*******

  [THE NEXT MORNING]

  Meesha woke up to the warm rays of sunlight peeking through the window. She yawned, stretching her arms above her head, and looked around the room. It was already morning. As she sat up, memories of the previous night came flooding back. Her eyes widened in shock, and she felt a flush rise to her cheeks.

  She looked down and saw that she was wearing only her bathrobe. It must have been Xanqer who had put it on her and brought her to bed. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. He had seen her, all of her.

  Meesha's gaze fell upon the hickeys on her skin, and she bit her lip. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to process what had happened. "Oh my God. What have I done?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

  She couldn't believe she had slept with Xanqer without telling him how she felt. And now, she had no idea what he was thinking or feeling. Had he done it out of love, or was it something else entirely?

  Meesha felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She remembered screaming Xanqer's name, begging for more. She slumped back onto her bed, covering her head with her sheet.

  "I'm so stupid," she muttered, her voice muffled by the sheet. She couldn't believe she had let things go so far without being honest with Xanqer about her feelings.

  As she lay there, Meesha couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty. What did Xanqer think of her now? Did he feel the same way, or was it just a one-night stand for him?

  The questions swirled in her mind, making her feel anxious and unsure. Meesha knew she had to talk to Xanqer, to find out what he was thinking and feeling. But for now, she just lay there, wrapped in her sheet, trying to make sense of it all.

  Meesha felt her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she thought about facing Xanqer. How could she even look at him? What did he think of her now? Did he see her as a different person after what they had done? She couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability and exposure.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  She pulled on some clothes, trying to calm her racing heart. As she approached her door, she felt a sense of trepidation. She reached out to open it, but her hand hesitated on the doorknob. She felt like she was going to be sick.

  Meesha took a deep breath and slowly turned the doorknob. She opened the door just a tiny crack, peeking out to see if anyone was there.

  The coast was clear.

  She slipped out of her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

  As she made her way down the hallway, Meesha felt like she was walking on eggshells. She tip-toed past Xanqer's room, her heart racing with anticipation. What if he came out and saw her? What would she say?

  Meesha reached the staircase and began to make her way down, her eyes fixed on the floor. She didn't want to make a sound, didn't want to draw attention to herself. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings of the living room.

  Meesha's cheeks flushed again as she remembered the details of their encounter. She wondered if Xanqer was in the living room, waiting for her.

  She sneaked over to the wall, pressing her front body against it as she tried to peek around the corner. Her hair shifted to the side as she moved, falling away from her back. Her head was bent slightly as she looked around the room, her eyes scanning the space for any sign of Xanqer.

  But he wasn't there. At least, she didn't think he was. Meesha let out a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of temporary reprieve. But it was short-lived.

  As she stood there, frozen in uncertainty, Meesha felt a gentle stroke on her hair, just behind her ear. She spun around, her eyes wide with surprise, and found herself face to face with Xanqer.

  "Are you hiding from me?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. Meesha's heart skipped a beat as she looked into his eyes, unsure of how to respond.

  She felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, and she quickly looked away, her gaze dropping to her feet. She couldn't bear to look up at his face, not after what had happened between them last night.

  Her cheeks flushed with heat as she stood there, frozen in discomfort. She could feel Xanqer's gaze on her face, but she refused to meet his eyes.

  As she stood there, the silence between them grew thicker, like a palpable fog that wrapped around her. Meesha's heart began to beat faster, her senses on high alert. She felt like she was teetering on the edge of a cliff, unsure of what was going to happen next.

  "No... I wasn't hiding..." Meesha stammered, still looking down at her feet. "I... I... was just..." She trailed off, unsure of how to finish her sentence.

  The silence that followed was oppressive, weighing heavily on Meesha's shoulders. She felt like she was drowning in it, unable to escape.

  As she stood there, struggling to find the right words, Meesha's mind was racing with thoughts of last night. She needed to know how Xanqer felt about her, about what had happened between them.

  She took a deep breath and asked, still looking down, "About what happened last night... I want to ask if..."

  But before she could finish her sentence, Xanqer interrupted her, his fingers gently grasping her chin and tilting her head up to meet his gaze.

  Meesha's heart skipped a beat as she felt his fingers on her skin. It was like a spark of electricity had run through her body, leaving her feeling breathless and lightheaded.

  "I have feelings for you?" Xanqer asked, completing her sentence.

  Meesha's eyes locked onto his, her heart racing with anticipation. She nodded, her mouth dry.