CHAPTER 25: WHAT SHE WANTED

His chest was so warm, and she had this crazy urge to run her fingers and trace circles around his peck. Now that he had brought her hands there, Aaliyah allowed herself to admire the drawings that were around his breasts.

Tattoos.

It was so intricately carved on his chest, and it looked like a strange animal possessing wings. Before she could take a deeper look at it, his grip around her wrist tightened forcing her eyes back to his face.

She had gotten carried away. But wasn’t that a good thing?

This should help convince him even more that she could see nothing and he should stop insisting on it.

But then again, would he stop being so nice if he decided she couldn’t see it?

What Baffled Aaliyah the most about all this was how her hand passed through the mysterious and glowing Maqbeth. And... Was why a Maqbeth stuck to his chest? Could it be...the handle of a dagger?

"I’m tired, Alastair," She said softly and looked away.

"Alright," Alastair nodded like he understood what it meant to be tired, "I’ll let you soak in for a while. Just whisper my name if you need me,"

Aaliyah nodded and watched as he kindly left the bathroom. As soon as he was outside, she released the breath she was holding and stared at her hand that had breezed through the Maqbath. Could it be that it was made out of thin air...or she just didn’t have the ability to touch it?

An hour had just passed when Alastair knocked and stepped into the bathroom to see her she had fallen asleep with her head resting on the arm of the bathtub. Her breathing, unlike before when she had passed out after walking out of the hollow was hitched and sounded like she was having a nightmare, this time it was controlled and normal as if she knew she was now safe.

He had planned on covering his eyes again since she wasn’t comfortable with his naked eyes, but what would that change?

Standing there staring at her like this, Alastair wondered what he could do to make her feel more relaxed around him and finally admit that she could see the Maqbath. She’s the only one that has gotten this close...a Pureblood as fragile as her. He couldn’t let that slip away.

During the time she had been unconscious, he had done a bit of research to find out what people like her loved. He had figured the more he did those things, she would melt into his embrace and open up to him.

And time was running out.

Alastair dipped his hand Into the water to feel that it had gone cold, meaning it was time to take her out of the bath... but he didn’t want to wake her. The Siren needed her sleep, but she didn’t look very comfortable in that position so he would have to take her back to the bed.

As soon as he scooped her into his arms and took her out of the water, her eyes flew open and she sent a fist straight to his face. The surge of strength he felt from that movement of hers caught him by surprise, and right in front of her face was her fist that had stopped just before it grazed his nose.

Aaliyah had panicked and thought she was still inside the hollow, hence the reaction when he had picked her up. But looking into those white eyes had her stopping in time, and she dropped her arm.

They gazed into each other’s eyes for a minute.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t...," She began.

"I understand, Don’t Apologize," He cut her off sharply as he walked out of the bathroom.

It took another minute for Aaliyah to realize that his eyes weren’t covered and she was as naked as a newborn. The realization had her recoiling, and her body turned into stone. She managed to keep her breathing in check as she peeked up at him once again to see that the man was not the least bit interested in her body.

He was focused on carrying her to the bed and tending to her wounds. As soon as he dropped her on the bed, she was already trying to cover herself before he could even do it.

"What is it?" He inquired.

"Nothing," She bit her lip.

"Is it because you’re naked?"

Aaliyah gulped, "No,"

"If that’s the case. I can take off my clothes too to make you comfortable,"

Her mouth fell open. What on earth was he talking about?!

"And I’ve already seen you without anything on. You were putting on a red dress when you stepped out of the copse. And you woke up with a yellow one. I changed your clothes twice as you were knocked out for two days. I had to tend to your injuries or you would have died,"

Changed her clothes...twice?! Now that she thought about it, she really was wearing another dress when she woke up.

"Thank you?" She said like a question. What else was she supposed to say? He did have to take off her clothes to look after her properly owning to the multiple cuts she has everywhere, but still...

Her cheeks were so red right now!

Without another word, she watched him take off his shirt again and tie it around his eyes. Then, he picked up the full bandage wrap sitting on the bedside cupboard and started to apply them to her injuries.

Aaliyah let the covers drop as he delicately took care of it. It was fascinating to watch him treat her body like an egg, but what was even more stunning was how he knew every single location of her injuries without seeing them, never missing it.

She raised her arm when he wrapped a bandage around her sides, and then he held her hand and dropped them back on the bed once he was done.

Never has everyone taken care of her like this before. It was always the other way around for her, and after so many years of suffering and giving up on a happy life, here she was...with her changed husband treating her so nicely.

She wanted this to last forever. Whatever the reason for this change, she would do anything to keep it.

It was beautiful to have someone be there for you.

Alastair felt her soft gaze on his face and looked up at her. If only she knew he could still see her as clear as the day. The look in her eyes was very new, making him wonder what she could be thinking about.

"What do you want to do, Little Siren?"

Aaliyah was silly to think of this, but she wanted it.

She wanted it again. She wanted so many things, but did she dare say them out loud?

"Say it," He urged.

"K...kiss me...again," Yes, she dared to.

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