MARRIED FOR TIME

Chapter 11

*Bastien’s pov*

I looked down at my watch as the sky turned dark, thunder rumbling in the distance. Valerie was late. I pushed my hair back out of my eyes, a sudden knot of tension tightening in my chest.

An older woman walked up to me, holding out a device. "She dropped this," she said, handing me Valerie’s phone.

Before the confusion could even set in, a lady rushed over, breathless. "A little boy, Ben, is missing!"

A young girl pointed frantically toward the tree line. "I saw him earlier with Valerie. They walked into the woods that way."

Panic hit me like a physical blow. I pulled out my phone, dialed the emergency rescue team, and gave them the coordinates. I couldn't wait for them to arrive. I turned and bolted into the thick brush of the forest.

The wind tore through the trees as I ran blindly, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Valerie!" I yelled, my voice cracking against the wind. In the distance, other searchers were calling out for Ben, their voices muffled by the storm.

"Bastien..."

A faint, strained cry echoed from the right. I swung around, tearing through the thorns until the ground suddenly dropped away. A deep pit sat hidden beneath the overgrowth. At the bottom, Valerie and Ben were curled up together.

Frustration and sheer terror washed over me. I rolled up my sleeves, scanning the steep dirt walls. I was completely helpless until the sound of sirens broke through the trees. The rescue team swarmed the edge, lowering a stretcher and ropes into the hole.

They lifted Ben out first, placing an oxygen mask over his face as they moved him to a stretcher. The moment they pulled Valerie over the ledge, I didn't care who was watching. I stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug, burying my face in her shoulder.

"I thought I lost you," I muttered, my hands shaking against her back.

I pulled away sharply when she winced, noticing her badly swollen, twisted ankle. Without a word, I lifted her carefully into my arms and carried her over to the back of the open ambulance, setting her down on the edge.

"What the hell were you thinking going in there alone?" I asked, my voice rising under the stress.

Valerie stared at me, her eyes wide. Instead of arguing, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me close.

"I'm sorry I worried you," she whispered. Tears cut through the dirt on her face. She seemed to realize what she was doing and pulled back quickly, wiping her cheeks. She looked up with a small, fragile smile. "You’re the first person who has ever actually been worried about me, you know."

I let out a breath, the tension finally leaving my shoulders as a smirk tugged at my mouth. "So that was your excuse for jumping into a pit?"

I guided her head down to rest against my shoulder as a paramedic stepped up to stabilize her sprained ankle.

We rode together to the hospital, staying by Ben’s bedside until the clock ticked past midnight and the doctors assured us he was stable. By the time we got back to the mission house, Valerie could barely keep her eyes open. I didn't give her a choice. I lifted her out of the vehicle and carried her down the hall, placing her gently on the bed in my room. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

"Are you sick?" I asked, pressing the back of my hand to her forehead to check for a fever.

Finding her skin cool, I turned to grab her a glass of water, but her fingers caught my wrist, stopping me.

"Can you please stay?" she asked, looking down at the blanket to avoid my eyes.

A smile flashed across my face, the familiar teasing rhythm returning between us.

"Like, actually stay on the bed with you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I took it as a yes when I noticed she wasn’t saying anything. I suddenly felt her arms wrapped around my waist , our breath brushing against each other. I could feel something bulging in between my legs.

“Are you sure you can handle this?“

Slamming my lips against hers. She pulled away, whispering in my ear,

“We don’t want to be late for tomorrow.”

“Valerieeeee,” I screamed. I could hear her giggling on the other side.

I opened my eyes as morning light filled the room. The quiet replaced last night’s storm.

Valerie was still asleep beside me, still. It was the first time I really saw her. The fierce, stubborn look she wore all day was gone. In its place: calm.

I didn’t build walls to keep people out. I built them because no one bothered to climb. Until her.

I watched her breathe.

Her eyelashes twitched. Before I could look away, her eyes snapped open and locked on mine.

"Are you staring at me?" Valerie asked, her voice rough from sleep.

I didn't blink, leaning back against the pillow. "You were in my line of sight. Hard to miss."

"Right," she muttered, rolling her eyes as she tugged the blanket up. "And how long have you been staring?"

"Long enough to know you don't move when you sleep," I said, smirking. "Creepy."

She threw a pillow at my face. I caught it. "Shut up, Bastien. My ankle hurts. I'm not in the mood for your jokes yet."

"Good, because breakfast ends soon," I said, tossing the pillow back and sitting up. "Let's see if you can walk today."

****

I watched her gulp down the toast and tea.

"Aren't you going to eat?" she asked between bites.

"I'm good," I replied, leaning back. "Watching you eat is enough."

I reached across the table and brushed a crumb from the corner of her lips with my thumb. I stood up. "Come on. Let's go. We don't want to be late."

Her ankle was still shot, so I lifted her and carried her into the dressing room. I set her on the bench while she looked through options. She tried on five outfits. I rejected every one.

By the fifth dress, she threw her hands up. "You are way too picky, Bastien. Is this why you don't date anyone? Because no one can pass your ridiculous style inspections?"

"Maybe," I said with a shrug, scanning the racks until I saw a deep wine-colored dress. I pulled it down and handed it to her. "Try this one."

She disappeared behind the curtain. When she stepped out, I froze.

The rich color of the fabric made her look stunning.

"Well?" she asked, shifting her weight onto her good foot. "Does this one pass your test?"

"Yeah," I said, my voice low as I stared at her. "It passes."

I stepped forward and lifted her into my arms. But when we hit the main corridor, morning light caught her face. I stopped walking. My chest went tight.

Up close, she wasn't just pretty. She was stunning. And looking at her, a new kind of panic set in.