Arrogant Billionaire: Love vs Hate

Chap. 26

"Passion is oxygen for the soul. Love is the heartbeat that keeps it alive."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Andy's POV

After Clara left the camp, Gracy and I decided to join her. Recognizing the potential risks of leaving her alone in the camp at night, a mutual decision was reached among all of us to stop the game. 

As we entered our camp, Clara was already sleeping. From a glance I knew she was just pretending to be asleep. I exchanged glances with Gracy. She nodded looking amused.

"Grace, how can anyone possibly fall asleep so quickly?" I asked, sitting on my bed, that was just beside Clara. Her bed was placed between Gracy and me.

"Today more melatonin must have been released in her brain as a result of the passionate kiss from her prince-charming", Gracy playfully remarked, sitting on her bed. Her voice was laced with a teasing tone.

Clara couldn't contain a blush and hid her face in the comforter "Oh come on, it was just a dare."

We laughed and gently tugged the comforter away from her head.

"How was it?" Gracy asked with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

"Hey, let me sleeeep" Clara said whining.

"First tell us, how it felt to be kissed by your crush?" I asked, teasing her. A renewed blush colored her cheeks, yet she remained silent.

"You won't tell us right?" Gracy asked.

"Nah" she said, attempting to shield her face with the comforter once more, but we caught her midway and began our tickling frenzy.

"Hahaha, stop stop please" her laughter echoed through our camp.

“Nah” we both said simultaneously, mimicking her.

I woke up early in the morning and went outside for a stroll. Weather was a bit chilly. I decided to do warm-ups.  I encountered Mr. Henry and greeted him. He inquired about the injury on my leg and suggested I go to the camp that he shared with Mark and Hunter, for changing the bandage.

As I reached outside the camp I was a bit reluctant about going inside. I asked for permission to enter, but there was no response. I peeked inside and saw Mark sleeping soundly. I felt relieved. Thankgod the devil is asleep.

I laughed observing his sleeping posture. His comforter was slightly misplaced. It was cold outside, so I placed it back covering him properly. In an instant, his fingers closed around mine, he pulled me above him with an effortless movement. My breath caught in my throat as a surge of exhilaration coursed through my veins, my heart skipping a beat in response to this unexpected intimacy.

"Hey nerd, are you trying to take advantage of me in my sleep?" He said in his morning voice, drawing me into his warm embrace.

"Wh-wh-what are you doing? You-you are" I couldn't utter the sentence properly. Words seem to fall short, to express the overwhelming feeling that was spreading over my heart, at that moment.

“I am what?” he asked tenderly, gazing intently into my eyes.

His right hand slowly caressed the side of my face causing a shiver to run down my spine. My heart leapt within my chest. At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the world around us faded into insignificance, leaving only the intoxicating connection between our entwined bodies. Yet again, through our interlocked gazes, I could sense the resonance of his longing and desire, perfectly mirroring the depths of my own.

I blushed, and turned my head sideways to avoid his intense gaze. I was trying so hard to compose myself but my traitor heart was having some other plans.