Chapter 6 Eat

• Hana had fast learned that lying was a terrible idea with Kyle. She didn’t know how he found out her tell-tale, but she couldn’t deny the butterflies that exploded in her stomach each time he kissed her. She had agreed for him to stay in the room with her, but the tension was palpable. It also didn’t help that she wasn’t feeling sleepy.
• Kyle pointed at the flat TV on the cream wall. He had been silent for longer than she thought possible. While she sat, he stood.
• “Do you want to see a movie? Anything?”
• “No, thanks.” Running a hand over her dress, she replied, “This is fine. Thanks.”
• “Are you sure you’re not hungry?” Kyle asked. He had asked more than once, and she had given him the same answer. He backed away from the door to sit on a chair further from the bed. Hana didn’t like the distance between them, but it helped to keep her thoughts clean. “Even a bite?”
• “You can get something if you’re hungry.”
• The words were hardly out in the air when her stomach growled. Kyle held her gaze, his lips curling as she placed a hand on her stomach. Before she could defend that reply, he was kneeling on the edge of the bed. He didn’t come to Hana immediately; instead, he crawled slowly, giving her time to run. But she didn’t want to run. She had no idea what he would do to her, and she wanted to find out. Her back hit the headboard, and a soft gasp fell out of her lips.
• His knees touched hers, and she pulled hers to her chest. When he touched her, she shivered. Her dress rose to her thighs as he dragged her leg down. None of them cared to cover her up. Placing a hand on either side of her hips, he touched his lips to hers without deepening the kiss like she wanted.
• “What did I say about lying?”
• “I didn’t lie,” she whispered.
• Her stomach rumbled again. Kyle’s lips disappeared into a thin smile as he tried to stop himself from laughing. A chuckle burst out of her lips. In seconds, they were both laughing. He sat on the bed and brought her down to his lap. Her head dropped to his shoulder. The move felt too natural to her that she wanted to do this forever with him.
• “I didn’t lie,” Hana continued. Kyle placed his hand on her thigh, and she linked their fingers. The dress fit her perfectly. Though some part of her still held doubts that it belonged to some other women, she chose to focus on the bright side. She had a place to stay and warm clothes. She was safe for now. “I don’t think I can stomach anything, not for long anyway. I might throw up.”
• “What makes you think so?”
• That face Hana thought she had forgotten slipped into her mind. She shook her head to forget the image of his stained teeth and only snapped out of her trance when Kyle’s fingers dug into her skin. His worried eyes stared down at her. She didn’t want that. This night might be the only chance she could live freely without her parents breathing down on her neck about rules.
• “I just think so,” Hana concluded.
• “Hot chocolate,” Kyle started. Hana frowned. She didn’t understand him. He raised their interconnected hands to his lips for a kiss on her knuckles. She hadn’t known affection from the opposite sex, so she wasn’t sure if this was normal or too much. “We could start with that. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like chocolate.”
• “Oh. I like chocolate,” she chipped.
• Kyle laughed. “I knew you would.”
• He didn’t let her off the bed as he stood, so she locked her legs around him, quiet as he called the front desk. They went to the living room after, and the pitter-patter of the rain grew louder and comforting. Hana was grateful they moved because having him in bed was affecting her senses. She squirmed until he dropped her to the floor.
• The living room had a bigger TV, but she wasn’t interested in watching a movie. If she would watch anything, it was Kyle. It was cold, but he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Her eyes roamed his body, and her mouth watered when she stopped on his abs. He had been in a suit when she saw him, and she had thought him hot, but now, she didn’t know if she preferred him with or without a shirt.
• Her cheeks grew warm when she felt his eyes on her. He had caught her ogling him.
• “Don’t you feel cold?”
• “Are you asking me to cover up?”
• “No?” Hana cleared her throat, hiding her hands at her back as she said, “No.”
• Maybe she didn’t sound convincing because Kyle went into the room, and when he returned, he was wearing a shirt. The buttons were all undone except for the last two, so she still had a glimpse of his abs. But it wasn’t the same. She dropped to the couch as he neared her. His mouth opened, but he never got to speak because a knock came from outside the door.
• “Room service,” the person said.
• Kyle offered her a smile and went to the door. When he stepped back, it was with a trolley. Hana stood. She only requested chocolate. Kyle caught her eyes and winked. A giggle erupted from the depth of her belly, and she had to cover her mouth. He stopped the trolley in front of her and dragged the glass coffee table closer to set some of the items on it. She tried to help, but he shook his head.
