Chapter 52 #2
“Thank you for coming,” he said, gently slipping his arm around Kyller. She wore a black button-down shirt tucked into a fitted black skirt that fell to her knees.
“It was nothing,” she whispered, meeting his gaze.
The droplets pattered on the yellow plastic above their heads, and Zion couldn't stop staring at those full lips painted burnt red. They were so perfectly shaped, with a slight mark cutting through them right in the center. He had to force himself to look away or he'd lose his mind.
The ceremonialist called for everyone's attention, taking his position at the stone altar, and began the ceremony.
He spoke of love, death, and the compassion of the Gods.
At the end, everyone prayed for the God of Life and the Goddess of Death to welcome the souls into their realm and reincarnate them in better times, when peace would reign and wars would end.
Kyller stayed by Zion's side throughout the entire ceremony, and when it ended, she waited for all the family members to leave.
Now that she was beside him, Zion would stay until the end.
And so he did. Hours later, when the rain grew even heavier, Zion allowed himself to breathe and wipe his damp face.
“Let's go. I think I've said goodbye enough,” he announced wearily. She nodded, wiping away a few tears of her own as she watched him tenderly.
“Let's go.”
Zion transported them to the end of their block. He still didn't want to say goodbye to his partner—he felt so much better with her beside him.
The two strolled along the sidewalk, gazing at the puddles that reflected like mirrors.
He looked at their reflections and could hardly believe he'd been blessed with such a beautiful partner.
It was surreal to look at her face—the wide, delicate shape of it, the imperious eyebrows, the arched nose full of freckles, skin as white as the moon, making her large golden eyes stand out even more.
He was afraid of getting lost in that beauty.
Kyller also seemed lost in her own thoughts as they walked slowly along the sidewalk.
Her perfume left him so intoxicated that sometimes it took effort to remember how to put one foot in front of the other.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he tried to delay the moment, they arrived in front of the house, and he stopped.
He still wasn't ready to go inside and be shut in with her, returning to that horrible feeling of closeness and distance all at once.
She moved to enter the garden and he stayed rooted in place. She turned back and he tried to hand her the umbrella so she wouldn't get wet. Kyller ignored it and, her eyes still locked on his, asked:
“Aren't you going to come in?”
He shook his head, couldn't even remember how to use his mouth anymore. He cleared his throat, then responded in a clear voice.
“I think... I'm going to take a walk. I need to think...” He couldn't finish, because he didn't know what he'd do next anyway. He just didn't want to be near her, because he felt he'd end up rehashing everything they'd said the night before. He didn't want to make a fool of himself.
She seemed to understand, or Zion at least thought so, since he'd never been able to fully decipher his partner's mind.
Kyller turned somewhat unsteadily and walked toward the door, seeming a bit sad too.
To his own despair, he couldn't leave. Couldn't force himself to go.
Couldn't stop looking at that stunning woman, his partner, who was walking away from him while he stood powerless.
Unable to touch her, unable to be with her.
Unable to chase away all the sadness and anguish he was feeling.
Why did everything in his life have to be so complicated?
He was exhausted. Exhausted from having to be strong all the time.
Zion heard his partner unlock the electronic door, but heard no footsteps.
He focused on what was actually happening and saw her there, standing before the door, but with her eyes on him—thoughtful, indecisive, waging a battle with herself.
Please, Kyller. He pleaded silently, but she turned toward the door.
Zion felt himself shatter once more. He never learned.
He turned aside, resuming his walk down the street, umbrella still over his head.
He hadn't taken two steps before he heard his name.
Δ
“Zion!” I called out impulsively. I simply couldn't watch him walk away.
He turned, curious and surprised to hear me call his name, almost as if he needed to confirm the sound had really come from me and wasn't just in his head.
Zion straightened and squared his shoulders, as if composing himself or preparing for battle.
He said nothing; only a pleading silence stretched between us as he looked at me.
“I need to say something,” I blurted out before losing my courage. My heart was pounding against my chest. I watched him take a deep breath before saying:
“I'm listening.”
“I want to apologize to you.”
I watched shock flash across his eyes, but only for a split second. I turned to face him before continuing:
“I shouldn't have bitten you, but it was a reflex—by the time I realized what I was doing, it had already happened.
I didn't mean to dominate you. And I shouldn't have thrown knives at you either.
I'm not going to pretend that what I felt was less than it was, or that you're completely right.
But you explained, and I understand, even if I don't fully accept it.
Still, none of that was reason enough for me to get so furious.
As soon as I calmed down, I realized my mistake; I was just too proud to say the words when my heart was still so hurt.
I'm not justifying it, just explaining.”
I said it all at once, afraid the words would catch in my throat and I'd lose my courage.
I noticed a new brightness in those blue-green eyes, but I continued pouring my heart into what came next, because I wanted him to feel and understand how sorry I was.
How much I wanted to change this situation.
“Forgive me, Zion.”
He swallowed hard before saying anything, but his eyes held mine. He looked like a predator sizing up its prey, ready to strike at any small slip.
I was as anxious as I was afraid.
“So, what do you want, Kyller?”
I knew I could just say it, but I remembered what he'd said the night before, and then I took a step forward, toward him. The most decisive step of my life.
“I want you, Zion.”
He seemed to forget about the umbrella as he strode toward me with purpose until he stopped in front of me.
I was at the top of the small staircase, and he stood two steps below, looking up at me.
It didn't take many steps, but still, it seemed to take an eternity, as if he were moving in slow motion.
When he finally stood before me and we were at the same height, I wasn't as prepared as I thought I'd be.
His scent overwhelmed my senses, the weight of his gaze overpowered me, and I felt enveloped by his presence.
Before he could touch me, I took another step forward, descending one step and closing the distance between us.
Still holding his gaze, I felt him place his hands on my hips, then slide them up along my sides, settling around my waist and circling it gently, as if he were afraid I might disappear at any moment.
All my attention was on his hands, even though my eyes remained fixed on the ocean of his.
It was a small but welcome surprise when he raised his right hand and I felt him touch my jaw, leaving a trail of fire as his fingers traced up to my hair.
His eyes left mine for a second, as if he couldn't help but admire what his fingers were touching, but it was so quick that they soon returned.
Cupping my face with his left hand, Zion threaded his fingers into my hair, sending a shiver through me, while his thumb tenderly grazed my cheek.
I could see the moment he decided not to wait any longer.
His approach, though slow, was intense and completely assured.
He kept his eyes open, fixed on my mouth as he drew closer, as if asking permission to continue, as if pleading for it.
I closed my eyes, feeling his breath tease out each second of that eternity.
When Zion's lips touched mine—soft, sure, and decisive—it was as if my entire existence had been shaped for that moment.
As if I, Kyller, had been created from the same mold as the man before me.
As if we were made of the same substance and belonged to each other.
He moved his lips to capture my lower lip, pulling gently.
I could taste him, something I'd dreamed about for years, and I could only think that my dreams hadn't done this moment justice.
If happiness had a taste, it would be Zion's kiss.
He coaxed my mouth open and his tongue swept in as if trying to prove to any god in the universe that I was his. That he was mine, equally.
I took a deep breath as a feeling of territorial possession washed over me.
Euphoric, I slid my hands up to his chest while meeting his tongue with my own.
I felt myself coming apart under this new touch.
It was intimate and so pleasurable it defied the laws of physics.
The moment our tongues met, Zion shuddered—a tremor I could feel against my own skin.
I sensed something had awakened in him. There was nothing romantic or delicate about it anymore.