Fragile To His Darkness

Chapter 12: The Forbidden Touch

It was day 10 of no kissing. It was hell.

Damon kept his promise. He did not kiss Elara. He did not even hug her too long. He read books to her in the garden, brought her favorite strawberry cake, bought her new dresses, but kept his distance.

Elara was getting weaker from the treatment. The new American medicine made her lose hair a little and made her vomit.

One evening, she was in her bathroom, looking in the mirror. She saw her pale face, her thinning hair, her ring. She felt ugly. Unlovable.

Damon knocked. "Elara? Are you okay? You have been inside too long."

She opened the door, tears in her eyes. "Do I look ugly now? From the medicine?"

Damon looked at her. She was so thin, so pale, wearing a big sweater.

"You look beautiful. Always beautiful."

"Liar. I look sick. I look like I am dying. Why would you want to kiss me anyway? I am glad the doctor said no kissing. You don't have to pretend anymore."

Damon's eyes darkened. He knew she was sad from the medicine.

"Elara, come here."

"No. You said no touching. Doctor said no excitement."

"I don't care what the doctor said right now. Come here."

She walked to him slowly. He took her face in his big hands.

"Listen to me, fragile girl. You are not ugly. You are fighting for your life and you are still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Do you know why? Because you are still here. You are still fighting. For me."

Tears fell from Elara's eyes. "But I am losing hair..."

"Then I will buy you the most beautiful wigs. Or you can be bald, I don't care. I will still want you."

"Damon..."

"I know I promised no kissing. But this is not excitement. This is medicine. You need it."

And before she could protest, he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her tears, her nose, everywhere except her lips. Soft, gentle kisses all over her sad face.

"This is allowed," he whispered. "Doctor said no kissing on lips. He didn't say anything about forehead kisses."

Elara laughed through tears. "You are cheating."

"I am a mafia boss. I always cheat."

He kissed her forehead again. "You are beautiful."

He kissed her cheek. "You are brave."

He kissed her other cheek. "You are mine."

Elara closed her eyes, feeling his forbidden touch, his gentle kisses that were not on lips but healed her heart.

"Damon... thank you for still wanting me... even like this..."

"Even like this, even bald, even sick, even if you have only one day left, I will want you. That is my promise. My ring promise."

She hugged him tight, and he hugged her back, careful not to get too excited, just holding her, letting her cry on his shirt.

That night, Elara looked in the mirror again. She still saw pale skin and thin hair, but she also saw a girl who was loved, who had a ring, who had a mafia boss breaking doctor's rules just to kiss her forehead.

And for the first time in 10 days, she felt beautiful again.

Downstairs, Damon called Dr. Evans. "Doctor, your rule is stupid. I kissed her forehead today. Her heart rate was fine. She smiled. Don't tell me not to kiss my girl again."

Dr. Evans laughed on the phone. "Damon, forehead kisses are good medicine. Keep doing it. Just... no lip kisses yet. Okay, mafia boss?"

"Okay, doctor. Only forehead. I promise for now.”