His voice came first—deep, rich, and grounded, like distant thunder softened by warmth. His laugh was low and velvety, a steady rumble that lingered in the air. It vibrated from his throat, and she could feel it through their embrace, in every core of his body.
Then hers followed; light and musical, like wind chimes in a gentle breeze, each sound soft and sweet. Together, they blended into a warm harmony, his depth anchoring her lightness, both filling the space with happiness.
"I really love your body cuddled into mine, but I must say you're breaking my ribs." His lips tugged at the corner, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Her face turned crimson red, heat spreading through her body as she realized their position—her head resting on his chest, her arms wrapped around his back, her body pressed tightly against his in a warm, lingering hug.
And his wound..still tied, still pressed against her.
She withdrew slowly, her face shifting into a pitiful expression, pouting her lips slightly like a baby caught doing something wrong.
A beautiful baby at that.
"I don't mind though," he smiled, tugging lightly at his lips, trying to hide how much her guilty look made him want to laugh hard.
She blushed deeply, already knew, he was playing games with her. And he thoroughly loved; every second of her reaction.
Celina quickly pulled away from him, her face still burning.But beneath that, a flicker of fear crept in. Thinking, might have hurt him from hugging him too tightly! too many times!
"Ummm…did I hurt you?"
A soft smile beamed on his face.
'Oh! My pretty damsel…' he thought endearingly.
"Nope. If anything, you made me the happiest man on earth…" He paused, raising a brow slightly. "By hugging me—tightly."
Color flooded her cheeks, bright and hot.
"I'd love more of it later." His tongue dragged slow over his bottom lip, unhurried. His eyes locked on hers, glinting dark. Dangerous. Promise.
She bit her lip, but it didn't hide the flush climbing her throat. She cleared it anyway, voice rough. It wasn't just concern. "There's a hospital close by. They can treat you properly and—" The words snagged. Her mouth parted, empty.
No words came out. Then, barely audible: "Keep you in a bed."
Sadness slipped in her voice. Quiet. Unavoidable.
Her face dimmed slightly. Reality setting in too fast. How do you walk away from someone who just walked into your life…and somehow became everything in a few hours?
He grasped her hand, tightening around her wrist.
"Don't tell me…" His voice cracked, raw, strained, like something inside him was breaking.
His face held the expression of a dying man.
He wasn't dying. Not anymore.
But damn — the thought of losing her? "Goddamn it." He cursed under his breath, the pain of not having her close enough already clawing him hollow. Right through his ribs like she'd sunk her teeth into his heart and wouldn't let go.
His voice dropped to a ragged whisper.
"I want you with me..now..always. Not leaving me in some hospital. Even if you didn't say it—"
Her breath hitched. Audible. Her eyes dropped to where his hand still held hers, like she could will herself not to feel it.
His eyes locked into hers; sharp, unrelenting.
"I can see through you, and I know that's what you meant to say ".
She bit her shaky lips. He noticed he was hurting her.
He saw it. Felt it.
And immediately regret hit him.
Her hand shook in his grip.
He let go instantly, dragging a hand over his face, gripping his aching head as guilt flooded him.
"I'm so sorry…" His breath came out heavy. "I didn't mean to hurt you. Not even a little."
He closed his eyes tight to calm himself within, fighting himself. When he spoke again, his voice was rough. Each word deepening with a broken ache. "And say things I think you'd say… just because I feel like I know what's in your head."
His expression tightened, struggling to control the storm of emotions welling up inside him, terrified of letting her go.
He opened his eyes and turned slightly away.
Her hands came up, shifting his face back to her gaze, holding his jaw in place.
He came undone. Quietly. Completely.
A shudder ran through him. Hard. Like something inside snapped and couldn't be put back.
His forehead stayed pressed to hers. But his hands, God, his hands, they came up desperate. Gripping her wrists. Not to push her away. To keep her there. Like if she let go, he'd shatter.
"I'm—" The word broke off. Useless. Not enough. Not even close.
His breath stuttered against her mouth. Ragged. Wet. He wasn't crying. Not really. It was worse than that. The sound of a man who forgot how.
"I can't—" Another hitched breath. "I can't lose you too."
Too.
The word hung between them. Ugly. Honest.
Her thumbs moved again. Over his jaw. Back and forth. Small. Steady. Not shushing him. Just there.
"I know." She didn't ask who. Didn't make him say it. Just gave him that. "I know."
"You always see through me easily," her voice came soft, almost breaking. "I never— I don't want to leave you. Not even for a moment."
That undid him.
His knees buckled. Just slightly. Enough that his weight fell into her. And she took it. All of it. Arms sliding from his jaw to his neck, pulling him down, pulling him in until his face buried in the curve of her shoulder.
He was shaking. Full-body tremors he couldn't hide. Couldn't stop. It ran through him like something snapping loose, beyond control.
Her fingers slid into his hair, pulling his head close to her like he was something precious.
Falling apart in her arms, he clung to her like she was the only thing keeping him whole.
"Shh." Not a reassurance. A promise. "I've got you."
His hands fisted in the back of her shirt. Clinging. Like a drowning man.
And he let go.
No words. No more apologies.
Then, he shifted a width apart from her and looked up.
Their eyes locked; deep, intense, filled with something neither of them could name… but both felt.
Just the wreck of his breath against her skin, breaths mingled, warm against each other's skin.
"Promise me you won't go." His silvery eyes shimmered; barely holding back tears. A plea. Like he needed her. Like she was air, and without her, his lungs wouldn't survive. Like he had to breathe every inch of her in..Or drown.
She nodded. No words.
Their connection spoke volumes of everything unsaid.
Celina's chest tightened. This… whatever this was… it was real. Too real. And she was losing control. Even controlling her feelings for him was becoming impossible.
