Chapter 16: In Which He Tried to Get Even Closer

“He sleeps with the lights on? D*mn, that sounds like some mental sh*t. Your man has issues.” Trish hugged her pillow tighter.

Aurora braided her hair and stepped back to take a turn in front of the mirror. “He’s not my man.”

“Sure. And I’m Liv Accardi.” Trish rolled her eyes at Aurora’s glare, then added, “He found you a job. He gave you nice clothes.” She pointed to a heap of brand new clothes on Aurora’s bed. “Anyone can see that he’s doing all he can to get close to you.”

“He’s just a friend, Trish. Stop it,” Aurora protested. Her phone buzzed and she hastily picked it up to avoid more remarks from Trish.

Madame Zoya: Miss Aurora. We had a lot of business the past two days. Thank you for your hard work. You will get a bonus of two thousand dollars. I will give you your check next week.

Aurora gaped at her screen in silence. With this money, she's down to only three thousand. Her luck can’t be changing, can it?

"Your man's here." Trish crouched low at the window, straining her neck to sneak a peek outside. "D*mn, Rory. Your man's a f*cking sex god. How can someone look that sexy in just a T-Shirt and a pair of jeans?"

Aurora climbed up beside her and peeped through the blinds.

Theo was in a black T-shirt and tight, grey jeans that showed off his thick muscles. He was in his usual waiting pose - body propped against the side of his black sports car, a hand holding up his phone as he read from it.

From where they were, he looked like the God of Mars. Trish was right - every inch of him oozed sex appeal.

"Remember, safe sex," Trish winked.

"Trish!" Aurora glared back with flushed cheeks.


******


The plane soared smoothly across the bright, warm sky, gliding over the shimmering, blue ocean.

Inside, Aurora's eyes widened at Theo who nonchalantly sipped on his red wine.

"We're going to Gill's private island?"

Theo swallowed and nodded. "He built a resort on it. We’ll be going there. Usually it’s open for the public. But this weekend, he had the entire resort booked for his wedding guests."

A breath of awe left Aurora's lips. How does one come to buy an entire island?

Theo chuckled lightly. His fingers brushed across her right cheek as he tucked a loose strand behind her ear.

"Kate has filled our agenda with activities, but I'll find a time to bring you around the place. There are many beautiful spots. I'm sure you'll like it."

Aurora leaned closer with a soft smile, her shoulder pressed against his biceps, and Theo looked into her eyes.

She whispered in a sultry tone with a smile. "I look forward to it."

Since she was on a vacation, she might as well enjoy herself.


******


Aurora stepped into the lavishly decorated room that matched the nature bursting outside her window.

She went to the high glass door and stepped through it. The vast bluish-green sea, glistening under the afternoon sun, welcomed her view. She inhaled deeply and exhaled, feeling the tension inside her slowly dissipating.

"Lunch is now. You ready?"

Aurora looked over shoulder and Theo was beaming at her. She shot him a deadpan face.

"I still find it strange that they are out of beds."

Theo tried to look disappointed. "Yeah. Me too. Believe me, I tried to talk to Gill, but he gave the priority to the single and available guests."

Aurora opened her mouth to argue, but remembered their deal and clamped her lips. They are supposed to be a couple; she can’t be single and available.

Theo couldn't stop a tiny smile of satisfaction. His gaze darted to the mirror behind her when she furrowed her brows suspiciously at him.

“Maybe I’ll go talk to Gill.”

Theo circled his arms around her slender waist and pulled her forward. "The bed is big enough for the both of us. Let's not trouble the man. He's already busy with his honeymoon."

Aurora tilted her head sideways and smirked back. "Fine. We can always stack the pillows in the middle."

Theo widened his gaze. He had forgotten about that tiny detail.

Gill had kept his promise to Theo. The best room with the best view and one bed. But as usual, that tech tycoon didn't bother with the details: the bed was big enough to sleep ten.

Now, Aurora wanted to put pillows between them.

Theo groaned inwardly. His goddess was moving further and further from him. He was looking forward to a nice morning cuddle. Grinning at her sly expression, he secretly planned to ask the resort manager to remove all the pillows.

"Let's go for lunch. I'm famished." She smiled knowingly at him.

Theo threw his head back and laughed at the memory of the same remark she made before their lunch with zia. It was like a private joke known only to the two of them - and he liked it. He felt that they had grown closer.

As they stepped out of the room, the door of the neighboring room closed, and a familiar high-pitched voice hit the air.

"Theo! What a coincidence. Our rooms are next to each other's again."

Aurora looked at Audrey, who ignored her and wound an arm around Theo's elbow. Those cat-like eyes narrowed hungrily at Theo as her voice purred, "We're going to have fun again, just like the old times."

Fun -- what fun? Aurora stared at Theo meaningfully.

Theo switched his view from Aurora to Audrey and let out a weary sigh.

He pulled his arm out of Audrey's grasp and went across Aurora's shoulder instead. "We've broken up, Audrey. Let it go. I'm with Aurora now."

Audrey's beautiful face contorted slightly at the cold remark. Then, she 'spotted' Aurora and sneered.

"Oh, Aurora! I didn't realize you'd be here. Then, of course, why wouldn't you? If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'd hold onto Theo like he's a gold mine."

"Audrey!" Theo boomed across the corridor. "Stop being rude. I invited Aurora, so she's my guest. Apologize to her."

Audrey lifted her nose defiantly and stormed off, her heels clicking furiously down the hall.

Aurora glanced at Theo's angry face and slid her fingers through his and squeezed his hand.

He looked down at her and mustered a soft smile. "Let's go."


******


"What is your favorite position?"

Gill pushed his gold-rimmed specs up the bridge of his nose and grinned at his wife, a gorgeous, slim woman with long, brown hair, blushing quietly beside him.

After lunch, Gill had his close friends gathered in the recreation room for drinks and games that Kate had prepared.

They were into the second round of Truth or Dare, and the bottle had stopped at Gill.

With his head bowed, Gill uttered, "Truth. The six-nine."

And the crowd erupted into hoots of cheer and piercing screams, as Kate repeatedly gave light hits of her fist on her husband’s arm.

Aurora laughed along.

Theo noted her nervous silence at the start of the game, but then she became more at ease after the first question, laughing along with the others, and he relaxed again.

"Theo!" The crowd chorused.

Startled, he looked down and sure enough, the bottle was pointed at him.

Gill eyed at him with a mean glint. "I'm not letting you off, pal. It's about time we get to know more about your girl."

Oohs and aahs injected the casual atmosphere.

Aurora felt her cheeks warming up with the heightened attention on her, but she raised her chin confidently. "Ask away."

As the crowd burst into whoops of anticipation, Aurora turned to Theo and he flashed his magnetic grin at her. Then, her gaze switched to Gill and Kate, who were grinning mischievously at her. Audrey was next to Kate, sulking in the background. Aurora returned her a glare then looked away.

"Same question, Theo-boy. What's your favorite position?"

The question scalded Aurora's cheeks as the crowd went wild.

Amidst the cheers, Theo straightened and answered curtly, "I choose dare."

The crowd booed but Theo smiled quietly at the ground. Then, Gill revealed the dare.

"Kiss Aurora for one minute."

Aurora's eyes flew to Theo.