Page 31 of Into the Dawn
“It is a lot to handle,” he said softly, his voice filled with sympathy.
“I’m just a little surprised,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “I didn’t expect to look so different.”
“You do not need to hide from me, mate.”
Turning away from her reflection, she surprised him by throwing herself against him and wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’m not hiding. I’m just…”
“Processing?”
She laughed lightly. “That’s a good word for it.” She pulled back to smile shyly at him. “I think I’ve been handling everything pretty well so far, considering.”
“You have,” he praised, rubbing her back. “Very well.”
She sighed and rested her head against his chest. “But how I look now is certainly going to complicate things while we are still here. I guess I can try to hide my eyes with sunglasses, but the rest…”
“You may have to avoid going out in the daylight just like us.”
Like a vampire, she thought glumly. But she was alive and cancer-free, so she had no right to complain about being a little inconvenienced. Remembering that perked her mood back up.
“You should take a hot shower and relax a little while I prepare us something to eat.”
Dominic sensed her struggle to accept her new reality even though she really was handling everything better than expected. Still, it was a lot to deal with. Although he wanted to remain by her side, she seemed like she needed a few minutes alone. When she gifted him with a beautiful smile, he knew he’d made the right choice.
“That sounds like a great idea. I won’t be long. I really am starving.”
“You should be since you have only had some broth over the last few days,” he reminded. “Take your time. There is no need to rush. Call out if you need me.”
“Will do.”
He reluctantly left the bathroom to give her some privacy. That was something she’d had very little of since they had arrived on Earth, and she deserved a few moments alone to gather her thoughts.
Pulling the rubber band free from his hair, he re-tied it by pulling his shoulder-length hair back in a tight bun on the top of his head. He’d gotten in the habit of using the rubber bands his mate kept in a jar on the bathroom counter to keep the shorter strands out of his face. He still wasn’t used to it and had to admitthat he was starting to appreciate the shorter styles the human males had adopted.
Heading into the kitchen, he lit the fire on the stove under a large pot containing the creamy sauce with seafood that Layla had prepared earlier. She had told him to mix the sauce with freshly cooked pasta once Kylie woke up. While waiting for the water to boil to cook the pasta, he stuck the loaf of bread Layla had made back in the oven to warm.
Dominic had eaten a few hours ago with the Ross Family, but he was already hungry again. Actually, he always seemed to be hungry since they had arrived. Perhaps it has something to do with the differences in the planets.
The air seemed thinner, and he had to regulate how much of it he breathed in order to stop himself from feeling lightheaded. The density of the air also allowed him to move faster than he was used to. Because of that, he seemed to use up more energy than back on Arcadia.
He took out the large container of meat and cheeses out of the cold box that Abby had prepared for them to snack on until the meal was ready. He needed a distraction so he wouldn’t obsess about his mate taking a shower. He knew exactly what had occurred between his brother and their mate, and it made him yearn for his own chance to bond with her.
But he wouldn’t rush her.
Kylie was precious to him, and he wanted her to be at ease with him before she succumbed to the need burning between them. Every moment spent with her was a test of his patience and self-control. He longed to hold her close, to feel the softness of her skin against his, but he didn’t want to put more pressure on her. She had just beaten death, and her days on Earth were already numbered.
Although she was concerned about her new appearance, he thought she was breathtakingly beautiful with her new Arcadiantraits. The way her glowing eyes had sparkled had mesmerized him. Add in the gentle curve of her smile, the warmth of her touch, and the lyrical sound of her laughter, he was ready to fall at her feet and beg her to be his.
From the moment he met her, she had become the center of his universe, a beacon of light in the darkness. He admired her strength, her kindness, and the courageous way she had thrown herself into the unknown of being with two males from another planet with wild abandon. Hearing all about her life from her friends made him want to get to know her better, but he wanted to hear it directly from the source.
It would be her choice when they completed their bond. He would wait, even if his desire for her was slowly driving him insane. He wanted to be worthy of her love, to be the male she deserved, and that meant providing her whatever she needed. He believed that when the time was right, their love would ignite like a wildfire, consuming them both, so that would be well worth the wait.
When the pasta was cooked according to Layla’s instructions, he drained the water and mixed the noodles together with the sauce in a big bowl. The appetizing aroma made his stomach growl, and he had to fight the urge to sneak a taste. Setting the bowl on a large tray along with the bread he pulled out of the oven, he added eating utensils and two glasses of juice to help replenish her fluids.
“That smells delicious,” Kylie said as she came up behind him.
Startled, he realized she hadn’t made a sound when she had left the bedroom and walked into the kitchen. Very few people could sneak up on him, but she had managed it without even trying. Now, she was as stealthy as he and Ronan were, making no sound at all. Before he could turn around to greet her, shewrapped her arms around his waist and leaned around him to look at the food.
“Mmm, Layla made my favorite pasta dish.”
