The Protector (EarthMix AU)

Chapter 16

Tian

"Tian, wake up."

I didn't want to open my eyes but only because I was afraid if I did, I'd find out everything had been a dream. And the feel of Phupha's fingers on my skin would be a figment of my imagination.

"Okay, buddy, have at it," I heard Phupha say and I thought he was talking to me until Edin's wet tongue swiped over my face. He managed to get in a few more licks before I escaped his reach and luckily Phupha kept him from jumping on the bed.

I wiped at my face with the edge of the blanket before opening my eyes and felt my heart stop when I saw Phupha sitting on the side of the bed, his backside pressed against my hip and his arm braced on the other side of my body so he was hovering over me.

"What time is it?" I managed to ask, though my voice sounded way too high.

"Six o'clock," Phupha said.

Hell, I'd been asleep for more than four hours. And that didn't even include the time I'd been passed out in the car after we left the town house.

I had a faint memory of turning my head to face Phupha as he sat behind the wheel and him reaching his hand out to stroke my face, but I couldn't be sure if it was real or just my desperate imagination.

"You should come eat," Phupha said. I look at him and I didn't give a shit about food. I sat up and felt an almost giddy rush of joy when Phupha didn't move.

My position put our bodies only a few inches apart and it would be so easy to lean in and take his mouth. When Phupha's gaze shifted to my lips, I knew he was thinking the same thing.

The kiss back at the town house had been an impulse I couldn't contain, but I managed to keep it brief so that Phupha knew it was my way of thanking him for the gift he'd given me.

No, the visit to the house hadn't fixed everything, but I hadn't expected it to. But what I'd gotten out from it was exactly what I'd hoped for... a chance to revisit the life I'd had and start putting the rest behind me.

On the occasions where I had needed a nudge to moving forward, Phupha had given me his warm touch and assuring words.

I wished desperately that I could do the same for him. Because for every layer Phupha seemed to strip from me, his own past became more and more of a blur.

I'd had a tiny glimpse today when he'd told me about medical school.

But just that, a glimpse.

Two words today, the way he'd said them had me realizing there was so much to Phupha that I didn't know and it likely wasn't good.

My father.

"Come on, get up." Phupha murmured before he pushed himself up.
"I didn't make my famous Somtum and fried chicken just for anyone."

Phupha avoided my gaze as he left the room and I didn't manage to take a deep breath until he was out of the door.

I walk into kitchen seeing him in apron.

"Come taste," Phupha said as he glanced at me and held up the spoon expectantly.
"What?" he asked when he took in what I assumed was my stun expression.

"Nothing," I said quickly, though I couldn't take my eyes off the curvy woman's bikini clad body covering the apron.

"Nice," I said as seriously as I could as I looked Phupha up and down.

"Shut up," Phupha said, though there was no actual anger in his voice.
"I just did laundry."

I laughed at that, which earned me an irritated look. I quickly grabbed the spoon and took the taste.