Amara turned to walk around the pool, but just as she took a step, her next foot landed in empty air.
Her heel snagged on a chair, and she saw the pool rushing up to meet her. A strong gust of air swished past her body, sending her dress billowing, and she instinctively grabbed it with both hands, regret coursing through her as she fell. Even if she wore a potato sack, she would have looked beautiful. Why in the world did she—AHHHH!
In the split second before the plunge, an arm looped around her waist, halting her fall, while another arm tightened around her thighs, securing her dress. A small gasp escaped her throat as her body was swiveled around abruptly. She felt the coolness of the water fading away.
"Are you alright?" a deep voice murmured against her ear, and her body jolted at the unfamiliar sound.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to see the man who had saved her, and her breath caught in her throat.
Boom
The fireworks whirled and sparkled into thousands of sparks in the sky, but Amara found her gaze locked onto the stranger who held her.
Beautiful.
That was the first thought that crossed her mind.
'More beautiful than her. A rarity. '
That stood as the second thought.
She looked into a pair of emerald eyes that seemed to hold a small world within them. Perhaps it was the numerous little sparks of the fireworks reflecting in them, or perhaps it was herself she could see in those eyes, but she held that gaze.
Both of his hands still gripped her body in that position, and she could feel herself almost straddling one of his thighs as his knee pressed between her legs. He was close—too close—but she couldn't make herself pull away.
James's concerned voice rushed toward them before he reached the spot. "Is everything alright? Are you hurt?"
Amara snapped back to herself. "I… I'm fine," she whispered, finding her voice a little unsteady as she attempted to step back.
The man's grip loosened around her body, but he didn't step back immediately. Instead, he held onto her until she was steady on her feet before he took a step back. He raised his hand to his hair, his dark locks, which had framed his face because of his abrupt movements, now gradually being smoothed into place as his fingers raked through them.
"Thank you," James nodded at the man appreciatively.
All the while, the man had not broken eye contact with her. He had been looking at her, into her eyes, just as she had been looking into his. And he didn't blink, even when James spoke.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Amara didn't know if it was the close fall, the fireworks, or if it was not an illusion but her heart really was beating faster for a stranger—just from his gaze.
He looked away and nodded at James, dropping a perfunctory "No worries" before turning around and leaving.
And as that deep voice seemed to fade from her mind, Amara's racing heart calmed down too. For once, she suddenly understood the phrase 'so beautiful that the moon blushed.' She patted her chest gently, feeling like she had been almost bewitched in that moment.
"Princess…" James's eyes widened. "Were you frightened? You're having heart issues..."
"Huh?" Amara's lips parted, ''My heart is perfect,'' What was he talking about?
"Princess, let's seek help first. We shouldn't waste time here."
As he spoke, he was already on the move.
Amara grabbed his hand to stop him. "I'm fine. I'm completely fine."
The man looked at her, seemingly unconvinced.
"I'm standing right in front of you, well and good, am I not?" Amara shook her head. "I'll go back to my room first. You can stay here for some time if you wish."
But no matter what she said, the man remained unconvinced, so he ended up following her back to the room.
"I'm right next door. If you need something, just give me a call and I'll be there."
Amara nodded. After James left, she locked the door, massaged her shoulders, and walked inside her room.
Leah and Sybella were sleeping on one side of the king-sized bed. While Sybella slept gracefully, her body in complete harmony, Leah had her limbs splayed all over her.
"Long day…" Amara massaged her neck as she walked toward the bathroom.
After slipping into comfortable nightwear, Amara turned off the lights and climbed into bed.
As she closed her eyes, a pair of green eyes appeared in her mind, looking right back at her. She pulled the blanket over her neck and turned to the side, but after a while, it suddenly dawned on her that she hadn't thanked him at all. Was that why he had looked at her for so long? That must be it. Who in the world wouldn't expect at least a simple "thank you" after saving someone from a humiliating fall?
After tossing and turning for an hour, Amara couldn't sleep. She checked behind her, only to find Leah and Sybella deep asleep. After giving it some thought, she put on her shoes, and walked out of the room.
The wind tugged at her dress as she stepped onto the deserted deck. She had just taken a step when something caught her eye, halting her in her tracks.
Amara spotted a watch reflecting the moonlight. She wasn't alone. Someone was sitting on the lounge chair.
She hadn't woken James up because she didn't think she would find anyone here at this hour. At any rate, it wasn't as dangerous for her, but still, James would probably spiral into guilt if something happened to her. She hesitated for a moment before turning to leave.
"I'm not up for this.''
The voice halted her in her tracks. It's him.