Her door cracked open slowly, but it sounded so far off, like someone was making a scratching noise somewhere in the distance. She hissed and thrashed on the bed, willing whoever it was would leave her to her sleep. Just when she thought the source of the noise had gone, she heard it again, nearer this time. It echoed in her ears, pulling her out of an abyss she’d had no idea she had settled in. The space beside her on the bed dipped, and her eyes fell open slowly.
“Hey.” His eyes appeared bothered, but at the same time, guarded, like he was trying so hard to be there with her, and at the same time, keeping something away from her. “How do you feel? Does your ankle hurt?”
Rina shook her head, but the sudden sharp pain there gave her lie away as she winced.
“You should stay in bed for as long as you want, until the pain subsides. Susan will ensure you have everything you will be needing for the three weeks the doctor advised that you remain in bed.”
“But…”
“Rina,” Zayn breathed. “Listen to me. Please. Just stay in here. I can’t let this repeat itself. William discovered Mandy was the one that caused the accident. I have always known she had it out for you, but what I can’t tell is whether she worked alone, or had someone behind her. But you don’t have to worry about any of that while recuperating. I have made calls both to the director as well as Claire. They wish you speedy recovery and have given you a sick leave.”
“I hate staying in bed,” Rina grumbled. “I can’t remember the last time I did that, not having anything else to do. It’s boring.”
“George will be here for you, as well as Susan. I can get you books too, and you have access to the tv.”
“And you?” she looked up at him, holding her breath. “Would you be here to keep me company?”
Zayn kept silent for a full minute, stuck in that moment. His eyes caressed her face, and the tension between them became so palpable that it could be torn through. His lashes fluttered as his mind mulled over the situation. It was foggy, like he’d had a lot to drink and couldn’t think straight. It was always that way with Rina. Each time he was around her, he found it hard to think clearly. And right at that minute, he was trying to think of all the reasons he shouldn’t do what his whole body wanted. Zayn knew he should pull away, but he couldn’t resist Rina.
Not like this.
She raised her face up to meet his, her lips parting slightly. Zayn met her halfway, and kissed her slowly and intentionally. His eyes fell close and his hands reached behind her head to deepen the kiss, pulling her closer. Rina sighed against his lips, as her whole body immediately awakened, painstakingly aware of Zayn, what his hands and lips were doing to her. She pushed herself further into his body, allowing his warmth caress her softly.
The kiss got more heated within the snap of a finger as they both seemed to suddenly want much more in the heat of the moment. Zayn was pressed against her in a minute, his hands roaming her skin, needing to touch every exposed part so hard. His fingers grazed, caressed and stroke, as Rina moaned and thrashed underneath him, her breathing erratic and her fingers digging into his shoulders. He reached for the hem of her shirt to pull it over her head, when he suddenly stopped, the situation dawning on him.
“What?” Rina whispered.
“I can’t do this.” Sighing, Zayn pulled off her and stood at the foot of the bed, putting as much space as possible between them. He stared at every single surface apart from her eyes, so he wouldn’t be back on that bed with her. Zayn wanted her so badly, but it was all the more reason to keep away, to try to make this sane for once. He still remembered her confession earlier that day, and despite how much it came to the fore of his thoughts, Zayn found himself pushing it back on the spot.
Thinking about it in that situation wasn’t ideal, as some part of him wondered if he wasn’t punishing himself by pushing away the one person that makes him happy, makes him zing with need.
But each time that thought crossed his mind, Zayn reminded himself of how shitty and messy it could get when emotions were involved. And he had no plans of hurting Rina. He never wanted to do that. Yet, what Zayn didn’t know was that he didn’t need to carry out an overt act to hurt her. He was already doing just that by ignoring her.
“I have to get back to the mansion now,” Zayn murmured, not waiting for her response as he stalked over to the door. Rina was silent, watching his retreating figure with what was left of her erratic heart. Her whole body was alive with need, craving his touch desperately. Yet, it hadn’t been enough to get him to stay.
When the door shut noiselessly after him, Rina released a breath she’d had no idea she was holding, releasing a steam of air from her mouth. She needed a source of distraction, anything to take her mind off the sudden emptiness she felt in her heart, and the pain that was bound to follow. The shrill of her phone interrupted her thoughts, and Rina didn’t hesitate to pick it up. Anything was better than the abyss she had been plunged into.
“Rina Power on the line,” she murmured with as much enthusiasm as she could summon.
“I can’t believe it!” A strange voice said, his tone washing through Rina and causing her to sit up at once.
“Sorry,” Rina narrowed her eyes. “But I am confused. What can’t you believe?”
“I have been trying to reach you for years now,” the voice sounded, shaky yet certain. “I thought…We all thought something bad had happened to you.”
“I still don’t understand. Who is this?”
“I am Marco, your late parents’ lawyer.”