84.

Taliya stood alone in the grand but deceivingly small beach house, its cozy exterior masking an expansive, elegant interior. Every room she wandered through held a different story: richly polished wood, plush furniture, and the subtle aroma of something exotic—sandalwood, maybe? Or perhaps amber. It was hard to tell, her senses muddled from exhaustion and anxiety.

Faraz had left without a word, his footsteps fading into the distance as he seemingly vanished, leaving her in a strange, haunting silence. For a moment, Taliya considered calling out to him but thought better of it. She was here because he wanted her to be; she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of hearing her concern or fear.

As she continued exploring, her eyes fell upon a partially open door at the end of the hallway. She pushed it open and entered, realizing almost instantly that this must be Faraz’s room. The scent from earlier was stronger here, mixed with hints of leather and the faint, musky smell that was uniquely his. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the house, with its dark, modern decor and personal touches—a stack of books on the nightstand, a carefully arranged chess set by the window.

Taliya caught a glimpse of herself in a floor-length mirror by the bed, and she froze. Her reflection was shocking. Dirt clung to her skin, and her clothes were rumpled and torn. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her hair hung limp and tangled. She looked haunted, worn down by days of fear and uncertainty. A wave of shame crept over her as she took in her disheveled appearance. Shaking her head, she whispered to herself, “This… this isn’t me.”

Determined to wash away the feeling of helplessness, Taliya spotted a door in the corner, leading to what she hoped was a bathroom. She entered to find a sleek, modern space, the tiles cool and smooth under her feet. She turned on the shower, letting the warm water stream down in a steady, soothing flow, and stepped inside.

As the water cascaded over her, washing away the grime and weariness, she felt a strange sense of renewal. The past few days had stripped her of so much—her strength, her confidence—but here, under the water, she could almost feel herself piecing back together.

Taliya’s heart pounded as she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped snugly in a towel, relishing in the clean warmth that lingered on her skin. But her brief comfort was shattered as her eyes landed on a massive, hairy spider crawling along the edge of the bed. A scream escaped her lips as she reflexively scrambled onto the nearest surface—the tall cupboard by the wall—clinging to it for dear life.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, and suddenly, the door flew open. Faraz appeared, breathing hard, eyes wide with alarm. His gaze darted around before landing on her, perched awkwardly on top of the cupboard, clutching her towel as though it might somehow protect her from the tiny creature below.

“What on earth happened?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of the scene.

Taliya pointed a trembling finger toward the bed. “There… there’s a spider!”

Faraz blinked, his expression shifting from worry to exasperation, then finally to amusement. His lips curved into a smirk as he spotted the small creature in question. Walking over, he plucked it up effortlessly, the spider nearly vanishing into the width of his palm. He moved to the window, tossed it outside, and dusted his hands as though he’d just conquered something much larger.

“Just a spider,” he muttered with a chuckle, turning back to her. But his amusement faltered as he really looked at her—her cheeks flushed, her hair still damp, a slender figure wrapped in nothing but a towel. For a moment, his gaze lingered, softening almost imperceptibly.

Without a word, he crossed the room to her, extending a hand. “Come down. You can’t stay up there all night.”

Still shaken, Taliya hesitated before reaching out. His hand was warm and firm as it enveloped hers, and he placed a steadying grip on her bare arm. He lifted her easily, guiding her down from her perch with surprising gentleness. But as her bare feet hit the floor, his hand didn’t release her arm. Instead, he looped an arm beneath her knees and swept her into his arms.

“Faraz—” she gasped, startled, clutching the edge of his shirt as he held her close.

“Hush,” he murmured, his gaze flickering over her with an unreadable intensity. “Wouldn’t want you slipping and falling after that heroic escape from a spider.”

She felt a wave of heat rush to her cheeks. “I—I could’ve gotten down on my own.”

“Sure, after a few hours of screaming, maybe,” he teased, but his voice softened as he spoke.

Taliya tightened her grip on the towel, pulling it closer around herself as she averted her gaze from Faraz. The warmth of his body against hers was disorienting, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Can you put me down? I need some clothes,” she stammered, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

Faraz raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Clothes? Right. I guess I can’t let you wander around half-naked.” He took a moment to survey her, a half-smile teasing the corners of his lips. “You’ll have to make do with what I have. I’m afraid my wardrobe isn’t very extensive for guests.”

He set her down gently but didn’t release her entirely, his hands lingering at her waist for a heartbeat longer than necessary. “Wait here,” he said, taking a step back, and she nodded quickly, grateful for the space.

As he rummaged through his drawers, Taliya’s eyes darted around the room. It was decorated simply yet tastefully, the furniture sleek and modern, but nothing compared to the heat building in her cheeks as she thought about the shirtless man before her. Faraz returned with a loose, plain white shirt and a pair of boxers. “Here,” he said, tossing them to her.

“Um, these are a bit… big,” Taliya mumbled, holding up the oversized fabric, realizing just how much larger they were than her own clothes.

“Just roll them up,” he suggested casually, leaning against the wall with a smirk. “Unless you prefer to stay wrapped in that towel?”

Taliya’s face flushed even deeper, and she quickly turned her back to him, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. As she pulled the shirt over her head, the material hung down almost to her knees, the sleeves swallowing her hands. She tugged at the waistband of the boxers, which sagged low on her hips, threatening to slip down.

“Hold on,” Faraz said, a sudden seriousness in his voice. He moved back to the drawer and pulled out a few safety pins, his brows furrowing slightly as he approached her. “This should help.”

“Safety pins?” she asked, puzzled, glancing over her shoulder.

“Yeah, I can pin them to fit you better. Just hold still,” he instructed, a hint of mischief sparkling in his eyes.

Taliya swallowed hard, her heart racing at the thought of him so close. She turned to face him again, and he moved to her side, his hands deftly adjusting the fabric around her waist. The sensation of his fingers grazing her skin made her shiver, and she couldn’t help but squirm under his touch.

“Stay still,” he teased, his voice low and steady. “I’m not going to bite.”

“Easier said than done,” she murmured, feeling the warmth of his body so close. He focused on pinning the excess fabric, his fingers brushing her skin as he maneuvered the material, and Taliya couldn’t suppress the blush spreading across her cheeks.

“There,” he said, stepping back to admire his handiwork. “Not perfect, but it’ll work for now.”

Taliya glanced down, and although the makeshift outfit was still too big, it felt oddly comforting. She looked up to see Faraz’s eyes appraising her, his expression softening.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, a slight smile gracing his lips. “Just doing my part. But remember, I’m still keeping an eye on you. Don’t think you can wander off without me knowing.”

“Like I’d want to,” she retorted, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips.

Faraz chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, alright. Just… don’t scare me like that again. It’s hard enough keeping you safe as it is.”

She opened her mouth to respond but paused, feeling a rush of gratitude. Despite the circumstances, he was trying to look out for her, and that meant something. “I’ll try my best,” she promised, her tone sincere.

“Good,” he replied, a hint of warmth in his voice as he stepped back, giving her space. “Now, let’s figure out what to do next.”

Her eyes widens in horrified expression.