A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 21 “Here you go,” 

Kieran said, showing me to a door. “You’ll be staying in here. All your luggage should be inside already.” I snapped myself out of my thoughts to give a smile. “Thank you. I really do appreciate it.” “And if you need anything, I’m just across the hall in the room over there.” There was a door where he pointed, and I promptly nodded.

…And then… silence. Not quite awkward but not entirely natural either, but it spread between us nevertheless.

“Um… well, I guess I’ll get some rest—.” “I’m really sorry,” he said quickly. Almost as though he’d been holding onto it. “Today could have gone a lot smoother and I think I may have overwhelmed you a little.”

I stared at him, a little shocked that he was the one apologising to me rather than the reverse.

“What? No, no, I’m fine,” I said. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I honestly am thankful just to be here.”

“Well, just with the whole thing with Daniel being a bit aggressive… and then Allison maybe coming off a little strong. I wish that you’d had a better start here.” “Oh… no, they’re fine. Really, it’s my fault for showing up last minute.”

I was trying to brush off the topic, but the Allison situation was apparently bothering him. A crease formed between his brows as he seemed almost conflicted.

When he did finally start to speak again, his tone was far more serious.

“I could tell that she made you uncomfortable, but I hope that you’ll give her a chance. She is a really nice girl when you get to know her. I’m not sure if you noticed but there aren’t many other girls around here. I think she just got a little excited and forgot about personal space.” I was starting to feel even worse about my reaction to her, a pang of guilt slowly chewing me up inside. “Of course,” I said. “She was lovely. I’m looking forward to spending time with her.” But then he searched my face and my heart quickly sank, knowing that he was probably able to read ine. Just like he always could. I’d never hated that ability of his more than I did right then. And the worst part was that I didn’t even know why I felt that way about her. There shouldn’t even be a need to have this conversation right now.

“…She means a lot to me,” he finally said quietly. “After my mother died, she took it the worst of all of us. Wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t sleep… just a little kid, walking around everywhere in a daze. For a while, we were worried we’d lose her as well.” He paused for a moment before taking a deep breath, looking away. “It was years before she finally came back and it wasn’t without a lot of work. She found solace by connecting with her faith, which I was happy about, but she still relies on me heavily.”

I felt so guilty that I could have thrown up. Hearing all of this was so incredibly heartbreaking.

But the way he was venting… I could tell this was something that had been weighing on him for a while. I wasn’t entirely sure if he was telling me about her for my sake, or if he just felt the need to finally talk to someone about it.

Perhaps I was the first person he felt could truly understand, given my personal history with grief.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is… I hope that you’ll warm up to her,” he said. “Which is probably not my place to ask, especially considering everything you’re probably going through right now. Hell, it’s actually pretty selfish-.” “Hey,” I said, grabbing his head gently in my hands. It was enough for him to stop and meet my eyes. “You don’t have anything to worry about. Your sister was nothing but sweet. I’m just … tired from a long day.”

It was probably a once-off anyway. Just a bad reaction or flare from the drugs. The next time we met, I was sure things would be better.

if they weren’t, then I’d just make it work. Somehow.

me to come here. To help me get better and learn more about myself. The least I could do was

an issue. The girl hadn’t done anything wrong. She just…

He seemed to quickly relax under my touch and I took a second to study his features, momentarily absorbed by

contact.

before. He was caring, understanding…gentle. He was everything that I felt I wasn’t… and it made me

arcing upwards as my body moved on its own. My craving for him now turning

his gaz was changing focus,

finally… his lips

sparks into flames, a sensation I’d found myself withdrawing from the last few days, missing it

kiss, my mouth starting to move against his hungrily. Needing more… Needing to

his shirt, I wanted nothing more than to find the liem

the moved before

his fingers

splied as his mouth moved

my leg from behind my thigh. Squeezing it once before lifting it up against him. But I needed to be higher than this to wrap myself around him properly, something that we both must have realised. Only, as he went to lift me, it

Footsteps.

we instantly broke

“Apologies.” And Kieran immediately let me go, taking a step back. She definitely wasn’t the only one embarrassed though. Whatever she was feeling,

somehow sounded completely neutral as he spoke to her. However, unlike Kieran’s demeanour, she

I came to ask if you or Miss Reid required any food brought

my head. Up until a minute ago, I’d only been hungry for one thing… and it wasn’t

he called

word. Truthfully, I

with it now just the two of us again, Kieran looked back over to me and a

me still wanted to continue from where we’d left off. To invite him into the room with me and ask to spend the night together. I had the feeling that, whatever this thing

sense of

that you were tired… I should really let you get some