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Chapter 18 – Cracks in the Ice
Last Updated:
2025-03-19 16:54:00
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Love's Healing Touch Chapter 19 – The Weight of the Unknown
Adrian had spent his life running—from his past, from people, from the fear of being hurt again. But now, something was changing. The walls he had so carefully built were cracking, letting warmth seep through in ways he never expected. And it was all because of her. But how long could he let himself feel this way before the fear swallowed him whole? The morning arrived with a soft golden hue spilling through the windows. The storm from the night before had passed, leaving behind the scent of wet earth and fresh grass. The sound of birds chirping filled the air, the world waking up in quiet harmony. Adrian woke up feeling... strange. For the first time in a long time, his body didn’t feel weighed down by exhaustion or bitterness. His mind, though still tangled with thoughts, was not as loud as it usually was. He sat up in bed, rubbing a hand over his face before shifting his gaze toward the window. The view was pe
Last Updated : 2025-03-19Love's Healing Touch Chapter 20 – A Step Closer to Trust
For years, Adrian had convinced himself that solitude was the only way to survive. He had been abandoned, betrayed, and cast aside, so he built walls—thick and unyielding. But now, with her, those walls were beginning to crack. And that terrified him. Because if he let himself trust again… what if it all came crashing down? The first light of dawn spilled over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and orange. The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp earth and freshly cut hay. Adrian stood by the wooden fence, watching her as she moved through her morning routine. She was already hard at work, her small hands gathering eggs from the chicken coop. Loose strands of hair framed her face, catching in the gentle morning breeze. There was a quiet ease to her movements, a peaceful rhythm that belonged solely to her. Adrian leaned against the fence, arms crossed over his chest. It had been weeks since he had first arrived here—wounded, angry, lost. And yet
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Adrian had always thought of emotions as a weakness. He had learned the hard way that caring too much, hoping too much, only led to pain. But with her, things were different. She had crept past his walls, little by little, until he no longer knew how to push her away. And that terrified him. Because if he let himself get too close… he wasn’t sure if he would survive losing her. The air was thick with the scent of rain. Heavy clouds rolled across the sky, casting long shadows over the village. Adrian stood near the stable, watching as she carefully brushed one of the horses. “It’s going to rain soon,” he said. She glanced up, offering a small smile. “I know.” She didn’t seem concerned, but Adrian had spent enough time alone to recognize the way the wind shifted before a storm. “You should come inside before it gets worse,” he said. She laughed softly. “Are you worried about me, Adrian?” He frowned. “I just don’t want you getting caught in the rain.” She tilt
Last Updated : 2025-03-20Love's Healing Touch Chapter 22 – The Weight of a Kiss
Adrian had spent years convincing himself that he was untouchable, unreachable. That love, warmth, and comfort were luxuries meant for others, never for him. But last night… Last night, she had shattered that belief. And now, in the light of day, he didn’t know how to face it. The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the small cottage window, casting a golden glow over the room. The storm had passed, leaving the air fresh and cool. Everything was quiet, save for the distant chirping of birds greeting the new day. The world had moved on as if nothing had happened, but Adrian knew better. He shifted slightly, the warmth of the blanket wrapping around him as he opened his eyes. The familiar sight of the wooden ceiling met his gaze, but there was something different today—something that sent his heart into a slow, steady ache. Then it hit him. The kiss. His body tensed as the memory surfaced. Her soft lips, the way she had leaned into him, the way her fingers had foun
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Adrian woke before dawn, his body heavy with exhaustion, yet his mind wouldn’t let him rest. His thoughts had been a tangled mess ever since last night. Since her. Since those words that refused to leave his head."I won’t wait forever."It was a simple sentence, spoken with quiet patience rather than anger. And yet, it shook him more than anything else.She was giving him a choice.To stay.To let her in.To trust that she wouldn’t leave like everyone else had.And that terrified him.Because he didn’t know if he could.The sun had barely begun its ascent when Adrian stepped outside, the air crisp with the lingering chill of the night. He welcomed it, letting the cold sink into his skin, hoping it would drive away the storm inside him.It didn’t.He forced himself into work, focusing on meaningless tasks—fixing the broken fence, repairing the stable doors, feeding the animals. Anything to keep his hands busy. Anything to keep his mind from wandering back to her.But it was impossible
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Adrian woke to the faint scent of rain still lingering in the air. The storm had passed, but its presence remained in the damp earth, the rhythmic dripping from the eaves, and the heavy clouds that still clung to the sky. He blinked against the morning light filtering through the small window, his body tense from a restless night.He had barely slept.It wasn’t the storm that had kept him awake—it was her.The way her presence had settled in his mind, refusing to fade. The way she had spoken to him last night, soft but sure. And worst of all, the way she had reached for him, her fingers brushing his own, offering warmth without expectation.And he had let her.Adrian sat up, running a hand through his hair. The fire in the hearth had burned low, its embers glowing faintly. Across the room, she was moving about, going through her morning routine with an easy familiarity, as if nothing had changed.But he had changed.He wasn’t sure how, or even when it had happened, but something was s
