Chapter 45 - Caught in a web

''Tiana! Wake up! Come on, wake up!''

Nicklaus exclaimed as he pressed on her chest with both hands; she was still not moving, her eyes were still shut.

He had never felt so much afraid of anything in so long! At that moment, he felt the same pain he felt seventeen years ago in the closet; it was brain chattering. Everything around him disappeared and the only thing he could see was Tiana; memories of that night flashed through his eyes and his hands shook from fear;

He felt pain coursing through him as his eyes grew dark red from the pain;

As the seconds passed, her face was getting paler; it was as though she was dying. Nicklaus felt his breath ceasing; he found it hard to take in air. But he was not about to give up; he could not let her slip away the way he watched his parents seventeen years ago; helpless and weak.

With determination, he took in air again and covered her lips again, pushing it slowly down her throat to her lungs; he didn't pull away immediately, his lips covered hers as he closed his eyes;

'Tiana wake up! You have to wake up now, please!'

He mumbled in his mind and in that instant he felt her body moving; he quickly let her go and she vomited two mouthfuls of water; coughing strongly.

Nicklaus heaved a sigh of relief as he watched her stabilize; he raised his hand to her hair which was disheveled now, pushing some covering her face to the back of her ear;

Tiana brows fluttered open, and she gazed at the person in front of her for a moment; it was as though she did not recognize him at first and when she did, her mouth fell open;

''Mr. Nicklaus… '' She called meekly; Nicklaus brows were creased as he lifted her jaw with his palm, looking at her properly;

''Are you okay?'' He asked with a hint of concern in his voice.

Tiana blinked; was this reality or was she seeing things?

Nicklaus looked terrified as he watched her; his eyes were red as though he had cried;

Her eyes glanced up at his hair and she noticed it was dripping water, she looked towards the pool and back to him and she became paler than she was before;

Did he save her?

She remembered drowning in the pool; did he pull her out himself?

She looked around the pool and saw no-one and she knew he had saved her; she was still shocked beyond words, when he spoke again;

''Are you hurt anywhere?''

Tiana gulped hard, and she shook her head quietly; she remembered seeing someone beside the pool just before she choked, was he the one?

How did he get in? She made sure she locked the door. She wondered as she stared at him.

Nicklaus watched at her for a moment; and as though he thought of something, he stood up from the ground;

He was putting on a singlet and pants and they were all wet now; Tiana watched his clothes drip water, but she didn't say a word;

''Can you stand?''

He asked with an uncaring tone; a glare had replaced the concerned look on his face; if not that she had seen him clearly, she would have doubted that he had actually looked concerned a minute ago.

She nodded and stood up from the ground. It was when she stood up that she remembered that she was wearing just bikini; her hands instantly went to her chest. Nicklaus caught her action and looked away;

''Thank you for saving me, I could have died if not for your help. '' Tiana said appreciatively; but Nicklaus turned to her with a cold glare;

''I did not save you. I just helped someone out of the pool and it happened to be you, it could have been anyone else!''

Nicklaus replied; his tone grave. Just when the words left his lips, he regretted them immediately.

What the hell was he saying? He helped someone out of the pool, and it happened to be her?

What the actual f.u.c.k was wrong with his brain?

Tiana's brows creased at his statement;

Was that reply necessary? she wondered; can't he just accept the appreciation and keep quiet, or…

Was he thinking she was thanking him with a romantic thought in mind?

Ha! He shouldn't even bother himself about that. She would never think of him that way. that was ridiculous!

''Okay, but still thank you.'' Looking down at his dripping pants, she said;

''I'll wear my clothes and go get you a change of clothes if you don't mind? ''

Tiana asked, but he did not reply, seeing that he won't say a thing; she walked to the bench where she dropped her clothes and put them on;

''I'll go get them now.''

She said and waited a moment but he still said nothing, so taking his silence as permission, she turned and left.

Nicklaus watched her walk through the door, as it closed behind her. He slumped to the bench in front of him, his hands running through his hair.

He never knew how deep she had grown under his skin until he saw her dying in front of him. At that moment, nothing mattered to him anymore; all he wanted to do was save her.

Her lips…

He remembered how they tasted in his mouth; although he didn't plan to, he had kissed her while resuscitating her and shockingly, he didn't even feel like letting go.

It was crazy, but the moment he saw her eyes open, he felt a relief he hadn't felt in days!

She looked ordinary, but Nicklaus knew that there was something different about her. He was almost getting her out of his head and now this; she has just pulled him deeper into the hole he had been struggling to come out from.

And at that moment he knew he was not leaving her web any time soon.