It's ironic how one person brings a kind of newness into our life with a small gesture of holding our hand just to see how the person is fairing.
Sometimes in life, little things are all that matter.
Zara had a very few moments like that in her life. Other than Aly and Selena there wasn't anyone who made her feel special or noticed. This was first of first for her; having a stranger outside her circle pay attention to her in ways no one ever had. It wasn't like Zara did not have a man touch her before, but it wasn't the same.
The way Leo held her, it did not feel sexual. She felt nervous but she did not feel scared, she wanted to feel him. She didn't mind him holding her.
Every time he whispered into her ear, those sweet nothing made her feel something whirl in the deepest corners of herself.
She had dated a few but had only opened up to one person in the past. He touched her just to release himself and she was too young to understand that she needed to be held and to be felt; desired. He broke her down and Zara had become a shell of a person who could not even give a warm hug. If it weren't for Aly and Selena, Zara would be a clay doll.
She was too young to understand what intimacy meant and today the way Leo caressed her, her mind was opened to a possibility, that there is another way to be loved.
After he left without saying much, she leaned against the wall and slid down bringing her legs closer as she rested her chin on them with tears forming in her eyes.
Going through so many emotions made her legs give away. Her questions to herself were, why was I devoid of such desires in the past. She had loved him sane and insane but it seemed he never held out the olive branch to her. Here she was granted the same but she could not accept it completely, something inside of her was closed off, a door which had been shut for a long time.
Whenever Leo came close to her, she felt a slight tap on that door. She could literally hear the tapping sound and it made her a bundle of nerves.
Good and bad!
Tears started trickling down her face as she replayed the moment she had shared with Leo. She did not want to think of them, when he had asked her if she would be okay and gave her a last chance to back off saying that he would want more and more of it.
She thought she could handle it and not be swayed by it. But here she was slumped down, still dizzy.
She could still feel his touch on her neck, the way his tongue moved over her neck, his penetrating eyes that looked directly at her trying to unravel her. Unconsciously her hand went to her neck and she took out her phone and switched on the camera to see herself in the selfie mode. She saw her flushed face and then her sight went towards her neck and she saw little speaks of red near the nape. She could still feel his breath and lips on that area and it brought a sad smile on her face.
The tingles his hot breath caused over her ears sent shivers down her spine. The way he sucked her skin, his lips on her neck and how he held her by her waist and felt her. His hands were large and yet he was delicate with her. God knows what would have happened if they did not stop in time.
She did her best to keep her barriers and not show any signs.
But she had to get her grounding, who knows how long things will carry on like this and what is to be expected out of it. Realism is the best medicine she muttered to her self.
Her phone buzzed again and it was Ms. Sudar.
She wiped her tears and her attention went towards her wrist where he had made slow and stimulating circles. Zara slapped herself across her face to pull her out of the Leo trans and picked up her phone.
'Sorry, I had some errand to run.'
'Yes, I will be there in a moment.'
'Okay, sure.'
She finally got up, adjusting her top and pressing down her pink pants and moved her hair back. For some reason she did not want to hide her hickey. She had never received one, it was a first. But then she realised she had to cover it up. She hurriedly went to the washroom and was looking for something to cover up her neck. She hastily rummaged through her emergency kit and that was when she heard someone vomiting from one of counters of the washroom.
This person really is having a hard time she thought as she again looked at herself in the mirror and that was when the door opened and she looked up at the mirror to see that that person was none other than Ash.
'Damm this country,' said Ash leaning over the door knob.
'I thought it was a shooter and drinking a few won't do much harm.'
She moved over to the slab and started rinsing her face.
Zara kept looking at her; observing. Even after washing her face and stripping herself of the make up she is really pretty.
'You are very beautiful,' said Zara blushing away.
Ash stopped on hearing Zara's remark and smiled.
'Some people do not change,' responded Ash.
'Sorry, what,' said Zara not understanding what Ash meant by her last statement.
Wait was that a jab at her.
'Good thing I was there to take care of you, with the heels you were wearing.' Said Zara haughtily. Her demeanour completely changing and she gave Ash a look.
Ash started laughing a bit more and then said ' I am craving some good hot soupy noodles, they are the best for hangover.'
'Would you like to join me.'
' My treat, I owe you for taking care of me.'
Zara looked up shocked at Ash's response to her attempted bitchyness. And then she realised she kind off craved the same.
'Sure.'
'Give me ten minutes, I need to handover something to Ms. Sudar and then I shall join you.' She said looking away.
'Sure, I will just message Leo.'
'I am sure he is hungry as well,' said Ash digging out her phone from her purse.
'Wait! No.'
'Don't call him,' said Zara almost with a squeaky scream which sounded nothing like her.
'Hmm?'
' You know, he might be waiting outside, when we head out,' said Ash. She was trying to bully her a little. But Zara thought she was trying to make her jealous.
'Why is he waiting outside for you?' she asked Ash acting all bitchy.
'That's because I work with him and work wise we are attached to the hip,' replied Ash while she put on her red lipstick.
Zara kept quiet looking at her, her jealousy brimming, no more like fuming over her and then Ash suddenly handed her a bottle of concealer.
'You might want to cover that up,' she said gesturing at the hickey.
The green monster suddenly left her on hearing what Ash said.
'Huh?' was all she said and looked at Ash's hand.
Zara suddenly got conscious but then she wanted to irk Ash so without thinking she snatched away the concealer saying.
' Leo gave it to me,' and before she knew it,the words were out of her mouth and she wished she could eat her own words rather than the soup. Man second time in a row isn't cool. Apparently the green monster of jealousy left momentarily and was back on its high horse.
Ash just smiled and went towards the door and before leaving said, ' I will be waiting for you at the entrance.'
And then she left the washroom leaving an utterly shocked Zara.