Touch

Chapter 24| Mending Fences...Sort Of

Hello lovely readers, as always I hope you enjoy, if you find any mistakes, do let me know.

Five minutes. That's how long I stood in front of her door before I could knock. For the first time ever, I confided in my beta like some broken-hearted teenager and I didn't feel any better, I knew I wouldn't until I spoke to her.

I couldn't deny that I was still angry; angry at her, myself, Selene, Cirini, life; my list was fucking long and ever-growing, but at present, all I could focus on was the raging fire of jealousy that simmered just beneath the surface.

From behind the door, I could hear the slow beat of heart pick up in pace. She knew I was here, even if she didn't possess the hearing to tell her, her body did nevertheless.

Her feet hit the carpeted floor, and with one foot in front of the other, each unsure step brought to her bedroom door. A shuddered breath escaped her lips, and I could feel my defenses crumble.

What the fuck was happening to me?

Her hand made contact with the doorknob, and the need to see her grew exponentially.

"No," she whispered to herself as she locked the door.

"Open the door, Amina, or I will."

She gasped as if surprised that I was actually behind the door, but she never opened it.

"Amina," I warned, as the last bit of restraint left me, "I'm trying here."

"Then knock."

I sighed before I raised my hand to the door and knocked on it. She unlocked the door and walked away, not even bothering to answer.

"You may enter."

I walked in to find her seated by the opened french doors that led out to the balcony overlooking the backyard of the packhouse. Next to her sat the book she was reading and a glass of lemonade.

It was like seeing her for the first time all over again. The soft wind blew through the curtains,  rearranging the curls that framed her face. I watched the sunbeams filter through the curtains and caress her skin.

She was a picture of radiance from where I stood, never in my life had I been jealous of the fucking sun until now as my fingers itched with the need to touch her.

"How does it feel?" she asked, bringing me out of my thoughts. I winced at the iciness of her tone, she hadn't even bothered to look at me as she spoke, her gaze still fixated on the picturesque view the balcony provided.

"It hasn't been easy," I replied to which she returned a simple nod.

"Do you think it was easy for me?" I asked.

"Sure made it seem that way," I could hear the hurt in her tone as she continued to look out towards the backyard, refusing to meet my gaze.

"Well, it wasn't. Being away from you it..." I couldn't say it.

"It what?"

"You know."

"No, Malachai," she said as she turned to face me, "That's not good enough, I want to hear you say it."

"It hurts, being away from you hurts," I blurted out as though compelled to do so, "Its a wonder how you've held on for two weeks."

We held each other's gazes, not speaking a word as if all that needed to be spoken was conveyed through the silence. I would argue that it did, it was a sobering reminder of how lonely we've been these last two weeks, silence being are the only companion.

"It has been hell, Malachai," she said as a tear fell from her eyes, "But I needed you to understand."

"I do, and I'm so sorry."