A meaning

Isabelle



Everyone else had returned to their rooms after Kaden's affirmation, the kit that Carter had brought was now in the hands of Kaden who now ever so gently disinfected the bruised area around my knees after covering the rest of the injuries.

It turned out that I had gotten quite a few cuts on my arms and legs, including my lips and the stinging sensation on my cheek. My legs seemed to be the part that was most affected perhaps because of the way Layla had thrown me on the ground.

It was my luck that saved me from breaking my bones.

I looked at Kaden as he carefully tapped the disinfectant-soaked cotton ball on my bruise, the pain shot through almost instantly.

I bit my bottom lip to stop the winch that was about to slip past my lips. The more these small reactions of me appeared, the more the gloom in Kaden's expression increased and I didn't want him to get sad or blame himself for something he hadn't any control over.

"It's hurting very bad, right?" He asked, I wanted to wipe away the regret in his voice. He shouldn't blame himself, it wasn't his fault.

"No," I shook my head, trying to make my lie as believable as possible.

"Don't lie to me, Isabelle," He said, "I know you are in pain only because of my irresponsibility, don't try to make me feel better by lying." He applied the ointment on the red area, using soft motions to cover the entire scar.

"It wasn't your fault," I spoke, "You didn't know something like this could happen.

"I should have known," His response came immediately, "After pretty much understanding that that night the injuries on Layla were made by herself only because of attention, I should have known that she would have a problem with you because you are close to me and she envies you." his voice had too much anger directed to himself and I disliked the part that he was blaming himself for someone else's mistake.

He harshly put back the ointment tube in the kit, with the scissors and the bottle of disinfectant. The anger inside him was somewhere trying to get out by his movements.

"Kaden, Look at me..." I tried to make him turn his head to look at him but he refused by shrugging my hands off.

His childlike movement made the smile break on my face, I slightly moved towards him avoiding hurting my arms in the progress, and rested my head against his chest.

"It was not your fault," I spoke, I carefully lifted my arms and wrapped them around his body, "We don't have control over some things in our life, but that doesn't mean that we should ourselves for that. Don't blame yourself, please."

I could hear his unsteady heartbeats, they were not as calm as all the other times. I wanted them to get normal again, but what could I do?

"Tell me something, how did your work go?" I asked, raising my head to look at him but he was still facing the other direction, his stare remained on the thick darkness that could be seen through the window.

When I saw Kaden was not responding, I decided to speak again, "So, now You will not talk to me?" I asked, "You have decided to ignore me?"

Apparently, my question seemed to get his attention and he heaved out a sigh before he looked at me, "No. I am not ignoring you, love," He cupped my face in his hands, "How can someone ever ignore this beautiful face with these adorable little freckles?" He leaned in placing a kiss on my cheek, then the other one.

The touch of his lips was so soft as if he was sealing my cracks and mending them.

The tingles shot through like always, the pain in my muscles got neglected in the waves of sparks that took over. He kissed my eyelids, letting his lips press against them ever so lightly before he move to kiss on the top of my nose and finally let them press against mine.

The foreign feeling surged within me in less than a second, his soft lips against mine seemed to soothe all the pain in my body. The feeling just as the authors stated in books, kissing my pain away.

He didn't invade his tongue inside of my mouth or take it further, he slowly withdrew his lips after a few moments. His forehead lightly pressed against mine and my hands that'd moved to rest on his chest in the meantime felt his heartbeats getting calmed and paced just like before.

"You must be tired, Angel," He spoke, leaning in to place a chaste kiss on my lips, "Let's sleep."

As he was about to pull me in his arms, I suddenly noticed he was still in the same clothes he had left wearing in the morning. They looked tight and I was sure they were uncomfortable.

"Wait, you are still in the same clothes," I spoke, "They look uncomfortable."

As if my sentence had finally brought his attention that hadn't fallen on his clothes the whole time, his mouth formed an ' o' in recognition.

"You are right," He said, "I'll change in a second and come back," I saw him disappearing into the closet and come out wearing only trousers. 

The sight of his figure made the unwanted blush crawl up my cheeks, I didn't know why but the more I started understanding my feelings and the intimacy between a man and a woman these involuntary reactions turned more often.

It was as if I was growing into a new person, someone who knows the feeling of a woman, the desires, the gestures of affection, and the meaning of love. These few days with Kaden had made me learn a lot of things I had never thought I would get to know.

This was not only surprising but also the feeling of a new start I was looking forward to. Away from the demons and the dark, with someone, I could trust and in the arms of the person, I felt safe.

"What are you thinking?" Kaden must have noticed my absent-mind gaze when he had walked Into the bedroom.

I saw him getting up on the bed and settling beside me.

"Nothing special," I spoke and laid down beside him, he also shifted from his half-sitting position and fully laid down on his back.

"Tell me if you feel uncomfortable or any discomfort because of the injuries," He spoke as he pulled me in his arms, guiding me towards his chest so that as always my head would be right over on his left close to his heart.

I ignored the slight stinging feeling that was still in my arms and draped my hand over his torso, the warmth of his skin made my body relax.

His hand lightly stroked my hair, occasionally moving lower to massage my scalp. I emitted the small sigh, the peace permeating within my nerves.

"Kaden?" I asked after a few moments that passed in comfortable silence.

"Yes, Angel?"

"Thanks for caring for me and being here," The smile stretched on my lips and I saw the curve of his lips turning into a smile too.

"Thanks for coming into my life," He leaned and kissed my forehead.

And then we slowly drifted off to a peaceful slumber.

I didn't know how my life was going to in the future or if I was going to have the chance for a future because of the demons who might still be looking for me but despite everything and the uncertainty that still lived somewhere within me I knew I had some memories that I could store in my heart. This night here in Kaden's arms and every moment I had spent with him, were the highlights of my life that once had nothing but darkness surrounding it.

For me, the meaning of life meant Kaden.