Whisper Destiny

Chapter 66

~ Catherine ~

"Oh God," Natasha gasped, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Even flushed and winded, her beauty was striking—the soft glow of sweat glistened on her skin, and the way her hair clung to her face made my heart stutter.

"Come on, Ellie. We're almost there," I said, glancing at her with a smile as the afternoon sun bathed us both. The gentle breeze from the Mediterranean carried the faint scent of sea salt, mingling with the wild lavender growing along the cliffside.

She shot me a tired but playful glare, her lips curving despite her exhaustion. "How do you still have energy? I think I'm dying here," she panted, her voice ragged but teasing.

I chuckled, nudging her shoulder with mine, just enough to feel the brush of her warmth. "You should start joining me for my morning runs, my dear," I teased, the endearment slipping out naturally between us now.

Natasha's breathless laugh filled the space between us, and it felt like a small victory. "In your dreams..." she managed between heavy breaths.

I reached into my bag, pulling out two bottles of water, and handed one to her. "Here," I said, brushing her fingers briefly with mine, feeling the spark of that simple contact in the warm, sun-soaked air.

She took it gratefully, lifting it to her lips. I watched her throat move as she drank deeply, the sunlight catching the droplets of water that escaped and trailed down her chin. She lowered the bottle, exhaling with a contented sigh, half the water already gone. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice softer now, almost drowned out by the breeze.

Instead of taking the bus straight to Eze Village, we decided to hike, drawn by the promise of adventure and the untamed beauty of this small town. Every step seemed to unveil something new—glimpses of the sea below, the sunlight dancing on the water, and the ancient stone villas nestled high above us, perched like sentinels overlooking the Mediterranean.

I glanced at Natasha, breathless but smiling, her face aglow with quiet satisfaction. The soft breeze played with the strands of her hair, and the way the sun kissed her skin made her look even more serene. My heart swelled, knowing she loved this moment as much as I did. For the first time in what felt like weeks, the weight I had been carrying—the stress, the guilt, the gnawing anxiety—seemed to slip away, left behind and it was all because of her.

I thought about last night, the second night these past week that I managed to sleep soundly—no nightmares, no jarring awakenings from the grip of old memories that haunted me. For the first time in so long, I had woken up feeling rested, safe. In Natasha's arms, the nightmares couldn't reach me. Her warmth surrounded me like a shield, her steady presence a quiet reminder that, for now, I wasn't alone. I felt cared for in a way I hadn't in years, and though I knew this was dangerous—letting myself lean on her, letting my heart soften—I couldn't help it. I wanted to soak in this feeling, just for now.

I promised myself that once this trip ended, I'd pull back. We'd return home, and things would go back to the way they were. I'd rebuild the walls I'd carefully maintained for so long, keeping the distance I knew I needed to protect myself. But here, I didn't want to think about that. I wanted to savor this moment, to hold on to it like a stolen breath of peace before reality came crashing back.

On top of that, I also felt guilty on my action. I hadn't forgotten the night I left her after our heated encounter—the night I received the news. She didn't deserve that. She never did. I felt so bad. Now, it felt like my way of apologizing, of trying to make things right between us.

In the past, I never would've cared enough to make amends. I'd always been good at distancing myself, keeping people at arm's length. But with Natasha, it was different. She had a way of getting past my defenses, especially when she looked at me like that, the hurt in her eyes had torn down every wall I'd built around myself.