45. he whispered

Rae was avoiding James as a plague.

But the fact that they were under a single roof, amongst few people and at a point just across each other wasn't quite helping her.

And neither was his confused gaze.

However, Rae hadn't quite brought herself to understand what she really felt last night or whether it was just a mere kiss. With no attachments or feelings. Or was it with all the feelings combined?

Alex was helping Imane set up her stream, they were doing a Q and A soon, together as a couple and while Janet and Simon were summoned to come back, James was left behind with Rae in the living room.

Rae avoided meeting his gaze, scrolling her feed for nothing in particular. James sat from across her on the dining table, studying her expressions, debating what was happening.

Rae's turmoil was clearly written on her face, even though she tried hiding it. The blank face she tried making, just as Toast could, failed miserably. She was clearly not good with hiding her emotions.

But James was.

And he could read her like a book.

The fact that she wasn't even looking at him after what happened last night was a lot uncomfortable than he thought it would be. He gulped, contemplating whether or not she felt the same way he did, but then, wasn't silence a better answer than words?

He couldn't ignore it. Not anymore. He had to speak to her. Even when she was clearly trying not to.

Before he could straighten up and speak, a barking dog leaped right at him. Immediately, James's stern face broke into a smile as he looked down at an escatic Mika who jumped at the sight of his buddy. Rae averted her gaze from her mobile and glanced at how Mika stood on his two paws and holding James's shirt by his other two soft paws.

'Mika!' James cooed, rubbing his fur, 'Hi champ. Hi buddy.' Mika melted under James's soft rubbing, woofing in merriment.

Mika then withdrew himself when he saw Rae just right across, he woofed at her, jumping on her lap. James smiled as Mika licked her face, till she kept her mobile away and giggled.

'Mika,' Rae said, trying to make him stop. 'Enough.'

Mika barked, as Rae pouted and kissed. James was watching them, admiring the duo and Rae could feel his warm gaze on them. Mika soon left her and ran towards James, raising his paws at him and James picked him up.

Although Rae was trying to not look at James, she couldn't help but keep staring at the man. He was dressed in a blue sweater, over his sweatpants and his hair were messily left over his forehead.

Just the way she liked it.

James petting Mika wasn't been taken well by a pissed Mimi who purred, near James's leg and the latter chuckled. 'Now you want attention too?' He chuckled, picking Mimi and holding her like Simba from Lion King, away from Mika while Mika patted James's arms, longing for his attention.

Rae chuckled, softly, seeing James this way. Her heart warming up to this man, no matter what he did, she was only getting all the more strong notions from him.

'I see, my misery is amusing to you?' James said, tilting his head as he wrapped Mimi around his neck, Mika still on his lap.

'One man's misery is another man's amusment.' She shrugged, raising her brows and smiling.

James shook his head, 'I see how it is.'

'It is what it is.'

Her chuckles were making his day so much better. How could she always manage to tug on his heartstrings. Everything about her screamed simple, yet she was still managing to simply make him a goner.

'And what are we?' He asked, holding her gaze.

Rae could feel herself stiffening at the question, and as much as she loved straightforward questions, this one was a little too much for her.

Because the answer was still a blur to her.

She sighed, her smile fading, her hands entwined as she nervously looked at him. He was expecting an answer, something she didn't know.

Before she could muster her words, the doorbell rang and Rae excused herself to open the door. Their conversation halted when Janet and Simon walked from the entrance, Imane and Alex joined from too, drowning their conversation into a simple glance.

Mimi and Mika both returned back to their owners as Alex garnered attention from the crowd. 'Okay, so since we had an amazing party last night.' Imane smiled, seated next to Rae, blowing a kiss to Alex. But Simon caught it before Alex could and pocketed it.

Everyone chuckled, James smiled, and Alex sternly looked at Simon. 'Ignoring that, I have a little something planned for my lovely fiancée...'s beautiful friends.' Rae and Janet teased Imane as she pouted. 'They're here for the weekend right, and I, as in James and I have planned for a weekend getaway for camping!'

Murmurs and hurrays of excitement garnered around the room, James's eyes only fixated on Rae and Imane's eyeing the duo. 'What say? Imo?'

Imane shrugged, 'I like it. Anyway wanted a time off. And camping sounds great, doesn't it?'

'It does!' Janet clasped her hands, cheering. 'Thanks Alex, you're the best.' She side hugged Alex, pushing Simon away from the between.

'As much as I love your warm hugs, Jan. This was all James idea.'

Everyone looked at James, all except Rae, thanking and admiring his plan and he nodded in acknowledgement. While everyone instantly started discussing about the plan, adding their inputs, Rae could feel James's intense gaze on her.

She felt extremely nervous, her cheeks warming up as she placed Mika down and walked away from the room, entering the kitchen.

Taking a deep breath, she gulped the cool water down, telling herself that she could handle it. Her grip on the glass tightened when she heard James's voice from behind her.

'You didn't answer my question, Rae.'

She gulped, slowly turning and finding herself being towered under his sturdy figure. She hated how tall he was and how he easily her could make her feel so nervous and still comfortable.

When Rae didn't answer, James took a step closer, the intimidated Rae found herself backing off and being backed by the refrigerator. She could hear her heartbeats thumping as he neared his face, leaning down. 'James?'

That came off as a whisper when it was supposed to be a command.

The more closer he inched, the more she felt dizzy, her brain stopped working whenever he was this close to her and she hated that. His lips grazed her cheeks, sending instant chills down her spine as he whispered in her ear.

'Answer, Rae.'

Rae shut her eyes, as his softly stern voice enveloped in her senses, her breathing rising. Her hands held his arms, words seemingly lost as she felt his breath fanning over her cheeks, almost on her lips and she felt him finish the distance between them.

She wasn't ready for an answer, but she definitely was ready for this. Somehow her senses were getting a little too comfortable with him, and a little too estranged to her ownself.

His lips had grazed hers, and she let the warmth of his lips remain, slowly letting it imprint her mind. Slowly, they tilted their heads, synching their slow kisses and feeling lost completely with each other.

However, they couldn't continue, because Rae's phone rang again and they parted. She a little more dissappointed than him and she checked her phone.

Incoming Call

Syk 🔪💚

A/N

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Video: Syk > Toast