CHAPTER 48
“Yes, I understand.” She mumbled softly.
Kaelith hummed letting his gaze wander on her face and let go of her thigh, and resumed feeding her. Amara ate obediently. She hadn’t eaten anything since morning, and Kaelith had exhausted her – both physically and emotionally.
Her heart would skip a beat recalling the way she shattered in his arms, the way he collected her and then enthralled her whole.
It was both fascinating and dangerous. She was losing herself in him in an unexplainable way. Strangely, more than fear, she was feeling at ease the more he pushed her boundaries and forcefully let himself in.
Amara was aware of the way her heart would betray her in his presence. How her body would tingle for his feathery touches, and her eyes would be captivated by him. In his presence, she was a goner.
Stealing furtive glances at him her heart wrestled with a flurry of conflicting sensations.
The air crackled with tension, mirroring the unease in Amara's chest. Kaelith exuded an aura that both intrigued and frightened her.
A wave of fear surged through her. Her mind reminded her of the reality surrounding him—his mysterious eyes, the dark shadows that clung to him.
Yet, despite the warning signals flashing in her thoughts, her heart seemed to defy reason.
She was scared, not just for herself but for the fragile strings of her heart seeming to be entwined with his- a man capable of both tenderness and turbulence.
Yet, amid the fear, there was an undeniable attraction, a magnetic force that drew her closer. Her heart, beating unsteadily, seemed to betray her rational mind. Amid the danger, there was a whisper of something intoxicating, a forbidden allure that she couldn't ignore.
Whenever he would glance at her, the intensity in his gaze sent shivers down her spine, a mixture of danger and a hint of something softer. Amara felt the pull of emotions like delicate feathers brushing against her heart—soft, ephemeral, and yet impossible to ignore.
And then there was another side of him she couldn’t ignore either.
The blood on his shirt the other night. She tried to shake it off her imagination, but couldn’t. Her chest tightened with each stolen glance, and a subtle tremor betrayed the vulnerability she felt. he was a dangerous man, her brother-in-law at that, and yet, her heart couldn't seem to understand.
She traced the lines of his face with her eyes, noting the sharp angles and the hint of danger that lurked beneath the grey orbs. Her breath caught in her throat as she grappled with the undeniable pull she felt towards him.
Suddenly she did not want to eat anymore.
Sighing, she sank deeper into his lap. Unconsciously leaning her head against his shoulder, she shook her head when he tried to feed her. “No more.”
The words rolled off her tongue with a lazy slur, her voice slightly blurred by the weight of tiredness. Kaelith put the spoon down and narrowed his grey eyes at her with a frown etching between his brows.
“Are you sleepy, little one?” he asked, Amara gently nodded nuzzling into his chest. His warmth soothed her; she surrendered to the calming beating of his heartbeat.
His protective embrace was like a cocoon, shielding her from the shadows of darkness and past that loomed around her.
With his warmth, she felt secure and confident, ready to face anything that came her way, no matter what her past was, she suddenly did not want to remember it.
This gentleness was only reserved for her, and the chills only he could send down her spine. Amara nestled closer, shutting down her thoughts, and breathed in his masculine scent.
Kaelith hummed adjusting her in his burly arms and carried her to the bed.
The way she snuggled into him teased every chord of his self-control.
Gently he put her on the bed, Amara frowned when his warmth pulled away.
She pulled her knees to her chest pulled the sleeves to her knuckles and put them under her chin, seeking his warmth in his shirt.
Kaelith bit his lips. Such a fucking little tease.
Covering her with the warm blanket, he caressed her cheek and leaned down.
“Sleep. I will be here when you wake up.” His voice was husky and deep. Pecking her neck, he pulled away. It took everything in him to not sleep with her, but there were things he needed to do. Grabbing one of his shirts, he put it on. Sneaking a last glance at her, he walked out.
*****
Amara's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the unfamiliar sensation of a cold bedside.
The warmth she had grown accustomed to was noticeably absent, replaced by a lingering chill that crept up from her feet.
A sense of emptiness settled in the room as she turned, half-expecting to find Kaelith beside her, but the space next to her was starkly vacant.
A peculiar flutter in her chest urged Amara to sit up, a subtle inkling that something was amiss. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand, and a furrow formed on her brow as she read the time – past four in the evening.
He lied.
Swallowing hard, Amara blinked the sleep away and pulled herself up.
Yawning, she padded to the bathroom, her steps echoing in the stillness of the room.
The cool water splashed against her face, momentarily dispelling the fog of sleep.
As she met her reflection in the mirror, her eyes widened in astonishment and confusion.
The delicate curve of her neck was covered with vivid marks – hickeys painted in shades of blue and red.
A flush of realization tinted her cheeks as she traced the contours of the marks with her fingertips.
Pulling down the collar of Kaelith's shirt she wore, more revealed themselves, scattered across her skin like an intimate embroidery.
A mixture of surprise and a fluttering sensation in her belly overcame her.
She tried to ignore the tingling awareness, the silent echo of lewd moments with him that lingered on her skin.
With a deep breath, she straightened, countless emotions dancing in her eyes.
The marks on her neck were not only of his claim but the line she erased between right and wrong.
The line she crossed, one shouldn’t. Her chest suddenly felt heavy.
Shaking her head, she tried to not feel guilty.
Her chest tightened, a subtle ache settling in as she grappled with the realization that she had crossed a line, and ventured into a territory that the world deemed unacceptable.
The weight of her actions pressed on her, leaving her with a disquieting sense of vulnerability.
She tried to shake off the burgeoning feelings, a mix of guilt and uncertainty, as she retraced her steps back into the room.
The air felt heavy. She needed fresh air. Driven by an instinct to escape the suffocating atmosphere, she walked into the closet. Looking around, she nibbled on her lips. She couldn’t go out wearing only his shirt or lingerie. He wouldn’t like that.
Suddenly her eyes landed on the side of the closet where his clothes were. The lock of the glass door was opened. Looking around, she slowly moved towards it and opened it. Kaelith wouldn’t mind if she borrowed a cloth or two from him, would he?
She grabbed the nearest pair of his sweat pants neatly folded on the shelf and a half-sleeved t-shirt.
The rustle of clothes and the familiar faint scent of his offered a sense of ease.
Quickly she the clothes on surprised at how big he was. His shirt reached her knees and she had to roll the back of the trousers several times and still, they were too big. She was thankful that the trousers had a string.
Combing her hair, she put them in a bun.
When she made her way to the door, she smiled to find it unlocked. Her heart flipped with joy. So he listened.
As Amara exited the room, the familiarity of his mansion embraced her like an old friend. The grandeur that surrounded her was evidence of the wealth and taste that characterized the man who kidnapped her.
Taking her sweet time, Amara wandered through the familiar spaces, tracing her fingers over the polished surfaces of mahogany furniture and admiring the art that adorned the walls. She couldn't help but marvel at the seamless blend of classic and modern elements that defined the style.
Making her way down the sweeping staircase, Amara descended with a deliberate slowness.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, an enticing aroma enveloped her senses, drawing her attention. The unmistakable scent of butter and garlic infused the air, creating a mouth-watering delicacy that summoned her forward.
She slowly walked into the familiar kitchen to find Martha by the stove whipping out the cream.