Chapter 40
Visha
I blink the sleep away and am met with a scene straight out of my wildest dreams.
Aoi sleeps profoundly in my arms, his hair messy against my chest. I start counting each of his lashes and analyzing every leftover freckle. Most have faded, probably from all the time he spends hiding from the sun in a room as he writes masterpiece after masterpiece.
His chest rises and sinks in a regular motion with each breath. He seems so at ease and yet looks so fragile as if he’d break were I to hold him too firmly.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Aoi is the strongest and kindest person I’ve ever met. No matter what was thrown in our faces, he never gave up on us. Day after day he worked his ass off to provide for us and give me the life he promised me.
I brush a strand of hair away from his face and place a tender kiss on his forehead. He groans in his sleep and nuzzles closer to me, shielding his body from the morning chill.
I glance at the scar on his forearm and frown. I can’t imagine the pain he endured at his own hands.
So I lift his arm and kiss the scar.
A kiss for each year he had to spend without me.
A loud meow rips me out of the moment as my head shoots toward the bedroom door frame where Ao slithers in like the diva she is. “Shh, you’ll wake him up.”
“Is she hungry?” Aoi mumbles, his voice hoarse while he pulls away from my arms.
"Come back here." I yank him against my chest. “She’s just very dramatic. Sorry she woke you up. You should sleep some more. It’s still early.”
Aoi rubs his eyes like a child and smiles. “Don’t worry about it. I have to get going anyway. Can’t stay too long.”
“Yeah, no. You’re not going anywhere.” I hold him firmly, bombarding his cheeks with kisses that make him laugh so beautifully, I almost explode from cuteness aggression. “I don’t want you to go. Stay with me.”
Forever.
He gasps for air and pushes me away, grinning adorably. “Chain me to the bed while you’re at it.”
“Good idea, come here.” I grab his arms and pin them above his head as I climb on top of him, listening to him giggle. “That way you’ll be with me all the time.”
“And how am I supposed to work if you tie me to the bed?” he mocks, eyes shimmering with amusement. “I thought you were a fan of my books. I can’t write if I can’t use my hands. Besides, I can’t touch your cock either then.”
I gasp in mock outrage. “That would be a huge problem. We can’t have that. Your numerous talents deserve to shine under the spotlights.”
“You’re such an idiot.” He stares at me with a soft smile, but it slowly falters as he averts his gaze. “Can you let go now?”
I instantly raise my arms in capitulation and roll off him, jumping to my feet while he grabs the blanket and pulls it closer against his half naked body.
I bite my lower lip and halt at the door frame, unable to leave the room yet. This isn’t the first time he suddenly retracted himself back into his shell, and I haven’t figured out yet what to do to help.
“I’ll go make us breakfast,” I say, waiting as he stares at me from under the blanket.
He blinks and slowly nods. “I’ll be there in a bit.”
Ao meows enthusiastically and purrs against my calves, following me as I step out of the room.
“Andrew?” he calls out and I rush back in.
“Yes, my love?”
He eyes me from the bed and smiles. “Thank you.”
“Goodness, you’re adorable,” I grunt and amble to the edge of the bed. “I don’t know what you’re thanking me for but anything for you is a pleasure and a given.”
“Come closer.”
I lean in and he grabs my face, guiding my mouth to his and blessing me by putting his sweet lips on mine. “Mhm, yeah. I’m going to marry you one day.”
He giggles and shoves me away, cheeks flushed to his ears. “Get out of here now, you idiot.”
“Your wish is my command,” I curtsy.
Laughing, I make my way toward the kitchen and serve Ao her meal before preparing a plate of everything Aoi likes for breakfast.