Destinied Hearts

Part 19

Author's POV

The pale light of dawn crept through the guest bedroom curtains. The amiable warmth of rays filled the room. The kiss, so fresh and alive when on his lips, still haunted every waking moment of his life. Since then, he couldn't help but feel Milana's warmth and closeness hovering within him all of the time. He had not spent a minute without that sense of longings and love within him ever since. That is how she had looked at him, the sweetness of her kiss-it all replayed in his mind.

The day had begun early for Leo, leaving the bed with a kind of tender feeling deep in his heart. He knew that there were responsibilities ahead, and his schedule would be very challenging, but he could not shake the feeling that Milana's presence in his life was changing everything for him. When he entered his room where Milana was sleeping, he drew his breath in order to drink in the peaceful scene of her lying there.

She was tucked in under the covers, resting her face on both her arms, with an expression of relaxed peace as if enjoying an exceptionally quiet sleep. He couldn't help smiling when he gazed at her; his emotions began to grow for her with each passing moment. He started gathering the scattered stationary items from his study - pens, sketchbooks, and a laptop that she left there last night as she was too tired to take them. Putting everything in order, he found himself thinking about how she had taken over his daily life.

After cleaning up, Leo took some minutes to himself to relax and enjoy the serenity of the morning. Soon enough, however, he had to get off to work. In any case, he wasn't about to be chased out of Milana's room without giving Milana one last look. He returned to her bedside and rested his forehead lightly against hers. The kiss was an expression of love, an expression of unstated words given silently, in so much a way representing how much care he felt for her.

Just as he was backing out of the room, he couldn't resist another kiss. The touch of her lips was soft, drawing out just a little longer than necessary. The moment he drew back, Milana stirred in the bed. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him sleepily, with a warm smile.

"Leo?" she whispered, a voice thick with sleep but warm nonetheless. "Where are you off to?"

He smiled, sitting back a little. "Good morning, Milana. I'm off to work. I just wanted to say goodbye first."

Milana sat up, rubbing at the vision swimming in her eyes. "Wait a minute," she said, her voice suddenly alert, as she leaped out of bed. She splashed through the bathroom, where the background sound was the gurgle of running water.

Leo remained by the door, his patience being equalled only to his admiration for how even in her rush, she has such elegance captivating him. She came out from the bathroom, her face fresh but her hair a little tousled from the sleep but she looked beautiful to his eyes.

"I'm sorry for rushing you before work," she said, her cheeks slightly red. "But I just wanted to ask you if I could go to college today to submit my assignments. I promise I'll be careful and follow every rule that you say."

Leo thought for a moment, weighing the value of her request against the danger it was shaping up to be. He knew how much education meant to her and keeping her inside is not an option. He can't lock her up in his mansion thinking that it is the only way she can be safe, and Leo did want to support her, but he has to look out for her safety first. "You can go, but on one condition. You have to take Rocco and two other guards with you. Because, well, surely you see, it is all the more dangerous,

Milana nodded, realising the severity of the situation. "I understand. I'll be very careful and won't blunder again in the days to come."

Leo relaxed a bit. He thought of her determination and easily realised how much more she had put into her college work. "Good. I'll make arrangements with Rocco to prepare everything for your trip.".