Page 100 of What Happens in Dubai

Tom sat up and glanced at his bedside clock.

‘Zara, it’s 3 a.m. You’re not going anywhere. Stay, get showered in the morning and then head to work.’

I wanted to stay but didn’t want to overstay. I wasn’t sure what this meant for us.

‘All right, but I do need to sleep, OK?’ I warned, jokingly pressing his nose.

‘Agreed. Now roll over and let me spoon you.’

My face was burning from smiling as I did as he told me. I could feel him pull me in tightly, smelling my hair. It felt so amazing to be entangled in his arms again.

I shut my eyes, hoping that tomorrow would take for ever to come around.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The following morning, Tom’s alarm buzzed from the side of his bed. He groaned beside me, and I continued to keep my eyes shut tightly over.Why the fuck am I still here?I had morning breath, a champagne headache, and my wet hair had expanded into an afro overnight.

Tom gave me a gentle shake as he yawned. ‘Morning!’

I smiled, sitting up. ‘Morning.’

‘Would you like some breakfast?’

I shook my head, declining his offer, feeling more uncomfortable than I had last night. ‘I’d love a shower before work, though,’ I replied, remembering his luxurious rainfall shower.

I watched his perky arse confidently strut over to the cupboard. He took out a fluffy towel and threw it over. ‘I’ll make us some coffee. You know where everything is.’ He leaned over, kissed my forehead, rustled my hair, and strolled out of the room.

Wrapping the towel around me, I tottered off his high bed and entered the ensuite.

What the fuck did I do? Why didn’t we have a conversation aboutusbefore the jumping straight on his dick stage? My head was pickled. I stood under the shower, lathering up his Molton Brown shower gels onto my tender vagina, disputing every decision I’d made last night. But then I’d suddenly have a flashback to how wonderfully filthy it was and I’d melt all over again.Maybe we should have a conversation? Perhaps we could date initially. Take things slower this time around. I mean, if a life of sex like this was on offer, I’d be crazy not to consider it.I switched off the shower, feeling a bit more optimistic than before and headed to the sink.

My mouth smelled like penis and pubes, so I went on the hunt for Tom’s toothbrush. As I opened the bathroom cabinet and started rummaging around, any hope I had that things would work out slowly began to evaporate along with the steam. Behind the toothpaste was an oversized hoop earring. I held it in my hand to examine, tracing the initial E in the centre with my finger. Then I realised. It was Ebony’s. She’d had it on on the day of the consultations. I fucking knew something was going on with them. Just like I knew the day I found Harriette’s earrings in the same fucking place.

For some reason, I laughed. What the fuck was this cupboard? His little trophy room? I immediately felt like I had been punched in the gut. I couldn’t even be angry at Tom, but felt disappointed with myself. Here I was back in the same place I had been over a year ago. This time fully aware of who and what Tom was. I felt numb, incredibly numb and sad at my over-imaginative desire to be loved by this man once more. He was Sugar Daddy, the Royal Gigolo, and I had to remember that, no matter how difficult it was for me to walk away from the connection.

I put the earring back, brushed my teeth and re-entered the bedroom to get dressed. My outfit still felt a little damp from the night before as I zipped it up at the back and headed towards the kitchen.

When I entered, I felt my eyes squint with the light shining in from the bright windows. Tom was sipping on a coffee at the breakfast bar with his dressing gown tied tightly around his waist. I couldn’t help but cringe at the Hugh Hefner vibes he was emitting.

‘I’d better go, Tom. I’m sorry about last night, just turning up like that.’

‘Don’t go yet. I’ll drop you off. Raj has just messaged and asked me to come to the clinic too.’ He turned his phone screen to face me. ‘He says about ten? Presumably he wants to give me a gift for all my hard work.’

Fucking perfect, I thought.

‘No, honestly. I’d rather not make this a big deal. We don’t have to do any formalities. We both know what this was, so let’s leave it at that, eh?’

Tom looked startled.

‘OK, so no formalities. See you at ten, and call your own fucking cab then!’ he laughed.

I smirked back. ‘See you.’

As I walked down the stairs, I found it hard to keep it all together.

I knew deep down this couldn’t be fixed. Tom was unavailable and would be for the rest of his life. As much as last night had been amazing, I knew it couldn’t happen with feelings. I thought I could handle it, but the chemistry was too strong. I knew I deserved more than a hot-man head-fuck, and I knew this was going to be a nightmare to get over.

I headed to my flat and got dressed for work before walking round to the clinic. Despite how the morning had started, I was ecstatic to see Raj and hear all about Ashley’s night with Dave. I was first to arrive, just after nine. I pulled the shutters up and deactivated the alarm. I wanted it all to be perfect for Raj to come at ten.

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