CHAPTER 27
Amara couldn’t process what was happening. One moment she was in the apartment, and the next moment, Kaelith was dragging her to God knows where. His hold stole like yet gentle on her, she gasped when she almost stumbled trying to keep up with his long strides.
Amara felt the evening breeze tangling with her hair as soon as they walked out of the building. And that’s when everything around Amara stilled.
Her heart stilled. How long had it been since she last stepped foot outside? Amara couldn’t remember. Everything became dull except the cool after-rain breeze that whisked past her hair, and she closed her eyes tilting her head at the sky.
So, this was what it felt like. The smell of peace.
The touch of solace. The warmth of nature.
Amara realized she missed this. Back in Kaelith’s mansion, the garden used to be her safe place, but ever since Rafael and she shifted to the city, she couldn’t tell if she missed Kaelith more or the garden with hundreds of flowers.
Flowers.
Her eyes opened and she looked at Kaelith with uncertain eyes. “The flowers…did you send them yesterday?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper, yet Kaelith felt her soft angelic voice echoing in the depths of his stone-cold heart.
He gently let go of her wrist and Amara immediately flinched at the lack of warmth. “I did…I thought you would’ve guessed.”
Amara and Kaelith stand amidst the serene beauty of the park, surrounded by blooming flowers and the soft rustling of leaves.
She averted her gaze, staring into the greenery in front muttering softly. “Why did you send me those flowers?”
He looked at her, a slight smile on his face casually shrugging his broad shoulders. “Cause you love peonies. Do you not like them?” He raised his brows and Amara licked the dryness of her lips.
Amara tried to read him, processing what he was up to, but e she couldn’t. He was guarded by the mask of facileness. She hesitantly cleared her throat, her voice soft melting with the hushing of the breeze. “I do, it’s just…why now? After a week? Why didn’t you try to stop me back then?”
Kaelith took a deep breath following her gaze.
The scene replayed in his head like a reel.
The moment she sat inside the car that day, Kaelith felt his world breaking apart, the moment the car vanished from his eyes, he felt the emptiness engulfing his heart.
He wanted to stop her, to hold her, to make her his.
But how could he? How could he make her his when he wasn’t sure if she wanted him or not? So, he decided to wait, to see if letting her walk away would affect him.
And just like he predicted, it did, it did with the force of a thousand meteors. Each one crashed on him with more pressure than before.
Kaelith knew if he wanted to do something permanently, he had to wait. And he did. For a whole week. Plotting. Planning. Strategizing.
“To come closer to you, I had to distance myself from you.” He said convincingly. Amara felt a shiver run down her spine. There. There it was again. The possessive glint behind his harmless words.
To come closer to you I had to distance myself from you.
His words played like a harmonious melody. Her cheeks flushed and her stomach tightened. So, he did miss her.
Her expression softened momentarily before she scolded herself for even thinking that way. What was she happy about? That her brother-in-law missed her? Scandalous. Shameful.
She swallowed the lump. Kaelith felt her dilemma as he turned her towards him.
His eyes peered intensely into her soft brown as he muttered.
“I mean it, Amara. I mean it when I say I want to make you mine. Hate me, loathe me, curse me…but I will always be here. With you, beside you, within you. You cannot escape me, little one, and neither am I planning to let you go.”
She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat tight. Her eyes reflected a mixture of emotions, torn between her feelings and the uncertainty of the situation.
Kaelith placed a hand on her cheek, his touch both tender and possessive that both thrilled and surprised her.
His voice dropped an octave lower. “Don’t worry. I will give you time.”
Amara looked deep into his eyes, searching for something. Something that could…that could tell her he was lying. That he was just blabbering. But when his eyes did not falter, she realized the truth behind his words.
Amara mumbled feeling utterly vulnerable in his arms. “Why now? After all this time?”
He brushed a strand of hair from her face gently. “Sometimes, timing is a tricky thing.” The tension between them lingered, the unspoken strain growing stronger.
Amara tried to make him understand the situation from her point of view as she shook her head and pulled away from him. “But what if I push you away?”
Kaelith smirked putting his empty hands in his pocket. “Try if you must, little one, but I've never been one to back down from a challenge.”
Her eyes flickered with a mix of apprehension and curiosity.
“What if I can't...?” Her eyes moved to his.
Kaelith chuckled, leaning in. So close that she could smell cinnamon and coffee from his breath. His expensive cologne and manliness. “Then I'll be right here to catch you.”
Amara felt herself drawing nearer to her as the world around her faded into dullness. The only focus was on him. The man who held her heart within his grasp.
