Stay

Chapter 26 - Love Story

Alan and Fiza stepped out of the restaurant and into the grand lobby. Alan chuckled, breaking the silence between them. "Now I understand why you never mentioned him," he remarked amused.

"He is irrelevant. I'm never going to marry him. I didn't want you to read more into the situation," she stated firmly, her eyes shining with conviction.

Alan's gaze wandered, captivated by the shimmering chandeliers and the elegant fountain that stood at the center.

Distractedly, he let out a casual remark. "We should stay here sometime. I bet the rooms are amazing."

Fiza's body tensed beside him, her breath catching in her throat.

Realizing his unintentional slip, Alan scrambled to clarify his words. "I mean you and I separately, with our... our partners," he hastily added, attempting to salvage the situation.

Fiza wondered where Alan took his own "partners" when he desired a night of intimacy.

They settled onto Alan's bike, and Alan asked her, "Hostel?"

"I missed curfew," she confessed softly, a hint of worry coloring her words.

Assuring her with a steady tone, he replied, "Don't worry, you can stay at my place."

Alan sent a text forewarning his mother that Fiza was going to stay the night. They then rode through the dimly lit streets of Bangalore, the distant city lights sparkling like stars in the night.

Alan turned the key in the lock, and swung the door open, welcoming Fiza into his home. Soft light spilled from the living area, where Alan's parents had thoughtfully left the lights on before retiring to bed.

With a genuine desire to respect Fiza and the boundaries of their friendship, Alan gently posed the question, "Do you want to use the guest room?"

Fiza turned towards him, her eyes meeting his. "Is it... Is it okay if I stayed with you?"

Alan's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing. "Of course, Fiza!"

Inwardly, he questioned his ability to practice restraint, aware of the intoxicating allure Fiza possessed. Today, she appeared exceptionally attractive, igniting a fire within him that he struggled to suppress.

He led her into his room feeling a flutter of nervousness in his stomach. He settled on the edge of his bed, the familiar surroundings lending a sense of comfort amidst the swirling emotions.

"Well, you know the way around," he said, a playful smile gracing his lips.

Fiza's steps took her towards the bathroom, where shadows of their passionate kisses and tender touches resided in the recesses of her memory. She gazed into the mirror, attempting to shake off the intrusive thoughts, but they persistently danced in her mind, awakening dormant desires that had long been suppressed.

Fiza's heart raced within her chest, filled with anticipation and desire. She changed into Alan's T-shirt, feeling the fabric cling to her body. She slipped under the covers wondering if she would allow his touch if he initiated it.

Alan finished cleaning up and joined her in bed, a playful nudge accompanying his words. "Dinner went well, don't you think?" he teased.

"I think you could have done a more convincing job at pretending to be my boyfriend. Fahad's just going to think I hired a really bad actor," she responded, sharing a laugh with Alan.

Raw tension simmered between them, as they lay side by side.

"I'll go grab a pillow from the guest room", Alan suggested, wanting to place it between them.