Page 15 of Down the Aisle
It only took him a few strides to close the distance between us—him and his long legs. I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering to his muscular legs, appreciating how nicely toned they were. Of course, I didn't stop at his legs. Slowly, my eyes worked their way up his fit body.
Fuck you for being so damn perfect.
Seriously, he looked like those damn statues carved by ancient sculptors. Every part of his strong, athletic build was perfectly proportionate. I was willing to bet that every inch of his six-foot-something body was perfectly toned with muscle. He wasn't bulky and built like a tank like a bodybuilder, but I could see the nice definition of his triceps and biceps, and lordy, those forearms of his were so perfect. Then those nice veins… God, it'd be so easy to just stick a needle in him. Hell, forget about anatomy models and diagrams on paper; this man would be the perfect study model.
"Eliza?" A chilling shock to my body made me flinch when Adam waved his hand right in my face.
Whatever awe and wonder checking his body out had blessed my mind with flew away as the demons came crashing in like a stampede of raging bulls. Out of pure instinct, I flinched away from Adam, cowering and covering my head protectively with my arms. The ache in my tense muscles worsened at the feeling of large hands wrapping themselves around my wrists, and I only resisted more when I felt the tug.
"Mama."
"Eliza."
Their voices muddled together in my adrenaline-filled mind. I didn't try to fight the sensation of my curled-up body being moved. The anticipation of blows on my body caused me to clam up even more to where I probably looked like an armadillo. Yet, they never came. All I felt was warmth.
A part of me dreaded the crushing pressure that would come when I felt the pair of strong arms wrapping around me. I wanted to take comfort in Adam's embrace, but I was too terrified.
Adam was probably pissed I let Asher get away, that he could've been severely hurt. He probably thought that I should have been more mindful, paid more attention, and been better. There were so many things he could beat me for, and I wasn't ready for it. It'd been too long since…
I can't…
"Hey." The softness and warmth of his voice took me by surprise, making me freeze because I didn't know how to process it. Was it a ploy to get me to lower my guard? It had to be, right? I mean, hitting me while I was all clammed up wouldn't be any fun.
A slow trickle of fingers flowed down the back of my hair as Adam soothed me with soft shushes. "Hey, you're okay. You are okay." His rough fingers slowly pried at mine, peeling my stiff hand away from my head.
Resting his head against the side of mine, he spoke in a calming voice, "You are safe." His words vibrated against my head, making me shiver a bit from the ticklish sensation.
Deft fingers danced down my head, and a gentle hand caressed up and down my spine warmly, easing the nasty tension out of my body layer by layer. It probably helped that Asher had joined in, rubbing my back haphazardly in a way that felt like he'd give me a skin burn.
Carefully, Adam lowered my other hand down into my lap, holding both my hands with his while he kept an arm wrapped around my waist. "There you go, good girl." His deep voice sent a hot wave of calm and pleasure throughout my body, causing me to shudder slightly. "Keep breathing deeply like that for me. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Keep coming back to us." He continued to soothe and encourage me with his calming touch. "There's nothing to be afraid of. You are safe here, with me."
Am I, though?
Was I ever truly going to be safe?
Going against my better judgment, I gave up the fight and let my body relax into Adam's embrace. "There you go, Eliza, that's a good girl."
Another zap of pleasure clenched my shuddering body when I heard those two words being uttered from his mouth. Then again, this whole thing felt… Weird…I shouldn't be so calm in his arms.
By all means, Adam was still very much a stranger to me.
Both our arms were nudged around as Asher forced himself between us to get into my lap. "Mama?" His big, rusty brown eyes peered up at me blankly as he scrunched his face pensively.
I had no idea what thoughts went through his little brain, but he instantly threw his arms around my neck, strangling me with a hug. "Mama?" Leaning back, Asher flashed me a toothy grin as if to cheer me up.
Well, it worked because it got me cracking a smile and laughing, along with Adam. "I'm okay, baby." I tried my best to believe my own lie as I put on a strong smile for my son. "I'm okay." Eventually, I'd believe the lie after telling myself so many times.
Fake it until I made it… At least, that's what I wanted to believe. I mean, I probably could lull myself into that false senseof security, but again, nothing good would come from letting my guard down. It was only a matter of time until something bit me in the ass.
Sliding out of my lap, Asher sat beside us, picking at the grass and flowers within his reach. It amazed me sometimes, how short of an attention span he had. It also brought a warm smile to my face, because it reminded me of how innocent he truly was.
Adam's heavy voice called out to me, "Eliza," making my chest feel like it caved in with the dread that pulled at me from the inside. "Look at me," he demanded sternly, yet it wasn't harsh.
Reluctantly, I bowed my head and glanced up at him half-heartedly. "L-listen, I know what you're going to say, and I'll do better next time." Shame on me for thinking I could get away without a scolding; the least I could do was try to mitigate it.
When Adam didn't respond, I frowned and furrowed my eyes together slightly. Why wasn't he yelling at me for being careless? Where were the harsh words about how stupid I was to let Asher get away from me?
A reflexive flinch shocked my body at the feeling of his skin against mine. "Eliza…" His finger curled under my chin, and his thumb held my chin softly as he tilted my head up to fully look at him.
