CHAPTER 66: Gratitude
As soon as I flicked my eyelids open, I became aware of a subtle rustling in the room and a soft pulling of the blanket up onto my chest. The lamp on the nightstand was the only source of light in the already gloomy room.
My attention was drawn to Traian as he moved quickly to my side.
Concerned, he turned to look at the monitor and back to my face and asked, “I’m sorry, did I wake you up?”
His pronounced brows pinched. The dark circles under his gorgeous eyes highlighted how worn out and downcast he is. He also has stubble now on his face. And the next thing I knew, I was slipping my hand up to touch his chin and running my fingers through his stubble. He sighed under my touch and drew in closer.
He said softly, “Jaidyn.”
I genuinely remarked, “You’re still stunning with stubble,” enjoying the feel of the prickly hair.
He looked at me surprised.
I chuckled, “What?”Content © NôvelDrama.Org.
He shakes his head, “Nothing, I was just surprised you talk to me”
“Oh,” I nibbled my lower lip, “I was also surprised with myself”
His eyes filled with understanding and he continued to gaze before grinning. He gave me a gentle head shake as if he thought what I said was a second ago humorous. He taunts, “So you think I am handsome huh”
His brilliant blue eyes, which are brimming with unspoken emotions, meet mine. He had incredibly beautiful eyes.
“You could pursue modeling as a side hustle because you’re so simply gorgeous,” I said.
He joked, “I can only model for one person,” before bringing a chair and sinking into it.
He quickly snatched my hand from my face as I pulled it away. His warmth radiated toward me. And his seductively musky aroma enveloped me, making me sigh with contentment.
Even though it could have only felt like a pinch to him, I squeezed his hand and whispered, “You look tired.”
“I’m okay. Don’t worry about me,” he said while flashing me another alluring smile.
I am aware of how he remained by my side for the entire two weeks that I was unconscious. I found out from my sister when I asked about the last two weeks’ events. And when I realized how concerned everyone was about me, I felt a bit bad. more so for Traian. My health had such a profound impact on his daily life that he hardly ever left the house. I hurt him badly before that incident happened but he still stayed with me.
We were silent as he caressed my hand and looked down at it, and I stared at the side of his face, trying to come up with anything to say. He was the first one to break the silence. And his next words were not something I expected.
“Thank you,” he said gently, glancing at me before staring back again at my hands as if it was the most interesting thing in the room. He brought my palm to his lips and said, “Thank you for waking up, thank you for opening your eyes.”
His soft lips brushing across my skin caused a tingling sensation to appear. He had his eyes closed. He continued, “Thank you for staying alive,” and I could feel tears running from his eyes up to my hand as his voice grew strained.
As tears began to form in my eyes, I bit my lower lip.
I never imagined that someone other than my parents would be so grateful that I am still alive, and I certainly never expected that he would thank me for it.
And I was speechless.
He brushed his tears away subtly as I slowly withdrew my hands away from him. He assisted me right away while seeming bewildered as I struggled to sit up. As he helped me sit up, his hands were on my shoulders. I then carry out the thought that was running through my thoughts at the time. I raised my hand and held his cheeks, bringing my lips to his. Even though it was only a peck, the sensation of his soft lips caressing mine was enough to send my heart racing.
My thumb wiped the remnants of tears on his cheeks as I withdrew, gazing into her surprised eyes. “And thank you for saving me. Thanks for staying with me. Thank you for loving me”
He gave me a long, intense look before breaking into that alluring smile, and I couldn’t help but blush at the intensity of his gaze. He quipped, “You’re going to have to thank me for a long time now.”
I shook my head and laughed when he gently grabbed my chin and kissed me again. His kisses are slow and gentle as if he were confessing the hidden emotions he was harboring. My lips were tingling from our kiss as we parted. His gaze lingered on my lips.
I leaned back on the bed and added, changing the topic “I like your stubble.”
He said while assisting me in getting comfortable on the bed, “Then I won’t shave.”
“I like both”
He chuckled and took my hand once again. My gaze then shifted downward when I see the clear bulge between his thighs. I looked someplace else as my cheeks reddened.
I caught my breath as he leaned closer to my ears and said, “Yes, love, your mere touch did that” his lips lightly touched my earlobe.
I shut my eyes to avoid looking at him while my cheeks are burning. I bit the bottom of my lip to stifle my smile. I felt him bury his face in the crook of my neck, placing kisses on it. He starts sucking at my skin, and I tighten my grasp on the blanket as wetness collects between my legs.
I groaned, “Traian,” but then quickly stopped myself.
I felt him smirk on my skin before pulling away. “I missed that delicious sound on your lips”
I covered my face with my hands as I murmured, “Oh my god.”
His laughter echoed inside the room and I felt him getting up. I asked while taking my hands off my face.
“Where are you going?”
He smirked and turned to face me while glancing down at the bulge seething on his jeans, “To take care of this. Don’t worry love, I will have you take care of it once you’re fully recovered”
I said with my lips extended in a wide smile, “Stop saying those things”
“I know you like it, love,” he said before walking towards the door that was connected to this room.
Where does the door lead? As if reading my thoughts, Traian answered.
He pulled open the door, leaving it ajar, and added honestly, “It connects to my office so I can reach you easily and lie down next to you in our bed.”
I look at the space where he disappeared. Whatever our current situation may be, I was glad to have him by my side. Whether it was a mate bond or not. I do feel something for him. Something that first I have a hard time accepting. The incident and seeing him right now with me made me realize just that. I know it’s fucked up. But for the time being, I don’t want to think anymore about the entire mate bond thing.
Although I must do the right thing. So I can fully give my whole heart to him.
I need to fix myself first.