Excitement

Author's POV:

The first light of morning filtered through the curtains, gently caressing his face. Ryu Aksh blinked, his hazel eyes adjusting to the soft glow of dawn. As his vision cleared, he found himself staring at her the girl who had become more than a mere stranger in his life. She was lying in his arms, her body pressed against his, her head resting on his chest. He could feel the warmth of her soft breath against his skin, her hair like a cascade of silk that tumbled over her face in wild waves.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and all he could do was watch her sleep. She looked peaceful, serene even, but there was something vulnerable about her that made his heart ache. He ran his fingers through her tangled hair, brushing a strand away from her face. Her lips, slightly parted in her slumber, caught his attention. A rush of memories flooded his mind-memories of the kiss they'd shared the night before. He could still taste her lips, feel the warmth of her body against his.

He swallowed hard, torn between the need to leave the bed and the overwhelming desire to stay, to hold her just a little longer. But before he could make a move, she stirred in her sleep, snuggling deeper into his chest, as if unconsciously seeking comfort in his embrace. A small sigh escaped her lips, and his heart clenched.

She had no idea what she was doing to him. Just as he was about to shift, to gently untangle himself from her grasp, the shrill ring of his phone shattered the stillness of the room. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she flinched as the sound disturbed her sleep.

"What... what's going on?" she mumbled groggily, lifting her head to look at him, her wide eyes still half-lidded with sleep. She looked so adorably lost, and it only made him want to hold her tighter.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to push away the remnants of sleep. "Sorry, I had to take the call." His voice was rough from sleep, a sound that only seemed to make her more aware of their closeness. She shifted away from him, sitting up, her gaze dropping to the bed as if she was suddenly embarrassed by the intimacy between them.

"Why are you sleeping here?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion, still processing the situation.

Ryu blinked at her, a little startled by the question. Didn't she remember? Didn't she know? "Weren't you the one who told me to sleep with you last night?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, his tone playful but teasing.

Her face flushed immediately, and she looked down at her hands, fiddling with the edge of the blanket as the embarrassment crept in. She was so adorable when she was flustered. It was as if the fierce, determined woman he had come to know had been replaced by a bashful little girl.

"I..." Her voice faltered as she tried to find the right words. "I was scared," she whispered, not meeting his gaze. "I didn't want to be alone "I'm sorry". A tender smile tugged at his lips as he reached out, lifting her chin gently so she would look at him. "It's okay," he murmured softly, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "You don't have to apologize."

Her eyes widened at his touch, and she felt a strange warmth spreading through her chest. She had never known anyone who could make her feel so safe and vulnerable at the same time.

Ryu shifted, sitting up and running a hand through his disheveled hair. His expression changed, becoming more serious. "Listen," he said, breaking the silence that had settled between them, "Get ready. We're leaving for Switzerland in seven hours."

She blinked, her mind struggling to process his words. "W-what did you say?" she stammered, not sure if she had heard him right.

He leaned closer to her, a wicked glint in his eyes. "You heard me," he said, his voice low and commanding.

She shook her head in disbelief. Switzerland? She had never imagined she would visit a place like that, let alone so soon. "But why suddenly? What about my college?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "My college will reopen soon. I can't just drop everything and go."

Ryu's expression hardened slightly, his eyes darkening with a fierce intensity. "I don't care about your college," he said, his tone brokering no argument. "I can't let you stay here, not when you're in danger" I'll take care of everything. Your college, your classes, your responsibilities. You don't need to worry about a thing."

She blinked at him, stunned. He was making it sound so simple, as if he had everything under control. How could he possibly take care of everything? She was just a small-town girl who had never dreamed of such a life. And here he was, offering her the world like it was a gift he could simply hand over.

"Are you serious?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're really taking me to Switzerland?" She couldn't believe it. The man before her, the one who had captured her heart in ways she didn't understand, was offering her something she'd only dared to dream about.

Her heart raced at the thought. He was like something out of a novel-too perfect to be real.

Her excitement and disbelief bubbled over, and without thinking, she blurted, "Pinch me. Just pinch me."

Ryu raised an eyebrow, looking at her curiously. "What?"

"Pinch me, fast!" she demanded, her eyes wide with expectation.

Ryu chuckled, amused by her antics. He reached out and pinched her lightly on the arm. "There, happy?"

She squealed in surprise as the pain registered, her face lighting up with a smile. "Ouch! Tell me I'm not dreaming. Switzerland was always on my list of dream destinations!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, her smile so radiant it made his chest tighten. She was so full of life, so full of hope. And here he was, about to turn her dream into a reality.

He watched her for a moment, his gaze softening. "You're not dreaming," he said quietly, his voice filled with a tenderness she hadn't expected.

But then, just as quickly as the excitement had come, her face fell. Her shoulders slumped, and her smile faded as she looked down at her body. she asked, "But how can I go like this?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "I can't even walk properly, and my hair... I haven't even washed it. I can't go to Switzerland looking like this, all... ruined and stinky."

Ryu's expression softened with understanding. Without saying a word, he pulled her into his arms and made her sit on his lap, cradling her as if she weighed nothing. Her breath hitched, her heart racing as her small fists clenched on his shirt, clutching him like a lifeline.

He leaned in, his voice low and soothing. "What do you think I'm here for?" he asked, his tone husky. "I'll take care of you. I won't let you go looking like this."

