CHAPTER 28
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the park. Amara and Kaelith strolled through the peaceful surroundings, oblivious to the passage of time. Her laughter and his intense gaze. Easy conversations created a cocoon, shielding her from the world outside.
Amara's gaze flitted between the blooming flowers and Kaelith's captivating eyes. Unbeknownst to her, the sun's descent painted the sky with hues of pink and orange. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a timeless embrace.
It was like she was standing in a sunlit meadow, surrounded by the fragrance of blooming flowers, yet wearing a blindfold.
Every petal, every scent, even every warmth of sunlight registered, but the source remained a puzzle she couldn’t solve.
There was an unspoken melody in the air, a gentle hum that resonated through her every nerve and travelled through her body, leaving her captivated yet unaware.
Being with Kaelith was truly something Amara knew she couldn’t feel with anyone— not even herself.
Yet oblivious was akin to dancing in a ballroom with her eyes closed.
Moving around not caring about the world.
She felt the rhythmic movements, the warmth of his hand, and the gentle pull, but the face, the expression, and the scent of the man beside her allured her.
It was an enchanting symphony, and she was the unwitting conductor, orchestrating emotions without truly comprehending the notes.
She unconsciously tightened her hold on his hand. The peaceful silence surrounded them, and Amara felt her heart pounding loudly. So loudly she was sure Kaelith could hear her. Feel her.
She gazed at him as he gazed at the setting sun.
The feeling was a whisper in her heart, a flutter that accompanied every thought and lingered in every shared moment. She experienced the bloom of emotions—like flowers unfurling in spring—yet the identity of the gardener remains a mystery.
It was a paradox where the heart recognized his presence but remained oblivious to what he truly meant, leaving her entangled in the delicate threads of an emotion she could feel but not fully explain.
Kaelith could feel it. The warm gaze of hers was filled with so many emotions he could write in blood with what he felt for her.
He let her. Stare at him. Gaze into his soul. Set his heart on fire with just one look. Entrap him.
And then…like the soft caress of the breeze against his neck, her fingers tightened unconsciously around his strong fingers.
Kaelith shuddered, his self-control shattered like the fragile remnants of a dream upon waking. The delicate touch sparked an electric current through him, leaving him vulnerable to the irresistible pull of her presence. And he cleared his throat.
He cleared his throat once again. “Are you hungry?”
“Huh?” Amara inadvertently whispered. When Kaelith slowly turned his head at her, Amara flinched as the rays of dusk fell upon his handsomely devilish face. His pale eyes sparkled beneath the descending rays, and the light-kissed stubble accentuated the rugged masculinity of his chiseled features.
At that moment, he appeared irresistibly handsome, his aura carrying a hint of devilish charm that both intrigued and captivated her senses.
When his lips curled in a knowing smirk, Amara flushed, realizing she had been caught staring at him. She quickly averted her eyes and pretended to look over his shoulder at the ice cream stall at the end of the street.
Completely nervous and caught off guard, she pointed towards the cart as the long sleeves of his blazer jacket brushed her knuckles. “Ice cream.” She tried to sound excited but Kaelith saw through her.
He played her game and followed her gaze. “You want ice cream?” He asked at which she shyly nodded.
“I do.” She whispered her cheeks painting red and pink. Every color of the shyness painted her face.
Kaelith shrugged his shoulder standing up taking her hand and pulling her up with him. “Come then.”
She let him drag her, because she was unsure what to do.
She hid her face behind her hair as they fell in front of her face. With him walking beside her, she looked short and more petite. His towering and muscular body always intimidated her and the others around him.
Yet, Kaelith surprised Amara with his gentle hold on her hand. As they neared an ice cream stall, the scent of waffle cones and sugary delights filled the air. Kaelith noticed the rumble in Amara's stomach.
Amara’s mouth watered at the sight. “I didn’t realize how much I was craving this.” She shyly muttered as Kaelith looked down at her.
His heart skipped a beat. In the season, she was in his tunes, now day and night were one when she was with him. In his wakeful eyes, her desire adorned itself.
Kaelith chuckled, “Well, let's fix that, shall we?”
They approached the ice cream stall, the vibrant colors mirrored in the sky's changing palette. Kaelith helped Amara choose a flavor with a teasing glint in his eyes. His unexpected gentleness tugged at the edges of her heart.
