Her Nature

|Chapter 20|

My face reddened and clasped my hands together in front of me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble." Looking down, I hoped the eyes would leave me.

Grace was the first to jump to a response, "No! That was," her mouth opened and closed wordlessly, "beautiful, for lack of better words."

"You have a really great family. You speak so passionately, your words become fluent and it's just fascinating with how you talk. I could listen to all day. I'm just...in shock." She confessed.

Lyle surprisingly nodded in agreement. "She's right, your love shines through your eyes. Admirable."

I didn't like the attention on me, their eyes were beginning to feel intrusive. "Well, it's what I grew up with and it's all I have, I have no choice but to fall in love with it."

"Wow," Grace blew a large breath as she stood up with the support of Lyle. "I need to be more grateful," she mumbled under her breath but I somehow heard.

"Yes, more grateful of me and all the mountains I move for my beloved mate." She smacked his arm and shushed him when his laughter exploded in our ears.

She laughed with a twinkle in her eye, "Come, let me appreciate you then, dear." Lyle tensed in anticipation, but I feared for him. Her mischievous eyes told me it won't end how he would like.

Lyle followed her out the room like a puppy, hot on her trail. I couldn't fight the incoming smile at their adorable relationship. I wished to have something like them. The love that they share bonds them so tightly.

They protect, care, joke and grow together. It sparks a latent desire to care for a family of my own, to shower people in love. I wade in the stream of my thoughts for a few moments.

If it weren't for the hum of power roping me in, I would've forgotten Luciano was there.

He hasn't really been speaking, but this silence was quieter, more empty. I could have accurately said that I was alone in the room, his mind not fully present.

I took the moment to study him. Barely having seen him lately conjured a sadness in my heart. He always avoided me now and I couldn't help but to think it was because of the intimacy we shared. Do I stink? I don't think so. I guess I'm just not his type and he sees what everyone else saw in me and now I've repulsed him too. I should be grateful because I told myself I wouldn't pursue him but I can't bear the stinging feeling of rejection. This shit hurts. And all I can think about is that it's something about me that made him start to dislike me. Did he think I'm easy since we shared a few intense moments?

His honey eyes were on the floor and unfocused. Fingers curled into fists, muscles cording up his arms—I could see the tension winding throughout his body and begging for a release.

Back ramrod straight and stiff.

Dark eyebrows knitted together above his smooth eyes. The small scar wrinkled angrily from the tight position. His slanted nose had adapted blush tones. The faintest bags hung under his eyes, hinting at sleepless nights. His shadowed jaw grew even darker each day without a razor. He looked the part.

A rugged, uncivilized beast.

And for some reason I liked it. It reeled me in.

He still only wore his skins. All the mated males did too, only the children and pregnant females wore regular clothes.

His shoulders were pulled up tensely, traps flexing in attempt to maintain the strenuous position. A thick vein trailed down his neck. His body shifted, still isolated in his own world. Bringing one hand up, his finger prodded his bottom lip pensively. His brows furrowed further, frustration bleeding into his confusion.