𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Chapter 15: His warm embrace

-Aydin's pov-

As I slowly blinked awake, a strange heaviness pressed against my chest. Confusion swirled in my mind until awareness dawned like a gentle sunrise.

Rahaf lay sound asleep, her head nestled comfortably on my chest. The realization sent a jolt through me, and I tensed, suddenly hyper-aware of her presence.

The thing more surprised me was that I was hugging her back. I don't remember sleeping like that though.

I cautiously shifted, trying to extricate myself without waking her. But as I moved, her arm tightened around me, holding me in place with a surprising strength. Panic fluttered in my chest as I struggled to come up with a plan.

How could I wake her without causing a scene?

My gaze drifted down to her peaceful face, and I found myself captivated by her features. Her dark brown hair cascaded in soft waves around her, framing her delicate features like a work of art. Long lashes brushed against her cheeks, and the faintest hint of a smile graced her soft plump lips.

I swallowed hard, feeling a sudden tightness in my throat. It was absurd how beautiful she looked, even in the quiet stillness of sleep.

I tore my eyes away, trying to regain my composure, but my gaze inevitably returned to her face, drawn like a moth to a flame.

As I watched her, a myriad of emotions swirled within me. Guilt for intruding on her privacy, confusion over my own feelings, and a strange longing that I couldn't quite name.

I tried to shake off the thoughts, to focus on the task at hand, but they clung to me like cobwebs in the corners of my mind.

Gently, I reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, my fingers lingering against her skin for a fleeting moment.

And then the shrill ring of my phone shattered the peaceful silence of the room, I jolted, my heart racing with the sudden intrusion. Beside me, Rahaf stirred, her eyes fluttering open in confusion as she realized she had been sleeping on my chest.

Instantly, I felt a wave of awkwardness wash over me, the air thick with tension as I struggled to regain my composure. Rahaf's panicked movement only added to the discomfort, and I knew I had to break the stifling atmosphere somehow.

Quickly, I reached for my phone, eager to escape the suffocating silence that hung between us. With a big steps, I made my way out of the room, leaving Rahaf behind as I sought refuge in the solitude of the hallway.

As I answered the persistent ringing of my phone, the familiar voice of my secretary greeted me on the other end. Without missing a beat, I delved into the intricacies of work-related matters, my mind swiftly shifting gears to accommodate the demands of business.

Minutes stretched into hours as I navigated through a sea of emails and messages, my focus unwavering even as the hours wore on.

Finally, with the call concluded and my tasks for the moment completed, I made my way back to our room, expecting to find Rahaf nestled in the comforting solitude of our shared space.

Yet, as I entered the room, the sight that greeted me was unexpected. The bed lay empty, its pristine sheets untouched by her presence.

A flicker of concern stirred within me, quickly quelled by the rationalization that Rahaf must be in the bathroom, attending to her morning routine.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I reached for my phone, instinctively checking for any new messages or notifications.

The soft glow of the screen illuminated the darkness of the room, casting long shadows across the walls as I scrolled through my inbox.