Forty- It is very real

"What you started yesterday?" she finally asked after recovering from the tingling within her.

They stopped in front of her room door and he looked down at her. "First, we should talk."

"I guess." He smiled and reached for the door handle.

After opening it and motioning her in, he said, "We should talk about us." The door closed.

"Us?" she asked, her legs walking to her wardrobe to pick an outfit for her outing.

"Well, mostly you." She turned to face Nathaniel who had helped himself onto her bed.

"Me?"

"Quit your job as a maid," came his response, his eyes boring into hers.

Throwing the gown in her hand onto her bed, Chloe could feel conflicts rising in her head again. "Uh?"

"I don't want you to work for me since we are in a relationship now."

"I never agreed to being in a relationship with you," she said, her eyes darting to the side. His suggestion spelt serious disruption. But his last statement...

"Chloe," his legs crossed elegantly. "I don't want you to work for me anymore."

"I can't quit." She found it alluring how he evaded her response earlier.

"Why?"

"I need this job."

"I will get you a more decent one." He certainly wasn't going to back down easily. But she had to try hard to not let the mission go like that. She still needed her answers and it rested a great deal on the mission.

"I hate having to lean on people. Besides, I am doing this job because when I get what I finally want, I want to be more than proud of myself for achieving things on my own."

Nathaniel's hands leaned backwards giving him more room to watch her silently from a distance. Silence followed his action causing Chloe to feel a little more giddy.

His stare which was already making her feel more ticklish inside made her break the silenece. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.

Drawing a long breath first, he eventually replied with, "There is this one image of you I can't seem to get out of my head." Her brows cocked in question. Seating straight, he continued, "Can't I convince you to change your mind?" He got up, his figure hovering with a certain aura. "Quit your job Chloe."

"I don't think you can convince me."

"Are you sure?" He took slow steps towards her, a smirk on his lips. "I can be persuasive in a frustrating way."

"Well," she smiled and crossed her arms. "I am equally stubborn."

"Are you now?" he asked amusedly, his body now very close to hers. "I like that about you." Chloe shifted a bit into the space behind her. His smile grew. "Quit, Chloe."

"It is going to take more than that to change my mind," Chloe said. She was loving the proximity as his cologne surronded her.

"Yeah?" She moved into the space in the wardrobe again as he took one more step forward.

"You will-" His head ducked closer causing his lips to be distance away from hers.

"I will what?" He definitely was taking joy in seeing her that way. Vulnerable even with just his bare movements.

"You will have to... do..." His lips moved closer to hers, it was just so distracting. "Do..." His hand clasped her back and she could feel herself melt into his hold.

"I will have to kiss you," he provided an alternative reply for the woman who was moving towards a tranced state.

And he did. Her chest glued to his, he claimed her lips in a thrilling way, she responded without hesitation. She replied to every move he made. His hands in her hair, his tongue exploring her mouth, his heat embracing her, she found a way to let him know she loved his touch.

"Is your mind changed now?" he asked as he broke off the kiss reluctantly.

She shook her head. "It will take more than that."

"Now, I am starting to think you are greedy." He drew lines on her bare arm and like last time, they lit something in her.

"And a bit selfish." Her lower lip was tucked in.

Nathaniel's lips wore a soft smile as he watched her face in the semi-darkness of the wardrobe. "I-"

A knock from outside interrupted what he had to say.

"I want to hate the person on the other side."

"Don't be silly Nathaniel," Chloe said as she left his hold and walked to the door. "Amir."

"Hi. We are leaving now."

"Oh." Something sunk within her. "Do I have to come along?"

Amir frowned. "You don't want to?"

"I... I will be ready in five minutes."

Amir nodded. "You have been part of this from the start, it is only right to keep involving you. But if you don't want to come along, I-" The look on his face was like that of a young kid who didn't want his mom to leave but he keeps telling her to if that's what she wants.

"I am coming along Amir."

He sighed and reached for her hand which held the handle of the half opened door. "Thank you so much Chloe."

"You are welcome." Maybe helping him prove his innocence to the end could be her form of atonement for whatever that would happen when the mission has her true identity being revealed.

As she walked back into her room, Nathaniel who was already on her bed again said, "You need to be careful out there Chloe."

"I will."

"Come here." He motioned and pulled her closer onto his laps. Leaning on her arm, he said, "The thought of something bad happening to you is... Just don't get hurt okay?"

"Yes sir."

"I am being serious Chloe." He looked up at her. "Be careful while you are helping my friend."

"Our friend," she corrected and his hand found hers after to get entwined.

His eyes closing as he found rest against her arm again, he said, "Don't forget, I am your boyfriend now. Let others know too."

"You are?" She fought her smile as her heart kept wanting to burst.

"Hmm. Don't forget that."

Chloe nodded even though he couldn't see her. Taking in his scent some more, his heat sending bliss to her system, she asked, "Is this real?"

Nathaniel brought their entangled hands to his lips and planted a kiss on her hand before saying with his voice really thick, "Yes. It is very real."

~

Chloe found herself zoning out a lot during the ride to Sebastian's place.

She could still feel his hold. She could still smell him. His taste on her lips wasn't fading away either.

Her fingers almost grazing her small lips, she was still finding it hard to believe everything she was feeling at that moment.

"Chloe?" Lucille's voice called. "We are here."

A small frown took over her face. "This is not Sebastian's spot Amir."

"He texted me to come here. Maybe he had some business here." Chloe's brows danced as she took one more look round the space filled with abandoned cars and car parts

"This place gives me creepy vibes," said Lucille.

"Same here," Chloe said. Well, the junkyard seemed really suspicious.

"Well ladies, do not fear, Amir is with you."

"Don't be so cocky. We can take care of ourselves," Lucille retorted playfully.

"Okay." He gave up. "Let's just go in."

"In where?" Chloe asked her eyes still scanning through and past the stacked cars admist the strong scent of what she guessed was engine oil.

"I have no idea either," Amir replied as he got down. "I'll just call Sebastian."

"Please do," Lucille shot at him. "Dying in a junkyard isn't really my thing."

Amir made a mock face and said, "You are so-"

A loud explosion cut him short and as a huge flame came after, Amir screamed at the women to find protection.