「 bewitched 」 ᴋᴀʏɴ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

chapter IX

As the kiss deepened, you felt a surge of emotions flood through you. It was a mix of passion, longing, and uncertainty. You couldn't deny the intensity of the moment, the way Kayn's touch ignited a fire within you that burned hotter with each passing second.

But amidst the whirlwind of sensation, a nagging doubt lingered in the back of your mind. Did Kayn truly feel the same way about you, or was this just a momentary lapse in judgment?

As if sensing your inner turmoil, Kayn pulled back slightly, his breath warm against your lips. His monochromatic eyes searched yours, their depths betraying a hint of uncertainty beneath the surface.

"Hey," he whispered, his voice gentle yet tinged with doubt. "You okay?"

You hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the jumble of emotions swirling inside you. "I... I don't know," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

Kayn's expression softened, his thumb brushing against your cheek in a tender gesture. "Fuck, I'm sorry if I'm making things complicated," he mumbled, his gaze filled with remorse.

"No, it's not that," you replied, reaching up to cup his face in your hands. "It's just... I don't want to rush into something without knowing where we stand."

A flicker of understanding crossed Kayn's features, his lips curving into a wistful smile. "I get it," he said softly. "I've been so caught up in my own feelings that I forgot to consider yours."

Silence soon enveloped the room, the sound of your hearts beating as one can be heard from a mile away. After what felt like an hour of silence, Kayn decided to speak up. His voice husky and gentle at the same time.

"Are you okay?" He asked, again.

You nodded, a soft, reassuring smile playing at the corners of your lips.

Kayn's expression softened, his fingers tracing gentle patterns along your cheek. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice laced with regret. "I didn't mean to push you."

You shook your head, reaching up to cup his face in your hands. "No, it's not that," you assured him. "Listen, Kayn. I just want... I need you to be sure about this."

"About us."

Kayn's brows furrowed in contemplation, his gaze locked with yours as he processed your words. After a moment of silence, he let out a soft sigh, his fingers intertwining with yours.

"I get it," he murmured. "And... I want you to know that I'm not just here because of some fleeting impulse or some... momentary attraction."

You couldn't help but feel a surge of hope at his words, a glimmer of relief washing over you. "What do you mean?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Kayn's lips curved into a gentle smile, his monochromatic eyes shimmering with sincerity. "I mean that... I've never felt this way about anyone before," he confessed, his voice barely audible over the pounding of your heart.

A soft gasp escaped your lips as his words washed over you, a wave of emotion crashing over you like a tidal wave. "Really?" you whispered, unable to conceal the awe in your voice.

Kayn nodded, his thumb brushing against your cheek in a tender gesture. "Yeah," he admitted, his gaze unwavering. "It's like you..."

"Bewitched me."

"Bewitched," you echoed softly, the word hanging in the air between you like a spell waiting to be cast.

Kayn's eyes sparkled with a mixture of vulnerability and determination as he held your gaze. "Yeah," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "As much as I hate saying cheesy shit, yeah."

"It's like you cast a spell on me from the moment I met you."

Your heart fluttered at his words, a rush of warmth spreading through you like wildfire. In that moment, all the doubts and uncertainties faded into the background, replaced by a profound sense of connection.

You nodded slowly, taking in Kayn's words with a mix of surprise and relief. "Well, damn," you muttered, unable to contain the grin that spread across your face. "I guess I should add 'wizard' to my resume now."

Kayn chuckled, the sound rich and warm like honey. "Yeah, maybe you should," he replied, his tone light but laced with sincerity.

You leaned in closer, your hands finding their way to Kayn's shoulders as you searched his eyes for any sign of doubt. "So, what now?" you asked, the words tumbling out before you could stop them.

Kayn's lips curved into a crooked smile, his gaze steady as he met yours. "Now?" he echoed, a playful glint dancing in his eyes. "Now, we fucking figure this shit out together."

A burst of laughter escaped you at his bluntness, the tension that had lingered between you dissipating like mist in the morning sun. "Sounds like a plan," you replied, unable to resist the pull of his infectious energy.

"But I need to continue studying-"

"Fuck that. You're not leaving me here." He grumbled.

You raised an eyebrow at Kayn's abrupt interruption, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of your lips. "And who said anything about leaving you in bed?" you retorted, your tone teasing.

Kayn's grin widened, his gaze locking with yours in a silent challenge. "Well, you were about to," he countered, his voice dripping with mock indignation.

You chuckled, shaking your head in amusement. "Okay, fine," you conceded, giving in to his playful banter. "But only if you promise not to distract me too much."

Kayn's expression softened, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he leaned in closer. "No promises," he murmured, his breath warm against your ear. 

"Just get your damn books and read here."

With a laugh, you leaned back, playfully swatting at his arm. "I can't see in the dark, idiot." you quipped.

Kayn's laughter filled the room, a melodic sound that echoed in your ears like music. "Good luck with that," he replied, his tone laced with amusement. 

You rolled your eyes, a smile playing at your lips as you stood up from the bed. "Alright, alright, I'll grab my books," you relented, making your way over to your desk.

As you gathered your study materials, you couldn't help but steal glances at Kayn, who lounged comfortably on your bed. Despite the playful banter, there was an undeniable warmth between you, a connection that seemed to transcend words.

With your books in hand, you settled back onto the bed beside Kayn, turning the lamp on your nightstand as you flipped open your textbook to where you left off. 

The rain continued to drum against the windowpane, a soothing backdrop to the quiet intimacy of the moment.

For a while, you studied in silence, the occasional rustle of pages breaking the quiet. But as the minutes stretched into hours, you found it increasingly difficult to concentrate, your thoughts drifting back to Kayn. 

As you turned to look at the older male, you managed not to let out a chuckle as you saw him fast asleep, cuddled beside you. You slowly closed the book and placed it on the nightstand.

With a soft chuckle, you couldn't help but admire the sight of Kayn, his features softened in sleep, his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. Despite the initial intention to study, you found yourself captivated by the peaceful expression on his face.

Carefully, so as not to disturb him, you reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead, your touch light and gentle. Kayn stirred slightly at the contact, a contented sigh escaping his lips as he shifted closer to you.

You couldn't help but smile at his reaction, feeling a warmth spread through your chest at the simple intimacy of the moment. With a soft sigh of your own, you leaned back against the pillows, content to watch over Kayn as he slept.

With a smile lingering on your lips, you settled in beside Kayn, thoughts nothing but him. Everything happened so quickly, but you're not complaining. With that, you snuggled into his warm embrace, closing your eyes as exhaustion washed over you.