Chapter 10

I suddenly feel it... My throat constricts- the rest of my oxygen gone. I try to move but I'm stuck behind something strong. Kicking, I struggle, feeling the rising anxiety as my air runs out. I'm panicking. I can't help it. My mouth opens, desperate and instead of oxygen, water fills my mouth. I can't stop. I- I can't breathe. I can't- Gasping with a sudden choke, I jump from slumber- from the nightmare. Breathing heavy, I look frantically around the room, taking in my surroundings. I'm on Tristan's plane. I'm in a room. I'm not in Thailand anymore... I'm not drowning. I pull the sheet off my body, running to open the door. I open the door to the bathroom, locking myself inside. My hair is damp on my neck from the panic. I turn on the sink and splash my face with the water before putting some on the back of my neck. This plane has a shower so I was able to get clean at least. His assistant is about my size and lended me a t-shirt and jeans, the only extra clothing she had with her. Tristan had passed out from exhaustion and has been sleeping since we got on the plane. I clench the sink tightly between my fingers, letting my heart rate regulate. When it doesn't, I stand up straight and open the door. Not even thinking about it, I knock on his door. There's no answer and I turn, heading back to the other room. "Come in." Eyes wide, I freeze in my place, closing my eyes at the sound of his hoarse voice. I didn't think this one through. It's the middle of the night. I open his door hesitantly, peering in. "It's nothing- Nevermind." I start to close the door. "Genevieve." Exhaling in embarrassment, I open the door completely, raising my eyes from the ground. I realize he's wearing nothing beneath the covers. He's propped on his elbow, the sheet only covering his bottom half. His torso, mostly bandaged, is rippled muscle. Gaping unsurely, I look back down, unable to stop the blush rising to my cheeks. "What's wrong?" "It's really nothing. I had a dream." God, you sound pathetic. You should have kept walking. "A dream? A nightmare, you mean?" I nod, tucking a strand of blonde behind my ear. He lifts the cover next to him, obviously knowing my reason for barging in on his peaceful slumber. "But are- aren't you naked?" I utter, wanting to kill myself. He chuckles, shaking his head. He moves the cover to show me he's wearing briefs. Having been intoxicated beyond comprehension when we went to bed together, I didn't get to fully take in his fine figure. I notice it now. "It's nothing you haven't seen before." He states amusingly, running a hand through his hair, shaking it around messily. I shouldn't but actually needing to be close to someone right now, I move forward, sitting down slowly onto the other side of his bed. I grab the sheets, pulling them up over my jeans and lean back, sighing when my head settles onto the pillow. "What was your nightmare about?" Not expecting him to speak again, I look over in the dim light, finding him looking up at the ceiling. I'm hesitant with my answer. "... The water." He's silent for a bit before he replies. "I don't know if you'd ever even want to tell me or anyone about it- but... what happened- to you?" It's amazing how easily I'm able to open up to him, explaining in short details what happened after the rushing ocean separated us. He listens, nodding every so often. I turn onto my side, laying my cheek on my palm. "What- What happened to you?" He swallows. "Uh, the first wave I was lucky. I caught ahold of something- I don't know what it was but I was able to hold on until it died down... I was just outside of the resort. The second wave got me. It happened so fast- we had been warned about it but couldn't make it to higher ground in time... That wave was when this happened." He gestures to his chest as if he resents it. "I- uh, was stuck for a while, behind a severed bus- it was- literally split in half. I blacked out when I finally felt the piece of wood in my chest and when I resurfaced, I managed to swim underneath it. The pain was pretty unbearable so I couldn't move far. I just sat in the water until the sun came up... I honestly don't remember anything after that except the fact that you were with me... That you had saved me." "You had a really bad fever. It would make sense that you didn't remember." He smiles, finally looking from the ceiling to my face. "How did you see me?" "I saw a someone in a blue shirt. Thankfully, it was you... I was praying it was." "When I heard your voice in that damn forest, I swear, I've never been happier than in that moment." I can't help but laugh, nodding. "I thought the same thing when I saw you... I'm really happy you're okay. I know- I know we ended things in a weird way-" He raises a brow, smirking slightly. "-Did we end things?" I gape slightly, letting out an uncertain breath. "Yes?" "... You don't sound convinced." I look down, blushing nervously. "I'm not but you have- had a fiancée... You're obviously a lot more important than you let on. I mean, I don't know. So much has happened in the past couple of days." "Well, firstly, I did tell you I was in exports and also that it was a big business." "Uh huh... How big? I mean, you were able to speak with government officials... We're flying in a private airplane." "I own Maddox Global." My eyes widen as even I, an outsider to the trade world, recognize the name. My cereal has that name on it... As does the snazzy pen on my office desk that I acquired from the bank as a Christmas gift. That name is everywhere. This man has to be a millionaire... If not billionaire. "Woah." "I'm sorry if you feel tricked... I liked that you didn't know.... I felt normal? ... If that makes sense." "I get it... I mean, I've seen you on magazines and the news- stuff like that but I didn't know you were such an important business man." "I'm still the same person you met at that bar, Gen." "No, you're not." I smile apologetically, shaking my head. He stares at me for a moment and I hold my breath as he lifts his arm, gesturing me to move closer. Biting my lip, I shake my head but he waits. I finally give in, scooting over. I hesitantly settle my head onto his bicep, laying my hand on his bare stomach. I can't help but feel a glow within me as he pulls me in tighter, resting his hand on my waist. "I'm not hurting you?" "Ah, god! It hurts so much!" He chuckles, shaking his head. "No." "You're really hot... Do you feel alright?" He grins widely. "Relax." "I can't!" I exclaim, covering my face in embarrassment. I've been with enough men to realize that this one is making me feel things- things that should scare you. Tristan is a life-changer. With one kiss, a word- he can change everything you know to be true. And it's absolutely terrifying. "Hey." I peek out through my fingers, smiling slightly when I find him looking down at me, his face inches from mine. His fingers lightly trace up my arm to the base of my throat... I know he's about to kiss me- and I let him. Something takes ahold of me and I grasp his face, feeling his hard stubble beneath my palms. Pulling back, I take a breath and look down, still grasping his face. He speaks after a moment. "I think we met for a reason... I think we were meant to meet in that resort. Don't you?" I gape, unsure of what to say. In the end, only the truth wins out. "Y-yes."