Too fragile for the beast

Chapter 29

"I wasn't scared," she muttered from behind her hand. "I was... shocked. Embarrassed. Mortified. All of the above."

"Want me to go back in and give you a second chance to recover?" he teased, the mischief in his tone impossible to miss.

"Ya Allah, no!" she cried, turning her back to him completely. "At least put a shirt on before I commit more sins by accident."

Arsh chuckled, low and rich. "You looked."

"I didn't mean to!" she hissed, still not facing him. "Your body just—just appeared!"

"So I'm that distracting, hmm?"

She let out a groan, dragging her hands down her face. "I hate you."

"No," he murmured, the teasing fading into something quieter, "you don't."

She stilled.

He watched her back for a moment, then turned to his closet, giving her the space she desperately needed.

But neither of them could ignore it now.

The wall between them had cracked.

And neither knew what would come pouring through next.

Shafiyya rushed into the bathroom like her life depended on it, her heart still pounding from the sight she wished she could erase—and yet knew she never would.

The cold water didn't help. Neither did the soft pastel clothes she chose, hoping they'd make her feel calm, normal, untouched by what had happened.

But nothing about this morning felt normal.

By the time she stepped out, her hair lightly damp and her face composed, she could already hear faint voices from downstairs. The clink of plates, the shuffle of chairs, and a deep voice that made her stomach twist.

She padded quietly into the dining area.

Arsh was already there.

Sharp. Polished. Powerful.

He sat at the head of the table, dressed in a crisp black suit, one arm resting lazily on the armrest while the other hand scrolled through his phone. His hair was perfectly styled, the traces of that towel-clad moment completely erased, as if it had never happened.

But she remembered.

And her face warmed all over again.

Inaya and Salma were bustling around the table, setting out plates and cups.

Inaya greeted her with a warm smile. "You're just in time. Breakfast is almost ready."

Shafiyya nodded softly. "Thank you, Inaya aunty."

She moved toward the table, her steps careful, conscious. She could feel Arsh's presence like a current in the air, but she didn't dare look at him.

Not after what she accidentally saw.

Silence wrapped the table for a few seconds, broken only by the sound of cutlery being placed and Arsh's occasional thumb swipe on the screen.

But she could feel his gaze flick to her. Once. Twice.

She didn't look up.

Couldn't.

Because if she did, she wasn't sure if she'd glare at him... or remember every stupid drop of water on his stupid chest.

And that was a war she wasn't ready to fight on an empty stomach.

In the middle of breakfast, while the quiet clinking of cutlery filled the room, Arsh spoke without looking up from his plate.