NINA

Eric stood in front of Nina just as she had completely erased him from her mind. She wondered how long it would take before she would be able to do that again. His eyes ran down her body before fixing onto her face, his gaze, so intense and filled with want. She sighed. It's going to take a long time.

"What a coincidence," Nina muttered as she came in and sat down on the couch opposite him. There was only a small round table between the two couches, and she began regretting her choice of seating. The proximity was enough to make her feel his presence in a way she hadn't expected.

Eric smiled at her, his eyes crinkling with mirth, "It's not." He sat down and leaned forward, leaving mere inches between them. Nina's body tensed, her breath catching in her throat, but she forced herself to relax back into her seat, trying to create some distance, but the space between them felt too small, too intimate.

"What?" she asked, confused, though a part of her already knew where this was going.

"It's not a coincidence. I came here for you."

Nina's heart stopped for a second, and her breath got caught in her throat. She could never get used to him. Every word from him felt like an electric jolt, one that sent shivers down her spine.

"How did you know I study here?" she asked, trying to maintain some semblance of control.

He grinned, "Was that supposed to be a secret?"

"No. No, it wasn't," she replied, though her words felt like a half-truth. He didn't give her a chance to think further, his gaze steady on her.

"How long until the event begins?" he asked, his voice smooth, pulling her out of the whirlwind of thoughts that had started to spin.

Nina glanced at her watch, "The guest should be here in about ten minutes."

"I wish he's held up even more," Eric muttered.

"How would that benefit you?" she asked, frowning. It was already so hectic, and he wanted to make the situation even more complicated?

"I would get more time with you," he said, his warm gaze piercing through her soul.

She stared into his light brown eyes, a magnetic force pulling her closer. His intensity made her heart race as if it was trying to escape her chest. He placed his hand on the table, and his gaze flickered down to her lips before meeting her eyes again. Every inch of her body was alert now, her breath shallow. She could feel the pull between them, but something inside her resisted.

The table scratched the surface of the floor as Eric inched closer, breaking the moment just enough for Nina to pull back. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rush of emotions that threatened to drown her.

"What are you playing at, Lockwood?" she asked, her voice firmer than she felt.

"I am not playing. I'm being honest with you," he said. "I want to spend time with you. I want to get to know you more."

Every word that came out of his mouth churned her heart. Being alone in the room with him was painful. But she had no choice. She was assigned the task. Besides, didn't she already determine that she was just attracted to him, nothing more? She sighed. That's even more dangerous. When you feel only attraction, it's easier to lose control and rationale.

"Do you want something to drink?" she asked, trying to change the subject and regain control.

"What is your favorite drink?" he asked.

"What can I get you, Mr. Lockwood?" she asked, gritting her teeth.

"Are we playing the Question game?" he asked, amused.

She huffed, annoyed. Clamping her mouth shut, she folded her arms across her chest and leaned further back in her seat. If he wanted a reaction out of her, he wouldn't get it.

"My favorite drink is water or wine depending on my mood," he said abruptly. "I love the color blue, especially the color of the sea merging with the sky. I prefer beaches over mountains. I used to read a lot of books at one point. But now I don't have time. When I do get time off work, I usually spend it with my friends. They are complete wackos, you will love them. I take exactly one week off every year and spend it alone either hiking, skiing, or surfing. Though, I'd like to change that now. I am a businessman, I invest money not emotions, but this time it seems I'm making an exception."

She remained silent as he spoke about himself. He was trying to get her to talk by being open about himself first. It was charming, the fact that he was putting himself out there and waiting for her. His deep voice was soothing, and his words were easy to get lost in. But she kept herself alert and when he finished, she asked, "What does that mean?"

"I mean," he said, placing his arms on his knees and inching closer to her. His long legs were wide apart, and his slightly slouched back seemed to take up all the space. She felt tiny in front of him, his presence so consuming. 

He looked into her eyes, and with what she interpreted as utmost sincerity, he said, "I am invested in you, Nina. This may mean nothing to you. But for me, it's a big deal. I don't like to attend such events where my identity could be revealed. I am a private person. Why do you think I am here today?"

Nina was once again arrested by his gaze and the way his lips moved. She blinked, swallowed, and shook her head, "We hardly know each other. It's not possible fo—"

"Which is why I want to know more about you. I don't see what's wrong in that."

Nina was sure that she had an entire list of reasons why this was impossible, but at such close proximity, none of them seemed to come to mind. Wishing to put some distance between them, she got up and moved towards the door.

"Are you leaving? Weren't you supposed to babysit me?" he called out to her.

"I'm not leaving," she said before checking the group chat. The guest had arrived.

She turned around to let him know of that. But he had gotten up and walked towards her, and she ran smack into him. She was about to fall, but he held her arms and steadied her. Her eyes were at the level of his chest. She glanced up at him before looking away. When her eyes landed on a crimson stain on his white shirt, she gasped.

He pulled away from her and searched for the cause of her distress.

When he saw the lipstick stain, he chuckled, "I thought you didn't want anything to do with me. And you already went ahead and marked me as yours."

"I'm so sorry!" she cried out.

He shook his head, the smile never leaving his face, "Don't worry about it." He then buttoned up his suit and the stain got concealed behind it. He moved closer to her, his face brushing past her cheek, and his warm breath tickled her ears. "It'll be our little secret," he whispered, and she visibly shuddered. Her brain got murky and clouded, his scent overwhelming her. The space between them, though minuscule, felt like too much. She leaned into him, her weight shifting to her toes. When her nose was a breath away from his neck, she caught herself and paused in her tracks. She took a huge step away from him and clutched her phone as if she were holding on for dear life.

"The guest is here. We should go," she said curtly, even as her face burned red-hot. Turning, she held her breath until she exited the room and was sure his scent wouldn't get to her again. What the fuck is wrong with me?!