"Even if I don't know you, right now—" her voice softened, breathing against his lips,
"I would never… damn… I don't want to let you go."
Tears welled in her eyes. He wiped them gently with his thumb, slow and careful. His gaze soft, filled with deep affection.
"Even if it feels impossible…"
She paused.
Then. Utter silence seeped in.
"I don't even know your name…" she whispered, avoiding his eyes.
"But from your looks, your presence.."
She stammered, biting her lips.
Her fingers fidgeted nervously.
"You probably have women throwing themselves at you."
In a rush of nervousness, she spilled everything. "Or is it your car? your appearance? your body structure—"
She froze, instantly regretting her words when she saw his eyes widen slightly.
Her body shuddered.
He laughed deeply, his face soft, almost boyish.
"Do you want me to answer that, love?"
Her skin betrayed her, flushing dark and obvious. "I know it's not a good idea to say everything on my mind."
"I love hearing you talk. I love it when your tiny voice is like sweet music in my ears." His voice softened. "I've said it before. You're adorable when you get nervous, when your thoughts just spill out." With a heady groan,
"I can't help myself."
His gaze softened. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. _«Eίσαι πολύ όμορφη… και η καρδιά σου είναι πολύ αγνή»_ (You're too beautiful and your heart is too pure), he murmured, his breath warm against her temple.
His voice was low, thunder wrapped in warmth. She felt it more than heard it; the rumble hummed through his chest, under her palms, and sank into the ache between her legs.
Her lips parted. She caught the bottom one between her teeth, fighting a smile that came anyway — soft and radiant.
She was too shy to ask what the Greek meant. She only wanted to hear it again with his mouth on hers.
"I… uhh… what's the me—" she started, then stopped.
A thought hit her. Hard.
'What if I'm right?' 'What if girls throw themselves at him?'
'What if I don't belong anywhere near him?'_
'What if I'm just…temporary?'
Her chest tightened.
'What if he's just saying all this because I matter for his safety right now?'
'What if I don't really matter?'
Even though everything between them said otherwise.!
She shut those thoughts down, blocking the good ones too. Her once bright face dimmed. She blinked back the tears gathering in her eyes.
His fingers brushed her jaw, lifting her chin gently.
The moment he saw her eyes. The tears she was trying to hide, something inside him snapped. Confusion flickered. Then pain. Deep and sharp slashed through his heart.
He hated this.
He hated seeing her like this.
"Why do you hide your face from me, love?"
Then softer,
"Talk to me."
His eyes searched hers, noticing everything she tried to hide.
"I didn't mean to… I'm not hiding. I just—"
He leaned closer.
Her heart pounded wildly.
The air thickened. Thick. Heavy. Their closeness turning slow and sensual.
Pain struck his bandaged wound in his chest.
He pulled back sharply to his sitting position, breathing hard.
The force of it nearly jolted her. His eyes tried to soften into remorsefulness, but the pain flooding him stole his voice. He couldn't speak. Could only feel the full, brutal force of it.
She understood.
Celina's hands were on his back instantly, rubbing small circles. Panic rising.
"I'm so sorr. I—it's just…" Her words tumbled out. "You reek of wealth and charisma and I'm scared. I don't know what's ahead for us—"
A sob caught her throat. Tears fell freely now.
"Goodness…" she whispered shakily.
"Lo—love…" he tried to speak.
"Hush." She pressed a finger to his lips.
"Please don't—"
Her gaze softened. She sucked in a breath and shook her head, hair falling in her eyes. "Not like this, not when you're hurt because of me—".
Her voice trembled.
"You have a whole life ahead and I don't want to be the reason anything happens to you".
Her throat tightened.
"I'm sorry—"
She couldn't finish it. The words stuck in her throat.
Before he could come closer or do anything. The pain in his wound intensified.
She didn't breathe. Didn't look at him. "I can't do this. Can't be in your life anymore. It—" Her voice cracked. "It has to end."
The silence hit like a thud.
Wind sawed though the branches. Nothing else moved.
Despite the pain burning through him, he took her clenched fists into his hands. Kissed her knuckles slowly, then her fingertips; his breath warm against her skin.
"I'll say this once."
His voice dropped, deep and commanding. "You're the only woman I'll ever want in my life. Damn every other woman. Damn status. Damn wealth."
"I want you."
"I need you."
"I'll have you."
Each word came carefully, deliberately; like it was meant to stay. And it did. She felt it settle somewhere deep she couldn't reach.
"You can't run from me, love. And you won't." His eyes turned darker, the warmth in them slipping away. "I'll burn the whole world if I have to find you."
Her body trembled against his hold. Her fists stay locked under his, her nails biting her palms.
Every word drove deeper.
His tugged on his bottom lip. Savagely. "And when I do, you'll understand what it means to be completely mine." "Forever mine".
Her throat closed around a truth she wasn't ready to name: 'I don't want to run.'
Every vow he spoke wasn't trapping her. it was unearthing her.
Like he'd reached inside and named something she'd buried years ago.
Mine.
The word didn't scare her. The relief did. Because part of her, the part she'd starved for years, wanted to belong to him.
Their gazes matched, the blazing need between them deeper than words could reach. Desire surged, hot and undeniable.
He shifted, mouth at the side of her neck, breathing her in like he was branding her—carving every part of her into his bones. The damp heat of tears she couldn't hold back anymore soaked into his collar.
She didn't speak again. Didn't need to.
He just held her through every broken exhale. Through every ragged inhale.
"I want you."
"I need you."
"I'll have you."
"I'll burn the whole world if I have to find you."
Each word seared into her, over and over again.
Until the shaking slowed.
Until it sounded like a vow.
Until his breathing found hers again.
Until she knew, bone-deep: she couldn't leave the claws of a man who'd just walked into her life…and already branded every inch of her.