RENT A HEART

EVE's POV

I became aware of a rhythmic rise and fall beneath my head. Confused, I wondered why my pillow was suddenly so hard and... pulsating. Slowly, reluctantly, I opened my eyes. And that's when I saw it.

I was lying on top of a naked chest. My eyes traveled upward, and my heart leaped into my throat. It was Chris, sleeping peacefully, his face relaxed and serene. He looked ridiculously handsome with his eyes closed.

How and why are we sleeping together?

What was he doing in my room?

Panic began to bubble within me. Turning my head to take in my surroundings, the unfamiliar decor of the room finally registered. It wasn't my room; it was his.

What happened? I frantically tried to piece together the events of the previous night, desperately searching for the last clear memory before I succumbed to slumber. Oh my god, Eve, what is wrong with you? I inwardly chastised myself. I couldn't believe I had fallen asleep like that, so carelessly.

What will he think of me? The thought made me cringe inwardly, mortified by the potential implications.

My only instinct was to escape. I tried to sneak out of the bed, moving with excruciating slowness, desperate to make a clean getaway before he woke up. But as I shifted my weight, I discovered that he was holding me tightly around my waist. Any sudden movements, and he would undoubtedly notice. Waking him up was the last thing I wanted.

And not only that, but I was wearing different clothes. A new set of red silk short pajamas. I was exasperated. I had absolutely no memory of changing into them.

With a sigh of resignation, I abandoned my escape attempt and settled back down, the warmth of his body radiating through me. I had to carefully reposition my head on his naked chest, mirroring our previous arrangement. I couldn't just turn over, because that would inevitably lead to him spooning me from behind. And that particular scenario was definitely not on my agenda.

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I stretched my limbs, the silken pajamas gliding against my skin, and let out a deep, involuntary yawn. But as I opened my eyes, the breath caught in my throat. A pair of eyes was staring down at me, watching me with an amused glint.

"Good morning to you too," Chris said, his voice a low, rumbling murmur. He was still shirtless, his muscular chest bare above me.

Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, bathing one side of his face in a warm, ethereal glow, highlighting the sharp angles of his cheekbones and the soft curve of his lips. He looked breathtakingly handsome, and for a moment, I was completely lost in the sight.

"Earth to Eve. What are you thinking?" he asked, his smile fading slightly.

I frantically tried to think of something, anything, to say, before my brain betrayed me and went completely blank, as it usually did when I was in close proximity to Chris.

"How did I get here?" I blurted out, the first question that came to mind.

"And why were we sleeping in the same bed?" I continued, pressing on before he could answer.

"How did I get changed?" I added, the question laced with a touch of panic.

"And why did you have to hold me so tight while you slept?" I immediately covered my mouth with my hand, my eyes widening in horror. The words had just tumbled out, unbidden, revealing far more than I intended.

Shit, shit, shit. I grimaced inwardly, mortified by my lack of control.

I heard him chuckle. I didn't know when I had facepalmed myself at the sheer embarrassment of it all.

"Well, to answer your questions," he said, his voice still laced with amusement, "you fell asleep in my arms, so I had to bring you to bed to sleep comfortably. You were exhausted."

You should have taken me home, I wanted to say, the thought hovering on the tip of my tongue. But that would be asking too much, wouldn't it?.

"For the second question," he continued, his voice laced with amusement, "I only have one bed in my room, as you can see. So, I had nowhere else to sleep other than the bed, beside you." He shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

I scoffed at his lame excuse. "Surely you have other rooms that have beds. You could have slept there," I said, raising an eyebrow, waiting for his next, equally flimsy, justification.

"Well, I do," he conceded, "but in my defense, I love my bed more. And just because you were sleeping here doesn't mean I can't sleep here too, does it?" he argued sarcastically, though I could see him struggling to contain his laughter.

Despite myself, I laughed at his absurd reasoning. I couldn't help it. It was just so ridiculous.

"Alright then, if you say so," I conceded, still chuckling. "Now, my third question: who put me in these pajamas?" I asked again, my tone suddenly serious.

