Yasmin finished her homework in two hours. She placed her books on the shelf and checked the time.
On the bedside table, the digital clock read 23:30.
Yasmin turned to the door, wondering why Declan had not come yet. Asking her to complete her homework quickly, he immersed himself in work.
'Shouldn't he finish his work quickly and get to bed?'
It seemed that he would be late as usual.
She pouted with dissatisfaction. "I will certainly grow old waiting for him," she muttered as she went into the bathroom.
Declan finally entered the bedroom after holding a confidential video conference with his close subordinates. What he saw made him freeze, his brow furrowed.
He kept himself occupied at work so she could complete her homework. But who would have guessed she would be asleep by the time he returned?
Declan clenched his jaw and muttered something under his breath, glaring at her back. With a loud bang, he slammed the door shut. Yasmin remained motionless, much to his dismay.
"Oh, man… Why is she torturing me?" He grunted and stomped into the bathroom. "It appears that I will need to take a cold shower tonight as well."
Yasmin heard his last sentence loud and clear, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. She had just laid on the bed when she heard his footsteps. She pretended to be asleep to check what he would do. His reaction not only surprised her but also amused her. She now knew she was not the only one who could not wait to make love.
She rolled on her back and lay flat, her eyes on the ceiling. She couldn't stop smiling as she remembered him talking about taking a cold shower.
"How many cold showers did he take?" She wondered.
Creak…
The bathroom door opened with a squeak and closed with a bang.
She immediately shut her eyes.
Declan crept slowly onto the bed, afraid that his movement would wake her up. He lay down on his back, his hands against his chest. He turned his head to his left and stared at her pretty face. Despite his dissatisfaction, he couldn't help but smile when he saw her sleeping peacefully.
He breathed a long sigh and dropped his hands on the bed, his gaze moving to the ceiling. Sleeping in the same bed every night with her and doing nothing was difficult for him. Many times, he considered waking her up and having sex with her. But he never did that. Tonight was not exceptional either. He reminded himself to sleep without disturbing her.
Yasmin opened one eye with a narrow squint and looked at him. She immediately felt disappointed when she saw him staring at the ceiling in a daze.
He should have come closer and taken her into his arms. Instead, he was staring at the ceiling.
What was there in the ceiling that appealed to him so much?
She pouted and mumbled 'idiot' in her mind.
She realized Declan would never take the initiative. He wouldn't have kissed her unless she kissed him first. Likewise, she had to show her boldness once again to take this relationship to the next level.
However, she was not bold enough to seduce him. The thought of having sex with him increased her heartbeat. Her face flushed as well. Yet, she thought about how to approach him.
Her gaze rested on his hand a few inches away from hers. Her fingers crawled towards his hand. She then linked her small finger with his.
Declan turned his head to her. The surprise was evident in his face. His lips curled slightly.
She smiled back at him, her heart starting to beat in her ears.
He inched towards her and said, "You were pretending to be asleep."
His deep, hoarse voice made her stomach flutter. Still, she feigned to be serious. "Pretending! Not at all. You slammed the door so hard that it jolted me awake."
He grabbed her arm and drew her in closer.
Yasmin gasped, resting her hand on his chest. She didn't dare flex her muscles. The air around her appeared to be frozen as well. She was not sure if she was breathing or not. One thing she knew for sure was that her heart was about to burst.
"Do you think I won't catch your lies?" His low, husky tone sounded so seductive. "Did you pretend to sleep every night?" Her eyelashes trembled when he spoke.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head slightly.
"Then why did you pretend tonight?" He asked, drawing her even closer. Her breasts were now pressing against his chest. "Do you enjoy watching me in distress?"
This time, Yasmin only shook her head. Her voice refused to come out. His proximity, seductive voice, and the scent of his cologne were too much for her to handle. Her mind was already blown up. She couldn't think of anything rationally. All her focus was on his lips.
Declan gently brushed his fingers against her cheek.
She closed her eyes, a tingling sensation coursing through her body. "Declan…" she murmured his name. "Do you love me?"
Declan's fingers paused, and his eyes turned cold. The word 'love' landed on him like a thunderbolt, jolting his nerves. He had the impression that a violent tremor had shaken him.
He immediately lost his desire for sex.
He drew his hand back. "It is getting late. You should sleep." He rolled out of the bed.
Yasmin was taken aback. She sat up abruptly and asked, "Where are you going?"
He glanced at her over his shoulder. "I have remembered something." He strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Yasmin stared at the door, dumbfounded, inhaling a sharp breath.
Everything was going well. She had noticed the longing in his eyes. She had sensed his growing desire. They were this close to starting to make love with each other. But then, he suddenly stopped in the middle and left.
She had no idea what caused him to lose interest. She was also not sure if she had made any mistakes. Tears stung her eyes as an inexplicable pain gripped her heart.
Declan came back to the study. He pressed his hands on the back of his head and paced around. His face was ravaged with despair. One word was enough to turn his happy mood sour.
Why did she ask that question? Couldn't she stay quiet and enjoy what he was doing?
"She is a mood spoiler," he growled, his nostrils flaring.
After pacing to and fro for a while, he sagged on the sofa, hiding his face in his palms.
Love…
He didn't believe in it. Love did not exist for him. People take advantage of one another in the name of love.
His father loved his mother wholeheartedly. He always brought her gifts, took her on vacations, and supported her at every step. But what did he get in exchange?
Deception…
Declan had seen how his father had broken down. He didn't want to go through all this. He let out a deep sigh and dropped his head on the back of the sofa.
"Love makes a person weak," he murmured in a trance. "I don't need love in my life. A relationship requires only faithfulness, not love."