Page 64 of Our Little Dove

He is tense at first but within seconds our kiss becomes desperate and urgent.

I pull away, my chest heaving. Kieran’s eyes are dark with emotion as he looks at me, his hand brushing against my cheek. We stand there for a moment, our breaths mingling in the tense air between us.

“She should wake up soon,” I say. Kieran lets out a shaky breath and nods in agreement. “Should we move her?” he asks.

“I’ll grab the pillows; you take her to your spot,” I rush out as we both feel relieved and concerned.

Alex gave us blankets and pillows a few days ago. We carefully place her down and I hurry to my spot to grab my pillows as well, making her as comfortable as we can in this shitty basement.

As we settle in around her, the atmosphere is thick with unspoken words and tangled emotions. The dim blue light overhead illuminates Alex’s beautiful face. She looks peaceful and so innocent. It’s hard to believe that less than an hour ago she had been orchestrating a revelation of our deepest feelings.

I steal glances at Kieran, his features softened by the dim light, his eyes mirroring the turmoil within me. We sit in silence, the weight of what just transpired hanging heavily between us.

The air crackles with a strange mix of tension and intimacy, as if a veil has been lifted, revealing parts of ourselves we had kept buried for so long.

I reach out tentatively, brushing my fingers against Kieran’s hand. He looks at me, his eyes search mine and without a word, he entwines his fingers with mine as we wait for Alex to wake.

Alex’s actions have opened a door that can never be closed again. Our hearts are laid bare, and we can never go back to how things were.

Fintan gets up to go take a much-needed shower while I stay with Alex. Hoping she will wake up soon, I gently comb my fingers through her hair as I continuously check to see that she is breathing.

I hear the steady sound of the water running and let my mind drift. Everything we’ve been through in this godforsaken basement. The things we were forced to do down here.

“We underestimated you, little Dove,” I whisper as I lay on my side and continue playing with her hair. Studying her features closely, I notice a change that makes me smile. A sense of possessiveness and unease creeping through my veins.

She dyed her hair. It’s subtle but my heart thrums at the impact it has on me. The blonde pieces around her face remain although they seem whiter than they were yesterday. She dyed the rest black, matchingmyhair.

She looks like a perfectly blended masterpiece ofus. The subtle change in her hair color feels like both a mirror and a mockery of our situation - trapped but together.

“Beautiful.”

Stepping out of the shower, I dry myself and get dressed, hating the fact that there are no clean clothes here for us today.

The image of Alex, unconscious on the floor, plays in my head on repeat and so does the sadness in Kieran’s eyes. His confession still rings loudly in my ears.

I only wanted him to admit to himself that it is okay to be attracted to men and women. I hate that Alex forced him into admitting his feelings.

He loves me.

I walk out of the steamy bathroom and spot the two of them on the floor, exactly like I left them.

“Any changes?” I ask as I move closer. “Not yet,” Kieran responds without meeting my gaze.

I take a seat next to them and sigh. “I’d go get help, but we need her awake to get out of this fucking basement. She should have been up by now, right?” I groan, wiping my hand over my face.

“I guess,” Kieran sighs. “I’ll watch her, go take a shower,” I say, turning toward them on the floor.

Kieran looks from me to Alex and hesitates for a moment but ultimately decides to get up. He nods and stands, a mixture of relief and reluctance evident in his movements.

I watch him as he walks to the bathroom, leaving me alone with Alex on the floor. I reach out and gently brush a strand of hair away from her forehead, my fingers lingering on her skin.

Guilt gnaws at me as I remember the events that led us to this moment. As I sit here, lost in my thoughts, a sudden movement catches my eye.

Alex’s eyelids flutter ever so slightly, a sign of life returning to her. My heart leaps in my chest as I lean in closer, studying her face for any more signs of awakening.

I hold my breath as she starts to blink groggily, confusion clouding her gaze before recognition sets in. “Alex?” I breathe, relief flooding through me. “You’re okay.”

She tries to speak, but her voice is a hoarse whisper as she coughs. Her eyes widen, and she sits up, studying herself and our surroundings.

---