Chapter 2: Ocean

'Complicated? Really...'

"Yeah." January breathed out, holding onto the doorknob behind her.

There was something in his voice that made her feel so nervous. 

Ocean struggled to figure out whether she regretted coming home with him or not. She definitely was not in a relationship or he would've seen a guy accompany her to the dance-floor in the past month. 

Seeing her after so long stirred up a very dangerous feeling inside of him. It surpassed the way he felt about his soon to be fiance whom he decided to take a break from once he moved here. 

Yeah, he felt bad about it at first but now he found himself on the brink of cheating. January was oblivious to how attracted he was to her, even though he tried making a joke out of it while they were on his bed. 

He knew from the slight flush of her cheeks that she felt the same way too. Part of him felt smug as hell when he caught her staring at him inside the elevator. 

Despite being a gentlemen, his fingers itched to touch her in any way possible. She looked so incredibly sinful in her red dress, yet so innocent at the same time. Her petite figure and delicate face kept him awake at night, erasing the memory of any other girl he'd ever met. 

'Did you miss me at all?' He asked her, surprised by the way his voice sounded; huskier than normal. 

January's brown eyes widened at his question then she swallowed hard, meeting his gaze with a hurt look on her face. "Of course I did, every day!"

'Then why do you want to leave?' 

"I'm just too overwhelmed to give you an answer right now." J truthfully answered, afraid that she'd reveal to him her true feelings if she stayed any longer.

Ocean stepped closer, finally giving in and touching the silky material of her dress. For the second time that night, he fought so hard to refrain himself from doing anything that might scare her away. He heard her breath hitch just as his other arm laced itself around her slender waist. 

'Let me just...' He took a deep breath, leaning forward until his nose was nudging her forehead. 'God, I missed you so much...' 

January melted into his embrace but kept her hands at her sides. She trembled when he exhaled against her skin, raising goosebumps all over her neck. 

His nose skimmed her cheek and trailed downwards until he reached her collarbone. She closed her eyes, biting her lower lip to stifle any pleasurable sound that tried escaping her mouth. 

The hand that was circling her waist suddenly moved lower to take hold of her fingers. He slowly brought them up to the nape of his neck where his hair felt incredibly soft. 

Her eye-lids fluttered open again to find Ocean staring at her so intensely, it almost frightened her. It was like his irises had turned into a dark, storming shade of black and blue. 

He gently guided both their hands to the back of his head where the hair was a tad bit longer. The dark strands started fading into a lighter shade of brown, eliciting a gasp from January. 

Even with her high heels, she still had to stand on her tip-toes to reach the hair across his forehead. 

"Oh my God." 

Gradually, Ocean's hair transformed into its natural snow-white color. The way he looked changed dramatically. 

The phone started ringing rather loudly, bringing them out of their cocoon. 

Neither one of them moved a muscle though.

Ocean had totally forgotten about his answering machine and seconds later his recorded voice echoed down the corridor, asking whoever it was to leave a message. 

'Hi baby, it's me. I haven't heard from you in like forever! Mom's asking if you're free next weekend so we could pick out my engagement ring. Let me know, okay? You promised so don't forget.'

The woman's voice; sugary sweet with a hint of spoiled-brat in it was like a splash of cold water to the both of them.   

'Shit.' 

January freed herself from his embrace, her heart plummeting inside her chest after hearing the words 'baby' and 'engagement'.  

"You're...you're getting engaged?" She asked in a small voice, watching him pinch the bridge of his nose. 

He cursed once more under his breath, tugging at his white hair in frustration. 

He had completely forgotten about his promise to her.  

It should've never happened, he thought. 

'No...I...it's complicated.' 

She found herself half-laughing, half-crying at the absurdity of it all, tears flooding her eyes in the process. "Sure, now it's your turn to lie..."

'I'm not.' 

"Anyways, congratulations, I wish you the best." 

Ocean stopped her from opening the door, keeping his palm flat against it, right above her head. 'You're not leaving.'

'"Ocean.." She warned, glaring up at him. 

He glared back at her in defiance, his irises clearing up like clouds after a storm. 'No, I'm not letting you run away. Not tonight.' 

She sniffed away her tears, trying to rationalize her feelings a bit more. 

"But...what if she finds out." 

'I don't give a fu...shit about her right now, alright?' 

Shocked by his admission, January simply nodded and relaxed against the door. 

Ocean's shoulders lost their tension when he saw her nod. He sighed in relief and lifted her chin so she'd look straight at him and nowhere else.

'Look, there's a newly furnished guest bedroom down the hall, you can stay the night and I'll order us some dinner, how does that sound?'

Jan couldn't resist the pleading in his eyes but she didn't know how she was going to sleep over without her bedroom essentials, especially her pajamas. 

'There's no need to worry about your night-wear, I'll have my concierge get you everything you need.' He reassured her, as if reading her mind.

"Okay." She hesitantly replied, wondering just how pampered she was about to become.