Chapter 59: Vacation
Ash’s pov ;
I couldn’t bring myself to turn around and face him. The pain in his voice, desperate and laced with concern, tore through my thoughts like a sharp blade.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly as if he already knew I was leaving. My heart raced in my chest, betraying my emotions.
With a shaky breath, I took a step forward, but suddenly felt his hands slip around my waist. His touch, so familiar and tender, only made the ache inside me grow stronger. His lips found the nape of my neck, kissing it gently with soft, warm kisses.
"Where are you going, leaving me?" Elijah whispered again, his voice low and filled with longing. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push down the pain that was nibbling on my heart slowly.
My words stumbled out in a stutter as I forced them past the lump in my throat. "You...you’ll lock me up if I stay," I could feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I spoke the words.
His grip tightened ever so slightly, his fingers pressing into my skin with a firmness that betrayed my resolve. But his voice remained gentle, a warm blanket of comfort wrapping around me. "I won’t-"
Unable to bear the weight of his words, I turned away from him, shoving him in frustration. "You will!" I yelled loudly in his face. "I know you will!"
But Elijah’s eyes never wavered from mine, tired but soft as they gazed at me. A small, weary smile played on his lips as he approached me calmly and deliberately. He took my hand in his tenderly.
With his free hand, he wiped away my tears, his fingertips brushing lightly against my skin. "Calm down," he murmured, his voice was like a calming balm to my frayed nerves. "Why would I do something like locking you up? You are free and have your own will."
He leaned his forward and kissed my eyes one by one, his lips lingering on each closed lid as if trying to erase the pain within them. "I just want to help you," he whispered against my skin, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. "I want to be there for you."