Chapter 11
Mia's POV
"How did you get here? How did - How did you find me?"
"Is that such a surprise? You know I have my ways.." He confidently smirked.
"But no one knows of this place except --"
Zayn silenced me when he extended his arm across the small space between us and pulled me close, my body rammed into his. My eyes widened in pleasant surprise as I drew in the familiar musky cologne. The memories of us rushed back with the it.
"I miss you," he whispered in my ear as his arms tightened above my neck.
"You did?"
"Are you kidding me?" He asked, pulling away from me. His knees bent so that our eyes were leveled as his warm hands moved onto my cheeks, his thumbs caressing my skin, making me feel safe. Something I haven't felt in awhile. "I thought about you everyday. Please don't tell me you didn't think about me this whole time."
"No, no. I did." I assured him and moved my hands up to cup his. "I just thought you forgot about me."
"How could I possibly forget about you?"
"I don't know," I admitted not sure how to answer him when he was looking right into my eyes with his astonishing presence. There was a moment of silence as he analyzed me and I blushed, not sure which part of me he was being so observant about. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I want to hear you say it," he obscurely demanded as his hands retrieved to his sides, and he stood to his full form.
"Say what?"
"Say you miss me too. I said it but you didn't." This was the Zayn I knew. The playful man-child that he usually was never ceased to amaze me. Or annoy me.
"I missed you. There. You happy?"
"Not like that, I'm not." He crossed his arms and I rolled my eyes.
I inhaled a long breath, closed my eyes before putting on a serious composure.
"I missed you," I repeated and opened my eyes to see him still unsatisfied by my declaration. I was actually proud of myself for not laughing but I guess he was taking this very seriously. "What? Did I do something wrong?"
He bit his bottom lip and shuffled his feet on the wooden porch as if he was shy about something.
"Could you not say it in the past tense? It bothers me and I know you might find it ridiculous but I don't care." His request strangely impacted me - in a good way.
I bet Zayn didn't realize the affect he had on me when he was being so affectionate and rather romantic like this?
"It's not ridiculous. I think it's very sweet," I said and repeated the words he told me to say - in present tense this time.
My words caused his signature smirk to appear on his lips as he pulled me in for another embrace.
"Better?" I asked wrapping my arms around his back.
"Much better," he replied and tightened his grasp.
I couldn't believe he was here. In my home. In my mother's home. He appeared once again without warning and I was beginning to think he did this on purpose just to surprise me.
When he withdrew from my arms, I spotted a navy dufflebag below him.
"Are you planning on staying here?" I asked half-happy. And half-scared.
"Yea. Is there a problem? Do you have guests over?"
"No, it's not a problem. There are many open rooms around the house." He cheerfully flicked my nose with his finger and I flinched by scrunching it. "What was that for?"
"You're silly," he replied as he walked through the door, past me and I'm still oblivious as to why he did that. Although it did make me feel precious. "Wow. It's really nice in here."
"Thank you. My mum actually designed it." I said while closing the front door.
"Well, she is one great architect."
"Yes, she was ..." I corrected him and he turned around to face me, his face filled with remorse.
"I'm sorry, Mia." He took a step closer to me. "I didn't --"
"It's okay. It's not your fault." I smiled assuring him that I wasn't offended by the mention of my late mother. He stood there for a while before reaching for my hand. His touch was warm just like before as he entangled our fingers together. As I gazed into his golden brown eyes in addition to his touch, I could feel the comfort he was trying to give me.
"I would have loved it if she made a place for me," he broke our gaze and observed the small cozy foyer with much admiration, pulling me along with him.
"Why do you need a place designed?"
"I don't know. I was planning on moving back to Bradford or maybe Manchester. I haven't decided," he said letting go of me as he observed the painting of mum's country home. She hired someone to draw her own home which is what rich people do I guess.
"Oh." Was all I managed to say. I hadn't even thought about where he'd be living after his tour. Back in London? "You don't have to have it designed. Just buy a normal flat like every other normal person."
"But I'm not a normal person, Mia," he sneered at me.
I guess that held truth and I hated it. Especially when he tried to make himself look as if he's the most important person in the world. Well to me, he kind of was. I wouldn't say the most important but he definitely earned a place in my life. Whether it was temporary or permanent - only time will reveal that.
While I was deep in thought, the next thing I knew, Malik's face was inches away from mine. "What's going on in that head of yours, Miss Vance?"
"N-nothing," I stuttered.
His mesmerizing smile revealed his perfectly aligned teeth and I felt my heart skip a beat. Maybe a few beats. Goodness, he was such a beautiful man.
Zayn reached for my hand as he led us into the living room and plopped himself on one of the ivory couches as he closed his eyes while drawing in a deep breath. He took off the scarf effortlessly and placed it next to him. One of his arms dropped over the top, the other laid on the arm rest.
"Tired?" I asked, hovering over him.
