Imara Diversifies The Beastmen World

Chapter Sixty Five My Pretty Babe

Slapping my forehead, I muttered under my breath, "Shit."

Harvey, ever understanding, offered quietly, "I'll give y'all some privacy."

I nodded, grateful for his consideration. "Yeah, that'd be great."

Gabriel's POV

As I walked back to the house, searching for her shoes and a blanket, my thoughts were a storm I couldn't calm.

I wanted to kick myself for rushing her. Maybe I had gotten too comfortable too quickly. She made it easy—being around her felt natural—but now I wondered if I had crossed a line.

She wasn't in a great place emotionally, and I might have made things worse. I felt guilty for not reading the moment better, but deeper than that, I felt rejected.

Did she not want to kiss me? The way she looked at Harvey... It made her hesitate. I couldn't stop the jealousy that burned through me.

I knew I wasn't Harvey and that I could never have what they shared. It wasn't even my goal. What I wanted was something just for us—something just ours, something that would make her look at me the way she looked at him.

I'd never been impatient before, but with her, it was different. For the first time in my life, I wanted to rush toward something, to make it happen. And yet, here I was, second-guessing everything.

Had I ruined things by moving too fast? Would she now retreat further away from me?

When I found her outside, she was coming towards the house, lost in her thoughts. I approached cautiously, holding her blanket and shoes.

"Imara," I called softly. She turned to me, her eyes full of something I couldn't quite read—guilt, maybe? Regret?

Apologizing, she said, "Gabriel, I'm sorry. It was just off reflex." Her voice was quiet, and she looked up at me with guilt written all over her face.

I handed her the blanket and knelt to help her with her shoes. "I noticed you weren't wearing these, and lying on the grass can make females itch."

She gave a small smile, accepting the items. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, I hesitated, unsure whether to address the tension lingering between us. But I couldn't let it go unspoken. "Maybe it just wasn't the right time," I said gently, trying to ease her worries. "You do have a lot on your mind."

She looked at me, her eyes filled with conflict, and nodded. "That's not particularly true.."

I took a small step closer, my voice softer now. "Imara, if I made you uncomfortable—"

She cut me off quickly, shaking her head. "No, you didn't. That was on me."

I studied her, searching her lovely brown eyes. Something in her voice didn't sit right with me. "Are you sure? I don't want you to feel—"

"I'm fine," she interrupted again, though her voice carried a tremor she couldn't hide.

I sighed, stepping back slightly to give her space, but the uncertainty still hung heavy in the air. "Alright," I said quietly, though my heart wasn't fully convinced.

Then, unexpectedly, she grabbed my hand. The tension in my shoulders eased at her touch, and her grip seemed to steady something in both of us.

Together, we headed toward a quiet spot in the backyard, away from everything. We sat near the shed, and she surprised me by settling onto my lap, her hands resting lightly on my shoulders.

She gazed into my eyes, her expression serious yet tender. "I just need to tell you about myself more," she said softly.

Her words carried a weight, and I could feel the walls she kept so carefully around her beginning to shift. Whatever she was about to share, I was ready to listen—to understand.