It begins with us.

Chapter Eighteen

Yaakov’s POV

My palms were sweating the whole time I was in her company, my throat ran dryer than the fucking desert as I gulped down my third bottle of water hastily, trying to extinguish the flames that burned beneath my ribcage. She had turned me into a puddle of mush without really doing anything, and I was absolutely loving every fucking minute of it. The emotions that were surging through me were all new and exciting, smiling as we walked side by side down the main strip of the markets that took place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Her face glowed with excitement and wonder while she took in every sight and smell that surrounded us, running to every stall with enthusiasm and observing what each vendor was selling with astonishment. Ari and Adam kept their distance the whole time, and for that I was grateful. I never left the manor without my security, and never with only just two of my men to accompany me, but it somehow made me feel normal. As if I had left Mr Avraham behind at the manor, and was just plain old Yaakov. The eldest son of just two regular parents and not Israel’s most lucrative and dangerous man. My eye takes her in sadly while I watched as she laughed and smiled at the older lady selling topaz jewellery. She didn’t belong in my world full of danger and death, but I was too selfish to let her go. I had never felt this way before, and I wondered how long it would last without her. How long did one live without oxygen? Without a heart beating inside of their chest? Because that was what Ava was to me. She was becoming my only source of life in a world that was only occupied by death. An angel didn't belong in that world, she needed light and warmth to thrive, and I was nervous that my world would extinguish all that glow she carried within.

“Do you smell that?”

I blinked, watching her walk back beside me while I sniff the air, smiling at the aroma of Israeli cuisine that was being cooked up ahead. “ Are you hungry?” I ask, watching her nod vigorously. “Starving” She laughs as her fingers laced through my large callous ones, my hand tingling at the contact while I allowed her to pull me through the busy crowd. I let her guide us while my eye’s continued to look at our hands intertwined, hoping this wasn’t part of a hallucination I was experiencing. She didn’t even hesitate to touch me, granted it was just to pull me towards the food but still, it felt....nice. People’s eyes grew wide as they took in the sight of their King being dragged like a rage doll down the closed-off street, coming to a stop at the first of many food vendors that had lined up to feed the masses. I didn’t care in the slightest at what they were thinking, my mind was only focused on Ava, and the way she ignited my body and soul. She didn’t even let go as we approached the stall, and I wasn’t about to break my hand away, so I continued to grip her hand in mine as I smiled to myself. Her greedy eyes began to graze over the many dishes that were displayed, bouncing on the balls of her feet while she pressed her lips together in thought.

“It all looks so delicious!”

She moans out, the torturous sound making my dick harden beneath my pants while I shove my free hand deep into my pockets. The thoughts that began to swirl around my mind intoxicated me as I tried to come back to the present.

“We have Sabich sandwiches, Falafels and Eggplant salad.”

The vendor smiled down at Ava before cutting his gaze towards me, his eyes widening while he extends a hand out for me to shake.

“Mr Avraham! What a pleasure!”

I extend my hand out, shaking his while smiling politely, feeling Ava’s eye’s on me with curiosity.

“The pleasure is all mine. Please, my companion here has never been to our markets, and I am afraid the poor woman is starving. Would you mind educating her about what you are selling today?” I lean over slightly towards the vendor, whispering loud enough so that Ava can hear.