Walls of Fire

Chapter 2: Lavender Perfume

I hesitated for a bit. Sensing my hesitation, the stranger smiled and whispered into my ears, "I am not a kidnapper."

I had no place to go and no money to afford a place for shelter. Besides, I was new there and my eyes were paining a bit much, most probably, indicating the fact I was going to be blind soon.

"Yes I think," I had my one hand covering my injured eye while speaking.

He smiled but grabbed my hand unexpectedly. A sudden kind of heat runs down my entire body.

"Don't mind. I am not a creep for your information and also I won't kidnap you. I am trying to make it up to you. I don't want you to tumble down and get hurt." He assured me of his good intentions once again.

He led the way as we got off the train on the platform. He unfolded his black umbrella and pulled me inside his shelter.

"Do you want me to carry your luggage?" he enquired me politely like a gentleman.

"Nah, I am good"

"Stick closer or you may catch a cold," he sounded concerned.

He wrapped his hand around my shoulder pulling me dangerously closer to his muscular frame. He tried to steal my glance once but owing to his bad fortune, I caught him.

Aww, those deep blue eyes remind me of never ending ocean.

He pretended to clear his throat and averted his gaze immediately.

We keep on walking together under an umbrella for a while in silence.

"I am again sorry for poking your eyes," he apologized.

"I can understand accidents happen anytime." I replied back and flashed him a smile.

"Don't worry I live nearby."

I gave him a nod. After a ten minutes of short walk, we finally arrive at his place.

"This is it. We are here." he said with a huge grin.

I looked up at the old apartment. The raindrops drizzled down on my oval face.

"Nothing fancy I know," he chuckled.

Atleast, he can afford to provide a shelter.

I sighed.

He fastened the button on the tip of the umbrella with a sound of click and folded his umbrella and got inside the apartment.

"I live on the third floor." He guided me to the staircase.

We walked up the stairs and reached his room. He unlocked the door and gestured me to get inside. I hauled my suitcase but absent-mindedly I rolled the heavy bag pack over my feet which made me squirm out in pain.

"Be careful." He bolted to my rescue and helped me to get inside.

"Thanks." I said shyly, not sure about my first impression on him.

He stepped inside too after me and offered me to sit in the couch.

"Don't worry about the luggage. I will manage with the part." He spoke amusingly as if he was enjoying a good show of the catastrophes or I was causing or might cause one after another.

"That's so sweet of you."

"Just make sure not to fall again," he chuckled.

"I am a bit clumsy." I bit my lip nervously while I spoke.

He laughed out loud as if I had cracked a joke.

"That is alright sweetheart," he smirked.

Unknowingly, the word 'sweetheart' made my heartbeats faster and had my palms all sweaty!

When he wasn't looking at me, I slowly headed towards his couch and sat on the comfortable furniture.

My eyes focused on the sight of him drawing my suitcase inside. His muscles were bulging out of his tight black shirt and his ass was definitely a fine piece of art.

Shit! I had a fight with my husband and there I was in a stranger's house, whose intentions were still unknown to me and enjoying sighs of his mesmerizing beauty. Why on earth did I agree to accompany him?

Maybe, because I was vulnerable.

I reminded myself once again.

"We are good now." He flashed his million dollar smile at me which almost melted my heart.

The handsome hunk shut the door after bringing my back pack inside. He shed off his shirt the very next minute which made my eyes widened at the view.

"It is all wet." He looked at him and spoke to himself.

My eyes travelled down his muscular body automatically, more likely, my eyes were glued.

Holy cow A perfect body with a six packs and huge biceps, just as I have watched in films.

My eyes stopped at his trousers when I heard him clearing his voice.

"S-Sorry." I stumbled at the word. It was the only word mind came acorss.

I hope he didn't bother hismelf much. It was obvious women would check him out and he had a habit of recieving those awkward stares.

"I will be back in a minute." He said quickly, tossed the shirt in the laundry bin and walked into the nearby room.

I took a deep breath to keep the butterflies inside my stomach calm.

Oh god!!!Sweet heavens!!!

