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"God, you are heavy."
Cassian's half-closed eyes wavered open, and he looked down at Lyari or tried to. His arm was still wrapped tight about her shoulders as she fumbled for the door with his key card.
He merely grunted in response.
So far, he'd been right about one thing. They were still at the building, currently at the 40th floor because it's where he's staying at.
Somehow, because of the buzzing haze in Lyari's head she'd completely forgotten that this was the place where she'd dropped him at earlier.
The building was almost unrecognizable at night, and the party they left at the casino below was still in full swing.
When the door finally opened, they ambled inside the vestibule of his vast suite, stopping just short of the small hallway.
Her eyes slowly took in the surrounding.
Wow.
The place was... simply palatial, a suite fit for a prince. It was bigger than her whole apartment. Burgundy curtains spanned the entirety of one wall, the floors were covered with expensive replicas of Aubussons, gilt-edged mirrors and furnitures littered the premises- and centered in the midst of it all was the king sized bed, draped in heavy muted gold sheets.
The man still leaning too heavily on her smaller frame had his head slumped close to her neck, so she could feel every slow breathe issuing out of him and the sharpness of his jawline. Add that to the sweat now sticking to the sides of her face from the heat, over all it was an unpleasant sensation.
With a grimace, she tipped his head up and tapped his cheeks to wake him up.
He didn't stir so much as groan.
"Okay, here we go."
She took a breathe, and then another before lowering his not entirely sentient body. Cassian collapsed with a soft thud on top of the endless sheets.
He shifted to a more comfortable position, murmuring unintelligible words at the same time.
Once again, she wondered what his business was in coming all the way here.
Surely, there has to be another reason why he'd chosen to stay in this particular expensive hotel? Was it just a quirk of his character?
What was he doing down in that party?
Her feet moved away from the edge of the bed, casually looking around the general interior of the room.
A tall wardrobe hung open to the right, affording her a glimpse of the miniscule contents strewn haphazardly at the bottom. There was Cassian's small black bag, the clothes he wore earlier and that was it.
He didn't even bring any clothes with him.
Strange.
But Lyari supposed this was not the time to ponder on the billionaire's eccentricities.
Being in his private lair was a sobering experience enough.
Honestly, she felt out of place in here more than she liked to admit.
Not knowing what else to do besides pick up on her cue to leave the wasted man to himself, she decided to text the secretary first. She'd explain her disappearance, and maybe come up with an excuse in order to escape the party and run to her apartment.
Seems like a plan.
There was no way she's going back in there.
The sheets rustled as Cassian's body started moving. A distracted Lyari took one look at his direction in time to see him fumbling with the collar of his shirt, obviously trying to get the thing off but failing.
She considered taking it off for him.
"Sage..." He uttered in a hoarse voice.
"What?" came her quiet answer.
"Would you mind?"
She knew what he wanted to say, as his hands had already gave up undoing the buttons on his front.
Indecision curled in her middle.
He better not be trying to seduce her.
Sighing, she went over to him and - carefully, proceeded to undo all the buttons of the white shirt. It was easy enough, except for the part where she had to literally take it off him. His muscled stomach was revealed, rippling in the effort it took just to peel off the sleeves.
The pointed black leather shoes came next, and he laid back again with an exhale, finally relaxed.
His listless eyes studied her for a moment, the expression on his face totally inscrutable.
"Sage," he whispered before slowly, lifting a hand which soon stopped midair.
The half-thought gesture was just inches away from her hair.
Lyari's breath hitched, suddenly afraid he might really touch her. If the sudden erratic drum of her heart was anything to go by. What is he doing?
Time seemed to stop for a second.
But he must've realized what he was doing, because his hand had dropped eventually. Before she could get ahead of herself.
"I better get going," She said quietly, looking away, and - god, was she blushing?
Cassian appeared too wasted to register what was even happening. Covering his eyes from the harsh glare of the lights, he muttered half-heartedly, "Please. Stay. Lots of room over here."
Uh, not happening.
"Sorry, I can't. I have to go back to my apartment." And with that, she stood up to gather her bearings. "Get some sleep, Cass. I'll see you tomorrow."
Fortunately, he seemed to doze off again as he lay there on his back, a peaceful look gradually overtaking his features. Now, it was time for her to leave.
She made sure to turn off the lights as she went out the door.
Out in the hallways, her mind kept replaying the scene a while ago. The way he was looking at her just then, even for just a split second had her nerves on a fray.
That was a strange and really close one.
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