund,” said Nicholas, walking away towards the porter.
Alyssa breathed a sigh of relief and went inside Nicholas’s room, not aware of what she had bargained for. She had no idea that this was a turning point in her life.