-Shelley-

I groaned in agony as I opened my eyes. A weak "ugh" came out of my quivering throat as I rocked from side to side in bed. I don't know how much longer I can bear this anguish. Even though I had been dreaming and was otherwise sound asleep, this sudden wave of pain jolted me out of my slumber. Eight hours have passed since I last took my analgesic. No more putting things off; I need to find one right this second.

Once out of bed, I make my way to the living room. The moment I stepped foot in the living room, I noticed Ben sound asleep on the couch. His relaxed arm, dangling over his head and swaying gently over the couch arm, gives the impression that he is sound asleep. The sight of his exposed chest caught my attention as I looked over his entire body. My flushes intensify.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't tear my eyes away from his toned, muscular chest as it puffed up and down with each breath, diverting my attention away from the task at hand.

What at all were his intentions for coming over? Why can't he understand I don't want him around me? Just look at him sleeping on my couch as if he owns it.

'Someone is gazing intently at me.' When Ben felt a shadow on him that Shelley was staring at him, he snapped his eyes open with a cocked brow. He sent out the query. "Seen anything you like?"

"Uh..." I stammered. Trying to find the right words to his question, "You're lying on my couch, half-naked."

"Would you rather I be wholly naked?"

His words took me by surprise. My temper flared up.

"What?!"

He giggled and muttered, Disregard that; in any case, the only missing thing is my shirt. I will reapply it without hesitation. "I removed my shirt because the temperature in here was quite high."

What does he mean the temperature here was quite high? "You do know that turning on the fan is an option, right!"

"It was possible, but I opted not to. Can you unwind? Wearing the shirt again."

Feeling slightly irritated by his command, I reciprocated by saying, "No, I will not. Were you ever going to leave? I expect that you have returned home by this point."

Ben tries to diffuse the fury that my outburst caused him by laughing softly, but you can see he is perplexed by my inquiry.

"Seriously, Shelley! Even though you didn't ask me to, I spent the entire afternoon tending to you. What do I receive in return for my cheerful assistance though? There is no appreciation whatsoever; all I get is your hostile glare."

"What gives you the willies when it comes to men? Tell me!"

"Hey Ben, Just because I don't like males spending the night in my house doesn't mean I don't appreciate what you did for me. You ought to have returned home."

"Indeed, I ought to have left sooner; nonetheless, I lingered in case you required assistance. Would you like me to go out in the dark at this hour, now that it's 1 a.m.?"

"I am sorry, but what will you have me do?" I interjects.

Ben notices how agitated I am and attempts to get closer to me to soothe me, but I retreat, avoiding his grasp. Because of this, he froze.

She obviously has a problem trusting guys, including me. "I propose this. Feel free to retire to your room, and I'll take up residence on the couch. Rest assured, I will strive to embody the epitome of a gentleman."

"Trust me."

"Trust you, really!"

"Alright, perhaps that was misinterpreted. Believe in me then."

As I make my way back to my bedroom, I give Ben a stern look and glare at him, saying, "Don't even think about coming to my room, you hear?" And with that, I shut the door behind me.

***

Sprouting awake from slumber. A mixture of fear, agitation, and a need to find something consumed me. The realization that I had awakened from a nightmare finally set in. I run my hands over my face. "It's a bit silly of me to get myself worked up. It's only a dream."

A startling sound suddenly emanated from the kitchen. It seemed like someone was using a skillet over high heat to fry something. Shaking off my sleep, I make my way to the kitchen. "Oh, it's you." Ben is frying something on the hob in my kitchen; I discover him with the kitchen napkin draped over his shoulder while turning an omelette in the skillet.

"Good morning." I greeted.

"Good morning. I apologize if the sound of the hob roused you from your slumber. I was trying to whip up some food and bring it to you while you slept. Then it hit me: You explicitly told me not to step foot in your room." Gesturing, he spoke the words.

Chuckling I said, "You are aware that you don't need to do this, right?"

"Yes, I know, but I am glad to do this for you." He states. As we stared at each other, Ben noticed the unsettling expression on my face.

"Do you feel okay? You appear to be troubled."

I waved my hand dismissively. "Not at all! I am doing well. I simply look this way first thing in the morning. I take it that my attractiveness has diminished in your eyes." With an arched brow, While sipping the tea he had made for me, I posed this query.

"That is very funny, Miss Dickson," Ben exclaims, his face contorting into a wide smile. "You are in for quite a shock if that remark is to dissuade my aspirations towards you."

"Are you the type to never give up?"

"Will you let me in if I say yes?" Ben inquires while fixing his gaze.

In between sips, I say, "No." The house resounded with Ben's fit of laughter. Returning my attention to the counter, I set the teacup back to its original position.

"What time is it?"

"It's seven in the morning," Ben responded. With my departure from the kitchen in sight, Ben calls out to me.

"Where to?"

"I need to brush my teeth if I am to resume my breakfast," I responded, before storming out of the kitchen.

