Seven

HAZEL STYLES POV

There was screaming alright, but it wasn't from Riven whatsoever.

It was me as my face burned. My klutzy ass freaking sprayed myself in the face.

I gasped as a searing, burning sensation exploded across my cheeks, nose, and eyes.

My eyelids felt like they were being sliced open, and as tears streamed down my face, the pain only got worse.

"Oh God, I am going to die" I choked out and struggled against Riven who was trying to hold my flailing arms

My lungs burned, and trying to fight Riven's hold even though I couldn't see for shit made every breath I took feel like I was inhaling razor blades. Why the hell was he trying to pin me down when I was freaking dying. Why won't he just leave me alone?

"Calm the fuck down, or it's going to get worse," Riven roared, and I stilled in shock at the fury in his voice.

I was dying and he thought I could calm down. What the hell was his problem? This was all his fault. I wouldn't be all hysterical and dying if he hadn't broken into my house.

Riven scooped me up in his arm and then he was moving in a direction I could not see. My skin itched and prickled, as if a thousand needles were stabbing me all at once but there was nothing to do but to endure it.

He dropped me on my feet, and just as the burning sensation intensified and I felt like I was being consumed by an inferno, cold water doused over my head, onto my face, and down my body.

He'd taken me to the bathroom. The water from the shower soothed the pain while I gasped and panted for air.

I could feel Riven's presence as he loomed over me, but there was nothing to be done. It was mortifying.

Where the hell was Lena? She had slept over last night, so why wasn't she here? Was she still asleep? Just how hungover was she? My pajamas were soaked through. I tried to remember if I'd worn anything inside.

Ugh. Why was time passing so agonizingly slow

"Try opening your eyes" Riven whispered gently, his voice catching me off guard.

"They'll burn" I choked through the water cascading over me, my face still prickling with sensations.

"It will only hurt for just a little bit. Do you trust me"

It felt like a loaded question. He was the last person I would trust and yet I found myself nodding to him.

"Open your eyes then" he whispered.

I unclenched my eyes, then blinked them open. I blinked more rapidly as the water got into my eyes, making my vision blurry. My eyes stung but it was bearable.

I could feel Riven's gaze locked on me, so I inched back from the spray and glanced up at him.

"Good girl," he murmured, and my stomach flipped dangerously.

I took a step back. "I think I'm much better now"

"I'll dry you off and make a paste for the itching. Your eyes are all bloody"

I glared at him. "And whose fault is that?"

He grinned. "At least now you know how the spray feels. I would have suffered the same fate if you had a good aim wouldn't I"

"I wouldn't have had to use it if you hadn't broken into my house"

His brows dipped. "Broke in. I told you I would be bringing the contract and you didn't say no"

My mouth dropped open then I yelped when he suddenly picked me up in his arm like I weighed nothing and trudged out of the bathroom.

"You're dripping water all over the floor," I gritted out, thinking of just how much chore it was going to be to clean it up.

"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything. I can't have you work when you can't even see right, can I"

Huffing out a breath, I crossed my arms and let him set me down.

He grabbed the towel and started to dab at the water on my face and hair.

I watched him, noticing how concentrated he looked as he wiped the water off my skin. He lingered at my neck, where his bite still throbbed.

"It's healing nicely," he said, and I glared harder. He chuckled and then took hold of the first button on my soaked-through pajamas.

I grabbed hold of his hand and his eyes flew to mine.

"What the hell do you think you are doing"

He smirked. "Helping you undress. Don't you feel uncomfortable in wet clothes"

"I can undress on my own just fine" I gritted out. "Can you just get me something to soothe the burn? I'll change before you get back" My face was freaking itching and I was trying my best not to scratch it.

He regarded me quietly and I wondered if he was going to say no. If he did, what would I do? He was so much stronger than me... I was sure I wouldn't be able to fight him off.

He sighed, then grabbed my chin. His gaze was intense. "Your face is all swollen, so why do you still look so fucking irresistible," he said, and I just stared at him as my heart drummed against my ribcage. How was I supposed to reply to that?

"I'll get you something to soothe the pain. If I come back and you're still not dressed, I won't take no for an answer Hazel. I'll have to help you" he said then let go of my chin and walked out of the room

I let out a breath, my hands clutching at my heart. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why the hell are you pumping so hard these days"

********

"What's that?" I asked as he spread the whitish-like mixture onto my face.

"It's baking soda and water. Don't worry, this is a tested and trusted method. You'll feel better in no time" he said, his grip on my chin gentle as he slowly applied the paste onto my face.

"Did you get sprayed in the face a lot, you know, after you broke into unsuspecting people's houses"

He chuckled. "No, Hazel. Believe it or not, you're not the only one who'd sprayed themselves in the face while trying to aim at me"

"Bullshit," I said, and his eyes flared.

"We'll have to work on that mouth of yours won't we"

"That is such a cringe thing to say. Do you think you're the male lead in a dark romance novel or something"

He smirked. "Sounds like you're wishing that I was. Perhaps I sound like them and you can't help your heart fluttering every time I so much as look at you"

I clenched my fist. "The only thing I feel is disgust"

His stare never wavered. "Then why are your eyes saying something different? You do not loathe me, do you? Actually what you want Is for me to rescue you"

I jerked my face from his grip and moved out of his reach. "I do not need to be rescued. Also, my face does not hurt anymore, so please, get out of my house"

He snickered, then stood up, his gaze zeroing In on mine darkly. "Why do you have to make everything so difficult, Hazel? And here I was trying to be all nice about it, but since that is not working, I guess I just have to do this the hard way"