DEVIOUS LOVE

Chapter 67 - I Expect Success

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Lisa quietly watched her sleep in his arms. She used his arm as a pillow and had nestled herself against him. She buried her face into his shoulders, her soft breathing tickling his neck.

He had never felt this type of sensation before—to embrace someone in their sleep. In the past, way before she was born, he would never stay the night. Ever. Kisses were prohibited, and so were hugs. But she broke all of his rules, staying in his arms as he kissed her dearly.

"Hn..."

Lisa glanced at her with worry. She liked to mumble and grumble in her sleep. Sometimes, it was incoherent words, other times, he could barely make out her pronunciation. She was curled up like a cat. Without warning, she shifted her body. She threw a leg over his waist and placed a palm on his chest, right where his heart was.

"Li..."

Lisa felt a strange movement in his chest. It was an uncomfortable feeling that he didn't understand. She foolishly smiled in her dream whilst hugging him like a pillow. Her bright hair cascaded down her shoulders, long and beautiful, much like her.

"A sweet dream, I presume," he softly said.

Lisa tenderly pushed the tendrils away from her face, revealing her gaunt, hollow cheekbones. His eyes narrowed. Now that he thought about it, he wasn't able to check her plate this morning. Did she even eat at all?

Lisa didn't need her to die of starvation in front of him. He thoroughly enjoyed the flush of life and warmth on her rosy cheeks. If her eyes went dim with hunger, but her lips taut with forced smiles, he would lose it.

"Someone needs to break that horrid habit of yours," he growled.

Lisa touched her lips, his brows wringing together. It was slightly swollen and bruised. He thought he had been gentle, but it seemed not. Holding back a sigh, he slowly began to detangle himself from her.

Lisa needed to check with Easton on whether or not she ate. He was worried about her. It was a bizarre emotion that he could never fathom. But it was true. She was so tiny, so frail, that he was worried a shove would break her.

Lisa wished to protect her.

It was a startling understanding that pained him to no avail. He had rarely interacted with her in her youth. The only times he saw her was in the presence of her parents.

"I never meant to see you until you were of age."

Lisa regretted all of the times she was brought into his life. He had despised seeing her and did everything in his power to avoid her. It worked, for the most part.

When he saw her in the hallways, he went in the opposite direction. When he heard she was eating, he skipped the meal and went to drink. When she was found in the gardens, he solemnly stayed away from windows.

Lisa did everything to not see her. It felt strange to get to know her as a child. He never did. He didn't learn of her favorite toys, didn't learn of her favorite books, what made her smile, what made her laugh, he never knew any of it.

"Yet you still wormed your way into my life."

Lisa sighed in defeat. His attempts were in vain when she'd do everything in her power to see him. She'd run after him, even when he strictly forbade her from going near him. He'd hold out a finger and tell her to go away. She did, for the most part. But not always.