Page 48 of Painting Her Fate

His touch calms me and brings out a small smile. Then I remember what transpired moments ago and my smile falls.

“Alexander?” I ask, my voice sleepy now, my homeland origins conveying their true colors.

His own drowsiness shows, “what is it?”

I sigh, unable to look away as he continues caressing my face, tears no longer falling, “can we forget that last bit ever happened? – The tattoo? I’m never going to tell you about it so it’s pointless to dwell-” I pause and take his hands in mine, my eyes shifting around the room then coming back to his, “- it’s pointless to bring it up.”

No doubt he thinks me mental.Ooh, look. An asylum is waiting for this one. I better get far away; best not catch the crazy.

“I’ve got you, Lili.” His mask softens the slightest bit with a trace of hesitation as his brow furrows, “I won’t ask-,” he takes a deep breath as if weighing his words, “There are things out there not everyone needs to know.”

He’s not running, maybe he wants your crazy.

Not sure there is a man alive that can deal with my mental state and live to tell the tale. Exhaustion weighs heavily as the Xanax goes to work.

He tenses as I lean into him, then relaxes when I let out a sigh and I wrap an arm around his waist. His heartbeat is strong under my ear, his strength reminding me of the moment I met my father for the first time.

I get lost in the memories of the day we met and how many fond memories we’ve made since then.

Can this man protect me as my dad has? Can Alexander keep my monster at bay- cowering in its own fear, instead of the other way around?

A moment passes before I sense his hand rubbing my back. Our weariness from the events today is palpable. I close my eyes and sink further into him. Running my fingers across his back, I feel his muscles, or the lack there of.

He has scars as well, Lili. Deep ones- from his days of war, no doubt.

His body tightens and his hand stops moving along my back as he waits for me to pull away. I do no such thing.

“I-uh-

“Shhh.” I sigh sleepily, “there is no need for it right now.” I squeeze his hand in reassurance as he’s done for me throughout the day. He let out the breath he was holding, his body softens.

We stand that way for a few minutes before he speaks, “do you want me to go?”

“No.” I sigh, not letting go. I give a groggy whisper, “Alexander? Stay with me?” I surprise myself, never ever asking this from someone before now, “please? Just a little longer. Until I fall asleep.” There’s a moment’s hesitation before I peek up at him. “Just sleep.” I murmur and nuzzle into his chest.

What I really want to tell him is how he has my monster in chains and subdued. The monster has only feared one other man before now.

Zander heaves a sigh, probably weighing his options, “I will stay as long as you need me to.”

As I lead him down the corridor to my room a thought enters my mind on how we revealed things about ourselves tonight, only adding to our mysteries.He despises his scars as I do my own.That says something profound.

In this stranger’s arms my last thoughts are tranquil, sleep- for once- coming easy.

_CHAPTER 10 - ALEXANDER_

“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind, next to honor.” -Aristotle

If I were a stronger man, I wouldn’t have stayed. I would’ve told her no and went on my miserable way. I’m not a strong man when it comes to this girl, though. Why? Why is it I can’t let her out of my sight? There is no way I deserve any of what she brings out in me, in yet, I’m not going anywhere.

Listening to the rhythmic sound of sleep coming from the mystifying woman in my arms, her tantalizing scent wrapping around my heart and pulling tight, I try and process the events that led me to be here- in her bed.

How is it I only met her not even twenty-four hours ago? Where the hell has this girl been hiding?

She has ghosts haunting her. Her scars she bares,Christ. There were too fricken many, no way in hell are they self-inflicted. I do not care who it is, I will destroy the person who brought to harm this gentle soul. Lili’s been abused- that much is clear. Her ‘happy-go-lucky’ tune she tries to paste on is just a front, a way for her to block out the questions and the stares. I’m just as guilty- and fuck if that isn’t a little eye-opening.

Sleep eluded me- my mind racing. Even with the lack of rest this past week, enough a weaker man might go mad, there is no way sleep is coming.

– I need answers.

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