LOVE IN THE SHADOW

Summer arrived home with the unknown man, she didn't know why she decided to bring him home, she could have taken him anywhere but her home. She helped him out of the backseat of the car as the strange man groaned in pain, holding onto his stomach, which was gushing out blood. She managed to help him inside and made him sit down on the couch while she rushed to the bedroom to get her first aid kit.

She came back and bent in front of him as she gently started to take off his shirt. Every button she undid made her gulp hard. She didn't understand the effect the strange man was giving her, and her mind reeled with questions about why he was so badly injured.

She finally undid his buttons, revealing his abs. She became intoxicated by the sight and swallowed hard. She saw that the wound was a stab wound and quickly let go of the naughty thoughts, springing into action by attending to the wound as he kept groaning.

After some minutes, she was done treating the wound and wrapped it up with a white bandage. He fell asleep after she injected him with some medication. Summer stood up with the kit, staring at him as he slept peacefully.

The strange man's figure was chiseled perfection, his broad shoulders and chest tapering down to a narrow waist. As she had undone his shirt buttons, she had caught glimpses of his toned abs, her eyes drawn to the defined ridges of muscle. His skin was smooth and tanned, with a subtle sheen that hinted at a life spent outdoors.

His facial features were strong and angular, with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline that seemed carved from granite. His nose was straight and proportional to his face, and his lips were full and inviting, with a subtle curve that suggested a hint of a smile.

As he slept, his rugged features softened, and She couldn't help but notice the way his dark hair fell across his forehead, framing his face with a hint of messiness. His eyelashes were thick and long, casting a shadow on his cheeks as he breathed slowly and steadily.

Despite the bruises and swelling on his face, the strange man's attractiveness was undeniable. There was something about him that exuded power and confidence, a sense of raw energy that seemed to emanate from his very presence.

As She gazed at him, she felt a flutter in her chest, her mind struggling to reconcile the danger and mystery that surrounded him with the undeniable attraction she felt towards him. She swallowed hard, trying to shake off the feeling, but it lingered, refusing to be ignored.

She left the living room and headed to her bedroom to grab a blanket from the closet. She carefully draped it over the stranger, making sure not to disturb him as he slept peacefully.

After covering him up, She went into her bathroom to freshen up. She turned on the shower, and the warm water cascaded down her body, washing away the exhaustion of the evening. She stood under the showerhead, letting the water soak her hair and run down to her feet. With a deep sigh, she let the tension melt away, feeling the stress of the doctor's shift slowly dissipate.

Some minutes later, She emerged from the bathroom, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. She wrapped herself in a comfortable bathrobe and padded softly out of the bedroom. Just then, she heard the doorbell ring. She sighed, knowing exactly who it was.

She made her way to the front door and opened it to find Jane standing on her porch, her hair dripping wet from the rain.

She raised an eyebrow, wondering how she was going to get out of this situation without revealing the stranger sleeping on her couch.

"Hey, girl! I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Jane said with a mischievous grin."The rain's let up, and now it's the perfect time to hit the club."

"You're impossible, Jane. I told you I'm not going."

"Oh, come on! You can't spend another night cooped up in this apartment. You need to live a little."

Before Summer could protest further, Jane burst into the house, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on the stranger sprawled out on the couch.

"Jane...," She warned, but Jane's gaze was fixed on the handsome stranger, her eyes wide with shock.

"O.M.G!" Jane squealed, her hands flying to her mouth. Summer sighed and turned to her, "Start talking." She said summer hesitated, her eyes still glued to the stranger's chiseled features.

"Not what you think," She said quickly, trying to head off Jane's wild imagination. But Jane was already sold.

"A hot attractive guy is sleeping right there on your couch and you...," she trailed off, her eyes roving over the stranger's muscular physique.

"He came out of nowhere while I was driving, and he was badly injured. I decided to help him." Jane's eyes widened in surprise.

"Help him?" she repeated.

"He refused to go to the hospital and insisted on taking him anywhere but the hospital. I had no option but to bring him here." Jane's gaze drifted back to the stranger, her eyes lingering on his abs.

"Wow," she breathed. "He's got the perfect look. His muscular body is hypnotizing." She bit her lip and moved closer, trying to get a better look. Summer stopped her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, rolling her eyes.

"Trying to see something unique," Jane said, taking off the blanket from his body gently. She gasped at his abs, her eyes going wide with admiration. "Geez!" she exclaimed. Summer sighed tiredly at her.

"Stop, Jane. You're harassing him." But Jane was undeterred.

"Wow, Summer, finally heaven has answered my prayers," she said, her eyes shining with excitement.

She rushed to hug Summer, who was caught off guard and pushed her off.

"What prayer are you talking about?" She asked, laughing.

"The prayer I've been praying for you," Jane said, her grin still plastered on her face. "I've always prayed to God to provide a perfect man for my single friend. I prayed that prayer last night, and God answered within the space of 24 hours." Jane placed her arm around Summer's shoulder, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Look, a man, just your type, came on a platter of gold into your arms without stressing. It's true God works in mysterious ways."

"You're pathetic," she said. She walked away, and Jane followed her into the bedroom, still grinning from ear to ear.

"You have to believe me, this is the time to get your bone crack up," Jane said, her voice filled with excitement.

Summer ignored her, moving to the closet to put on her nightwear.

"Aren't you going to the club anymore?" Summer asked, her voice nonchalant.

"I will, I won't miss that for the world," Jane said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But you, my friend, you just got yourself a man of your dreams."

"Yeah right!" She said, rolling her eyes. "Did I tell you he's my ideal man? Can't you see the way he looks? He looks dangerous."

"It doesn't matter, men like this are way perfect in bed. If you think I'm lying, let him lay with you and you'll see what I'm talking about." Summer sighed tiredly at her friend's persistence. "You can't let this slide," she continued. "You're getting laid with him. I don't care how you do it, but I want to expect a pregnancy result in the space of two weeks." Summer shook her head, laughing.

"Leave, Jane," she said firmly. Jane grinned.

"Sure, don't leave any stone unturned when I get back." She blew a kiss at Summer and caressed Sophy's hair before she left.

Summer sighed and moved to lay down on the bed. She turned off the lights and cuddled Sophy in her arms, feeling the softness of her fur. As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

In the middle of the night, Summer jerked up, her heart racing from the noise she heard coming from the living room. She was disoriented for a moment, wondering what could have caused the disturbance. Then her mind snapped back to reality as she remembered the stranger on the couch.

She quickly flipped off the blanket and rushed out of the bedroom, her bare feet padding softly on the floor. As she entered the living room, she was greeted by an empty couch. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of the stranger.

That's when she saw him - a figure standing in the kitchen, illuminated only by the faint moonlight streaming through the window. Summer's heart skipped a beat as she let out a terrified scream. But as the figure moved closer, weakly and unsteadily, she realized it was the stranger.

"W....," she stammered, relief washing over her as she saw his face. But before she could complete her words, the stranger's legs gave out, and he fell towards her.

Summer was quick to react, catching him and holding him upright to prevent him from hitting the floor. She sighed tiredly, struggling to support his weight. With a Herculean effort, she managed to help him back to the couch and made him lie down.

As she covered him with the blanket, she couldn't help but notice the sweat beading on his forehead, and the way his chest rose and fell with each labored breath. She watched him for a moment, her heart still racing from the shock, before finally turning to go back to bed.