Cocky (WWBM)

Chapter 16

Natalie's POV

The place is milling with people by the time we walk in, both tourists and locals alike. The building is massive and an opportunity to showcase their amazing architectural skills is not missed by the Arabs.

I'm in awe as we go in further and join the queue for pre-booked tickets. After a few minutes, it's our turn and after Terrence shows the attendant the tickets on his phone, he asks us to join a group of three people for the guided tour and once the tour guide, who introduced himself as Ahmad, arrives, we begin going around as the young looking guy speaks on everything we see, promoting is to ask questions if we want to.

"I used to go to Infinity Aquarium back home with my parents when I was younger." I disclose lowly causing Terrence to look down at me. "Used to go there a lot. My mom always complained of how much of a menace I was cause I'd always run off there and just look around by myself." I laugh as I remember how worried she used to get. "Being there never got old. Eventually, though, we stopped. I guess I kinda outgrew it." I say with a small shrug.

Terrence gives me a smile that causes his eyes to light up. "I can definitely see you being a menace and having to be chased around the damn place by your parents just cause you won't sit your pretty ass down."

I nudge his side hard at that, the action more painful to me than it is to him I'm sure with his chiseled body. He lets out a deep laugh from his chest, before wrapping his arm around my shoulders, the action bringing us closer and causing me to lean on him slightly. I felt safe, protected in his arms.

We walk around a bit as the tour guide drawls on and on about each animal but I'm too enraptured by the actual sight before me to really pay attention to what he's saying.

Eventually, when we get to the Shark Encounter, he asks if anyone would want to dive there and Terrence turns look at me with a raised brow.

"You wanna dive?" He asks and I shake my head furiously.

"No way. I'm not dressed for that." I tell him and he lets out a breathy chuckle.

"We can get you the gear and all." Terrence adds with a hand gesture.

"No." I say adamantly. "I'm not ruining my makeup before dinner, otherwise we'll have to go back to the hotel for me to change."

Terrence gives me a small nod, letting it go. While the two people who paid are led away to get into their gears, I pull out my phone.

"Can you take some pictures of me?" I ask cause since the beginning of this trip I've barely taken any pictures of myself, more focused on being in and enjoying the moment, than committing them to memory which is actually just as important.

Terrence collects the phone from my hand as I move to stand next to the tank and after some shots, he starts laughing.

"I think that shark likes you." He says, gesturing behind me. When I turn, I smile as I watch one of the sharks swimming closer but not too close that it would try to hit the glass, and unlike most people, I'm actually not scared. The animal is even more beautiful and magnificent up close and I don't know when my hand goes up to touch the cold glass of the tank.

I hear a click which brings me back to reality as I turn to see Terrence with my phone raised and the camera on me. He pulls back and looks at the picture as I approach him. "Beautiful." Is the only word he utters but it's enough to have my cheeks flaming up.

"Want me to take your picture?" The smallish Asian woman on the tour with us asks with a grin causing her eyes to crinkle. Since the two people she was with before had left to gear up, she stood alone.