004
613 Words
Elara's POV
I woke up and thought I was dreaming.
The bed was soft. So soft I sank into it. The sheets smelled like smoke and something dark. There was a fire crackling nearby. I was warm for the first time in days.
I was wearing a shirt that was way too big for me. It hung off my shoulder. It smelled like him.
I sat up slowly. My body ached everywhere. My head was foggy. The last thing I remembered was the cold floor and my hand moving. A shadow in the doorway.
And then the beating of his heart as he carried me in his arms and the feeling of his hand as he bathes me and the way he took his time to clothe and then nothing…
There was food on the table beside me. Bread. Cheese. A bowl of stew. My stomach growled so loud I almost screamed.
I grabbed the bread and tore into it. I did not care if I looked like an animal. I was starving. I ate the bread. I ate the cheese. I picked up the bowl of stew and drank it straight from the bowl. Hot liquid ran down my chin. I wiped it with my sleeve.
When I was done, I looked up.
He was standing by the door. Huge. Black hair messy. Gold eyes staring right at me. He had his arms crossed over his big chest. His jaw was tight.
I froze.
The bowl was still in my hands. My heart was pounding so hard I thought he could hear it.
He did not say anything. He just watched me.
I wanted to say something. Thank you.
Who are you? Why did you take me out of that cell. But my throat was dry and my hands were shaking and I felt so stupid. So small. Like a mouse being watched by a wolf…and this forbidden pull towards and he is smoking hot I couldn't take my eyes off him…I bet it's this heat or just my lust.
He walked toward me. Slow and Careful. Like I might run.
He sat on the edge of the bed. He was so close. I could smell him. Smoke. Leather. Something sharp and dark. His body heat hit me like a wave.
"Eat," he said. His voice was low. Rough. "There is more if you want."
I looked down at my empty bowl. "I think I finished it."
His mouth did something. Almost a smile. Just barely.
"Good."
We sat there for a moment. Neither of us spoke. I could feel my pulse in my ears. I was wearing his shirt. It was huge. I probably looked ridiculous.
But he was looking at me like I was something special. Something precious. It made my stomach flip.
"I am Kaelen," he said.
"Elara."
"Elara." He said it like he was tasting it. Like he wanted to say it again. "Sleep. We will talk tomorrow."
I wanted to ask him a hundred questions. Where am I? Why did you help me? Are you going to hurt me?
But my body was so tired. I could not keep my eyes open.
He stood up. Walked to the door.
"Kaelen?"
He stopped. Did not turn around.
"Thank you. For not leaving me in that cell."
He was quiet for a long time. The fire crackled. My heart beat.
Then he said it. Soft. Like a promise.
"I will never leave you anywhere again."
He walked out.
I fell back onto the pillows. The sheets smelled like him. Smoke and leather and something dark.
I fell asleep feeling safe for the first time in a very long time.
- Writer
