1Arkhan Hayes was trailing slightly behind her, pulling his wheeled suitcase, his jacket over one arm, his briefcase slung over his shoulder, looking just the picture of a casual businessman. He would have smiled wryly had someone asked him what kind of businessman he was. Not your typical businessman, was what he would say in return, and he would probably leave it at that.
Farin stopped before her room and swiped her keycard, then entered the passcode on the keypad. There was a beep and a green light blinked on the pad, and she pushed the heavy door open. The lights inside the room turned on in a gentle fade to a dim but soft, inviting light.
"Hey..." Farin stopped with the door slightly ajar, halfway into her room, and turned and spoke to Ark over her shoulder, whose room was across from her own.
"Hm?" He was searching his pockets for his keycard, and found it in one of his jacket pockets.
"I'll be over in a second, I want to give you your copies of the files."
"Yup," was all he said, having found his keycard and gotten the door unlocked and open.
Farin pulled her suitcase all the way into the room and let the door swing closed behind her. Sighing in relief, she put her suitcase by the wall and dropped her coat onto her bed, then bit her lip, resisting the urge to just fall into bed and sleep, nevermind the files or the simple chores of preparing for sleep, like brushing one's teeth. She was exhausted.
Farin debated with herself for a moment, and then tossed her suitcase onto the bed, unzipped it and pulled out a tank top and some dark, solid-colored pajama bottoms. Within a moment or two she'd pulled off her stuffy business clothes and changed into the clothes she'd wear to bed. She released her hair from its updo and ran her fingers through it a couple of times, feeling infinitely more comfortable.
She looked through her briefcase and searched for a pen, pulled one out, and then removed a slim file folder. Hopefully by the time she and Arkhan were out of here, there'd be more to add to the measly contents, Farin thought as she left her room for the hallway outside, where she knocked on Arkhan's door. He opened it a moment later and she realized belatedly she was barefoot.
"I see you didn't waste any time in making yourself comfortable," Arkhan said, raising an eyebrow as he moved aside to let her into his room.
"No, I sure didn't," Farin said, striding into his room and settling herself on the end of his bed. She opened the folder but was giving her surroundings a critical look. "I think your room is nicer than mine," she said.
"That wouldn't surprise me, actually," Arkhan said, not sparing a moment. "Not only am I the favorite, I'm also better-looking than you,"
Just as quickly, Farin retorted, "If you're the favorite, it's only because you suck Byron's cock." She began flipping through the pages in the folder, pen uncapped, ignoring him as he wandered past her into the room.
Arkhan barked out a laugh and began loosening the tie at his neck. "At least I know how to, sweetheart," he said, his voice an uninterested drawl.
"Oh, good one," Farin said sarcastically, not bothering to look up at him. "Don't deny it, Ark, I've seen you disappear into his office from time to time. You should try and clean yourself up a little before you leave next time."
Arkhan chuckled, finding amusement in their game of insults. "Suck mine, Farin," he laughed.
"You wish," she replied, making a few marks on a page.
Arkhan shook his head and there was a moment of silence that fell over the room.
"Okay," Farin said, "I've marked the pages that you ought to read over by tomorrow morning." She closed the folder and set it aside on the bed, placing the cap back on her pen and setting it on top of the folder. "Keep the pen, in case you want to make notes."
Arkhan nodded as he removed his tie, tossing it onto his suitcase. "Sure thing, teach," he said as he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt, undoing the buttons at his wrists as well.
"Whatever," Farin said, rolling her eyes.
Arkhan ignored her and bent to have a look in the mini refrigerator. "How kind," he said, removing a bottle of some alcoholic beverage. He looked in the ice bucket and found it full. He looked over his shoulder at Farin as he helped himself to a drink and asked, "Would you care for a drink?"
She raised her eyebrow at him and he said, "What? It'll help you sleep."
"I'm so tired right now I don't think I'd need any help, actually."
"Suit yourself," he said lazily, taking a sip. He came over to the bed and picked up the folder with the pen on top of it, and set it on top of the television.