"Me. I mean, who else would it be since I live alone?" he said simply, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"What?!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in disbelief. "Are you kidding me?" I didn't know when or why I shouted, but the thought of him undressing me while I was unconscious sent a jolt of panic through me.

"Tell me that's a lie," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "Why would you do that to me?" The fear and vulnerability that had been simmering beneath the surface finally bubbled over, and tears began to stream down my face, completely unbidden.

I watched him immediately sit up on the bed, his playful demeanor vanishing instantly, replaced by genuine worry. He knelt on the bed, his eyes filled with concern.

"It's a lie. I didn't remove your clothes, I swear. I was just messing with you," he said, his voice laced with remorse. "My maid did. I called her over to help change you. I'm sorry. Don't cry," he pleaded, gently wiping the tears from my face and pulling me into a comforting embrace, burying my face against his chest.

I think it's the hormones, ovulation, or whatever you want to call it, because why else would I be crying over some flimsy, hypothetical scenario in front of Chris of all people? Oh my god.

"Do you still want me to answer your last question?" he asked meekly, his voice muffled against my hair. I didn't know when I had started to laugh amidst my tears at his remorseful expression. He must have felt really bad about my reaction.

"Yeah, sure," I said, pulling back slightly, still sniffling.

"Well, I had to hold on to you because I thought you'd disappear when I woke up, and I didn't want that," he answered simply, his eyes fixed on mine.

The look on his face reminded me of that night at the club, that charged moment right before he kissed me. It was the exact same intensity. I knew that if something didn't interrupt this tension, I didn't trust my heart to resist the temptation.

What was obvious was the undeniable attraction that sizzled between us, even though we were just a fake couple.

I noticed his gaze had dropped to my lips, his eyes darkening with a possessive heat. He leaned closer, and inwardly, I was giddy, my stomach fluttering with anticipation, wondering what to expect.

He gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from the side of my face and cupped my cheek with his hand, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. He brought my face closer, tilting his head slightly, and just as his lips were about to brush against mine, my phone rang, shattering the moment into a million pieces.

I cursed inwardly at whoever the caller was. Reluctantly, I reached for my phone on the side table beside the bed. It was Stephanie. Chris politely excused himself as I answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Good morning to you too," she said, her voice laced with amusement.

"What is it, Steph?" I asked, my tone grumpy.

"Someone seems to be in a bad mood," she teased. "Anyway, Lexi and her agency liked our proposal and are willing to sign the contract, but..." she paused dramatically.

"But what?" I asked anxiously, my heart rate picking up. Lexi was my ideal model, and I wouldn't want anything to jeopardize this deal.

"She wants you to be present," Stephanie said, her voice serious. "If not, she won't sign it."

"Do you know the reason for this request?" I asked, bewildered.

"Beats me," Stephanie replied.

"Alright, I'm on my way," I said, ending the call.

I internally screamed with frustration as I looked at the time. Just then, the door opened, and Chris walked in, carrying some clothes and a breakfast tray.

"You can change into these once you've already showered," he said, smiling warmly. "And right here is your favorite breakfast."

"Thank you, Chris," I said, my heart melting at his thoughtfulness. He was such a gentleman.

I devoured the breakfast hurriedly, knowing I was already late for the office. It took me twenty minutes to shower and get dressed for the office.

"You look beautiful," he said softly. His words made my heart flutter, and a blush crept up my cheeks.

"Well, thank you. And you don't look bad yourself," I complimented back, my eyes taking in his impeccably tailored suit. He looked dashing, to be honest.

"Let's go. I'll drop you off," he said, heading towards the door, few seconds later we left.

"We're here," he said, uttering his usual phrase as soon as we arrived in front of my company fifteen minutes later.

"Have a great day," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt and preparing to get out of the car. But before I could reach for the door handle, he gently held my hand that was resting on the door.

"Wait," he said, his voice low and husky. And then, he leaned over and gave me a lingering kiss on the cheek, sending a wave of heat through my body.

"Have a great day," he said, his eyes locking with mine. I could only manage a nod, my voice completely lost in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

Dangerous waters, dangerous waters, Eve, I mumbled to myself as I walked into the company.