"What is it?" Skyler asked as he had noticed her gaze on him ever since. He had just finished tying the knot when he noticed her eyes. She seem to be lost in thought as her eyes continued to look at him.
Aliya didn't respond to his words and just shook her head as she looked away again.
"What are you thinking about?" Skyler asked again as he took a step back to get a good look at her.
"Nothing" Aliya lied with a straight face as her eyes looked at every other thing in the bathroom but him.
"Then why are you red?" Skyler asked again with his hands pointed at her reddened cheeks.
Aliya raised her hands to feel the warmth on her cheeks and she could no longer argue as she was caught red handed. Touching her warm cheeks seem to be refreshing as she had been under the cold for so long the warmth from her cheeks was very nice.
Skyler just watched as she used her palms to rest on her cheeks with her eyes closed, He could tell that she was still cold.
"Let's go" Skyler said breaking her blissful moment but never the less she gave a nod as she walked pass him out of the bathroom.
The room was much more warmer than the bathroom, Aliya made her way to the mirror as she looked at her reflection. She could see the red marks around her neck, she could also see shades of the first ones that seem to be wearing off.
Seeing the hickeys was a reminder of what had happened earlier and heat crept up her cheeks again with that thought.
"Did I scare you?" Aliya heard Skyler ask from behind her and she turned to see him again with his face filled with guilt.
Aliya couldn't count how many times she had seen him like this, blaming himself for the things that had happened to her.
"I didn't mean to act like that when I entered the bathroom...my...my emotions got the best of me and I couldn't control myself" Skyler said as his voice lowered with every word he said. His eyes were filled with different emotions as he tried to keep his mind intact.
"You didn't scare me" Aliya lied, though she wasn't that scared but he did scare her when she saw him like that. His eyes and the way he looked at her had sent shivers down her spine.
"You are a bad liar" Skyler said as he moved closer to her with his hands up as he touched her cheeks so tenderly.
"Whenever you see me like that make sure to stay far, don't come close to me. Promise me that" Skyler said as his gaze on her became serious.
Aliya could only give a nod as she didn't want to prolong this topic anymore, though she had gave a nod, she didn't promise.
Relief washed his face when he saw how understanding she was and wasn't pulling tantrums.
"Come, I'll dry your hair" Skyler said as he led her to the bed, He sat down on the bed with his legs wide open and he asked her to seat in between.
Though a little hesitant Aliya did as she was told, she could feel her back pressed against his hard toned chest.
Skyler tuned on the hand dryer and brought it closer to her black silky hair as he used his hands to gently massage her head.
Aliya was enjoying everything that was happening right now and she couldn't remember the last time she had felt this happy, she didn't know if it was because no one had ever done this to her before or was it because he was the one doing it for her but this feeling it felt so magical.
Skyler continued to dry her hair while his hands skillfully relaxed her nerves with his touch. This continued for a few minutes and Aliya was sure that her hair was already dried but the man didn't stop as he continued with his work.
"Can I ask something?" Aliya finally spoke breaking the silence between the both of them.
Skyler who heard her voice turned off the dryer and placed it by the side, he then turned her and put her in a sitting position where she was facing him with both her legs at his side. He could hear the hesitation in her voice and he could only guess that whatever she wanted to say was of most important.
Aliya gulped when she realized how close they both where like this, she was just inches away from his face and if she was to move an inch their lips would touch. Luckily the robe he had picked was very big and it was enough to cover her body without revealing anything.
"What do you want to ask?" Skyler said not bothered with their position and he looked intently at the girl with his hands securely wrapped on her waist.
There had been one question Aliya had wanted to ask, ever since he got back she had wanted to ask him but she couldn't as they hadn't had the time to talk.
"Why....how did you get invite to the masquerade dinner party?" Aliya asked the wrong question as she couldn't get herself to really ask the question that had been bugging her. The truth was that she wanted to know why he had left her all those years ago, that was the question she had wanted to ask but she couldn't bring herself to ask that. There was nothing more important than wanting to know why he had left her but it wasn't easy to ask.
Skyler looked at her as he pondered wether or not he should answer her but he didn't see a reason why not and so he told her.
"I received a mail the other day and when I opened it, it was an invite letter" Skyler answered casually as he continued to look at her. He could see clearly in her eyes that there was something else she wanted to ask but he wasn't going to force her as it was her decision.
Aliya wanted to roll her eyes at his answer as it was a normal thing for him to get an invite through mail, He was joking with her again.
"That's not what I meant" Aliya said as she fought the urge to roll her eyes at his childishness.
"Did you also ask Lim where he had got the invitation?" Skyler asked as his eyes solely focussed on her face.
"I understand if Mr Lee has an invite as he is involved in the business word it is very possible for him to get connection with the good and bad people but you.....I mean I never imagined you to be amongst them" Aliya said with her face serious as her mind pondered on the different possibilities.
"Do you think the party is just filled with corrupt politicians?" Skyler asked again not answering her question.
"It must be, it's why they hide their faces so non would recognize them" Aliya responded to his question with her eyes challenging him.
"You were present at the party, does that make you a corrupt politician?" Skyler asked again and Aliya couldn't find words to respond anymore.
She was present at the party but she wasn't amongst the corrupt ones. And according to her understanding those who attended the party are the bad ones but anyone could have been in her situation and it could be possible that most of them there were just like her and if that were true then she had got the wrong idea.
"So are you saying that you are one of the good ones who happen to be at the party?" Aliya asked as she looked at his eyes for answers.
"I'm not saying I'm good Aliya, but I did happen to attend the party." Skyler replied as he continued to look at her.
Aliya was about to respond to his words but she then realized that no matter what she said he would still find a way to twist her words to his advantage so she choose to keep quiet.
They both continued to stare at each other as non of them was willing to look away.
"What is it?" Aliya asked when the man still refused to look away, she had never been bothered with someone's gaze as she is with his.
"You're beautiful" Skyler uttered shamelessly as he continued to look at her with his grey eyes as he admired her beauty.
Aliya didn't know how to respond to his compliment. She had received lots of compliments over the past few years but this one felt different and it made her happy. There was a feeling of satisfaction inside her and she didn't know why but a part of her was very happy that he had complimented her.