I knew it.

I remembered it all, oh who was I kidding, I was aware all night about a certain someone sleeping with me with his arms protectively wrapped around my body.

And the fact that it felt so good and that it was real was freaking me out.

I had been awake for almost an hour now and I hadn't moved an inch just because the way his arms were wrapped around me made want to hold onto him forever and never let go.

But I knew the second I'd move or the second I'd make a noise, he'll pull his arms away and I'll be cold again, so I decided to enjoy it for as long as I could even of it meant not moving until he was awake himself.

But soon enough, my dreams were on the edge of breaking when he coughed and I realised that he was awake, or waking up at least. 

I sighed and closed my eyes shut, waiting for him to pull his arms away but much to my surprise, he pulled my back further into his chest rather possessively and a shiver ran down my spine when he pressed a soft kiss on my neck. 

He was awake. I could feel it. The way his breath was fanning my neck and the way he'd inhale my scent every once in a while proved that he was awake and yet he was still doing things around which I couldn't wrap my head. 

I realised that how I really would have broken down so bad if he hadn't stayed with me all night and held me like I belonged somewhere. Like I belonged to him. 

It had been more than an hour and a half since I had been awake and was pretending to be asleep and almost more than half an hour since Mr. Rhodes woke up. I didn't know why I called him that even in my head. I guess it was a reminder to myself that we were, at the end of the day, business associates and could never be more than that. 

I guess it was time for me to come out of this new found safe haven and face reality. I knew that the second I'd show him and I was awake, he'd definitely let go of me.

I slowly started turning around, waiting for him to remove his hands from around my waist but so far, even though I was almost facing him now, he hadn't made an attempt to release me. 

I fully turned around so that now I was facing him and my heart overwhelmed with warmth when I saw the slight smile on his face. 

Like he was waiting for me to wake up. 

He was still holding me tight, his face merely inches apart from mine. I lifted my hand up and placed it on his cheek, making him suck in a sharp breath. 

Like it affected it. Like my touch had an affect on him.

There was hardly any distance left between our bodies and now our faces were so close that I could feel his breath on my lips that caused goosebumps to rise up on my bare arms.

"You're awake," he said, breathless.

"I am," I whispered, my voice hoarser than I intended it to be.

He leaned in and yet again for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me but he pressed a soft and lingering kiss on my forehead and I closed my eyes as I savored the feeling of his lips against my skin.

"I'll make you breakfast," he said and slowly started removing his hands from around me and I wanted to yell at him to not let me go just yet. 

But I knew I couldn't cross my limits. What he did was already something I would never be able to repay him for.

*****************

After taking a shower, I made my way downstairs and the heavenly smell of pancakes hit my nostrils, making me lose my senses.

I walked over to the kitchen where I saw Mr. Rhodes standing with his back towards me and boy what a sight it was.

I wasn't done ogling at him when he turned around and caught me staring, 

"Oh good, you're here. Breakfast is ready."

What planet was this, again?

I slowly made my way over to the chair and sat down with my elbows on the island. I watched, utterly mesmerised, as he sat the plates in front of me and took a seat on my left.

I smiled and picked up the fork, digging into the heavenly thing in front of me. 

God, why can't I have this everyday?

I knew Mr. Rhodes' piercing gaze was still at me and he was closely looking at me but I tried not to lift my eyes up and meet his. 

I knew he was curious about how I was holding up and suffice to say I didn't want to think about all that stuff right now. 

I just wanted to keep myself busy and not let myself drown in despair. Even if it meant pretending like I was doing absolutely fine, then I was up for it. 

"Thank you for s-staying with me last night," I stuttered, not looking at him straight in the eyes.

"Isabelle, you can take this week off from office and if you think that you wouldn't recover until then, then you can take the next week off as well," he softly said and I gave him a light nod, not sure how to respond to him being so generous to me all of a sudden. 

I knew that it was because I was suffering from a huge loss right at the moment and he probably pitied me and that was the reason he was being so kind but still, I appreciated him staying with me all night and morning, giving me the time he would usually spend working. 

His phone rang and he averted his eyes away from me and towards the phone. Cursing under his breath, he picked up the phone,

"Hello?"

He listened to whatever the person on the other side was saying and I looked at him as he talked and sighed in disappointment, his demeanour changed and he looked at me for a few seconds before releasing a sigh.

"Fine, I'll be there," he said and cut the call as he moved his head back towards me.

"I've got to go," he said in a soft tone and hiding my disappointment, I mustered up the best smile that I could.

"Of course. Thank you for all that you have done," I smiled at him and he closely looked at me with an emotion so raw that I had to tear my gaze away before I lost myself in the intensity his eyes showed.

He stood up and picked up his jacket before putting it on and fixing his cuffs. 

He took one last look at me and then without much of goodbye turned around and started walking towards the door as I watched him leave. 

When he was almost out of the door, he reluctantly stopped and I furrowed my eyes in confusion as he turned around and started walking towards me.

His face was emotionless so I couldn't know what he was thinking or why was he walking back towards me.

When he was standing right in front of me with barely any distance between us, he leaned down and held my face in both of his hands and my heart fluttered. 

I closed my eyes when his lips touched my forehead and he pressed a soft lingering kiss on my forehead and then on the crown of my head before giving me a sad smile and striding away. 

**********