Sophia's POV.
Even some cheap motels I've been to have a separate couch and this luxurious room had nothing but a king-size bed to sleep on.
“I'll take the floor,” Alex said. Just then, my anger flamed.
“What exactly did you tell your mum and everyone? Why do I get the sinking feeling that they believe us to be a thing?”
He stared intently at me, then sighed. “We don't have to talk about that.”
“We damn well have to.” I retorted.
He sighed again.
“Well, if you must know, my mum still has the impression that we're a couple and I've not had it in me to correct that impression neither have I told her anything about Emily. So I beg you not to.” He said.
What?
“You want me to pretend like we're a couple?! And why do I have to be dragged into keeping your secret? It has nothing to do with me!” I yelled.
“Please?” He whispered.
How on earth could I say no to that face? I looked back at him, my features softening.
“You don't have to. I mean I can take the floor.” I said, changing the subject.
“I'll be fine.” He said, waving his hand dismissively. He picked up a pillow and placed it on the floor, right next to the bed.
I went over to my suitcase, pulled out some random pajamas, and went inside the bathroom.
The bathroom was nothing less than I expected. Antique marble flooring, a jacuzzi, and a freaking television right in front of it.
I was tempted to take a bath but I was too tired so I quickly went back out after changing. “Are you sure you're okay with sleeping on the floor— oh God!”
I yelled at the sight in front of me. He was shirtless and standing right in the middle of the room. Though it wasn't something I had not seen before, it'd just been so long.
I didn't know what came over me but I quickly covered my eyes. “Sophia? What's wrong?” He asked.
“Can you please put a shirt on?” I muttered, peeking one eye open.
Realization dawned on him and he frowned.
“You know I'm not used to sleeping with clothes on.” He smirked.
“So?” I raised a brow.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “So I'm going to have to remain shirtless. But for your sake, I guess I'll have to keep these on.” He pointed towards his pants with an amused expression on his face.
My mouth opened slightly. I tried to swallow but my throat had gone dry at the sight in front of me.
Snap out of this, Sophia!
I blinked, realizing that I was staring at him for too long. A small smirk played on his lips. “What's the matter, Sophia?” He asked deliberately in that well-known deep, husky voice of his.
“You better keep those pants on.” I finally managed to get out. I walked over to the bed and buried myself under the sheets to avoid his gaze.
He flicked the light switch off and after a few minutes of utter silence, I could hear his soft breathing next to the bed.
My mind wandered to the few times I've woken up to his breathing while lying on his chest and the memories made me teary.
I kept tossing and turning but no sleep came that night. Removing the sheets from my face, I slithered towards the edge of the bed as quietly as possible and watched him.
The moonlight from the window highlighted the features of his face as strands of luscious hair fell on his forehead. He looked so calm, almost like a baby and I couldn't help but smile.
“It's creepy you know.”
I gasped and almost fell off the bed at the sound of his voice.
“Oh God!” I placed my hand over my chest to calm my racing heart and shut my eyes for a moment.
“Sorry to disrupt your peaceful staring. It was cute at first but then, I thought you were possessed or something and were going to kill me, especially after what I asked you to do earlier.” My jaw dropped.
“I–I wasn't looking at you.” I was never good at lying!
“Of course not. You were looking at the stars outside. I just didn't realize I was the window.” I narrowed my eyes for a moment.
“I just couldn't......sleep,” I muttered, quietly.
“Me neither.” He said, eyeing me for a second. “Does it have anything to do with my presence?”
“Um, wh—what? Of course not.” I replied, hell-bent on lying again. I couldn't possibly tell him the truth now, could I?
“What about you?” I asked.
“Your presence.”
My heart skipped a beat. Taking in a shaky breath, I turned over to face the ceiling.
It wouldn't be so easy to get this time!
“There're a lot of things going on in my mind right now.” He whispered. Gulping, I nodded. “I know.”
I wasn't an idiot. I knew what his thoughts were because they were the same thoughts I was having.
Stifling a yawn, I looked out the balcony door, at the stars, feeling Alex's eyes on me.
“It's creepy, you know,” I said after a while, turning to him with a smirk but it vanished at the sight of him already asleep.
His chest rose after every second and I counted his even breaths for a while, syncing my breathing with his.
Smiling, I looked up at the ceiling again and finally dozed off after some time.
By the time I woke up, it was already 11 am and Alex was still asleep.
And as if hearing me wake up, he stirred in his sleep and his mesmerizing blue eyes opened. It was such an amazing sight for any morning.
“Good morning, Soph—fuck!” He cursed, his hands reaching for his back as he groaned in pain. “Stupid floor.” He muttered.
“Are you alright?” I stepped out of the bed.
He wasn't used to sleeping on the floor.
“Yeah.” He got up, stretching his muscles to probably eradicate the stiffness.
I found myself gaping at his flexing body and before he could notice, I looked away and cleared my throat.
“Do you mind if I shower first?” He asked. “Of course not.”
Nodding, he went inside the bathroom while I went through my stuff to choose an outfit.
After a few minutes, the bathroom door clicked open and I stood up to go to the bathroom but stopped in my tracks when Alex stepped out in only a towel, which was hanging low around his waist.
I let my eyes chase a water droplet that rolled down his torso and disappeared into the towel. I swallowed, hard.
“Like what you see?” He smirked.
I blinked. “You're so annoying! Urgh!”
He chuckled. “Next time, I might just not bother with the towel.” He teased me.
Shaking my head, I hurriedly went inside the bathroom.
What have I gotten myself into?
Why did I have to agree to such a silly idea?
Getting out of my clothes, I started humming a tune as I lathered the shampoo in my hair. After a long and relaxing shower, I was almost done drying my hair with the towel when I realized something.
I had left my clothes on the bed!
Sighing, I walked towards the door. “Alex, can you please hand me my clothes?”
No response.
“Mr Hayes?” I called again. Nothing.
I considered wearing my old clothes but the idea seemed gross after a shower. Maybe he wasn't in the room. I could easily go out and get my clothes.
Even if he was, it's not like he hasn't seen my naked body writhing under him before. But I was still hell-bent on upholding our boss-employee relationship and didn't want anything to ruin that.
I tied the towel around myself and opened the door a fraction to peek outside. All clear.
Tiptoeing my way to the bed, I almost grabbed my clothes when the door to the room flung open, freezing me in my spot.
“Of course not Alex. That was a stupid deal anyway—” Steve Harrison stopped talking when his eyes fell on me.
Beside him, Alex's jaw dropped open.
Embarrassing!
The situation couldn't have gotten any worse right? Wrong!
Because just then, my towel fell