Night of Destiny Novel by Vanessa K

She let out a shriek just as Richard reached out to catch her, keeping her from hitting the earth. He pulled her against him and held her there while her arms snaked around his waist instinctively.

She was pressed up to his chest, still dazed from the fall as her heart beat frantically under her rib cage. Tired from the hike, she nuzzled into his broad and firm chest, then closed her eyes as she relished the break in the exercise.

He did not push her away but merely watched as she closed her eyes and lay there. Her cheeks were flushed, and there were beads of sweat on her forehead that sparkled under the sun. He softened at that moment and let her lean into him, holding her.

Upon sensing his relaxed stance, she smiled.

Around them, the mountain breeze whistled through the trees, and the sun was beaming down on the mountain, coating everything in its gentle, golden rays. For a moment, everything came to an idyllic standstill.

Angela could hear Richard’s strong and steady heartbeat. Inexplicably, her own heartbeat quickened as well, as if trying to match up to his.

trying to say is, if I were any

eyes, his gaze

use your bathroom and let her go

her and shield her from every harm at any given moment? If she were the one holding onto you now, would you hold

she spoke. Flustered, she looked down and broke

floundered by all the questions she threw at him. He wasn’t. sure

her one, a bitter smile curled on her lips as

answer,” he said monotonously as he let her go and turned

was at that moment that Angela was sure she was nothing more than a job and that he would have shown the same level of dedication even if she were any other girl. She was not special at

have to torture: herself and delude herself into thinking she was different, that she

the mountain. When she took the final step to dismount from the hike, Angela thought