Sleepless-3
My smile fades. “Luke is my gay roommate since college, and he’s engaged to Ryker.”
I feel like I just drained all my energy. I can’t believe he doesn’t know what happened to my fiancé. I guess Lizzy didn’t mention anything to him about me.
My shoulders droop. “My fiancé died six months ago,” I say slowly.
His eyes widen in shock. He swallows hard and blinks rapidly. “I’m so sorry, Tri. I’ve no idea.”
“Of course, you don’t. Why would you even care about my misery when you are living the life that you deserve in a foreign country?”
“Of course, I care, Tri,” he says, sounding sympathetic.
“Like you are.”
“Tri,” he says, grabbing my left hand, causing me to gasp. He does too, but he doesn’t let go. Instead, he tightens the grip. The heat from the contact spreads through my toes that I curl unbeknownst.
My heart swells, which makes my breathing catch. I pull my hand, but Bash manages to tighten it even more.
I look at our hands slowly up to his taut arm, to his chest that is breathing heavily, to the throat that swallows, to his red slightly parted lips, to his straight nose, and to his gorgeous and mesmerizing gray eyes that are looking straight back at my green ones.
We look at each other for as long as I can take his gaze. He never breaks it until I surrender. I feel his thumb moving and gently caressing my knuckles. I almost moaned at the sensation of the caress he is giving me. I can’t help but grip his hand back tighter as if I’ll fall from the stool if I let it go.
“Trinity.”
My breath holds in my lungs.
“I’m here now.” I can feel the concern in his tone, but what I can hear is the longingness so thick. His voice turns huskier and deeper.
I pull my hand abruptly when he loosens it a bit.
“Let’s get back to work,” I announce before I stand, taking my coffee with me. I walk back to the couch.
His office is bigger than my room and cozier than his main office. With dark wooden walls, his mahogany desk is placed at the center with nothing but only his laptop on top. From my left are the two opposites shelves of hardback books. From his back are the cabinets and drawers where he probably places some files.
One long brown L-shaped leather couch and a brown chair are at its left side, and a small liquor cabinet aligning the couch. What catches my attention is the sketch of his face that I still remember he stole from me, and now it’s framed and mounted on the wall just above the couch.
“Is that the sketch that you stole from me?” My heart melts.
How does he even keep this for so long?
He smirks. “Seat on the couch, Trinity, and give me the papers that Dad wants me to sign. Anything important for my schedule today?”
I offer a folder that has documents in it.
“You don’t have an appointment for today. Your dad said you can take the rest of this week as your off if you want to, or you can work from here. As you wish.”
He looks at me. “Really?”
I nod. “Ask your dad to confirm.”
“That’s not how to answer your boss, goldfish,” he says casually.
I stay still.
“It still affects you, Tri.”
“That’s not right to bully your assistant, Mr. Hughes!” I say firmly before I walk toward the couch.
He only chuckles.
I sit on the couch, frowning. Why my life has to be this sucks? What I did that God has to punish me since birth?
“Trinity?”
My head snaps.
“I mean it.”
“About what?”
“That I’m here now.”
“I don’t need you.”
He rises from his chair and walks in my direction, taking a seat beside me. My heart can combust in my chest as he leans closer to me, wrapping his strong arms around me. He plants his chin on top of my head.
I can feel his body press against mine. I can smell his masculine cologne scent.
I can’t help myself not to wrap my hands on his arm as I press it closer to me. I close my eyes and feel him and just listen to his breathing and heartbeat at this moment. I’m sure he can hear how my heart is beating too fast. For him.
“I need you, Trinity,” he says, kissing the top of my head. I don’t let him go because I know that I need him too.