Fragile To His Darkness

Chapter 19: The First Real Kiss

The next morning, Elara woke up still in Damon's arms. His bloody shirt was gone — Leo had brought a fresh black shirt in the night. But his arm was still bandaged where he got cut.

Damon was already awake, staring at her. Watching her sleep like she was the most precious thing in the world.

"Good morning, my fiancée," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Elara blushed, looking at the two rings on her finger shining in the morning sun. The small promise ring and the big diamond engagement ring.

"Good morning," she whispered. "How is your arm?"

"It doesn't hurt. Not when you are here."

Doctor James came in for morning check. He saw them cuddling on the small hospital bed and smiled.

"Well, well, Mr. Black. I said 3 days no kissing, but I see you are already breaking my rules."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "I only kissed her forehead. That is allowed, doctor."

"Forehead is allowed. But lips? Lips must wait until her lungs are 100% strong. One more day."

Damon groaned loudly. "One more day? Doctor, I just fought ten men for her. I got cut. I almost died. And you tell me I cannot kiss my own fiancée?"

Elara laughed, her face red like tomato. "Damon!"

Doctor James laughed too. "Mafia boss or not, you must listen to doctor. One more day. If you kiss her now and she coughs blood again, you will blame yourself."

Damon looked at Elara, then sighed. "Fine. One more day. But tomorrow, no doctor can stop me."

After doctor left, Elara touched his bandaged arm gently. "Does it really not hurt?"

"It did. All night it hurt. But when you slept on my chest, I forgot the pain."

Elara's eyes filled with tears. "Damon, why are you so good to me? I am just a sick girl. You are a powerful mafia boss. You can have any girl... any beautiful, healthy girl..."

Damon took her face in his hands, serious.

"Listen to me, Elara. I don't want any beautiful healthy girl. I want you. The girl who coughed blood but still waited for me all night. The girl who cried when I was bleeding. The girl who wears my rings even in hospital bed. You think you are weak? You are the strongest person I know."

Elara cried.

"And tomorrow," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers, his lips just inches from hers, "tomorrow I will kiss you properly. Not forehead. Not contract. Real kiss. As your real fiancé. Can you wait one more day for me?"

Elara's heart beat fast. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. "I have waited 20 years for you, Damon. I can wait one more day."

Damon smiled, his eyes on her lips. "One more day, Mrs. Black-to-be. Then you are mine completely."

That whole day, he didn't leave her side. He fed her soup with his own hands. He read her favorite book to her. He held her hand while she slept.

And Elara counted every hour until tomorrow — until her first real kiss.