Chapter nineteen

Nick had not been able to sleep. Two rooms away! She was too rooms away and he couldn't even do a thing about it. He had led her to her door the previous night where he had reminded her about the self-defense lessons.
She had tried to get herself out of them but he wasn't having any of that. It was her own fault that she had gone to sleep late. And he had made that very clear.
So now he lay awake, waiting for six o'clock to strike so that he would be able to see her again
He got off the bed at five and got ready, then he went over to the gym and began working out before she got there.
But then six hit and she was yet to arrive. He gave her five minutes to turn up, and when she didn't, he decided to go and get her himself. This was about the self-defense lessons, he told himself. It had nothing to do with getting her alone.
From now on he would keep his distance and focus strictly on his job.
He got go the door and knocked, then he waited like the proper individual he was. Until he got tired and invited himself in of course.
She was still in bed, just as expected. Sleeping peacefully under her blankets. He called out her name from just inside the doorway. Weary of going any further. At one point she seemed to hear him. Then she mumbled something under her breath and went back to sleep. Bringing the covers over her head and sinking further down the bed.
Nick walked towards her. Then he realised that he would not be able to maintain his cool when he was that close. The only logical thing to do was leave. Besides, she must have been exhausted. They would change the time of the lessons to the evening, it sounded more practical that way.
With his mind made up about that, he turned to leave.
But then something caught his attention.
On the bedside table right next to her bed lay what appeared to be a book. He knew deep down that he shouldn't pick it up. That it was a violation of privacy.
But when it came to the woman on the bed right next to him, he never seemed to act as expected .
So he picked the book and flipped through the pages. It was a sketchbook.
Filled with art like he'd never seen. And that wasn't only because he had never actually seen a lot of it. The reason behind his madness truly was talented
He stared at the drawings of sunset by the beach. Of a horse running through a field. Of a group of children in a flower garden. A couple playing in the rain.
He flipped through a lot more equally spectacular pages, until....... him.
He recognised the drawing. It was the day they bad first met. He was standing by the door in the washroom, looking at her. He flipped the pages again.
Him.
Him.
Him.
It was always him!
He heard some movements, shifting and then the sound of Crystal as she started screaming. But just like last time he was able to stop her,covering her mouth with his hand.
She was trembling. Her gaze shifted from him, to the hand on her mouth, then to the book in his hand.
Crap, she thought.
Nick cautiously let her go. Then she asked him what he was doing there.
" You can't just keep breaking into my room like this! " she stated, the sleep now far gone.
" I wouldn't have to if you actually do as I say and show up to the gym on time, "
Crystal had forgotten all about that. Mostly because she had not planned on going.
Nick then lifted the book and she snatched it from him.
"You had no right to do that! "
" Do what? "
The fact that he acted unaware only made her more angry.
"Go through my things! "
Crossing her arms over the book, she dared to meet his gaze. But for once, he wasn't looking at her, his head hang down and his focus on the ground.
" Five thirty in the evening, " he casually stated and she was about to ask him what he meant but he spoke again.
" I've decided to reschedule the lessons. Be in the gym by then or I'll be forced to tell your dad that you won't cooperate, " he said before walking out.
Seriously?
Crystal laid her head back on the pillow and wondered just what his deal was. And now thanks to him she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. How could she when her entire room now held his scent. He must have been in there for a while before she woke up.
She stared at her sketchbook and groaned. How much had he seen?
Now he definitely thought she was crazy. And not just crazy but crazy for him, which was way worse.
Just how would she find the courage to face him again!
✳️❇️✳️❇️✳️
Throughout the entire day, he had not said a word to her. Well, he never really talked much but today it felt worse. Like he was... ignoring her.
So that's how it felt!
He basically just loomed behind her and did everything she asked in silence. She knew she ought to be glad that he wasn't making her feel as uncomfortable as be usually did but she wasn't.
She wanted him to say something, anything as long as he talked. Or just acknowledged her presence. The day seemed to go on for forever but finally it was time to head home. He stood inside her doorway and when he saw he stand, he opened up the door and stepped aside. Like he was trying to not touch her. Even accidently.
When they got back home, he walked her to her door.
" Don't forget to go to the gym, " he said as she got in. Most words he had said to her all day.
She walked into her room and kicked off her heels. Then she went to her closet and changed into a pair of black tights and a gray top. She held her hair up in a ponytail and threw herself face down on her bed.
He was a jerk. And she was not going to let him play with her emotions like that! With that in mind, she left her room and headed for the gym which was on the second level of the house.
All she had to do was concentrate on anything apart from him.
The door to the gym was open and she walked in. Then she realised just how bad she was at concentrating.
He was at the far end of the room. Doing lift ups on some hand bars.
Shirtless.
She watched how his muscles flexed when he moved. How compelling the ribbed outline of his chest was.
Never again had she been so hypnotized simply by someones physical features. The pair of sweats he wore hang low on his trim waist.
He reminded her of a sort of god. One who was well aware of the authority he held.