"Ark," Farin said after a moment, still sitting at the edge of his bed.
"Yes," he said, the ice in his glass clinking musically against the sides.
"I don't think you should be drinking," Farin said, her voice firm, but her expression uneasy.
"Oh, really."
"Yeah," she said, frowning. She paused and said, "You should be clear-headed for tomorrow."
He took another sip, coming over to sit on the bed. "It's only one drink, sweetheart. I need to wind down after all that bloody traveling."
She didn't say anything and he looked at her carefully as she watched him. He placed the drink between his feet and unlaced his shoes, took them off and then set them side by side.
He glanced back up at her and found she hadn't moved from the end of his bed, though there was nothing more to keep her in his room.
"What?" he asked. "Are you going to stay here and make sure I really only have one drink?"
She looked away, her eyes veiled. "No," she said after a moment, her body language communicating that she was either uncomfortable or embarrassed or both.
He leaned across the bed and ran a finger slowly down her arm, grinning. "I wouldn't mind the company, sweetheart."
She looked down at the floor, a smile blossoming faintly on her lips. Her eyes met his and she said, "Sleep well, Ark. I'll see you in the morning."
"You too," he said, smiling gently.
She rose from the end of the bed and headed for the door. Grasping the door handle, she pushed the door open and, without turning around, called, "Good night."
Arkhan felt something in his stomach, suddenly, a jolt, as if someone were tugging at his innards. He took a deep breath and sprang up from the bed.
"Farin, wait," he said quickly. He met her at his door, which was slightly ajar, her hand still on the handle.
She turned to look at him and his closeness forced her to tilt her head up to look into his eyes, a questioning expression upon her face. She felt his hand, warm and light and unexpected, upon her arm, and it sent a tingling feeling racing up her spine.
Arkhan met her gaze, looking down at her, pausing a moment, as if trying to find words. "I... I think I was only half-kidding..." His voice grew softer, became a murmur. "I'd appreciate your company, if you wanted to stay..."
Farin opened her mouth slightly to reply, but where words should have been, there were none. She found herself unable to break his earnest gaze, even as she felt his hand upon hers on the door handle. The door was still open, but slowly he pushed it closed, and even when it clicked shut, he left his hand on hers.
He gripped her arm gently, gazing down at her; her cheeks had turned pink but she looked back at him still.
"Ark..." she managed quietly.
Closing his eyes, Arkhan bent his head and kissed her lips softly, lingeringly. He reached up, letting go of her arm, and put his hand to her cheek as he pulled back, his eyes still closed, their noses brushing slightly.
He exhaled softly, and the faint scent of his drink was apparent. "Farin," he murmured, "Stay with me, please..."
He felt her hand on his, after a moment, and she brought it down between them, away from her cheek. He straightened slightly, opening his eyes to look into hers. His breath was caught painfully in his throat as she let his hand go.
"I should go," she said softly, her voice just above a whisper. She bit her lip and met his eyes, an apologetic expression on her face. There was a look his his eyes she'd never seen before as he gazed at her; it spoke that he was baring himself to her, and it took her by surprise in a way even the feeling of his lips on hers hadn't.
"I'll be here, if you change your mind," he said quietly, a weak smile creeping onto his face as hope dared to bloom in the back of his mind. He let his hand fall away from hers on the door handle as she looked away, her cheeks still rosy.
Pulling the door open once again, slowly, her eyes averted from his, Farin said, "Good night, Ark..."
"Sleep well," he returned, his voice gentle. The door swung closed and clicked into place. He heard her door across the hall follow suit, and after a moment he walked over and picked his drink up off of the floor. Turning off the lights, he went over and leaned against the window sill.
Reaching up, he unlocked the window and opened it wide. A cool burst of summer wind ruffled his hair as he looked down at the beautiful, brightly lit city below him. He suddenly felt extremely alone.
Closing his eyes, he let the breeze wash over his face, which still burned from rejection. After a moment he brought his glass to his lips with the hope of drowning the lingering sensation of her lips against his own.