Estelle

16 | France

The small wood stove by the couch cracks and flickers in the dark cabin. All of the lap shades are on but the bulbs are weak and the room is dark.

We spent the day cleaning up the cabin without talking much. After I asked him that question, he stopped talking. I think he has been thinking about it this whole time because his brows are constantly furrowed.

I love how serious he looks when he thinks. His features look harsher but something about it is just so... him. Adonis Vallorani is such a mysterious, quiet man and I feel at peace with him.

A log rolls in the wood stove as Adonis chucks in another one. It is cold and the night comes quickly especially in the middle of the woods surrounded by dense trees.

I watch him staring into the fire, his brows still furrowed. A few times he opens his mouth like he is about to say something and my heart jumps in anticipation. I usually enjoy our silence but now I feel as if I need to hear him speak. To hear his deep voice and the way he chuckles so quietly.

Standing here watching him makes me realize how different in appearance he is to me. My eyes are hazel and his are steel gray. My hair is light and blonde and his is obsidian. My skin is pale and his is tanned and olive. I am short while he is very tall.

I love the difference and in this silent room void of noise other than the crack of burning wood, I want nothing more than to feel a different kind of warmth.

He is sitting on the couch with his forearms resting across his knees as he leans forward in deep thought. I silently approach him and kneel on the floor next to him. He comes out of his thoughts and looks at me.

"What happened in France?" I ask softly, hoping he will respond this time. The fire cracks two times very loudly, filling the silence.

He watches me for a moment, no emotion in his expression. I continue to sit and look up at him, waiting for anything from him.

He is silent as he watches me and I let my eyes wander to the bright red fire. The warmth of the flames warm up the front of my face as I watch it and I can tell that my cheeks must be turning a little red.

"It was a normal business trip, I had to meet with an accountant about recent investments." I keep my eyes on the fire but enjoy listening to him speak. "I was gone for only three days before I told the woman I couldn't meet her. I went back to Italy and stayed in my office until you came back."

My eyes look down to the hardwood floor. "Why? What caused you to come back so early."

He is silent and I look up at him to see his eyes watching me. His irises look like an even lighter shade of gray in the fire light. "I couldn't sleep until I came back." He pauses. "I had to make sure you were safe."

"You damaged a potentially important business meeting to see me?" I frown. "But Accelius hadn't come back yet so you had no reason to be worried."

"I alway knew he would come eventually. He never gives up and..." He trails off and I rise to sit on the couch next to him. His eyes search my face as he says his words carefully. "Jane I... I couldn't sleep because I didn't understand why I was so desperate to check on you myself. It didn't help when I had my men report back to me on your wellbeing."

"Why?" Somewhere in my mind I already know the answer but I have to be sure. I have to hear it from him.

His face slowly comes closer to mine and his eyes travel down my face to my lips. "I didn't realize how I felt until I came back and you opened the blinds in my office. The way the sun lit you up... I realized why I needed you."

Even if I want to hear it, I know he doesn't have to say it because I already know.

"I don't know how to love Jane."