He stopped and picked up a towel hang next to him and only then did he seem to notice her. His chiselled jaw set in the usual firm line she'd grown used to. He finished with the towel and tossed it aside before walking over to the mat on the other side.
" Come here, " he instructed and she almost didn't hear him. Too busy taking in the sight of his naked chest. She did as asked and moved to stand a few feet away from him.
" Closer, "
She moved two steps, her heart was beating faster for some stupid reason.
" Closer, " his voice seemed to compel her to go to him.
She moved three steps until she was standing right in front of him. She kept he eyes fixed on the floor. No way she could handle looking at him.
"We'll start with a few basic moves, " he said.
She didn't care, as long as they got it over with as soon as possible. She was so endorsed in her thoughts that she almost screamed when he suddenly shifted to stand behind her. One arm around her neck. The other holding her hand to her back.
She had not even seen him move. And the closeness was a little more than she was capable of handling.
This truly was going to be harder than she'd thought.
✳️❇️✳️❇️✳️
" What would you do if this happened? " Nick asked.
He had to be crazy. Questions needed answers, answers needed logic, logic needed a clear mind.
And at the moment, her mind was in no way clear.
She tried using her free hand to hit him or get him to loosen his grip. She failed. He finally let her go and she leaped away.
" If that happens, step on the guy as hard as you can, ten use your foot to hit him in the leg. He'll probably try to tackle you and when he does, use either your elbow or knee to hit him. He won't see it coming and you'll have a chance to make a run. Got it? "
She nodded and he turned as if to leave, but he didn't. He moved again with the same lethal grace. Held her exactly as he had the first time.
She recalled what he had just said and went to step on his foot. But he swept her off hers first and she fell.
He went down with her. Cushioning her fall, making sure she didn't even get close to getting hurt. Then he leveled himself on top of her with his hands on either side of her head.
Nick watched the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed in and out.
He had sensed her the moment she'd walked in. It was like a trigger suddenly went off in his head. Making him irrational. Making him want.
Crystal struggled to get free but God he was strong. He had no idea what he was doing or why he was doing it. Especially since he'd vowed himself off her. But he had no restraint when it came to her.
She made him do things he normally wouldn't. FEEL things he normally wouldn't.
" That guy you were with yesterday. Who was he? " were his first words. She looked confused at first before realising who he was referring to.
" Who? Gabriel?... He's a famous painter, " just why were they still discussing this.
" How well do you know him? "
It was something that had been eating him up since the previous night.
" I don't. I'm just fond of his work. "
" Was he the one that invited you to the galla? "
" No, Miguel gave me his invitation since he didn't feel like going. "
Nick gave her a slight nod. She was curious as to why he was so interested but she didn't ask. Nothing would come out of it. She waited for him to finally let her go and when he didn't, she asked him to get off her.
That was not how training worked.
" Get off me. This floor is really hard, " it wasn't. Not really, but he was making it hard for it to breath.
" Seven. "Nick said. His voice stern, as if he was accusing her of something. She wondered what he was referring to.
"What? "
He studied her the way one would a map. Taking in every detail there was.
" The number of times you've drawn me. It's seven. Why? "
Short clipped words, straight to the point.
"That's none of your concern! "
" Of course it is. "
She had honesty thought he'd let this go. That they were over this already.
" Well, that's what I do. DRAW! " she shouted.
He watched as she turned her face away from him.
" We both know that's not true. And trust me when I say that I can keep at this the whole day until you tell me! "
What did he expect her to say? That arrogant prick!
" I said get off -"
" Look at me! "
She didn't.
" I said look at me! "
" Who the hell do you think you are? " She sounded furious but at least she done as asked. She licked her lips and he had to fist his hands to maintain control.
" This has nothing to do with me. You're the one with the complications! " he was on edge. He barely understood what was going on. The only thing in his head was her.
Complications? Crystal wondered. What was he talking about!
" I don't have any complications and I swear that if you don't let me go I'll -"
" Scream? "
she narrowed her eyes .That was exactly what she wanted to say. So she made a mental note to find another threat. His still unmovable features made her want to scream. If only to get a reaction. The fact that he was always unaffected by everything angered her to the point of madness.
And it was that thought that made her say what she did. If it was an answer he wanted then an answer he'd get.
" I drew you because for some godforsaken reason I can't seem to get you out of my freaking mind! I don't know why but I can't help it . There! You happy now? "
Nick didn't know what he had expected her to say but that definitely wasn't it. It was something he was sure he knew, but hearing her say it made something move within him.
He stilled and she made him move away, then she stood and stomped out of there. Completely furious.
Perhaps he ought to quit the job. Trouble was, he couldn't.
That was not negotiable. No way he was going back home this messed up. He would get himself straight, then he'd leave and go as far as he could.
Somewhere with absolutely no chance of ever meeting with Crystal again. But in order to get over her, he had to have her.
Just once would be enough to satiate the hunger that had been building up inside him since the second he first laid eyes on her.
Just once.......