Temptations

36. UNCOMFORTABLE TALKS

ELLIE

Today was spa day. I had made plans with Tyra and went to the salon straight after work to get a relaxing massage and a new haircut. The stylist suggested me to get some color in my hair. I resisted initially but then she convinced me to get some caramel brown babylights in my hair.

I had my fair share of doubts but when she blow dried my hair, I couldn't recognise myself. The layered cut suit my chubby face and the babylights brought out my brown eyes. All in all, I looked changed, and in a good way.

"Wow, caramel suits you. You look like liquid gold." Tyra said. She herself got a blow dry and her hair looked bouncy and shiny.

"You look stunning too, girl." I complimented her.

"It's a birthday gift for my husband." She winked. "Hair and some other things." I burst out laughing at the innuendo.

Once I was done, I called Nathan to pick me up while the nail artist gave me a french manicure. Tyra lived at the opposite side of the town so she left early. Nathan was nearby so he reached in fifteen minutes. I paid the charges and then made my way out of the salon.

"What did they do to your hair?" Nathan said in shock as soon as he saw me. "Why are they blonde?"

"It's not blonde. They are just a shade lighter. Don't be overdramatic." I said and sat inside the car.

"I love black hair on you." He said in an exasperated voice, as if his favourite toy had been stolen.

"Too bad, you are not my real husband so you don't get a say." I rolled my eyes. I was in no mood of a lecture right now. "Besides, I love the change."

"That's not fair. I should have a say. I share a room with you." He said as he revved the engine.

"You are being dramatic. This will tone down once I wash my hair. It's not that big of a change." I groaned in annoyance. "Besides, why do you care? You don't even look at me that much."

He was about to say something in response but he held back and continued driving, much to my satisfaction.

"Aria is having a sleepover at her friend's house and Mom would be asleep by now." He said after a while.

"So?" I looked at him in confusion.

"Do you want to have dinner outside?" He asked hesitantly. I immediately got excited at the mention of eating out and nodded.

"Let's eat a burger." I said.

"Who goes out specifically to eat burger? I was thinking of Italian. Or maybe Indian." He said.

"But I am really craving a cheeseburger." I pouted innocently while staring at him.
He chuckled when he saw me pouting.

"Fine." He said and stopped at the closest burger spot.

We went in and sat down in a booth, ordering two double cheeseburger meals for us.

"Add extra jalapenos and pickles." I said to the waiter. The aroma of the burgers was filled in the air and making my stomach grumble. Once the waiter left, I looked back at Nathan who was looking at me with interest.

"What are you looking at?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Nothing." He said. "Maybe I was overreacting. This hairstyle suits you."

Warmth crept up my cheeks in return and I struggled to find appropriate response to this. "Thanks." I said meekly at the end. He watched me with an amused face because he knew I was blushing right now. Jerk.

Thankfully, the waiter returned with our order and I didn't have to be awkward anymore. I engrossed myself in eating my burger and as soon as it hit my tastebuds, I moaned. The burger was straight out from heaven. The meat was perfectly cooked and the tangy sauce and caramelized onions enhanced the taste. All in all, it was delicious.

"It sounds like you are having an orgasm." Nathan said and I stiffened in embarrassment.

Does he have no filter whatsoever?

"Don't worry. You won't get to compare the sounds in this lifetime." I retorted and this time, it was his turn to watch me with hanging jaw.

"Are you challenging me?" He asked in a deep voice.

"No, I'm giving you a reality check." I smirked.

"If I want to, I could." He said, staring deep into my eyes. If I didn't know better, I would be feeling weak in my knees right now.

"I'm not the type of girl to swoon over a guy just because he is rich and good looking." I said.

"So I'm good looking?" He asked arrogantly.

"Fuck you." I said and continued eating my burger. The burger was far more interesting than a stupid conversation with him.

"Sure, I won't mind. As you have pointed out before, I don't have high standards like you." He said, making me chew louder in frustration.

°°°°°

Once we reached home, the house was drowned in silence. We went straight into our room. I changed first and then lay down while Nathan went to take a quick shower.

When he returned from the shower, he was shirtless, with just a towel tied around his waist. I blushed at the sight of his chiseled abs and the toned V shape of his pelvis. The sight was almost as delicious as the cheeseburger I had for dinner.

"Liked what you see?" He asked in a sensuous voice and I realized I was caught staring at him.

"I've seen better." I said, faking ignorance.

"I've doubts." He smirked and went to the mirror. While he applied lotion on his face, I once again found my eyes drifting to his muscular back.

I couldn't understand how I ended up sleeping in the same bed as someone who looks like that. If my teenage self knew, she would advise me to jump on his bones the first chance I get.

Finally, he slipped into his T-shirt and I sighed in relief. He got under the blanket and turned his face towards me. "Such a waste." He said, supporting his head up with the help of his elbow.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"We could've really enjoyed this fake marriage, if you were not on such a high moral pedestal." He said and my eyes widened.

His words were tempting, to be really honest. But sleeping together would complicate things to point of no return. Not to mention, I was a virgin and I wanted my first time to be with someone I loved.

"Easy for you to say. You would sleep with anything that has a pulse." I said sarcastically.

"Don't tell me you have never slept with someone just for fun." He said rhetorically and I looked away in embarrassment.

"Um..."

He assessed my face briefly and then asked in shock, "You've never had a one night stand throughout college?"

"Uh..." What exactly is the right time to tell your fake husband that you are a virgin?

Maybe never. Just act indifferent.

He watched me closely as the color of my face shifted from red to pale and then back to red. He had all the experience in the world. If he knew I was a virgin, he might think I'm crazy.

Don't say a word.

"Ellie..." He whispered my name as the realization dawned on him. "Are you a virgin?"

Fuck.

"Um..."

"Are you?" He asked.

"Yeah." I finally gathered courage to speak. "I told you. I don't sleep for fun." I said casually.

"I didn't know that." He said, turning serious all of sudden. I didn't know what he was thinking right now and honestly, I didn't want to know.

"It's okay. It's not a big deal. Goodnight." I said to avoid any further talk with him and turned around so my back was facing him.

°°°°