It took him half a minute to come out of his room dressed in a white Polo shirt and a new pair of jeans.

It may sound stereotypical but men are always the faster ones when it comes to dressing, in comparison to women.

He walked to the couch and settled hismelf very closer to me making me gasp almost.

'Umm..."

"Let's have a look."

"Don't tell me I am blind." I was afraid but the pain had faded away and all I could feel inside me was the excitement behind this encounter.

"Does it hurt when you open your eyes?" his words sounded like a whisper. He had his face just inches apart from mine but I possibly, could feel the his hot breaths all over my cold face.

"Not much... " I answered him timidly.

"I think you don't have a major injury like nerve damage.Your left eye is red and that is it.", he budged away his face maintaining a good distance between us.

"If you are not experiencing a discomfort, I won't suggest any pain reliever but instead, I would suggest you to rinse your eyes with clean water."

I nodded.

"The washroom is in the left." He pointed his finger to the direction.

I stood up and hurriedly walked inside the washroom.

I could sense his eyes were on my butt watching it sway with every step.

I decided not to look back inorder to prevent whole thing from being super awkward.

I opened my tap and rinsed my eyes several times with water until I little amount of pain had being washed away. Though it was just a physical pain which I could heal easily, but my insides were shouting in pain too which would be healed easily. When I was with him, I was excited. Once, I was left alone and was looking at my own reflection at the mirror, I felt so broken up from the inside.

I took the towel from the nearby shelf and gently patted my face to wipe off the water. It was at that point I realised that towel had a beautiful lavender smell.

"He uses lavender perfume?" I inhaled the essence deeply as I speak in my mind.

I tried to rephrase that sentence.

"He is a guy and I don't think guys like perfumes bottles of lavender essence."

It might sound stereotypical. But men are creatures who try their best to show their masculinity as a result of which, they use strong cologne.

Most probably his girlfriend lives here too.

I looked at my own reflection in the mirror once again. Though my face was pale and my eyes red, there was a glint of happiness too after meeting this new guy.

Then, I walked out of the bathroom, only to find him talking with someone over the phone. His bright smile on the face made my heart melt.

"I will give you a call sooner."

With those words he hung up the call.

"How you're doing?" he enquired.

" I guess better."  I smiled.

"Your both the eyes look red now. Did you cry? I am sorry once again." I could sense the strong feeling behind those words.

"I forgive you and it is no big deal.I guess I was too aggressive on myself when it came to wiping off the water form my face," I spoke happily.

"Now, that is a relief!" he sighed.

"By the way, I am James Black."

He walked over in my direction to greet me

"Amy Scott."

We shook our hands. The limited time of his rough hand touching mine sent a certain kind of electricity through my body.

"Your face is all flushed. Is it because of the towel?"

It is because I am blushing badly which is clearly written over my face.

"Yes I am definitely alright after your help and I think you are a great person"

"Hahaha...Why?" he, intially, laughed after my words but then c****d up his eyebrow, waiting for an answer.

"I injured you with my umbrella", he continued speaking "And... I.."

"You made a mistake but also tried to make a feel better. I don't think any other person (if he isn't sweet like you) would provide me with the same convern. Instead he would just apologize and leave, not caring about the victim. Besides, I had no umbrella so thanks again to give me the company." I provided him with the required explanation.

"True and by the way, thanks for the compliment." He ran his hand into his hair as he answered back.

"Are you new here?"

"Kind of." I bit my lip.

"You are here to work in the city of dreams, right?"

"Hoping so..."

Before I had the chance to speak anymore, he interrupted me in midway.

"You should take a warm shower." His gazed fell down at my chest. I followed his gaze to discover that the cotton fabric was wet because of the water sprinkles from the tap. My white shirt had a huge patch in the centre. The red colour push up bra I wore was quite visible through the semi-transparent fabric.

"But...I have nowhere to go." I bowed my head down in defeat, frustrated with my pathetic condition.

"I am asking you to take a shower at my place," the hunk expressed out his mind.

TO BE CONTINUED...