Aryan's Lethal Obsession

Adah

For the last two days, my body worked on auto-pilot as if it had been living this life forever. But this is not my concern. What makes me edgy is how comfortable I got with it and how every time, my heart flutters, feeling his presence around me.

My day starts with waking up to his pillow nestled between my arms. His scent is the first thing I smell, making my stomach flip with a strange emotion. I get dressed in whatever he selects, usually jeans and a top. By the time I step into the kitchen, breakfast will be ready, and I eat with him sitting beside me. His presence around me no longer makes me uncomfortable. Although I'm yet to get accustomed to Osama's scrutiny.

Come afternoon, Aryan helps me with the training with his protective arm over my waist. Afterward, he gets busy and locks himself in his study while I have lunch with Matt and June. I have never enjoyed a stranger's company, but something about the couple makes me feel a bond between us.

As I promised Dad, I call him and narrate half-baked stories about my so-called work on the island. By the time I make tea and carry our cups to his study, Aryan will be done with his work, and we enjoy tea in silence. If I raise my head, I will be sure his eyes will be on me, but now his stare doesn't frighten me. He takes me for a walk around the villa and the beach, where we stay till dinner.

This is the time when my emotions are unhinged. Even after spending most of the day with him, I still feel jittery, sensing him enter the room and lock it. My heart beats rapidly in anticipation, and God only knows anticipation for what. I could feel his gaze when I stepped out of my shower in his T-shirt. At times, a low growl reverberates, but by the time I glance at the source of that sound, he will rush inside the bathroom. I don't understand the reason for him to behave like that or why he takes a long shower.

I slide into my side of the bed and close my eyes, but my senses are on alert. They catch the smallest of his movement and make my heart beat rapidly. I had to force my breathing to be even, yet I failed miserably. It's only when he lies on the bed and pulls me closer to his bare chest that my heart calms down.

His breath fanning the shell of my ear or his thumb moving in small circles over my t-shirt ease my body, and against my will, I still drift into sleep. I don't know if I imagined, but I feel his lips over my temple and him murmuring something I couldn't catch.

The pounding of my heart muted the roaring of the wind. I gulped twice, clutching the seat I was sitting on, but nothing seemed to normalize my heartbeat. As the boat moved into deep water, my palms started sweating in fear. The earlier excitement of diving into the water and witnessing life underwater turned into dread. A strong bolt of nausea hit me before I covered my mouth.

"I can't," I stammered while looking at the water. My head started feeling dizzy; however, a gentle squeeze of my palm brought me back. I looked up to see Aryan looking at me with concern.

"Why do you look pale?" he asked, touching my forehead.

"I'm scared. I don't want to drown," I whispered, making him cup my face with both palms.

"I won't let you," he promised. Why does he keep promising me, and why do I keep believing them?

Because so far he didn't break his promise, came the voice inside my head.

"Breathe in with me," he said and sucked a breath, making me mirror his action.

He exhaled slowly without breaking the stare, and I followed him in a trance.

"Good, keep doing it," he instructed while kneeling before me and putting the flippers on me.

A shuddering inhale made him look at me. I shake my head since words won't leave my dry throat. I can't do it.