She took a shaky breath. “And if I fall?”
He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Then I'll fall with you.”
Amara quickly averted her eyes when the heaviness inside her chest became too much. “Why did you bring me here?” She turned around fidgeting with her hands.
Kaelith calmly straightened, “You looked lonely.” Surprised, she looked at him. “How do you know?”
Kaelith chuckled enjoying how her eyes widened and nose scrunched. Adorable little cat. “I know everything, little one.” Kaelith’s gaze lingered down to her body and he bit his lips to stop his grin. Amara followed his gaze and she blushed embarrassingly.
“Oh...! I-I didn’t realize I had paint on…”
She soothed her hands on the paint-covered dress when she felt the heaviness on her shoulders.
“Here. That’s better.” He smirked and Amara felt her heart slipping a beat at the feel of his blazer on her shoulder, almost reaching her mid-thighs. She looked at him for a moment and then mumbled.
“Thank you.”
Kaelith swallowed hard as his eyes raked over her body. “Wanna take a walk?”
Amara nodded feeling flustered and wanting to move her feet. Kaelith boldly took her hand in his and she raised her brow when he pulled her with him.
She sighed. There was no point in making him understand. He’ d do as he wished and there wouldn’t be anything she could do.
They started walking, the tension between them slowly transforming into something Amara couldn’t explain. Her keen eyes kept lurking around watching as kids played with the ball. And a golden retriever rolled on the grass. She smiled unconsciously.
The air was filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers, creating an enchanting atmosphere giving her a sense of familiarity and liveliness. She was so lonely in that apartment that now she realized what being outside really meant.
Kaelith looked down at her. “Is it your first time here?” He asked knowing the answer regardless. He had been stalking her since she left and there was no way in hell, he’d let Rafael have her without any fight.
Amara’s smile dropped as she bobbed her head. “Rafael is…usually busy.” Kaelith knew she was lying. Her fingers twitched in his palm.
Kaelith tried to lighten the mood. “Then how is your painting going?” Amara’s cheeks flushed. She avoided his eyes lowering her head.
“I do…sometimes.”
“Sometimes? Back in the day, you used to paint from morning to night, barely taking a break. I used to wonder how someone could be so energetic for one thing.” Kaelith chuckled remembering the first time he saw her paint.
In the patio obvious to her surroundings.
Wearing a pastel pink frock, and her mother was worriedly asking her to eat something.
But she was so adamant that she completed the whole art piece skipping lunch and dinner.
That day Kaelith realized what love truly was. It was not the suns and moons. But the one person he wanted to see the sun and moon with.
Alongside her, the world seemed brighter, more colorful than his grey sanctuary. She was like a bright night, that enveloped a mere star like him in its embrace.
Amara tried to remember what he just said only to meet with blankness. She smiled sadly. “I guess painting is my way to express my emotions.”
Kaelith leaned visibly intrigued. “I wonder what you feel.”
Amara smiled. “It's like dancing with the whispers of your soul, letting the world see your vulnerabilities without saying a word.”
Whichever, and wherever he tried to look, his senses were engulfed by her intoxicating scenes— peonies and something deliciously addicting. The more he walked away from his darkness, he was getting closer to her light.
He absently nodded not relating to her. “Poetic much.”
Amara frowned feeling offended. “What’s wrong with being poetic?
Not everyone communicates with grunts and nods.
” She crossed her arms across her chest. The blazer looked oversized on her.
As if a child was wearing their parents' clothes.
Kaelith wanted to pinch her soft cheeks and pinch her red nose that just scrunched in an offensive scowl.
“Why not? It’s a useful expression.” Kaelith said nonchalantly.
Amara scrunched her lips. She shot him an annoyed look as she rolled her eyes. “Yes, very useful for being insufferable.”
“Insufferable, or irresistibly charming? The lines blur.” Kaelith grinned. If it was anyone else, he would’ve dug their grave six feet under where even the devil wouldn’t be able to find them.
But this was not someone. This was Amara. The woman he loved with his soul.
“You have an answer for everything, don't you?” The tension around them softened as Kaelith slowly stepped closer to her without being obvious.
He clicked his tongue. “Almost everything.”
Amara stopped and turned to face him. “Why can't you take anything seriously?”
Kaelith teased her. “Life's too short to be serious all the time.”
Amara rolled her eyes once again. Kaelith bit his tongue. Control. “Ah, the philosophy of a perpetual child.”
Kaelith smirked. “Better than the monotony of adulthood.”