CHRISTOPHER'S POV
For the first time since I woke up, I saw Eve genuinely smile. Her eyes sparkled, a warmth radiating from her that chased away the chill clinging to my heart. It was an actual, real smile.
"Come, sit with me," I said, patting the space beside me on the bed. She settled in beside me, the movement easing a knot of anxiety I hadn't even realized was there. I pulled the duvet over our legs, a small, comforting gesture.
"Why don't you start by telling me the type of person I was?" I asked, a teasing lilt in my voice. "How incredible and awesome I was?"
Her laughter, a bright, melodic sound, made my chest ache with a longing I couldn't quite place. "Ha ha, funny," she said, making a comical face. "Well, let's start from the first day we met."
"Alright then," I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the truth was, I was desperate to know.
"First of all," she began, a playful glint in her eye, "I found you to be very reserved… but cocky. Very cocky, the first time we met."
A flicker of protest rose within me, but deep down, I knew she wasn't lying. "How did we meet then? A blind date?"
"Actually, it's kind of… unconventional," she said, a small chuckle escaping her lips.
"How unconventional?" I asked, my heart rate quickening. I had a feeling this was going to be good. Or maybe not.
"We met on an app," she admitted.
"Dating app?"
"I wish that was it… Let's just say, it was… contractual." She avoided my gaze, her fingers twisting in the duvet.
"Fake relationships?" The words felt absurd, even as they left my mouth. "You mean… like a contract marriage?"
"Yes. We started off our relationship on a contract that was supposed to last for six months, but then…" She trailed off, picking at a loose thread on the duvet, a nervous habit, I guessed. My curiosity was now burning, demanding to be sated.
"But then… what?" I prompted gently, reaching out to cover her hand with mine.
Her gaze met mine, a mix of affection and something akin to sadness in her eyes. "But then we fell in love, and the rest is history."
"Noooo, Eve," I protested, pouting playfully. "I feel like you're jumping a lot of things…"
She threw her head back and laughed, the sound less carefree than before, a hint of fragility woven into it. "Okay, what am I missing? I'll indulge you."
"Things like… how our first meeting went. Was it love at first sight? When and how was our first kiss? Who said 'I love you' first? How did your family take our relationship? When did I propose? How did I propose? Was I a jealous partner? … I need details, love," I said, smiling, but the smile faltered as I saw a flicker of sadness cross her face.
"What's wrong?" I asked, gently taking her hands in mine.
"Nothing, really… It's just… 'love' was your favorite word," she said softly, a trace of wistfulness in her voice. "You liked addressing me that way."
"Anyways, I'll answer all your questions, of course," she said, forcing a cheerful tone that didn't quite reach her eyes. The forced cheerfulness made my heart sink a little.
"I'll be honest," she began, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "When you walked into the meeting suite, I was momentarily stunned. You were incredibly good-looking. And when you asked if I was Eve… I thought you were trying to seduce me. Your voice was incredibly alluring. But besides that… our first meeting was horrible. You opposed every clause I added to the contract, held my hand when I told you not to, and even threatened to announce we were dating to the guests at the restaurant if I refused to let you drive me home, all while smiling. You drove me absolutely nuts." A genuine chuckle escaped her this time, a warmer sound.
"Wow," I breathed. "How did you even put up with that?"
"Well," she confessed, "I had no choice. I was desperate. I needed you to ward off my mother's marriage plans. And… you agreed to the contract because you wanted to escape your father's arranged marriage."
"So, I can scratch 'love at first sight' off the list, then," I chuckled, relieved that the tense seriousness was easing.
"I think 'attraction at first sight would be more accurate," she laughed softly. "You are a very attractive man, and I was definitely attracted to you, even though I tried to deny it at the time."
"Ahh, fair enough. Onto the next question then… When was our first kiss? And what was it like?"
A blush crept onto her cheeks, staining her neck a delicate pink. She smiled, a shy, hesitant smile.
"Our first kiss… was on my birthday, at the club. A week after we started dating. I asked you to kiss me," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "And it was the best kiss I'd ever had. Add that to the numerous times you've kissed me since." She ducked her head, avoiding my gaze.
"How often is 'numerous'?" I leaned in, using my finger to gently lift her chin, our eyes meeting.
"Five times a day?" I teased, a playful lilt to my voice. "Ten, maybe?" I leaned closer, my gaze fixed on her lips, unable to tear myself away. The earlier kiss in the elevator still lingered, a tantalizing memory.
"More than ten?" I whispered, our lips inches apart. The thought sent a thrill through me – the need to kiss her again felt primal, urgent.
"I didn't keep count," she breathed, her breath warm against my face. Her eyes, dark and luminous, held mine captive. As if drawn by an invisible force, I leaned in, and her hands, cool and gentle, cupped my face, guiding my lips to hers. I kissed her, a slow, lingering kiss that spoke of unspoken longing and a shared history.
I pulled back gently and unconsciously traced my fingers along the curve of her lips, fighting the urge to lean in for another kiss. Kissing her was addictive; a drug I wouldn't mind overdosing on.
We talked for hours, laughing, trading jokes, until nearly daybreak. Eve drifted off first, her head resting on my arm. I gently moved her beside me, covered us with the duvet, and with a smile playing on my lips, drifted off to sleep myself.
-----------
I awoke to sunlight streaming through the hospital curtains, bathing the room in a warm, hazy glow. Shielding my eyes, I propped myself up on my elbow. Beside me, Eve slept, a picture of serene beauty. Her face, soft and peaceful, held a captivating allure that stole my breath. My heart ached with a warmth that was both familiar and utterly new.
I reached out, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. A powerful pull, an irresistible urge, drew me closer. I leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. To my surprise, she opened her eyes, her expression unreadable for a heartbeat before breaking into a dazzling smile that sent my heart soaring.
"Hi," she whispered, her voice like a melody. But I was lost, captivated by the radiant beauty of her smile.
"Earth to Chris," she chuckled, waving a hand in front of my face. Her laughter, like a tinkling bell, snapped me back to reality.
"I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," I said, a grin spreading across my face. The blush that bloomed on her cheeks, spreading down her neck, was utterly captivating.
"Mmm," she cleared her throat, then looked up, meeting my gaze. "Well… you have told me that… a gazillion times, I think," she said, smiling. I couldn't resist; I gently pinched her cheeks. She was simply adorable.
Truly, she was everything she'd said she was: the love of my life.
Something about her – the way she smiled, talked, laughed, looked at me – lifted me to cloud nine. I understood now, with absolute certainty, why falling in love with her had been so easy.
We were still in bed, bantering and laughing, when the door opened, revealing my father, Franklin, Eve's parents, and the doctor. They all wore knowing smiles, their gazes fixed on us. And then it hit me: from their perspective, I was lying on top of Eve. The scene was… suggestive, to say the least. I quickly shifted, moving to sit up with my back against the headboard, arms crossed, a simmering annoyance rising within me. Their intrusion felt like a violation of our intimate moment.
"So much for someone suffering from amnesia, huh?" One of the women, a stranger, smirked, walking towards the bed. Her hands were crossed, and she raised an eyebrow, her gaze assessing.
Now, who might you be? I mused inwardly. But one thing was for sure: I liked her.