A few moments afterwards, I return to the living room and find Ben engrossed in a news stream on television. Sitting on the couch next to him, I retrieve the cup and return to my tea.

"Are you not hungry?"

"I will not be able to eat, I'm afraid." He turns his attention toward me. "I must admit, I had other plans for yesterday evening. I did not plan on staying late. This is why I refrained from bringing a brush."

I responded, "I can get you one." Leaving him in the living room, I go to get him a fresh brush.

"Here you go."

"I appreciate it. Isn't it good of you to be so kind to me this morning?" While making his way to the loo, he says this.

As I was enjoying my morning meal on the couch, Ben's phone vibrated on the coffee table. Someone had called. Viewing the caller ID discloses the identity of the caller as "My Love." My cheeks turned a repulsive shade as I averted my gaze from the phone.

I told Ben he had a phone call when he came back to sit on the couch with me.

"Did you, by any chance, pick up the caller ID?" He asked.

"Affirmatively, it showed My Love."

"Got it. This will force me to return her call." He then retrieves his phone from the edge of the table and returns the call.

As I sip my tea, I hear bits of his conversation.

"Greetings. I apologise for missing your call. Are you doing well?" I felt the need to step away from Ben while he was on the phone, so I got up from the couch. However, he held onto my hand and pulled me back down, preventing me from leaving.

"Mind if I call you back tonight, Mom? I've got a super important appointment I need to get back to."

Oh, it's his mother, and what appointment is he talking about?

"Ok, I love you too, Mom." He ends the call by turning his attention to me and firmly grasping my hand.

"So, where were you planning to go?"

With my cheeks burning red, realising how close his face was to mine, I replied shyly, "I thought to give you privacy on your call."

"I did not need privacy; it was only my mom. Besides, I won't lose the chance to have you close by."

"Ben?"

"What Shelley?"

"Don't tease me."

Whispering seductively, he says, "Never."

Christ, what's going on with my heart pounding so quickly in my chest and my body suddenly feeling hot? Ben drew closer until I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face. It seems he is curious to know how I taste as much as I do. He placed a light kiss on my lips. He meant it to be innocent, even chaste, but my lips parted with the second kiss, and my hand somehow found its way to the back of his neck. As soon as his lips touched mine, I couldn't pull away. We kissed passionately, and there was hunger behind it, and dare I say love?

Out of breath, he exclaims, "Fuck, your lips have a flavour I have never before experienced. Sweet and sour at the same time. It hit a variety of notes. Like a symphony. I don't want it to end." As he deepens his kiss, a moan escapes my lips.

-Adam POV-

Some indefinite time later, I distantly heard the sound of a knock at the door. "Are you expecting anyone over?" I posed the question to Shelley in between kisses, but she was far too overwhelmed with emotion to hear it. I repeated...

"Are you expecting anyone over?"

She gasps for breath and says, "None, which I know about."

"Well, it looks like someone is at the door. You might want to get that," I say.

-Shelley POV-

"Right, the door." As I make my way to the door, I can't help but feel flushed and flustered all over.

I yanked the door open, and behind it stood Mabel with someone who appeared to be hiding behind her.

"Mabel. What are you doing here, and what appears to be behind you?"

A little boy behind her giggles softly and peers curiously at me.

"That will be my son, and to answer your other question, I thought today would be a good time to visit, but it looks like I was wrong. You appear to be sick."

I touched my face."No, I'm not." What makes you think that?"

"You are red all over." I look away shyly.

"Please come in." I step aside to allow them to come in. As soon as Mabel enters, her eyes fall on Ben on the couch.

"Oh, you have company. Then I must not intrude. We can come another time."

"Please don't leave on my account," says Ben. "Stay. I was in the process of leaving anyway." As he moves from the couch, he picks up his coat and makes his way to us.

Mabel looked from Ben to me and immediately understood why I was red. "You must be thee, Mr. Adams. I have heard so much about you."

"Oh, really," says Ben. "This is something I need to hear."

"It's nothing. You're already familiar with it. I assure you," I said shyly.

"Got it. Who is this charming young man that I see? Your name is ______." On his knees before the youngster, Ben asks the inquiry.

"James, sir," says the boy.

"That is a nice name. Next time we meet, I will treat you to some ice cream. What do you say?"

"Thank you, sir." He turns to Mabel and playfully rakes the boy's hair. "And you are?"

"'Mabel.' Way back in school, I was a friend of Shelley. It is nice to meet you." She offered him her hand and he shook it gladly.

"Well, I have to leave. It was nice to meet you, Mabel. Shelley, I will call you later. Enjoy the rest of the day." With that, he left the room.

"So, did I miss something?"

_

A/N: Greetings, everyone! So many thoughts were racing through my head that I felt compelled to get them down. And with that, I leave you with this week's chapter. I hope that it meets your approval. Do me a favour and hit that like button. Thank you.😉