The Traps of Black Swan

Shea reached the stranger who had crossed the half distance between them, The good-looking stranger extended his hand at her with a curiosity written all over his face.

"May I?" His voice was deep but less pleasant on the ears.

She liked he didn't start showering her with compliments and she accepted his hand by sliding her hand into them.

His lips softly pressed the back of her hand while his eyes stayed over her alluring face, "I would be really pleased if you could dance with me."

Shea anyway was looking for a partner to dance so she smiled and followed him to the dance floor.

Forcing a way through the crowd, the good-looking stranger found a better spot to dance and twirled her close to him but maintained a good distance between each other which was needed.

The stranger uttered a name going closer to her ear as they swayed to the music, "James."

Shea nodded as her lips arced up when they faced each other, "Interesting!" She exclaimed and the stranger chuckled understanding she caught his lie.

He asked again going next to her ear due to loud music, "So what is your name for tonight?"

Shea gave a thought before speaking, "Since you are James for tonight, I will be Jennifer." She flashed a silly smile shaking her head.

It was common to say the fake name when they looked for one-night stands. She was too cool with it as she also had no plans to use her real name.

Since their wavelength matched too well, it didn't take long for them to enjoy each other's company with the heart-thumping music.

----

In the Skyarc penthouse,

Aaron had left her to bath in the bedroom, then he showered in the gym room and went downstairs to cook supper for Aarvi as she didn't eat her dinner properly.

He was also done with it but Aarvi neither dialed his number nor heard her voice until it flashed him that she was exhausted and definitely dozed off in the bathtub or on the bed waiting for him by forgetting to call.

He dialed her number but she didn't answer so having no choice, he went upstairs and knocked on the door before pushing it open.

First to welcome him was the sweet and warm fragrance of her body wash. Due to her over-stressing work, she was suggested to use lavender to relax her mind and body.

But he hadn't expected it to be reversed to his body and mind. He doubted if his nerves were going to be calm and he could sleep peacefully in this state.

Now he felt the need for a door to the bathroom.

Right from the door, he could see Aarvi peacefully sleeping in the water which definitely would have turned cold.

Hoping she wasn't going to be angry at him, he went to the bathroom. The foam and bubbles on the water had completely covered the upper layer of the water but still, it was still torture for him to be there without letting his mind wander off.

He tried his best to focus on the matter that she was asleep in cold water. Slowly breathing out, his forefinger tapped on her forehead as he tried to wake her up, "Aarvi... Aarvi..."

His soothing voice was probably putting her into deep slumber so she didn't react even a little.

He needed to leave early from there so he pinched her cheeks harder as he snapped at her, "Wake up."

Aarvi who felt the sharp pain instinctively tried to sit almost flustering the man behind her.

Aaron was quick to press her back in the bathtub as he turned away from her. He said through his teeth in a dark warning tone, "Aarvi Evans."

He didn't see her widened eyes after she realized she was in the bathtub wearing nothing and Aaron was right behind her.

Her heart was racing at top gear, her face blushed in darkest red due to embarrassment.

She wanted to cover her face and cry in the corner scolding herself for again sleeping in the bathtub. She really wanted to take a quick bath but didn't know when the drowsiness took over her.

Biting her lip, she wanted to send Aaron away to get out of the water until her gaze landed on the white foam floating on the water.

She internally breathed a sigh. She forgot about her tiredness and sleepiness and looked at him.

Her stiffened body and face relaxed and her heart eased up looking at Aaron's eyes shut and his face towards the walk-in closet.

Instead of shooing him away, she foolishly admired him looking at his composure while deep breathing.

Aaron continued icily which hadn't really used on her much, "If you dare sleep again in the bathtub, you will wake up on the bed next time."

Aarvi blushed after discerning if she again sleeps in the water, he won't wake her up but carry her out of the bathtub to the bed and let her sleep.

She wanted to tease if he was really going to let her sleep in that case but she didn't. She won't wake up the wolf so soon, she knew he was controlling himself for her as she was still struggling with her fears and mixed emotions.

Thinking about what to reply, another stupid idea struck her mind. 'Should I wear a swimsuit next time?'

The next second, she hit her forehead for thinking about sleeping in the bathtub for him to tend to her.

'Shameless Aarvi Evans.' She chided herself.

"Okay." She blurted out the real thought unthinkingly.

Aarvi and Aaron: "..."

Aarvi couldn't believe she gave permission for him to take her out of the bathtub when he was actually trying to scare her.

Aaron wanted to test if he heard right or he imagined something to himself.

Before Aaron could say anything, Aarvi hurriedly babbled out, "I mean go go go, I won't sleep. Go..." She almost screamed.

Aaron smacked on her head before he turned around from another side and left the bedroom adding, "If you don't step out of the bathroom in fifteen minutes, don't blame me later."

Aarvi stuck her tongue out behind him waiting for him to exit the room and close the door behind him.

Instead of being embarrassed about it, she giggled, facepalming herself at the thought of, 'I am really going to eat up this man soon. He is so cute.'

It wasn't that she wanted to make him wait but she was kind of afraid thinking she might panic due to her past experience when they will be intimate.

After wasting a few minutes in the bathtub, she remembered his threat and hastily went under the shower.

Quickly cleaning up, she wrapped herself in the bathrobe and rushed towards the dressing table. Changing to her nightdress which Aaron had taken out for her, she applied a night moisturizer looking at her faint dark circles.

"You better get some proper sleep tonight." She scolded herself without having any idea she was again going to lose her sleep.

She wanted to call Aaron so she took her mobile to see Aaron's missed call with another two from her team.

Smacking herself for troubling him, she checked the messages from her team. It had a picture and a few text messages.

[Boss, pictures I got from your school days near the cafe.]