Burning Passion

CHAPTER 46: TINIEST HOPE

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I woke up in the room I stayed in the last time I was in Mainland City Hospital. Why was I brought here?

But what surprised me is to recognize the person sleeping on the couch, near to my bed.

What am I doing here? Isn't it supposed that I should be home by now?

I remembered. I was walking toward the gate of the mansion when John followed me. While we were talking, I lost consciousness.

I looked around to find my purse. Gladly, it was placed on my left bedside table. I sat up on the bed to reach for it. I take out my phone to check the time.

3:30 in the morning? I should have gone home! I wonder if Mae and Chris were also here.

"Mae, where are you? What happened to me?" I texted her, but she isn't replying. I want to call her, but I don't want to bother them this much if they were home already.

"Nikki?"

I jolted upon hearing his voice. I know it was Theo, but the way he calls my name it was tender and sensual.

"Are you feeling okay?"

He asked me. I swallowed before replying to him, stuttering. "Yes— yes..." 

I gasped as Theo sat beside me. I want to move to my right. But there was a pillow and a dead-end for me by the headboard.

"You're not running a fever. Have you stressed yourself again?"

'What he's doing?' I asked myself when Theo reaches for my forehead. His voice is deep and gives me an electrifying sensation throughout my body. I could also feel his body warmth, and I wished to be locked inside his arms.

I hugged myself. Not because it was cold, but I don't particularly appreciate how my body reacted to Theo's touch.

'What are you doing, Nikki Lindsey?' I scolded myself and shook my head to wake up and pull myself together.

"Um. Can I go home now?" I asked Theo, avoiding meeting his gaze.

"I am not sure, Nik. But Doctor Yonah advised on a set of tests tomorrow."

"Oh, I see."

I was worried. Why did I lose consciousness? Am I anemic again? But I am taking my supplements. Is it something when I get drunk?

"Is Chris and Mae still here?" I asked afterward. I wonder if they were outside, sleeping on the sectional settee. Besides, I want to distract myself or have an excuse to get out of this room.

"They already went home. But don't worry. Mae and Chris won't tell Aunt Lucy you were in the hospital. We came up with ideas that you were spending overnight with friends after the party."

Bewildered, I don't particularly appreciate how I have always lied to mama, and this guilt has eaten me up.

"Nik?"

I turn my head toward Theo. From the soft light of the ceiling, Theo's stares are solemn and passionate. I wish that I could read his mind. Somehow, something is telling me to stay away from him.

"Um, are you saying something?" Stuttering, I asked. My chest thumps loudly, and I hope he won't hear it.

"If you want to go home right now, then I will drive you home."

I contemplate Theo's offer. If I go home now, and they saw Theo dropped me by, people would put a meaning to it. Even though I am living in the city, people still love to gossip. I shook my head.

"Well, if mama knows I was with my friends, then I better go home tomorrow after the lab tests. But um…"

I glanced at my clothes, and I panicked.

'Oh, gosh!' I want to pull the blanket, but Theo is seated on it. My dress rolled up, showing too much of my legs and the fullness of my cleavage-revealing upfront.

No wonder Theo is looking at me this intensely. I was showing so much skin! Ugh. I'm digging my brain to find some excuse that our bodies could have a distance from each other. This tension between us is getting unbearable.

"Um, can I have… some…"

I froze. I was staring at the wall behind Theo. I could taste the champagne in his mouth. It takes another minute before my brain works to realize that Theo is kissing me.

He's kissing me???????

Embarrassingly, I was like someone had her first kiss; frozen on the bed, I cannot move from the shock. It was like a stupid reaction since I already been kissed by someone. However, I never saw that man's face.

And knowing it was Theo, my heart beats crazily.

He is holding my face with both of his hands. Feverishly, he kissed me and tried to open my mouth, encouraging me to respond and imitate the way his mouth danced on top of mine.

But it does wonder to me if all men kiss the same. I cannot answer my query, as aside from that mysterious man, it was Theo I only had to kiss.

Somewhat, their kisses are the same. The only difference is, my consciousness perceives it was Theo, envisioning his face inside my head while our lips brush each other.

Later, I place both of my palms to his chest, and I can sense his heartbeats. It was beating fast. I wonder if he is nervous.

Oh, shot. I want to giggle. But Theo has been shutting my mouth as he deepens his kisses. Once I let him in, he quickly searches for my tongue, like telling me his home.

His mouth was like champagne, but it tastes sweeter. Later, I could feel his hand clasping my right chest.

I jolted when I felt his palm touching my very skin. I recalled wearing a different brassier that won't be visible upfront when wearing such a revealing dress like mine.

It was the reason he quickly pulls it down, and now Theo played with my nipple using his thumb.

I gasped and reached for his neck. It sent a hundred volts throughout my body.

I cling to Theo's coat's collar when his other hand starts caressing my back, and I could feel the warmth in his palm going through the fabric.

I sighed between our kisses when he caressed my other breast. I cannot think straight anymore, but lost in his touch.

'When did he push me in the bed?' I asked myself when I don't feel the pillow anymore.

I remained to stare at the ceiling when he left my lips, but his mouth, trailing down my neck.

I sighed. I gather all my strength, l that enough to push him away.

"Nik?" 

Theo wondered why I push him. But it was my right palm that answered him. My right hand landed on Theo's left cheek. I fought back my tears as I would not allow them to escape from my eyes.

"Get out." With a shaking voice, I spoke. "Leave, please!"

I raised my voice this time.

"Nikki, I—"

"You need not explain," I said, wishing he just left me alone in an instant.

I could feel he's unwilling to leave. Theo slowly drags his feet out of the room. Shortly, my tears race from my eyes down to my chin.

I knew it. Because Theo heard I'm probably sleeping around. He then thought he could hit on me to strip my clothes off and be naked underneath him.

I reach for my sleeves and fix my dress as it exposes my breasts.

He thinks I was a slut. Why was I hoping for someone like him to love me?

I would be just somebody's possession. That is the sad truth. I know I shouldn't wish for something impossible.

But the tiniest hope, I could have a grasp of the love I dreamed.