20. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-Annabella-
K ace was very distracting. I had not thought anyone could make me feel so good. One kiss and I was on the couch on my back with him in between my legs, and I definitely felt something hard pressed against me, wanting out of its confinement. But we were still getting to know each other, and while I had not had a one-night stand, I knew I was not the type.
Yet moving into this new territory was intriguing. I found myself wanting to know more about him as well, and it was certainly a confidence boost when the Kace seemed to reciprocate.
“I can’t really say I want to face anyone from my former life,” I admitted.
“I can’t say I do either,” he told me, looking away. The slight vulnerability surprised me. I had not expected he would show it to me.
“You know there is something wrong with them looking down on you for this, right?” I said.
He turned his head and looked surprised, but I gave him a small smile.
“It doesn’t make you less of a person. You haven’t even lost complete feeling, and with time and training, more might come back. And even if you had lost all feeling, it wouldn’t change anything. You’re still you, just trying to figure out a new way to live. But I mean, that’s the same thing with any great things happening in your life. If you lost someone, you would also have to change a lot. The same thing would happen if you lost your job or got sick. Anything can change our lives, but it doesn’t change us. At least it doesn’t change if we are worthy of love,” I explained.
Kace’s eyes only grew bigger, and my smile widened as well. It was rather funny that I could make the great Kace feel so shocked, the expression on his face utterly priceless, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment by laughing.
“You’re really something else, aren’t you?” he whispered, as if he weren’t speaking to me.
“Is that a bad thing?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I’m not used to it. People show their true colors once things change.”
“Yeah, I can imagine…” I murmured.
“I know you can. I never knew you didn’t know what was being said about you,” he explained.
“Well, we never really talked, despite you working with my dad. You had other things to do, and it’s not like I’m that eye-catching.”
“Don’t do that,” he scolded, sounding weary.
“What?” I asked.
“You know what. Putting yourself down. You know what I think of insecure people,” he reminded me.
“People are allowed to be insecure.”
“Not when it makes them put themselves down. It’s so annoying to listen to!” he retorted.
“Oh, excuse me for being annoying. We can’t all be born with as much confidence as you!” I crossed my arms, looking at him angrily.
“I wasn’t born with it. I learned it, and it’s something everyone can learn.”
“It’s really not that simple.”
“But it is,” he countered.
“No, it isn’t. I have been put down by the people I care about. How can I not listen to that? Or how can I not believe my family when they say I'm nothing and that I could never make someone like you look my way unless something awful had happened to you and you didn’t think you could get better?”
“Is that what you think?” he inquired.
“It’s why my family suggested this!” I exclaimed. “And it’s not like you really noticed me before.”
“I had other things I was doing, and as you said, we didn’t really talk. That doesn’t mean I didn’t see you.”
“No, you just thought I was a crazy stalker instead of actually asking me if that was true,” I argued.
Kace seemed a bit guilty, which only seemed right.
“I was really the best thing people thought you could get in your condition,” I whispered.
“And what do you think?” he asked.
I felt a little surprised by his question, but I answered him, “I told you I don’t think you’re worth less. I don’t think that this changes your smart mind or how observant you are. Maybe you’re going to do even better and show people that you’re not one to mess with. Maybe this will make you take more chances or bet on better things. I don’t look down on you for it. You were my escape. That was all I could think about, but I know what others thought as well.”
“You are right that I didn’t look your way before this,” he admitted, making me look down. “But I was also blind to a lot of things.”
I looked up at Kace, confused. “What?”
“I was blind to a lot of things. I was very focused on a few things, never really noticing the rest around me or truly seeing through the facade of other people. Now I sit here, and how many do you see visiting me?” he asked.
“I…”
“Exactly. This is my life now, and sometimes we need those harsh awakenings to see what could be right in front of us,” he told me.
I blinked fast, realizing how much his words meant to me because no one had ever insinuated I could be more.
“So, you’re not too sad that I was the one you married and not my sister?” I inquired.
“I signed the papers, Annabella. I knew who I agreed to marry,” he pointed out.
“Right…” I whispered.
“And I'm not sad about it, even after meeting you. We are supposed to figure this out, right?” he asked.
“We are,” I confirmed.
“So, why would I be sad about it? If I were, would I work for it?”
“Probably not,” I mumbled.
“No, I wouldn’t. So could you stop putting yourself down?” he asked.
I thought about it, then nodded a little. “I can try.”
“Good, because there is no need to. Not around me. You won’t win points that way.”
“Oh, so now we have a scoreboard?” I teased.
He smiled a little, nodding. “Why not? You won points for the sweet sounds you make.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “You lose points when you talk to me like that!”
We both smiled before laughter escaped us and a nice energy spread in the room.
“You like it. You might as well admit it. You’re into a little dirty talking. We can explore more later,” he assured me.
“Oh, so now we are going to the bedroom?” I teased.
“Hopefully at some point, because a lot can happen there.”
“Why did you say “a lot” in that way?” I asked.
“What way?” he inquired innocently.
“That way. That little pause before saying “lot”,” I pointed out.
“What? A lot can happen,” he repeated.
“Yes, but you said it interestingly.”
“How so?”
“Don’t act innocent. What do you plan to do with me?” I teased hearing him laugh again, and I enjoyed hearing it. It made me feel more comfortable around him.
“Do you really want to know?”