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Adrian sat outside long after the sun had disappeared behind the dense forest. The wind carried the damp scent of earth and pine, and the distant hoot of an owl echoed through the trees. The storm had passed, but the cold air remained, wrapping around him like an unshakable shadow.He should go inside. The warmth of the fire, the comfort of the small cottage—it was all there, just a few steps away. But something kept him rooted to the wooden porch, his thoughts too heavy to let him move.Hearing his name from a stranger’s lips after all these years had felt like a blade pressing against an old wound. He had buried his past so deeply that he had almost convinced himself it no longer existed. But now, it was clawing its way back to the surface, threatening to pull him under.The traveler was gone, but his words lingered."You look familiar… Adrian Laurent?"Adrian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.He had left that name behind. He had le
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The first light of dawn crept through the wooden slats of the cottage, casting golden streaks across the floor. The warmth of the blankets barely clung to Adrian’s skin, but the restlessness in his mind had already won. Sleep had eluded him entirely, leaving him tangled in thoughts he wished he could escape. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wooden walls, his hands clenched into fists. His body was still, but his mind was anything but. The night before had been dangerous. Not in the way of physical threats, but something far worse—vulnerability. She had seen too much of him. And worse, he had let her. Adrian had spent years convincing himself that he didn’t need anyone. That isolation was safer. That trusting someone—letting them in—only ever led to disappointment. But she was different. She didn’t pity him. She didn’t recoil from his scars or his past. She saw him. And that terrified him. A soft rustling sound broke through his thoughts, pulling him back into th
Last Updated : 2025-03-24
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Love's Healing Touch Chapter 40 – Threads of the Familiar
The return trip to the village was in silence, not quiet, but in the peaceful way that it wrapped around you like a blanket. The thud of horse hooves on the earth road, the trill of birds out of sight flying over the cover above, and the wind's howl blowing through the leaves—everything mixed in a soothing symphony, showing the peace they both yearned for so desperately.Elara sat beside Adrian in the carriage, hands loosely locked in his. The city proper was now nothing more than a fantasied dream—the glittering corridors and aching memories enfolding them like a haze. What was left was the fleeting warmth of facing the past and clinging to the future.Adrian had spoken little since walking through the gates. He didn't need to. His silence wasn't choking, not anymore, when he'd walked in fear of being abandoned behind. His silence was more akin to thinking now. Gratitude. Healing.Elara's hold on his hand eased somewhat. "What do you think about?He stood in front of her, the corners
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 39 – A Place Between Two Worlds
Sunlight streamed through the Lancaster house velvet curtains, golden-filtered, tempering the cold beauty chill that pervaded the atmosphere. Elara awakened first, slowly opening lids as senses grappled with sheer newness—the light linen sheeting over her, the polish and lavender scent, the quiet which wasn't quite that country quiet but was so much more sophisticated.She propped herself up, shifting slowly so she would not wake Adrian. The air was warm, and the room was too clean, far too clean. There was no songbird scratching on a window sill there to be heard; no groan of old wood above. It was lovely—it was irrefutable as that—but it was not home.Other than her, Adrian shifted. His heavy lashes brushed over pale cheeks, and his eyes opening created a moment of disorientation in their depths. She touched him with a light kiss on the temple."You're safe," she whispered.His lips curled into a parched smile. "I know. But somehow it still feels as though I'm dreaming I was trying
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 38 – The Road Home
The morning air was fresh with the scent of dew and wildflowers that clung to Elara's cloak as she emerged to saddle the old mare. Adrian stood in the doorway, his gaze scanning the horizon where the ridges of the mountains blended into the road that led off far out into the village.Years since he'd been in the city. Years since he'd drawn its air, walked its crowded streets, or spoken aloud the name of his family. But now, the thought of returning didn't make his stomach turn to acid. It made his heart beat faster—but not out of fear.With resolve.Elara shifted, brushing hair from her forehead. "She's ready."Adrian descended, shaking his coat around himself. "You are?"A faint smile quivered on her lips. "Only if you are."They mounted the horse and rode together, side by side, the little cottage they'd, over years, made something more than home. It was home—a haven. Beyond them, the wood became less dense, showing wider paths, open fields, and the muffled rumble of encroaching ci
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 37 – Whispers Beneath the Willow
Morning broke in songbird trill—soft and entrancing, as if the woods themselves sang a living cradle song full of spring. Adrian slowly awakened, caught in the heat of Elara's blankets and the gentle cadence of her breathing against him. The light streamed through the lacy curtains, illuminating golden filigree on wooden walls. He didn't recall falling asleep. Only the stillness of her arms. The weight of her hand upon his heart.He rotated slowly, not wanting to disturb her. Elara was on her side, hair a matted halo around the pillow. Her face was serene, lips parted slightly, a tiny crease between her brows as though dreaming of something difficult.Adrian paused, then leaned in to smooth that crease out with his thumb. Her eyes flew wide at the touch. She blinked once, slowly, and smiled in a small, intimate manner."Morning," she whispered."Hey," he whispered. "You okay?"She nodded, stretching up like a cat. "Mmm. Just. a little sore."Adrian flushed, moving over to the window.
