MasukMinutes later, Ciara and Blake stepped out of the ward. “ We need to go and see the doctor,” Blake said to Grayson. “ Hm.” He nodded. Ciara looked at Tessa who was still looking pale, she exhaled and said. “ He's asking for you.” Tessa’s chest skipped. “ You should go and see him,” Ciara said before walking away. Tessa looked at Grayson with her eyes filled with uncertainty. “ I'll go with you.” He muttered. She swallowed, slowly stood up, and went into the ward with him. She saw the traction first and her heart sank instantly. Her fingers curled at her side as every step towards him felt heavier. The cast around his leg was big and heavy, hanging on the traction. Then, slowly, with her hand shaking, she pulled the curtain and saw him lying on the bed. “ Hey.” He waved, smiling. Tears immediately gathered in her eyes, relief washing over her as her eyes swept over his body. Apart from the broken leg, he has no other injury. Maybe a few bruises here a
The hospital smelled like antiseptic and fear. Tessa ran frantically inside, looking around like a lost seeker with Grayson by her side. “ Come.” He said, already heading for the front desk but she beat him to it. Panting with fear. Her hands had begun shaking again, her eyes batting as she felt closer to the answer that would either shatter her or relieve her. “ Hi.” She breathed. “ I.. I am looking for Tyler.” “ Tyler what ma'am?” The nurse asked. “ Tyler Beaumont.” Grayson quickly answered, his chest pulling tight upon seeing how worried and unsettled she was. The nurse typed quickly. “ Third floor. Last room.” Tessa did not wait, she sprinted. Grayson followed, slower, watching as panic consumed her completely. By the time she reached the third floor, her lungs were burning. She raced to the last room, but a nurse was exiting the room, stopping her midway. “ How can we help you ma'am?” “ I .. I received a call..” she swallowed, her voice cracking. “ Tyle
Grayson’s eyes sparked with fire, thrills raced down his veins as one of his brows arched. ‘ She's challenging me?’ The question flashed with amusement across his mind. His lips curved into a dangerous smile. Small. Unnervingly thrilling. His heart thudding. He lifted his hand to her face, touching her lower lip with his thumb. Very gently. Very deadly. His voice, deep, hoarse, like a man trying so hard not to lose control. “ Tessa… do you even know what you're asking for?” Their breaths—uneven now. Their faces —inches apart. Her breath stuttered, but she stared back into his eyes defiantly. Her voice so low it came almost like a whisper. “ Maybe I want to know.” ‘ Fuck.’ he expressed internally, his hand sliding to the back of her head, bringing her face closer to his. His lips hovered over hers, exchanging hot breaths with the kind of tension that seemed to be threaded on a tiny string. One that could snap at any second. Their lips—parted, their breath shaky wit
“ I don't know all that he has taken from you, but he's not taking me.” Tessa tried to reassure. “ No, you don't know that.” He shook his head, tears sliding down his cheeks and the sight made her inside-out twisted guiltily. “ You don't know anything, Tessy.” “ Stop crying, Tyler, please.” He sniffled. “ I was scared.” He began, voice cracking. “ Everything I did was because I was scared of losing you. I've loved you all my life, Tessy.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “ I buried it deep. Tried not to show it cause what if I'm not enough for you, what if I can't love you as you deserve.” A beat. “ Those were my fears. What if I asked you out, and you became my girlfriend, and we broke up, fuck! Tessy, I would never remain the same again.” He shook his head, more tears streaming down his cheeks. “ So I couldn't bring myself to even let you know, that I've always love you.” He slowly looked up at her, eyes filled with raw pain, unfiltered heartache that made her st
She could feel her heart thudding against her rib, adjusting her big shade glass before taking the elevator to his condo. ‘ I'm insane. Of fuck I'm really insane.’ she clenched her teeth as she repeated in her head. The moment the elevator arrived at the floor, she quickly stepped out, bowing her head and adjusting her coat collar to cover her neck as if she didn't want anyone to discover it was her. She soon arrived at his condo, after two knocks, the door opened and she stepped in without any exchange of words. Bennett closed the door, turning back to her with a soft scoff. “ Is the whole cover-up necessary?” Ciara pushed the coat off her body and the glass, dropping them on the couch. She heaved a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair before turning to him. “ What do you think you're doing?” “ Hm?” Ben furrowed his brow, walking slowly to her but she stepped back before he could get any closer. “ What were you thinking? Texting me like that when I'm
Something about her answer made his shoulders less tense. His eyes remained closed as he moved his face to her neck, sniffing in her scent. The contact of his face, the warmth of his breath against her skin made her clutched tighter to him. Her head tilted back, but when he sniffed her in, a soft gasp—almost like a moan slipped out of her lips. Her body was pulsing, in a way she had never felt before, down to her inner thighs. ‘ God..’ she cried in her mind, subconsciously holding him tighter, feeling his warmth, his muscles from the shirt. Everything about him, at this instant, drives her insane, spinning her head in ways she feels she might be taking advantage of him. But just then, just when his trembles and whimpers were gone, she noticed his slow steady breathing. So peaceful unlike the chaos going on within her. “ Gray.” She called softly. “ Grayson?” She called again just to realize he'd fallen asleep, his face still against her neck while resting on her. ‘ He's sl
They started heading back when dusk slowly began to approach, but the clouds were beginning to gather like a quiet conspiracy overhead. They rolled in thick, and heavy, swallowing the sun inch by inch. Everyone could feel it, from the whispers against the trees to the steady gush that tugged at t
| THE NEXT MORNING— ITALY | The vibration of phone stirred Tessa awake. She moaned as she stretched on the bed, dawn bleeding through the curtains. She fluttered her eyes open slowly. Her body felt stiff from sleeping too close to the edge of the bed, a careful distance maintained between her an
“ You're shaking, Tess. And I haven't even done anything.” Her breath hitched, face reddened with embarrassment. Her brow creased in anger and confusion at how hard her chest was pounding, and why her body was trembling like that. But she cared not about any answer at the point, she just wanted
Disdain radiates through her with a murderous glare. She breathed in slowly, exhaled calmly to ease the rage. Minutes had passed but she was still fuming. Tessa stood by the side of the bed, in her pajamas, eyes shooting daggers at the man lying on the other side of the bed. His arms folded







