4. Hey, Darling.
4
Hey, Darling.
“ H ey, darling.”
Eira jumped straight up off the ground and to her feet to face the man who had managed to creep up behind her. The sheer fear that coursed through her veins that was bringing out her instinct to fight or flight became muddled when she caught sight of him.
Her need and want for a man might’ve been dormant, but she knew a good-looking one when she saw one, and this one was easily the most beautiful one she had ever seen on this side, and on the other side, of the earth where she had been born.
Well, she might think that about him if he hadn’t snuck up behind her with no one around in hearing distance as the sky was beginning to grow dark.
As she was reminded of the fading light, instincts kicked back in, and her chest fell heavily with quick deep breaths as she took a step backward. “Who are you? I’ve never seen you in the village before.”
The beautiful man slightly smiled, preparing to introduce himself as he took his own step, but forward. “I’m R—”
Immediately, Eira had taken another step back, wanting to keep a safe distance from him.
“Don’t take another step back!” The man’s harmless demeanor and tone quickly changed in a flash. He turned commanding, his voice now alluring, showing her he had simply put on a mask. Holding out a hand, he waved for her to come back. “One more step back, and you’ll fall right off this cliff.”
Her eyes squinted, trying to adjust to the dimmer light to see him better. She wasn’t sure, but he almost looked … c oncerned? Worried? Frightened? Those words swirled through her mind like the wind that was beginning to swirl around them from the storm brewing off a bit away in the sky.
He, too, clearly felt the wind picking up, as the concern—or whatever it was—grew on his fierce features. “Look, darling—”
“Eira.” She didn’t know why it mattered, as she was one step away from death, but she corrected him all the same.
“Look, Eira ,” he tried again, this time softer, more soothingly, “how about I take a few steps back, if you do the same forward?”
She thought for a moment. It wasn’t the fear of falling to her death that scared her in this moment, but the unknown, breathtakingly beautiful man. Yes, he was stunning to look at, but the more she did so, the more he frightened her. His dark eyes practically glowed the more the sun faded, as if he somehow had night vision. But it was the sheer height of him that had her frozen in place. He was far away from her, but even at this distance, she could see how giant he actually was. If he got close enough to grab her before she could figure out if he was good or evil, she was sure he could break her like a twig.
Feeling certain there was nothing behind the heel of her foot but air, she finally gave in. “All right.” She swallowed. “You first.”
It was like he didn’t want to take a step back when contemplation crossed his features like it had hers seconds ago. But why did it look like his conundrum was if he took a step back, then he might not be able to jump after to save her? As if that was somehow possible?
Finally, he nodded, taking a single step. “Okay, now you.”
Eira took a step, and then another with him as they moved in sync, her forward and him backward, like a dance, until she was a couple of feet from the edge of the cliff.
“I’m Ryu,” he finally announced with a released breath, and it was like the mystery man could finally breathe now, making him even more of a mystery to her despite finally learning something about him.
The way he seemed to look at her was way different than anyone had looked at her after the accident, and even different than how Kenji looked at her. It was similar, as it wasn’t out of disgust, but more powerful— much more powerful—yet so pure. There was something she doubted in Kenji’s eyes that had her flight mode kicking in, and while she was frightened of Ryu, the longer she stood before him, the less she felt the need to run. She would think she might still feel the need to fight, but truthfully, she wasn’t much of a fighter, and it was clear there was absolutely no point against him.
Usually, her gut, bones, and all the other matter in her body told her to run from dangerous men. So, why was every cell in her body now telling her she was in the right place at the right time? It wasn’t like it wasn’t clear that Ryu was, in fact, dangerous, yet her body felt magnetized to his.
She kept her feet steady on the ground, but it wasn’t without difficulty, as she internally ached to move closer to him with each passing second.
The question was: did he feel it, too?
While her body might be convinced of him, her mind had yet to be.
“Why is it that I’ve never seen you around the village before, Ryu ?” She repeated his name as if to commit it to memory.
“I live in the next village over.” His eyes wavered, like they were searching for something, until they landed on her tote with the contents of her market run spilling out. “To get supplies.”
Okay, now I really need to run.
Eira’s own eyes searched around for the best escape route, and right when she had decided which way to run, he did something to distract her.
Ryu crouched to the ground, holding his hands out in surrender. “Please, don’t run.”
Pausing in astonishment, she knew full well she should be booking it back to the house. Instead, she couldn’t help herself from asking, “Why are you crouching?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted in defeat. “I thought I might seem less intimidating down here.”
“Well, you’re not. It’s making it worse. I feel like you’re about to pounce on me at any second.”
“Sorry, I’m just scared you’ll run from me, and then—” He breathed, rising back up ever so slowly, debating on whether he wanted to say his next words. “ And then , I’ll never see you again.”
Strangely, it felt like Eira held all the power from the sheer desperation in his voice.
Her chest suddenly became heavy again as she whispered, “Why?”
Ryu thought for several more anguished, breathless moments, still wondering exactly what he wanted to reveal. “If I tell you, then you really will run from me.”
A knowing chill went down her spine …
He felt it, too.