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 36 – Tangled in Quiet Things
The sun came up in the morning, rising quietly into the cottage, pushing softly between the curtains as a quiet guest. Its warmth brushed softly in gold upon the wood floorboards and rested upon the two forms that were curled up on the couch—Adrian's arm around Elara's shoulder, her head resting lightly upon his chest. The fire had died down by evening, but the heat between them was an unspoken promise that neither of them was yet courageous enough to voice.Adrian went first. He blinked up at the ceiling, stunned at the quiet emptiness in his chest. The familiar pull of fear, of regret, was somehow absent. All that lingered was the soft sound of Elara's breathing, and the faint scent of herbs and old books that clung to her like a second cloak.His arm locked around her a bit involuntarily, and Elara moved, her eyelashes flicking up as she looked up at him."Morning," she answered, voice still husky from sleep."Morning," he answered, his deep voice a bit gritty.They didn't budge.E
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 35 – The Unraveling
The following morning broke with a different radiance that neither Adrian nor Elara expected. The sky, washed bright by the rains of the previous days, burst into a stunning boundless expanse of pure blue. The light poured over fields and rooftops, turning raindrops left on branches into little stars. The forest sparkled like a phoenix.Elara leaned against the railing of her tiny garden, arms crossed over her chest, blowing back behind her on the wind. Adrian stood on the porch, watching as the sun fell over her hair and the rise and fall of her shoulders with each slow breath."Do you ever wonder what comes next?" he burst out suddenly, stepping off onto grass.Elara turned, eyebrows raised a little. "After what,Quiet. This place. Us."The word us fell between them, as gentle as dew. Elara waited before she said anything."I thought there was nothing after that. That this was all. All that was left. And then. now you appeared. And now I do not know. I think that is better."Adrian
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 34 – The Space Between Heartbeats
The next day dawned dark and quiet, the rain falling to a wispy mist that clung to cottage windows like a shroud. Elara was the first to awaken, waking to a squint through gray light as embers of the fire still flickered in the hearth. She strained to rise from the couch, the frayed blanket slithering down off of her shoulders, and gazed down at Adrian—out cold on the mat at her feet, his hand wedged under his head. She rose and regarded him for a very, very long time.He had slept younger. His angles softer. The peaks of his mourning, that he had worn hard, now softened themselves down to almost gentleness. Eyelashes on his cheekbones made a dark haven, and there was the rumpled tangled clump of black hair in this pillow on which his head lay last night.Elara moved quietly, not to wake him, when she moved quietly into the alcove kitchen and poured water from the kettle. The old stove creaked and spat with a patch of fire flame when Elara lit it. Raindrop and bird sang floated on bra
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 33 – A Gentle Storm
The sky was a dull grey when Adrian and Elara returned through the forest. Rain had not yet started to fall, but the wind was full of its scent—fresh, heavy, and unavoidable. There wasn't much to say on the way back. There wasn't any need for words. There was this growing sense of understanding between them, growing with every step they shared.Adrian walked a little closer now, not as guarded. His hand would occasionally brush against Elara's as they picked their way along the narrow trail between trees and roots. Every touch sent a shiver racing up her spine, but she said nothing, not wanting to break the spell of silence.It was raining by the time they reached the edge of Elara's cottage.“I’ll start a fire,” she said, pushing open the wooden door with her shoulder.Adrian hesitated for a second before stepping inside. Each time he entered this little home, it felt more like a place that belonged to him too. Not just her refuge—but theirs.Elara's pets woke up in the background, t
Love's Healing Touch Chapter 32 – The Pursuit Beneath Moonlight
The shadows wrapped around them like a cloak as Adrian and Elara fled from the narrow street of the village, hearts pounding and lungs aflame. The moon far above in the sky cast silver light upon the trees, turning every branch and leaf into something otherworldly.Adrian's grip around Elara's wrist was fierce, his body heat holding her in place as fear seemed to try and take root. Behind them, the soft footsteps echoed through the air, whoever had been following behind didn't want to be noticed but weren't novice. "Don't turn around," Adrian was barely audible. "Back away.".Elara did not need to be persuaded. She had managed to catch the danger still lingering near in the air, like threads of smoke clinging to flesh. Whoever the darkness was, it had not arrived with mercy.They ran until lungs burned on a hacking gasp of air and quivering legs buckled, until curving, twisted slate roofs of the village vanished behind trees and enfolding stillness of the forest spread out before the