• “Sit.” Her lips parted in protest, but he was faster. He motioned for her to sit while still standing, and she slowly sank into the leather. Rain pounded against the window, but the sound comforted her. “I promised to take care of you, didn’t I?”
• “Yeah.”
• Curling her hands on her knees, Hana’s lips stretched in a smile. Her eyes watered. It was the combination of everything. His concern, affection, and attentiveness that was making her emotional. She knew he was doing it from the goodness of his heart, not because he wanted something from her. Well, he wanted kisses, but she loved kissing him.
• “You really didn’t have to do any of this.”
• “I wanted to,” Kyle replied. He sat on the rug while she remained on the chair, but every few seconds, his hand touched her knee. The touch reminded her she was safe here with him. “I want to take care of you.”
• “Just for tonight,” she added.
• Hana couldn’t let this get to both of their heads. Her life wasn’t a fairytale, even if he was.
• Kyle nodded. “Just for tonight.”
• Her host stretched a white mug to her. It was filled with chocolate. She took her first sip and moaned. Kyle coughed, and she felt the need to apologise, but he waved it off. On the table was a variety of snacks and fruits. In one porcelain bowl was cut up fruits. In the second one were nuts. Berries were in another and crackers in the fourth. There were bars of chocolates on the tray.
• “Are you trying to bribe me with food?”
• “Maybe,” he replied. On his knees, he bit into the edge of a cracker and stretched it to her. Her heart raced as she chewed on the other end, doing so slowly until their lips were almost touching. “Is it working?”
• “I think so,” she whispered.
• His breath was warm against her face. She wanted him to kiss her but was unsure how to ask. Was it appropriate to ask a stranger for a kiss? Her throat bobbed as she gulped. They ogled each other without doing what they really wanted.
• “Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked.
• “If… if…” She cleared her throat. “Er, yes.”
• His mouth was over hers in a second. She didn’t remember moving but found herself on his lap. They kissed like lovers, and when they broke it off, her lips were swollen. She touched her fingertips to her lips, then touched his. He only smiled.
• They resumed eating, but this time, she sat on his legs to eat. When they were done, she stayed there in his arms, feeling safe. The only person she was worried about was Cara, her younger sister. But for this moment, she blocked out those worries.
• Her head drooped a few times after they had finished eating. At some point, she had clamped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his chest. He cupped the back of her head, and she pulled back.
• “Are you ready for bed?”
• “No. Not yet,” Hana answered.
• But her eyelids felt heavy, and she was no longer holding herself up without his help. The hot chocolate had whet her appetite. After it, she moved on to the crackers and finished the berries. But she was afraid to fall asleep because Kyle couldn’t protect her in her dreams. What if she saw those men? This reality with Kyle was better.
• “Are you sure?”
• “Yes,” she said as her head bobbed again.
• Kyle raised her hand to his eye level and sighed. “You’re lying to me again, Angel.”
• Exhausted by the evening activities, Hana could only fake a smile. She didn’t want to be alone but also didn’t want to impose. She had taken enough from him already without giving anything. She was a pest.
• “Will you stay?” she mumbled.
• “I told you I would, didn’t I?”
• Carrying her to the room, he dropped her to the bed. His phone rang from the table, and he excused himself to get it. Seeing the caller made his brows draw together in annoyance. He left the phone on the table without answering the call and returned to her. As soon as he got into the bed with her, it rang again.
• “Who’s that?” she blurted out.
• “No one important.”
• “Maybe you should go answer,” she said. Her gaze lowered to the bed. “I’ll be fine.”
• “Hey,” he called out to Hana. She looked up at him, and he kissed her hard. “Liar.”
• Smiling, Hana poked him in the chest. He ignored the phone, and thankfully it didn’t ring again. When it was finally time to sleep, she picked the side of the bed closer to the wall, and he agreed with a nod.
• When Hana had pulled the comforter over her frame, she turned her back to him. It was better this way. Her emotions were already muddled, and she couldn’t risk doing anything to worsen the situation.
• “Goodnight, Kyle.” She felt him move, but he didn’t hold her. Only his lips touched her temple. A shiver curled around her lower back. “I think you’re the angel among us.”
• “Goodnight, Angel.”