He softly muttered. “Chocolate or vanilla?” She placed her finger under her chin wondering. Kaelith knew she’d chosen chocolate over anything.
And it didn’t surprise him when she said, “Chocolate.”
He nibbled on his lips and let his gaze linger on her before looking at the man. His gaze immediately hardened and his expression turned cold. The man flinched at the sudden change as Kaelith muttered without any emotion.
“One chocolate.”
The man nervously nodded and made a full cone. Amara asked. “Do you not want it?”
“No. I don’t eat ice-creams.” He said ushering her towards the bench after paying.
“Then don’t ask me to give you a bite later.” She grumbled thinking how could someone resist the temptation of Ice cream.
Kaelith looked at her while she indulged in devouring the ice cream, a small drop of melting ice cream escaped down her knuckles. Kaelith noticed immediately and pulled out his handkerchief from the pants.
He gently wiped her knuckles as she looked startled at him. “You don't want to get your hands messy now, do you?”
The touch was harmless yet filled with an unspoken intimacy that lingered in the air. Amara caught off guard felt her heart flutter. The warmth of the evening was not just from the fading sun. But his occasional touches.
So harmless…. yet dangerous for her heart.
Amara quickly pulled her hand back. “I-I’ll clean it.” She took his handkerchief and roughly wiped her knuckles. “Thank you.”
Kaelith bit his lips, his gaze lingering on the small amount of chocolate on the side of her mouth etching his fingers to wipe it. He could hear Amara fumbling with her words but his intense gaze zeroed on her lips.
“You didn’t have—” Amara stilled. So suddenly like an erect tree, his thick fingers brushed against her lips. It was like she was in a slow-motion rom-com movie as his thumb brushed over her lower lip, pulling it out and lingered there for a teasing second before he lifted his hand.
Amara’s eyes widened as he put the thumb into his mouth and licked it.
“Delicious” He grunted as if he just didn’t set her world on fire.
She unconsciously touched the side of her mouth where his thumb was. “You…”
“Let’s get you in, it’s getting cold.” Kaelith cut her words off, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her up with him.
Amara held her breath in, the ice cream melted in her hand absorbing in the handkerchief as Kaelith pulled her with him.
She kept thinking about his touch on her lips as her mouth opened and she couldn’t think straight.
She felt it, all together. He walked her into the building, into the elevator, and the hallway of the apartment.
Before she knew it, they were in front of the door as Kaelith slowly turned her towards him by her shoulders, placing his hand on either side of her face, he tilted her head to the side with his hands.
His pale eyes held an intensity speaking fires, a silent language exchanged in the stillness of the moment. Amara's breath caught as the proximity heightened the awareness between them.
Kaelith leaned in, a whisper away, and time seemed to pause, creating a suspended moment of anticipation. The air was charged with an unspoken connection, and as their lips drew nearer, the world outside that door ceased to exist.
Amara felt her heart pounding loudly as she instinctively closed her eyes expecting him to put his lips on hers. She waited and waited. But the kiss she eagerly anticipated didn’t come.
Instead, she felt him taking off the blazer off her shoulders. Amara blinked and opened her eyes as she felt the coldness hitting her arms.
Kaelith looked at her, with his toe raised and an arrogant smirk on his lips. “Expecting me to kiss you goodbye?” He licked his lips teasingly.
Amara flushed, embarrassed and panicked, she quickly pulled away and pushed herself against the door, her heart beating at the speed of miles per second. “N-No!”
“Then why did you close your eyes?”
“I-I was just…”
“Keep lying to yourself, little one.”
“I just…don’t want complications.”
“Complications are inevitable when the heart speaks a language too complex for words,” Kaelith spoke. His eyes were on her as he took a step back and then another.
“Have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He winked at her before turning around and walking away.
Amara stood there. Utterly speechless and confused. Pounding heart and roaring blood in her veins. The butterflies in her stomach and tingles on the side of her lips, right where Kaelith touched her.
Swallowing hard, she quickly opened the door and walked in before closing it and pressing her back against it. My heart beating so fast. She was so engrossed in her turmoil of thoughts that when she felt eyes on her, she lifted her head only to gasp as her eyes widened.
There stood in the middle of the living room Rafael—with an angry pissed off expression on his face.