Warmth

He glanced at his wristwatch and said, "You're supposed to be in bed by now. Didn't I tell you not to—"

Adrian paused mid-sentence as she suddenly let out a hiss. His brows furrowed when she shut her eyes once more and pressed both hands on her stomach. Then she opened them again and her glossy eyes were now red.

The next second, his palm reached down for her forehead and he let out a curse.

Even though her head was not burning, from the beads of perspiration all over her face and the way her body shivered slightly when he touched her… when and how did she fall sick? hadn't he told her not to–

He cursed again then strode past her.

When Gina sensed his footsteps fading away her lips slowly curved into a bitter smile. What made her think in those few seconds that he would help her? But the way he had reached out his hand and she had felt his cold palms against her skin she had almost caught a whiff of freedom from this agonizing throbbing sensation in her lower abdomen.

She didn't know when her tears came falling as her hand grip once more on the railing. She tried to move down but hiss again at the sudden sharp pain and had to halt in her movements.

Gina was still struggling with the pain and did not hear the footsteps rushing back until she felt herself lifted in the air.

Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

Adrian stilled as the girl clung so tight to him. His brows drew together and he took in a long drag of the air. "Keep still," he muttered under his breath before he continued down the stairs in large strides.

Despite his warning, Gina could not keep herself still. Immediately his warm body enveloped hers. It was as if she was dipped into a steamed bath after being pulled out of a shower of ice. And she wanted to dive in deeper.

Numbed from the pain in her lower abdomen, she kept snuggling deeper, hoping his warmth could also take away the pain.

So there's a tiny ray of humanity in the devil's ice-cold heart. He didn't leave her to suffer on the cold floor. Maybe he wouldn't after all be impassive if she dies.

Her heart swelled with happiness, knowing that wherever he was taking her, she would soon stop feeling this excruciating pain.

Perspirations kept forming all over her and she pressed her lips together. After a few seconds, she heard the car's door open.

Adrian cursed inside for the umpteenth time as the girl wouldn't keep still. His shirt was now damp with her sweats and her body was still constantly rubbing against his.

"Regina!" he growled, his eyes turning dark as the girl wouldn't let go and had gripped to his shirt the instant he was about to lower her into the passenger's seat.

"C… Cold… D… Don't Let Go… Warm." Her tiny voice was barely a whisper and his eyes turned dark as she continued writhing against him.

He tried to pull her off but it was all futile. Where did she get the strength? Was she tired of living? But then he was about to save her life.

"Regina you—"

"Please don't l… let go… pain– it hurts– I n… need w… warmth," she murmured in a raspy voice making him halt in his words.

Adrian clenched and unclenched his fists. She now had all her limbs around him, enveloping him in a tight embrace and her head was buried in his shoulder, while her rapid breathing fanned against his neck.

He looked up at the dark sky and breathed in deeply then shut the door with a bang and strode toward the other side. After getting inside the driver's seat with the girl still clung to him, without wasting any second he started the engine and raced out of the mansion.

He was now as eager as the girl to reach the hospital. He couldn't wait to scrape her off his body. This was the most ridiculous situation he had found himself in his thirty years of life.

Not only does he have to drive out to the city alone in the middle of the night, but also with this foolish girl stuck to him like a koala. 'Just you wait, Regina. You'll wish you never bet out of whatever you're feeling now.'

The ride which was supposed to take hours only took several minutes.

When Adrian arrived at the hospital, some staffs were already waiting at the underground parking lot.

He stopped the car and let out a huge sigh of relief. The girl was still clinging to his body, and his shirt was dampened by her sweats.

Her body had long seized trembling and even her soft cries of pains had subsided.

His brows creased into a frown. Was she sleeping?

"Regina!" he called out but got no answer from the girl. He held her waist and was about to peel her off, then she made little sounds of protest.

"How dare you fall asleep!?"

He forcefully pulled her off his body and got out of the car, now cradling her in his arms.

Gina's eyes fluttered open from the jerking movement. Her vision was blurred for a few seconds. Then, Adrian's face came into view.

Did she fall asleep? The sharp pain in her lower abdomen was still there, how did she sleep through it? Was it because of the warmth?

The pain pulled her out of her thoughts and instinctively, she fastened her arms around him then buried her head in his chest.

He made a grunting sound of disapproval. However, Gina could not care less. She just wanted to grab onto something. Anything that would take her pain away.

He lowered her onto something and she let out a small sound of protest as his warmth was now replaced by the cold air in the parking lot.

She reached out her hands to hold him but felt herself being wheeled away.