I thought I was dreaming at first, but someone just kept tapping my arm gently but annoyingly.
I frowned and pulled the blanket over my head, but it came again.
I groaned, turning slowly, forcing my eyes open. Nathan was standing right there, leaning slightly, his face too close to mine. My heart jumped.
"What are you doing?" I asked with a cracked voice. Instinctively I checked the time on the bedside table.
6:02am.
My mouth fell open. "Are you serious? Why are you in my room? Do I look like a maid to you? Should I mop the whole mansion too?"
He blinked, then he actually laughed. "No cupcake, calm down. You're not here to clean anything."
That nickname again... cupcake.
I don't know if I like it or hate it.
I pulled the sheets up to my chest immediately, suddenly conscious of how I looked my hair was messy, and i was probably drooling like a newborn goat.Then it hit me.
"Wait… You pervert. Were you checking me out? I'm not your girlfriend."
It came out sharp, defensive and maybe too fast, but it was 6am and he was in MY room.
His brows shot up like I insulted his ancestors.
"Checking you out? Excuse you?" he scoffed. "Do you seriously think you're that hot? Don't flatter yourself, cupcake."
I stared at him for a full silent second, clearly embarrassed and annoyed.
Why did that sting more than it should?
"Tch. Whatever," I muttered and looked away.
He cleared his throat, suddenly all serious businessman mode. "I have a morning appointment. You didn't bring any clothes, so I need to take you to get some. You'll have to get ready now."
My only cloth was the one I slept in, reality slapped me again.
Right I followed a stranger here last night. Rich stranger but still a stranger.
I nodded slowly, rubbing my eyes. "Okay. I'll… freshen up."
He pointed toward the bathroom. "Go take a bath. I'll wait downstairs."
He left, and the room felt weirdly empty.
I sat there for a few seconds, processing my life choices like a confused goat.
Everything still felt unreal.
After bathing, i stood in the bathroom wrapped in a towel, staring at the mirror.
I took a deep breath and tiptoed to his room... honestly to ask what I should wear, but I didn't think to knock. My mind wasn't functioning at 6:30am.
I pushed the door open a little.
"Nathan....?"
He came out at that exact moment, his hair was dripping wet, and a towel hanging low on his waist, water still dripping down his chest.
My brain shut down like NEPA light.
I froze, my eyes fixed on him. Not on purpose though, my soul just refused to move.
He noticed instantly and a half smirk crawled up his face.
"You done staring?"
Blood rushed to my face so fast I felt heat in my ears.
"I... I wasn't staring. Relax."
Ugh, that lie was poorly executed.
He walked closer, still drying his hair casually. "So now I'm the one being checked out? Cute."
I swallowed. "I said I wasn't staring."
"Right," he said like he didn't believe a word. "Your eyes were just… appreciating the bathroom tiles behind me, hm?"
I glared weakly. "Don't flatter yourself. You're not… all that."
"Sure," he chuckled softly. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
My mouth moved before I could stop it. "I came because… I don't have clothes."
My voice was smaller this time because i was quite embarrassed.
He blinked, like he forgot. "Right. You didn't come with anything."
He opened his wardrobe but paused.
There were only shirts, suits and trousers nothing feminine.
"I don't have female clothes here," he said, scratching his neck.
The room went awkwardly quiet.
So I walked past him trying not to trip over my own heartbeat, I opened his wardrobe myself and pulled out one of his shirts. It was white and of course oversized. I spotted a pair of grey shorts and grabbed that too.
"This will do," I said quietly.
He just stared, not smirking this time.
Just… staring.
I put the shirt over the towel and let the fabric fall on me. It smelled like an expensive perfume and something warm, then the shorts were a little loose but wearable.
When I turned back, he was still frozen. Almost confused.
"W...what?" I asked, fidgeting with the hem.
He blinked slow. "Nothing. Just… wasn't expecting that."
His eyes softened for a moment, i faked a cough. "You said we're going shopping. So… let's go."
He snapped out of it, like he remembered he had a life before me. "Yeah. I'll just get dressed."
I walked past him, pretending my legs weren't jelly. And behind me, I swear I heard him breathe out like he'd been holding it since I entered.