My heart stutters when I watch him emerge from his home and his gaze meets mine. I drop the axe into the large branch I’m breaking up and rush to his side.
“Adriel,” I coo. My eyes never settle as I drink him in, making sure he’s safe and feeling better. The dark circles under his eyes are gone, and the sickly pallor has darkened again. “You look like you’re feeling better.”
“I am. Thanks to you.”
My breath lodges in my throat as his eyes darken the longer he stares at me. Almost as if I can feel him boring into my soul and wedging himself there. Honestly, it’s where he belongs.
In a flash, he lunges at me and turns us around so that I’m pinned up against the side of his home. His large hand plants firmly over my racing heart. Slowly, he lowers his head until his lips hover over mine. I assume he’s going to remain there as usual, but when he closes the distance, our lips press together.
Stars burst behind my eyes at the feel of his soft lips. Our mouths open together as our tongues touch. Adriel growls faintly, turning out to be the sexiest sound—who would have thought I’d be into growling?
When my mind finally catches up with what’s happening, the faint tingle of his touch sets off a warning alarm. I attempt to pull back, knowing he must be in excruciating pain. He won’t let me. In fact, he deepens the kiss until the only air I’m breathing in is from him.
However, it’s not meant to last. Adriel’s knees give out and he stumbles to the ground, his body convulsing and his face scrunched up in immense pain.
It takes me several seconds of shock before I drop down next to him. I make sure to place my hand over his clothes in what I hope is a comforting gesture.
“Adriel, why would you do that?” I want to yell, to scold him. Beg him to stop hurting himself.
“You are worth the pain,” he groans.
And all arguments I have die.
“That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” I push a few strands of hair off his forehead, making sure not to cause him anymore pain. “Are you strong enough to get to the fire? I’ll make us some tea and then we can get some food in you.”
His head bobs up and down, making more of his hair spill free from its tie.
I hate walking away from him, but it’s not like I can help him stand. So, I busy myself with fetching water and putting it on the fire while he slowly moves himself to a chair. I hand him the plastic container of food Grandma packed, and he looks at it like it’s a foreign treasure. Though I suppose it is for him.
“They’re leftovers from dinner. Grandma Julia packed them for you. I have some bread, cheese, and cookies too.”
“Your grandmother packed all of this?” I nod as I rip off a chunk of bread and pop a slice of cheese into my mouth. “I didn’t think she was kind to you.”
That’s the understatement of the century. “It’s almost like a spell has been broken between us. When I ran away, she prayed for answers, which seems to be the catalyst that fixed what was broken between us. Could it have been a spell? Someone manipulating my life for some sick game?”
Something dark passes over Adriel’s face, and I can sense he wants to say something but doesn’t—or can’t. So, I blow it off and continue thinking I’m both onto something and possibly overthinking it at the same time. “Anyway, she and I had a good, long talk. We both apologized and promised to do better. So far it seems like she’s trying.”
“Is this what you want?” He blinks away whatever was eating him up a moment ago, focusing back on me. The man is in pain, and yet still patient as he thinks of me first.
I shrug, because it’s the most honest answer. “I’ve never had a real family before.”
“And a family is what you want?”
I rock my hand back and forth, not fully sure how to answer. “Honestly, I just want to be wanted.” Clearing my throat, I blink away the welling emotions and focus on the handsome man sitting next to me.
Distracting myself by pouring us both a mug of tea, doing my best to avoid meeting his eyes when I hand him the mug. The silence between us lingers and is, thankfully, not rife with tension.
“Rami,” Adriel says softly. Hesitantly, I drag my attention up to his warm gaze. “I want you.”
Instinctively, I reach out to touch him but pull back remembering him writhing on the ground earlier. So, I pull away. And every inch of space feels like I’m being sucker-punched. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
“You can’t want me,” I whisper.
I hear Adriel shuffling around, but refuse to look up and see pity or disgust on his face.
“Even though my grandmother is trying to trust me more, she hasn’t released me from my court order. Meaning she’s still my legal guardian. So I can’t be my own person until I’m free of that.”
“Does your current predicament have anything to do with those?” I don’t need to look where he’s pointing to know exactly what he’s referring to. My eyes catch on the raised pink scars along my wrist. My thumb traces over one absentmindedly.
