End of a Beginning (Book 4)

Chapter Thirteen - And Then, The World Stopped

Eventually Derek is almost back to normal and watches me eat the last can of food in the house. It's almost disconcerting at how normal he looks even though he's still in the dress shirt. "We need more food," he says as he steals a spoonful from me. He leans back on the counter with ease and eyes my reaction to his statement.

"Is hunting easy in Lim?" I ask with my mouth full.

He smirks at my lack of manners but does shake his head. "Hunting is frowned upon here. Everything is at the market. Besides, I don't see many city officials going out to kill squirrels for dinner." Back in Wallho, we have a store that sells essential goods but most people still go out and hunt for their own things. That's why my father prioritized teaching me how to hunt when I was just a kid.

Slowly, "Okay, then what's the next step? Do we just walk into one?"

He pauses. "I think I should go alone."

I try to hide my disappointment. "Oh." I kind of wanted to explore Lim. This is the first time I've ever been here and all I've seen has been in Derek's backyard and sneaking around in gardens.

"I know the area and it'll be faster and less conspicuous if I go alone." It makes sense but yet I'm still disappointed. My frowning receives a smile from Derek. He comes up to me now and removes the can from my hands. His hands then run up my legs and eventually land on my hips. "I'll make it up to you."

Flinging my arms around him, I laugh, "How?"

Returning my smile, "You'll just have to wait and see." Before he can tease me with stares instead of touch, I bring my lips onto his. One year ago, I would have been terrified of being like this with anyone but now it becomes so easy. Because it is easy with him. Finally letting go of any anxiety I have of being intimate with someone, everything now seems easy. When Derek bites my bottom lip, I let out a moan which only encourages him more. "You shouldn't tempt me," he says breathlessly. But I only tempt him more. My hands fly to the buttons on his shirt and I can't undo them fast enough. Though he rarely shows it, I love the sight of his body. I start unbuckling my pants as I feel his fingers dig into my hips. "Now?" he asks.

"Why not?"

"Don't you want food?"

I sit back, slightly embarrassed. "I want you." Derek simply smiles that perfect smile. "Do you not want me?"

He puts my head in between his hands and kisses my forehead. "Of course I do, my love." My love. Hearing him say the words calms me tremendously but I still feel rejected in a way. "I've wanted you for so long."

"But?"

"I want to head out before I never leave your side." When I start buttoning up his shirt again, he adds, "Rain check?" I almost burst out laughing.

"You're infuriating."

"But you love me nevertheless."

Derek leaves shortly after my embarrassing stint at trying to have my way with him but he at least seemed receptive to my advances. Before he left, he gave me permission to walk around the house and explore and that's what I do in the down time. He's only been gone around twenty minutes or so but in that time I'm already bored. I go into his room and study each relic he has on display. I wish he was here to explain them but in the meantime I take note of each of them and try guessing where they came from. A couple of items look like they're from Wallho, so I'll have to ask where he got them from.

When I get bored of staring at the same walls over and over, I head over to the library and spend a ridiculous amount of time scanning each book. A lot of them are old books so I have to slowly take them out of their spots so I don't risk them falling apart. Even some of the newer copies all seem to be weathered. The majority of books in the library are ones I've never seen before but I do find some that are familiar. There are even books in different languages. All of this is hard to comprehend at how much Floriea has kept from the citizens. I could never imagine kids in Wallho ever having this much knowledge at the ends of their fingertips. I can only hope the future will be nicer to future kids than the past was to us.