22 Stay

"you know it is not possible"he whispered back. Their faces just an inch closer than that and their mouths would touch. None of them even realized it. They were focused on their talks and looking into each other's eyes.

"you should heed my warning" she told him but her voice wavered, which he noticed.

"what if I don't want to?" he asked. Dahlia didn't reply anymore. They held their gazes for a while until they realized people were clapping.

"phew, that was hot!" the MC spoke and people laughed . Dahlia removed herself from his grip. Eder watched her walk away but he noticed that her eyes did not change their color. They remained dark.

Dahlia walked over to her table where her sister was no more. She had found a partner for a dance and she was enjoying herself. Dahlia stood their for a while until a man approached her.

"would you give me a dance?" Dahlia looked at his hand then at his face. The man was sweating, he must have gathered all his courage to ask her that. She could reward it by accepting but she was feeling hot. She needed air. Without saying a word, she turned away and walked out of the hall. The man immediately retracted his hand and looked around to see if much people saw him. But people were busy enjoying themselves.

When Dahlia was out she took in a deep breath. She couldn't believe that it started again. All this while she didn't see him she was fine, she thought she could handle seeing him again but now it was much more intense. It felt like a torture. Their was a cold air rushing around, a wind that was promising a heavy rain and it was soothing. Soothing until the air brought that scent. That damn scent. What does he want again? She turned around only to see him walking over to her.

"what is it again?" she asked.

"you don't seem alright" he said when he stopped two steps away from her. Was this worry in his eyes? Why? Was she seeing right? She wondered.

"I am fine. I already told you. Now leave me alone" she said coldly and started to walk away.

"okay, I will leave you." he shouted behind her. "stubborn woman" he whispered and the wind brought it over to her ears as she climbed into her car. Then she drove away.

As she drove away, the rain started. It poured down heavily but her hot body did not seem to be cooling down. She even brought down the window and let the cold wind and rain touch her body but to no avail.

She was finally able to get over it or so she thought and now it was starting again. All because of this man.

She drove for quite a long while an to place which looks like the entry to a forest. She was not sure, however, she was sure that she needed to cool her body. She parked the car and climbed down. Then she started to run barefooted under the rain. The cold wind was cooling her. At a moment she stopped. She was completely drenched. She felt tremors in her body. No, no. she must not let it out. no. she fought it back until she was on her knees hugging herself and shivering. She could feel her consciousness leaving her. Suddenly, she felt alone. Even more alone than she had ever been. Hot tears fell from her eyes, she felt miserable. The great Dahlia Quinn pitied herself. She needed to overcome it, as she always does.

Unexpectedly, from her position, on the brim of her consciousness, she felt warm arms in the middle of all this coldness hugging her. It felt so good, it was soothing. She wondered if she was dreaming. She knew she felt good in those arms and she wanted to stay there. Then she felt herself been carried.

...

Eder had watched Dahlia leave. He had seen that she was not in a good shape. So before thinking, he took his car and followed her. He just couldn't help it, he was pulled to her and seeing her like this made his heart feel tight. So he followed until he saw her stopping in the entry of a forest. One he knew all too well. He climbed down and ran after her. When she stopped he stopped also. He watched her shiver and hold onto herself. She fell on her knees and then she collapsed on the floor. Eder did not waste a moment. He went and carried her. He hugged her shivering body. Seeing this strong proud woman like this made his heart tighten. Worry filled him like never. He carried her up and then took her home.

He brought her home and placed her down on his bed. She was still shivering. She was completely drenched. They were completely drenched. Maybe he should remove her clothes. No. Bad idea.

"Maya!" he called his maid who appeared immediately. "help her change out of this dress"

"yes, sir" she said and started to work immediately. Eder stood their and watched, but he decided to leave before she was bared before him. He went to change his wet clothes, he stayed in his dressing room until Maya told him that she was ready and then she left.

Eder walked into the room and watched the shivering Dahlia on his bed. She was dry now and tucked into a warm blanket so why was she still shivering? He walked over to her and sat near her. He watched her for a while. She was sweating. He went to grab a bowl with water and a towel. He then proceeded to clean her sweaty body. He cleaned her forehead, her jaws, her neck then his breath itched. He put the towel aside. Then he placed a hand on her forehead. Her body was still hot. He decided to remove the blanket but she caught his wrist.

"stay"