Chapter 9 | Him
The morning air is different today, like a storm is about to break. Seven o’clock storms are the best; the oddly dark sky, the dimly lit atmosphere, the cool breeze. But something about it is not calm; something is unsettling and I’m unable to figure out what.
Finishing my early morning run, I steadily start heading back to my apartment, when her sweet voice shatters my anxiety. Turning around I find her walking towards me and my lips curl into a smile instantly. See, she’s magical.
Is she still wearing it underneath?
“I wanted to apologize about yesterday. I left without an explanation.” Her voice is cheerful, like nothing happened last night.
“You don’t need to apologize for that... You headed somewhere?” I reply, catching my unsteady breath. Averting my gaze from her tracks, my hands drift to the phone in my pocket. I’m more interested in what I’ve missed and why is she dressed like that.
She hesitates for a moment before answering, “Someone suggested I needed to run... Helps with anxiety. Work anxiety...”
Work anxiety? Nice try, babe.
“Yeah...” I nod with her, “Who?”
“Uh – Payal from tenth floor was hanging out with me the other morning.”
Oh, okay so that’s what this is about.I need to pay more attention to why that nosy woman is clinging to her all the darn time.
“You are? Good... Running is healthy, but there are other forms of cardio too.” The smirk is slowly creasing on my lips as she looks at me with narrowed eyes, “Helps with anxiety... Work anxiety.”
“Okay...” Her eyes narrow, but then I guess her na?ve brain must’ve shaken it off. “Which ones... I mean I’m open to suggestions.”
“How about I could instead help you out with some... if you would like that.” God! how bad I am controlling myself from hardening here right in front of her.
“That would be great... Thank you.” The smile on her face is a telltale – she didn’t take the intended pun. Although it maybe because she still looks uncomfortable... Or is she still holding something back?
But that only lasts for a few seconds before her gaze shifts to my hand.
“What happened to your hand? Let me have a look...,” taking it in hers, “Jeez... How did this happen?”
“It’s just a scratch. I’m fine.” When I try to withdraw my hand, she tugs it back.
“This is a scratch?” she exclaims, “You need to dress it. This is an open wound, Nakul. You could catch an infection.”
“It’ll get better, don’t worry. I’ve done a bit of first aid, will see the doc in the evening, maybe.” I gently slip my hand from her hold. Every second of her touch is burning me inside out and I have no intention of ruining my chase.
“That won’t do. I have a bandage in my drawer. I’ll get it for you.”
She hesitates before saying, “Hey, do you want to come over? I could dress your wound. Consider it my gratitude and apology for yesterday.” She’s biting her lip, “Please...”
Fuck!
I’ve been wanting to do this for so long, and today when she’s actually pleading me to come over to her place, I can’t help but wonder what changed over the night.
Did I not screw her up enough to get back to working shape right in the morning. Did she not see herself in the mirror? Did she not notice what she was wearing or what happened between us?
Something is not adding up.
I follow her to the apartment, and although I was living in the same place for months before she arrived, I act like being there for the first time.
It’s amusing to watch her all excited to voyeur her place to me when I was literally the person behind every single décor, every single piece sitting proudly in the flat. This place was my personal favorite while my penthouse went in for the interior work. Every single camera was fit in here for the security of my personal assets – the information and technology associated with me and my work.
Every camera resting in the décor and furniture that I reactivated before renting the flat to my sweetheart here.
“Astounding, isn’t it?” she turns to me with a proud expression.
“This is your work. Wow, I mean you have a great taste in décor.” I grin wide-eyed.
She shakes her head with a shrug, “The décor is not for me to take credit for. My landlord must have an exceptionally good liking in terms of the décor and interior. I was handed the house in fully furnished condition.”
That’s right muffin! Your landlord indeed has a great taste in everything.
“Get yourself comfortable, I’ll be back with some warm water. Okay?”
I nod with a smile on my face. Eyeing her on her way out, I notice that even the baggiest of sweat pants hugs the curvature of her perfectly rounded hips so freaking well.
Soon, she comes back and just to mess with her head, I am standing in front of my full-length mirror with a wide-angle spy camera attached to it. Her expression drops almost instantly.
“Wow that’s a huge ass mirror. Who keeps such an abomination in the bedroom?” I wait for a moment to draw some sort of response, but she’s dead still, staring at it. “I mean I wouldn’t sleep with this creepy mirror staring back at me.”
“I know...” she gulps hard, still staring at it.
“Why don’t you keep it covered? You got extra sheets, right?”
“NO... No please... Please don’t – don’t cover it.” Her mouth dries up quickly, probably remembering my threat from last night. My chest spreads a little wider with pride before I correct my expression and chin down acting concerned. “Everything okay, Disha? You don’t look so good...” My brows furrow.
“Yes, I’m fine... I’m fine.” However, the look she’s wearing is anything but fine; she looks terrified. Delicious!
Later when she’s done cleaning and dressing my wound, I bid her goodbye and leave through the common elevator; only to climb back in my private one. It is lunacy but even if that’s what it is, I am willing to be a lunatic to be with her.
She’s priceless and I would not hesitate to conquer her and make her mine even if the cost is my sanity or whatever’s left of my questionable morals.
Back in my apartment, I go through the files I missed. Nothing unusual. Apart from one call she dialed early in the morning. Her parents.
Isn’t six in the morning a little early to call your parents, especially if you haven’t been talking to them for months. Whatever she’s thinking, I need to know.
The recordings! Her phone records all the calls after I corrupted the software the first time we met. Just what I needed right now.
With a few clicks I find my way through to the recordings section of her phone’s memory. All’s good for the first twenty minutes, and just as I was starting to think it’s all just in my head and there’s nothing odd going on here, they defect to my most hated topic.
What the hell is she talking about? Oh No no no... say no baby. Fuck! Why would you agree to that? Are you trying to outrun me? Because that’s not going to happen.
Regardless, I’ll have to coerce you back to stop thinking about it at all, let alone taking it seriously.
My mind is a mess and its bad news considering that I tend to be my worst self when I’m messed up in the head.
I’ve loved you for so long.
I’ve chased you for so long. Only I get to taste you.
Only I get to make you mine.
The things in my head are freaking me out and I am trying my best to force shut the intrusive thoughts, rather plans to force her into my life. It’s the worse way to get her with me, but her conversation is playing on repeat inside my mind. And it’s cementing the plans the devil inside is making for my baby.
I tried to delay this, but you’ve forced me to do this before you’re even ready to face the real me. Tried to save this for when you would’ve wanted me more. But I guess the game is pretty much over before it could begin.
I’ll have to claim you.
Then, you’ll never think of running away.
Neither in this life. Nor in the ones to come.