Chapter 98: Chocolate Brownie
Rosalie:
Consciousness returned slowly, accompanied by a dull throbbing in my temples that made me wince before I had even opened my eyes. My eyelids felt strangely heavy as I blinked against the dim light filling the room.
For several long seconds, I simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, my mind refusing to catch up with reality. Then my gaze shifted across the room, taking in the large bookshelf by the wall, the elegant wooden desk near the window, and the familiar blue curtains fluttering gently in the breeze. Recognition dawned almost immediately. This wasn’t my bedroom. This was Eiden’s bedroom.
The memories rushed back all at once, making my cheeks warm. The training... the unbearable heat that had suddenly spread through my body... Eiden carrying me through the forest... the syringe... and then... fragments. They were blurry, almost dreamlike, but they were enough to make my heart skip several beats.
I remembered speaking things I couldn’t fully recall, remembered Eiden’s face close to mine, remembered him holding my hands... and for some reason, the vague memory of him telling me something so important that even now, my heart reacted to the memory alone.
I slowly sat up, pressing a hand against my forehead while trying to gather my scattered thoughts. The room was quiet. Too quiet. I glanced toward the bedside table where a glass of water and a bottle of medicine had been left for me, both untouched. The clock wasn’t there, so I walked toward the large window instead.
Pulling the curtain aside, I frowned. Thick, dark clouds covered the entire sky, making it impossible to judge the time by sunlight alone. The world outside looked dim and peaceful, the forest swaying gently beneath the approaching storm. Judging by the brightness, it was still daytime... but beyond that, I had no idea. Had I slept for an hour? Several hours? An entire day?
The uncertainty made me instinctively think of the bookstore. Had Grandma Maggie opened the shop? Had someone informed her? A dozen anxious thoughts tried to take over before I reminded myself that Eiden wouldn’t have left things unattended if he believed I needed rest.
Taking a steadying breath, I slipped out of the room and quietly stepped into the hallway. The house was silent as usual. I peeked into Eiden’s study first, but the room was empty except for neatly stacked files covering the desk. That somehow made me smile. Of course he had been working while I slept.
Slowly making my way downstairs, I followed the faint aroma of herbs, baked bread, and something sweet until I reached the kitchen entrance.
There he was. Standing with his back to me, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, long silver hair loosely tied behind him, calmly stirring something on the stove while another dish baked in the oven.
The peaceful domestic sight rooted me to the spot. My heart began beating faster, not from embarrassment this time, but from something much softer... something warmer. For a long moment I simply stood there watching him, wondering how someone who looked so breathtaking could also make an ordinary kitchen feel like the safest place in the world.
Without turning around, he spoke.
"You are awake." His voice carried its usual gentle warmth. "I was beginning to wonder if you would sleep through lunch."
I blinked.
"You..." I began.
He smiled to himself. "I heard your footsteps halfway down the stairs." Then, finally turning his head just enough for me to see the corner of his smile, he added, "Come sit. Lunch will be ready in a few minutes."
Only then did I realize just how hungry I was.
Yet, instead of moving toward the dining table, my feet carried me somewhere else. Before my mind had the chance to interfere, I crossed the kitchen in hurried steps and wrapped both my arms around his waist from behind. The moment my fingers locked together against his stomach, he froze completely.
I closed my eyes.
Resting my forehead gently between his shoulder blades, I simply stood there, allowing myself - for the first time - to stop questioning every emotion my heart insisted on feeling. I didn’t think about mate bonds. I didn’t think about fear. I didn’t think about whether this was too forward or whether I would regret it later.
I simply hugged him.
Because... I wanted to.nBecause somewhere over the past months, this man had quietly become my place of comfort.
Neither of us spoke.
The only sounds filling the kitchen were the gentle bubbling from the pot on the stove and the quiet rain beginning to patter against the windows. After what felt like forever, I felt his hands gently covering mine. Then slowly and carefully, he untangled my fingers from around his waist.
For one terrifying heartbeat, I thought I had made a mistake. That perhaps I had crossed a line. But before I could step back, he turned around.
Our eyes met.
Neither of us smiled. Neither of us needed to. The look in his beautiful blue eyes said enough. Without a single word, he stepped forward and drew me into his arms.
This time, it was him hugging me. He wrapped one of his arms securely around my back while the other rested gently against the back of my head, holding me close as though I belonged exactly there. My cheek naturally settled against his chest, where I could hear the calm rhythm of his heartbeat. It was steady. Comforting. Somehow, listening to it eased the last remnants of anxiety still lingering inside me.
A soft kiss landed against the crown of my head. It lasted no longer than a heartbeat. Yet it somehow carried more tenderness than words ever could.
I smiled without realizing it.
Neither of us seemed willing to be the first to let go. Minutes quietly slipped past while the rain outside grew heavier. Then...
Beep!
The oven announced itself.
I laughed softly. "I think..." I murmured against his chest. "...your lunch is calling."
I tried to step away, but he didn’t let me. His arms remained exactly where they were for another few seconds.
I looked up at him in amusement.
"Eiden."
"Hm?"
"The oven."
"I heard it."
"It might burn."
"It won’t."
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. Only then did he finally release me. Or... so I thought. The moment I took a step, one of his hands found my waist instead. Before I realized what he intended, he effortlessly lifted me onto the wide kitchen countertop beside him.
"There," he said with quiet satisfaction. "Now you can’t wander off while I finish."
I rolled my eyes dramatically before I could stop myself. "I wasn’t planning to."
"Hm."
His expression made it very obvious he wasn’t convinced. He returned to the oven, taking out a tray that filled the kitchen with the rich scent of freshly baked chocolate.
A few moments later, he walked back carrying a warm brownie cut into neat squares. Holding one piece between his fingers, he offered it toward me. "Have a taste."
I obediently leaned forward and took a small bite. The moment the chocolate melted on my tongue, my eyes widened.
"Eiden..."
"It’s good?"
"It’s amazing."
He chuckled, clearly pleased by my reaction. "I knew you’d like it."
Still smiling, I held the remaining half in my hand. Only for him to step a little closer again. Then without saying anything, he leaned down and placed another gentle kiss against my forehead. Then another against my cheek. Before my heart could even recover, he glanced at the brownie still in my hand.
"I think..." he said thoughtfully, "...you are forgetting something."
"Hm?"
"My share."
Before I could react, he leaned forward just enough to take a bite from the other half of the brownie still between my fingers.
His smile deepened.
"Perfect."
With a playful wink that left me completely speechless, he turned back toward the stove, leaving me sitting on the countertop with a racing heart... and less than half a brownie still forgotten in my hand.
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