She looked up at him, her heart thudding in her chest. The intensity in his eyes, the raw emotion behind his words, made her want to believe him with everything she had.

He carried her effortlessly to the bathroom, where he gently placed her in the empty bathtub. She looked at him, confused and slightly panicked. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice shaky. "Are you going to... wash me?"

He shushed her gently, placing a finger over her lips. "Sit still," he said softly. "Trust me."

Her mind raced as she sat there, unsure of what to expect. He stepped away for a moment, and her heart skipped a beat when he returned. Her breath caught in her throat. He was shirtless, his mascular chest and abs on full display, his tattoos rippling as he moved. She stared at him, speechless. He was terrifyingly hot, his body like something carved from stone.

Her face blushed a deep shade of red as she quickly averted her gaze, covering her face with her hands. "Wh-what are you doing?" she stammered, her voice tinged with embarrassment. "Where's your shirt?"

He knelt in front of her, gently taking her hands away from her face. "If I wash your hair, my clothes will get wet," he said with a grin that only made her blush even harder.

Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and desire, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. He placed a towel beneath her neck to support her head and began removing the clip from her hair.

He sprayed her hair with water, the sensation of his hands in her hair sending shivers down her spine. The softness of his touch, the warmth of his body so close to hers, made her feel as if she might melt into him.

His fingers massaged the shampoo into her hair, his touch both gentle and intimate. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could feel was the way his hands moved, brushing against her neck, sending sparks of electricity through her body.

"Breathe, flower. Breathe," he whispered in her ear, his voice rough and warm.

Her breath hitched, and her eyes shot open at the feel of his warm breath against her ear. Her heart skipped a beat, her entire body reacting to the proximity of his voice, the intensity of his gaze. She looked up, locking eyes with him as he knelt before her, his hazel eyes piercing through the soft haze of her confusion.

She could feel the heat of his body so close to hers, his steady gaze never leaving her face. It felt as if time had stopped, as if the world outside had faded away, and all that mattered in that moment was him and her. He was so close, so raw in his presence, and yet, there was a gentleness in his touch that made her feel safe. Secure. Even though her heart was racing and her mind was spinning, she felt like she could trust him with everything.

He washed the shampoo out of her hair with the delicate care of someone who truly cared. Each movement was purposeful, each touch more tender than the last. His fingers massaged her scalp with such attention that it sent waves of warmth spreading through her entire body. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, as though he was savoring every moment of their closeness. The sensations left her breathless.

Once her hair was rinsed and her scalp massaged thoroughly, he gently made her stand. With careful precision, he guided her to stand before the mirror. She glanced at herself, her hair dripping wet, but there was a softness to her expression now, something different than before. She felt... taken care of. Protected. It was as if she had become a part of him, a part of something larger, and that feeling was terrifying and comforting all at once.

He wrapped her hair in a towel and began drying it, his movements slow and methodical, like he was taking his time to make sure every strand was cared for. She chuckled lightly, watching him as he concentrated on drying her hair like he was handling something fragile, like a delicate piece of art. She never thought she would find herself in such a situation sitting in front of the man she was falling for, in a bathroom, having her hair dried by him. It was surreal.

He glanced up from his task, meeting her gaze through the mirror. "Why are you smiling?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

She bit her lip, trying to hide the growing smile on her face. "Nothing," she said with a soft laugh, her eyes dancing with amusement. "It's just... I didn't expect you to be so... gentle. I thought you were this tough guy, but here you are, drying my hair like it's the most important thing in the world."

He paused, his hands stilling on the towel. His eyes softened, and there was a fleeting moment of vulnerability in them that she hadn't seen before. He dropped the towel to the side, taking a step closer to her. "Maybe there's more of me than you think," he murmured, his voice low and sincere. "I'm not just a tough guy, you know. I'm... human. And right now, I want to take care of you. I want to make sure you're happy."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, at the raw emotion behind them. She had always known he had a depth to him, but hearing him admit it, hearing him say those words so softly, made her chest ache. She felt her cheeks flush at the intensity of his gaze, but she couldn't tear her eyes away.

"Why are you doing all this for me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes softened even more, and for a brief second, the playful smirk faded from his lips, replaced by something far more sincere, something that made her stomach flutter. "Because you matter to me. You've always mattered. And I'll do whatever it takes to make you feel safe."

She wasn't sure what to say to that. Her mind was whirling, her emotions on the edge of bursting. But before she could find the right words, he stepped back, finishing the final touches of drying her hair with delicate care.

When he was done, he stood tall and looked down at her, a quiet determination in his gaze. "Be ready when I come back," he said, his tone now firm. "We're going to Switzerland, and we're going to make all of your dreams come true. Your dreamland. Just... trust me."

She stared up at him, feeling the weight of his promise in every word. She nodded slowly, her heart swelling in her chest. He was offering her something she had never dared to dream of a life beyond the ordinary, a world of adventure, of passion, and of love.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. But in that moment, she knew she would follow him anywhere. She trusted him. She trusted him with her heart.

And as she watched him leave the bathroom to give her space to prepare, a sense of calm settled over her. The uncertainty she had felt before was gone, replaced by the understanding that she wasn't alone anymore. She had him now—his promises, his care, and that was all that mattered.

Her dreamland was within reach, and it was waiting for her.