Chapter 15

They had come too close to each other in such a short time. So close that he couldn't even bear the thought of not seeing her even for one day. 

Iris went into the kitchen and walked inside the room again. 

"Here's your water bottle. Keep yourself hydrated," she said and placed the bottle on the floor. 

"You are treating me like a child," Hugh said and chuckled. 

Iris laughed. "Well, you need care, or you'll fall sick." 

Hugh rolled his eyes. Iris sat on the bed next to Hugh.

"You should sleep," she said. 

"I don't want to," Hugh said looking her in the eye. 

Her heart pounded inside her chest again. She placed her hand on her chest, waiting for her heart to beat steadily again. 

Hugh never took his eyes off her face. No matter how much he tried but it wasn't easy to look away from her. 

"So –so..." Iris stammered. "What do you want to do tonight? I mean you can't go back, because you don't have your car and my car will take forever to start." They both chuckled together. 

"Well, yes. I guess I'll have to spend a night over here. What do you have in mind?" 

"I can't really think of anything." 

Hugh moved his gaze from her and looked outside the window. He sat up straight in bed and placed a pillow behind him and leaned on that. 

"Tell me where you want to travel for at least once in your lifetime?" he shifted his eyes on her again. 

Iris chuckled. "There are a lot of places I'd like to go to. But it's not possible."

"One can dream," he said.

Iris nodded. "Yes." She pursed her lips and her eyes rested on the bedsheet as she mused. "I think the Eiffel Tower." She looked at him. 

Hugh smiled. "That's a good one. It's on my list too. Where else?"

"Umm... The close one. London. I have never been there." 

"I'd gone there on my honeymoon. It's a beautiful city," he said. 

"So I've heard." She agreed. 

"Where else?" Hugh asked. 

"Switzerland. I was always very fascinated by that country. I'd love to visit there one day and eat a lot of chocolates." 

They both laughed together. 

"You will. I am sure," Hugh said with a grin. 

"I hope. What about you?" 

"Umm... Paris, Greece, and the Taj Mahal in India." 

"That sounds interesting. Have you been to India before?" Iris asked. 

"Never been anywhere outside the United Kingdom."

"Likewise," Iris said. 

"You never told me about your relationships. Was there any Prince Charming in your life? Or is there any right now? I don't mean to pry. You can choose not to answer." Hugh held his breath for her answer. 

Iris shook her head, "No there never was any man in my life." 

"Ah! Don't lie now. I am sure there must be someone special." 

"No. I was always too occupied with myself." 

Hugh nodded. "Okay!" He sighed softly in relief. 

"I was always too busy keeping myself distracted after my mother's death and Graham abandoning me. I took up a job and got busy. No time for romance." She lied as she always had hope for romance. She always was waiting for someone special. 

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up," Hugh said wistfully. 

"It's okay! Just a part of life." 

Hugh smiled. 

"So, what do you want to have for dinner?" Iris asked. 

"Anything is fine. You cook everything so delicious." 

Iris chuckled. 

She started preparing chicken soup and Russian salad. Hugh stood there talking to her. Or mostly just looking at her, listening to her talk. It didn't snow again. They had tea while Iris cooked. Hugh threw some more woods into the fire. Iris told him about her school, about her just two friends, with whom she wasn't in touch after the school was over. 

Hugh could keep listening to her whole day, the whole night. He wanted to know more about her. He didn't interrupt while she spoke. He would look into her deep ocean blue eyes at intervals. She was perfect for him. Her each moment made Hugh's heart race. 

Her hand would accidentally touch his while moving around in the kitchen and it would make Hugh feel like grabbing her from her waist, plant a kiss on her forehead and take her lower lip between his teeth. It was hard to fight his urges, but Hugh knew his limits. 

It had only been four days since they met. He didn't want to rush. He knew in the pit of his stomach that he wanted her. He wanted the whole of her. Forever. But he had to make sure if Iris wanted him too. She never had been in a relationship before, maybe she didn't know how it felt when one falls for someone they secretly adore. He wanted to spend every day with her, just so that one day he would have known her enough and would be ready to tell her how he felt for her.