Beastly Love

Chapter 4: Closer

"Umm, Adam, before I ask you this, do you have a mate?"

"No," he says.

"You've helped me so much. I was wondering, and only if it wouldn't be too much trouble for you, if you would mind teaching me more about this world. It's become apparent that I know nothing. So, would that be alright?" Adam's expression softens once more.

"I will do my best to help you," he says. It feels like a weight's lifted from my shoulders, hearing that I have Adam to guide me. That I'm not alone. I smile, and all of a sudden something wet falls onto my leg. I lift my hand to my face and discover that it was a tear and that they keep on coming.

"Oh, sorry," I tell him, wiping them away. "I can't seem to make them start. I don't even know why I'm crying," I say, trying to smile.

Adam instantly grabs me and pulls me into a tight hug. His arms are tense, as if learning how to hold someone but not quite sure yet. He moves his hand up and down. I can't tell if he's waiting for a reaction or not, but I let him hold me. His bare chest is warm and despite being solidly built, it's quite comfortable.

"I really am glad that you're here," I say. Adam pulls away and lays me down gently. I may have known him for a very short amount of time, but in that moment, it felt as if I'd known him all my life.

"You should sleep," he says, turning away. It was then that I'd noticed the sky was already very dark. The only light had been coming from the numerous stars, but I was too distracted to notice.

"Shouldn't we build a fire or something?" I ask.

"Why would we do that? That would be dangerous," he responds, looking as puzzled as before at my words.

"Because then we'd be warm. It's not dangerous if you do it properly. Should I build one?"

Instead of responding, Adam moved to the other side of me and layed down, cradling my body with one arm draped over my side. I turn to face him.

"What are you doing?"

"Keeping you warm," he replies, as if he isn't just centimeters from my face. Embarrassed, I turn around and he moves closer to hug my body once more.

"I'm ok with this," I say. I'm more than ok with it if I'm being honest, but I don't know if I'll get much sleep. With everything that's happened, I'm ashamed I'm even thinking this way.

Earlier, I was so afraid and anxious that I hadn't noticed the color in Adam's expressions. In the dark cave, I had failed to notice it as well. So close to his face, I finally noticed the deep blush in his own expression. It probably mirrored my own.

I was right in thinking that it would be hard to sleep with him so close. I can feel his chest rise and fall, his breathing quicken and slow. It's warmer than sleeping alone, but I've never slept with someone like this. Something in me was deeply disturbed in a way that is entirely new to me. Even with him so close, it feels as if I'm waiting for something more when I should be sleeping.

"Adam?" I ask, wondering if he's still awake. I get a response.

"I'm glad you're with me."

"I'm... Glad I met you," he replies. It feels like we're no longer in a cold and dark cave but an inferno. My cheeks heat up and every part of me is electric. I turn to face him, which only makes the feeling worse. My green eyes are staring down his golden eyes. It feels as if in this moment, we exist outside time, which may very well be the case considering everything I've been through.

"Earlier, you called me beautiful. Did you really mean that?"

"I don't say things I don't mean."

"So you think I'm beautiful?"

"You're the most beautiful female I've ever seen."

It takes me a couple seconds to respond.

"You're the most handsome man I've ever seen. And I truly mean that. You almost don't seem real to me." As I say this, I reach out to touch his chest. He grabs me hand and I jolt. He takes it and brings it up to cup his cheek, closing his eyes.

"Where I'm from, we have stories about gods who were perfect and beautiful. They sculpted man out of clay and watched them from the clouds above. You remind me of the king of the gods. He's always portrayed as handsome and strong, but with gold hair like yours." I move my hand to play with his hair.

"You like my hair?" He smirks.

"I think it's wonderful."

"Then I shall never change it."

"Adam, how come you don't have a mate? In my world, handsome men like you are surrounded with beautiful women." His expression darkens and I retract my hand.

"I'm sorry if I asked you something sensitive. You don't have to give me an answer if you don't want to." He takes my hand one more and studies it.

"You are not like other females," is his response.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No," he says. After a long pause which feels like eons, he continues.

"Females are selfish. There are females who would accept me, but they have never said the things you have said."

I don't quite know what to make of his words. I wonder at what the other people of this world are like. If they're anything like Adam, I may just be a wallflower in comparison. It's not that I don't believe Adam when he said I am beautiful. I know I'm not ugly and that I would be considered attractive by normal standards, but Adam is on a whole other level. Not that it should matter of course. His actions alone have been entirely selfless and caring. Thinking about it now, he's taken care of me since the moment we met.

"You're a really kind person Adam. If you're going to help me survive in this world, I want to do something for you."

"This is normal. Women need to be protected."

"Maybe so, but you've been so kind to me. Kinder than anyone, in fact, in a long, long time. I know we've only just met, but I hope we can become closer." He smiles again, and I'm relieved to see it.

I turn around and he drapes his arm around me once more. This time, I hold onto his hand and close my eyes. If this is a dream, I never want to wake up to the nightmare that was my previous life. If I could stay here with Adam in this moment, that is all I wish for.