The frozen heart

Chapter 40: The Touch That Speaks

After that first kiss, the air between them shifted, charged with an unspoken intensity that lingered in every shared glance, every accidental touch. Kaiden didn't speak about it, nor did Anne, but his actions told her everything. He had become watchful, protective in a way that felt almost primal, a silent claim that shadowed his every gesture.

It began the next morning.

Anne was by the window, wrapped in an old, thick blanket as she looked out over the ruins of the castle courtyard. The early morning sun cast a golden glow over the crumbling stone, and a chill seeped in from the cracked glass. Lost in thought, she didn't hear him approach until she felt his presence close behind her, quiet but unmistakably intense.

Without warning, Kaiden reached forward, his hands landing on her shoulders with a firmness that made her breath hitch. He didn't ask her to move or leave the cold window; instead, he slowly slid his hands down her arms, tugging the blanket away from her shoulders. The chill of the room hit her skin, but only for a heartbeat—his body was suddenly there, pressed close behind her, his warmth enveloping her as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Don't sit so close to the window," he murmured, his voice rough and low against her ear. "You'll get cold."

"I wasn't..." Anne started to say, though her voice was a bit shaky. She wasn't cold before, but with him so near, her pulse was racing, her cheeks warming under his touch.

Kaiden's fingers tightened around her waist as if to hold her closer, as if refusing to give even a sliver of space between them. His chin rested against her shoulder, and his lips grazed the sensitive skin at the curve of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine despite her words.

"Still," he replied, his voice dark, "I don't want you uncomfortable."

Anne swallowed, feeling his closeness, the way his arms encircled her as if she were something precious, he would never allow out of his sight again. Slowly, he turned her in his arms, his gaze searching hers with an intensity that made her heart pound. There was no hesitation, no doubt in his dark, piercing eyes, only the fierce certainty of someone who had already decided.

Without another word, Kaiden brought his hand up, fingers brushing over her cheek as if to etch the moment into memory. His touch lingered, the thumb tracing the line of her jaw before he leaned in, his lips barely brushing hers.

And then he kissed her.

This kiss was different. It was full of silent promises, an undeniable claim wrapped in tenderness and a fire that was barely contained. He kissed her like he was afraid to let go, as though he were reminding her—and himself—that she was his, that no one else could come close. His hands gripped her waist firmly, possessively, pulling her flush against him with a quiet intensity that left no doubt of his feelings.

Anne's hands rose to his shoulders, threading through his hair as she kissed him back, meeting his fervor with her own. She could feel the desperation in him, the years of solitude and longing released in this single embrace. His touch was possessive, yes, but it was also filled with reverence, as if he saw her as the one thing he could never afford to lose.

When he finally pulled away, their breaths mingling in the space between them, Kaiden's gaze softened. His eyes, though dark and intense, were no longer guarded. His hand stayed against her cheek, thumb brushing over her skin with a gentleness that made her heart ache.

"You're mine, Anne," he whispered, his voice filled with a fierce resolve. "And I won't let anyone take you from me. Ever."

Anne's breath caught at his words, feeling the weight of them. She knew the stakes of his promise, the danger it implied, but there was no fear—only a warmth spreading through her, a safety she hadn't known before.