Andrew was about to stand up to go after Chloe, but Mike reached him and stopped him by holding his shoulders. “Boss, you should take some rest.”
“I’m fine, Mike,” He responded in a stern tone.
“Please, Boss,” Mike requested, and Andrew listened to him. He closed his eyes and lay down.
After the doctor checked on him, a maid brought in his food, followed by a nurse who came to change his dressing. His eyes never left the door; he was waiting for Chloe restlessly. He desperately wanted her to be with him.
An entire day passed like this, but Chloe didn’t come to see him. He couldn’t understand why she was avoiding him. As time went on, he became increasingly restless, missing her and feeling incomplete without her. He needed her. He longed for her presence.
***
“Mike, how is Andrew?” Chloe asked Mike in the corridor.
“He’s recovering fast. In a few hours, he will be moved to his room,” Mike told her.
“Thank God.” Chloe sighed in relief.
“Why aren’t you going to see him?” Mike enquired, noticing her reluctance.
“It will be better if we don’t meet.” She answered him with a deadpan expression, confusing Mike.
He asked, “Why?”
“You won’t understand,” she replied blankly and walked away.
***
That night, Andrew lay in his bedroom, wondering about Chloe. His eyes were closed, and one arm rested on his forehead. “Why aren’t you coming to see me, Chloe? What happened to you?”
Just then, Chloe entered his room, thinking he was asleep. She had been standing outside, waiting for him to sleep for a few minutes.
She walked over to him, taking slow steps, her eyes filled with immense love. Andrew could feel her presence, but he kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
She sat beside him and lovingly stroked his dark stubble with her thumb, gazing at him. She leaned down to his face, and as her warm breath caressed his skin, a jolt of desire coursed through him. He clenched his hands to control himself.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered against his forehead before placing a soft kiss there. Then she tenderly kissed his eyelids, caressing his cheeks with her thumbs. He felt incredible, as if she were kissing his soul, and he loved it.
She gazed at him intensely for a few minutes before standing up. As she did, he opened his eyes. She turned to leave, but he stopped her by holding her hand. She glanced over her shoulder at him.
“Where are you going?” He asked, and she slowly turned toward him.
“Um… Andrew, you’re awake. I-I thought you were asleep. You should rest, Andrew.” For the first time, she hesitated in talking to him, and he stared at her in utter disbelief. She was looking everywhere except at him.
“That isn’t an answer to my question.” He gave her a stern look, getting annoyed at why she was behaving differently.
“I don’t want to answer you,” she said sassily, avoiding his gaze.
“Look at me, Chloe, and tell me where you were going,” he commanded loudly, and she instantly looked at him.
“I’m going back to my room. It’s enough; I can’t put my life in danger because of you anymore,” she replied curtly.
“Are you kidding, Chloe?” he sniggered. “I remember you weren’t scared of anything. Now, what happened to you all of a sudden?” he asked in a livid tone, and she rolled her eyes.
“If you remember my words so clearly, then you should also know that I’m not answerable to anyone,” she replied, her tone frigid.
He seized her wrist and yanked her down. She fell over his chest, and they gazed into each other’s eyes deeply, forgetting everything.
“You can lie to the whole world, but not to me, my badass girl,” he murmured, keeping his intense gaze fixed on her. He gently tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear. As his fingers touched her ear, she closed her eyes. His touch sent a shiver down her spine like always.
“Tell me, what’s wrong with you?” He asked as she opened her eyes. “I know you aren’t afraid to put your life in danger. You’re a warrior. Why all of a sudden are you behaving like you’re afraid of danger?”
She stayed quiet, and her silence was annoying him.
After a few seconds, he asked, “Whatever happened between us in the forest, is that the reason you’re avoiding me? Is that the reason for your sudden change in behaviour?” he assumed.
“I don’t want to talk about this, Andrew.” She tried to stand up, but he gripped her tightly in his arms and didn’t let her move.
He pulled her closer and whispered, “Fine, don’t talk to me. But at least stay here with me. Please?” He implored, looking at her with pleading eyes. She stared at him in utter disbelief. She couldn’t believe he was the same mafia boss who had treated her so badly earlier.
She didn’t say anything and just lay down beside him mutely, placing her head on his chest. A small, satisfied smile flashed on her face as she heard his soothing heartbeat. He smiled contentedly and encircled his arm around her, burying her face in his chest. He felt immense peace with her presence. He kissed her hair, smiling.
Before, he had been pushing her away and running from her, but now he had accepted that he cared for her and had feelings for her. So, he just wanted to keep her safe with him always.
Andrew fell fast asleep, holding his whole world in his arms because of weakness and the effect of the medicine. Chloe raised her head from his chest to look at his face. Her lips stretched into a blissful smile as she saw him sleeping peacefully. She felt like kissing him hard.
“Andrew, we both are fearless and strong, but now we both are becoming each other’s weaknesses. I want to stay with you, but we’re dangerous for each other.” She thought, looking at him, and then placed her head back on his chest. “I never thought I would ever fall in love with you. I thought it was just physical attraction. But it’s a very intense and strong emotion. What I feel for you, I never felt for anybody before. But this feeling is making me weak. I don’t want to become weak again.” She also fell asleep, mistakenly thinking that this love was making her weak.