"You have no idea," he moaned as he kept his eyes shut, his head resting on the top frame of the sofa.
"Did you have a nice time with your family?" I asked and he simply nodded.
"How are the boys?"
"They're good," his answers were short and I wasn't surprised nor bothered that he wasn't looking at me when responding.
"How's Harry?"
"Why Harry in particular?" He asked now holding his head up to look up at me, giving a suspicious glare.
"Because he and I are rather close compared to the other boys."
"How close?"
"Why does it even matter? I only want to know what he's been up to," I crossed my arms as I amusingly squinted my eyes at him. "Are you being jealous?"
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
I expected him to answer with another counter but instead he leaned forward, and grabbed my arm with his hand, sending electrical shocks through my body.
"What are you doing, Zayn?!" I squealed as he jerked me forward and I fell right on the opposite side of the sofa. His grip liberated me as he laid himself down, his head laying snugly on my lap.
I tried to restrain myself from brushing his hair as he kept his eyes remained shut. He hated it when his hair was out of place. But it was too hard to resist. My hand gently smoothed the surface of his hair and a small smile formed on his lips. Seeing him like this - playful and jealous - eased my heart. It confirmed he still had feelings for me after all the time that had passed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked, startling me. Was he mocking me?
"How are you so sure that I'm looking at you when your eyes are still shut?"
"Where else would you look?" His ego is clear in the question.
"I don't know. Maybe .. Maybe I was--"
"Just admit it, Miss Vance. You can't resist me."
"Stop calling me that, Mr. Malik," I said emphasizing the last syllable. "And you are not that irresistible." The words seemed to provoke him due to the opening his eyes.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me." I'd never been this frisky with anyone before.
"Take it back," he gritted through his teeth and I chuckled at how offended he was pretending to be.
"No."
"Mia." The way his voice deepened when he said my name sent a wave of shivers down my spine.
I held back my laughter with my hand as he got up to sit by me.
"So you won't tell me, eh? I'll get it out of you somehow."
"And how will you do that exactly?" I challenged him.
"Say I'm irresistible or face the threat of my tickles."
The thought of him tickling me aroused my every cell in my body. I shook my head still giggling uncontrollably. He positioned his hand on the armrest crossing me and one above me as he leaned in closer. My cheeks were beginning to flare as he approached towards me slowly, his eyes never faltered on mine. When I reached the farthest back I could, my back leaned against the armrest.
"Last chance," he warned as our bodies remained inches away from each other's.
Should I finally give in to his command? Or should I drag this out little longer?
Before I could make my choice, his fingers were manipulating at my waist and the giggles I'd been holding in bursted through the air. My body tried to persist against his mischievous touches by curling up but it doesn't seem to stop the tingly sensations shooting through me. I begged him to stop through my laughs although it was very unconvincing.
"Now will you say it?" His voice sounded amused at his torment.
I nodded as the moisture in my eyes escaped my eyes and rolled down the sides of my face.
"You're irresistible," I whispered, embarrassed that I surrendered to him.
"What? I couldn't hear you. Could you repeat it a bit louder?"
"You're irresistible." My tone was barely above a whisper and it doesn't insinuate any reaction in him.
I couldn't believe what I was going to say.
"Okay fine. You are the most ravishing, most enthralling, most charming person I've ever met," I confessed as my cheeks blazed up more than fifty degrees. "And without a doubt, most irresistible," I added flushing a light scarlet tone.
"Anything else?" He chuckled.
"You're a manipulative jerk who's pigheaded."
"What?!" The look on his face incited a cluster of laughters again as I held my stomach in pain.
"You should have seen the look on your face!" I said pointing a finger at him in the small space between us.
"Don't mock me, Mia." He playfully threatened. "Or you'll --"
"Or I'll what? Face the wrath of your tickles again?"
Zayn opened his mouth for a comeback but no words left his lips. And that's when I caught myself staring at them. His slightly full, parted lips left me breathless as his slender form stood closely above me, who was completely under his spell.
The sexual tension in the air heightened and I wasn't sure if he was thinking what I was thinking. I wanted to kiss him. I needed to feel the soft caress of his lips on mine.
My wish was granted as he leaned in at a slow pace, killing me with the large amount of time he took up.
I didn't know how much I missed him until right now - having him by my side in this lonely house made me feel protected. The words replayed in my head:
"I'll protect you."
That one night after the carnival. That night we got chased. That night I thought Zayn got shot.
My arms pushed up against him, and he looked confused as to why I was stopping the moment.
"I need to tell you some things," I said, unsure of how he was going to react to his rejection.
"Okay," he said, confused as he straightened himself in his seat. "Right now?"
"Yea," I said sitting myself up next to him. "It's been on my mind for awhile and I feel like you should know."
No kiss yet. Teehee. What a tease, I am. Not sure if I like this chapter although there were cute moments. More to come! Stay tuned! (:
Emm ❤