010: New Home

Heather's POV

I remained still, mouth agape, and completely unsure of how to react to what I had just heard. Was Alexander playing games with me, or did he really mean the words that had just left his mouth? Has his father really done such a thing? And who on earth was this cousin of his?

"I don't want you to worry about any of this, it's nothing to me anymore, so don't let it bother you." Alexander added, but at that moment it was clear that he was trying to convince himself that nothing serious had happened. But this was definitely something to be worried about, and a lot more than he was treating it. Sure, he mentioned not believing everything his father had said, but exactly didn't mean that those words were lies. And if by chance they weren't, that meant that Alexander now had people who might be after his life.

"Are you going to tell the police about this?" I inquired in a shaky voice, one that Alexander couldn't have missed because he soon wheeled closer to hold my hand. Gently he squeezed them before reassuring me with a warm smile.

"I'm going to be fine, okay? You don't need to worry about anything." He said in a tone barely over a whisper. Just like me, he was probably a bit scared, but unlike me he didn't make that known.

I kept my gaze on his, unsure if I should be reassured or even more scared that he was taking this seriously. Perhaps I was being worried for nothing, I had no idea how their family operated, I had been here for just a couple weeks and Alexander probably knew better. If he was not worried, then maybe I shouldn't be so worried either.

With a faint smile, I nodded to his words before leaning closer to give him a hug. For a moment, Alexander's grip on my hand loosened and he seemed to freeze momentarily. I didn't blame him, this was the closest we've ever been to each other, and he clearly hadn't expected me to hug him.

Realizing that I might have crossed a line, I made to pull away from the one sided embrace, but Alexander's hands held me in place.

"Don't let go." He whispered in my ear, his warm breath caressing my skin gently.

His whisper sent a soft shiver through me, and I froze, unsure of what to do next. I hadn't expected this tenderness from him, and never thought he would even reciprocate my emotions when I went in for the hug.

"Okay," I whispered back nervously, my voice barely audible. I leaned closer, close enough to feel his heartbeat beneath my cheek where it rested against his chest. Slowly, his hand slid up to my back, his touch hesitant but gentle. In response to his touch, I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. This was the most intimate I'd ever been with anyone, and I had no idea of what to expect from now onwards.

"Heather," Alexander whispered softly, breaking the silence that made the tension almost unbearable. I felt his grip on me loosen a bit, giving me enough space to pull away and find his face. Unlike before, there was no rage in his eyes, just raw emotions that I had no idea if I could handle.

"Y..yes?" I replied, my voice shaky, while my knees threatened to give in to the tension in the room. It was killing me, but I couldn't say the same for Alexander. Unlike me, he was likely experienced in this field. He had been an infamous playboy before his accident, always gracing the front pages of magazines and newspapers with different girls every week.

Reaching for my face, he brushed away a stray strand of hair before slowly caressing my cheeks.

"How do I repay you for what you've done for me? If it weren't for you, I'd probably never be able to use my legs again." Alexander said as his hands continued to progress from my cheeks to my lips. With his thumb, he caressed my bottom lips in the most gentle and seductive manner ever.

I felt my body tense up at his touch, my heartbeat steadily climbing with each stroke of his thumb across my lips.

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening as I struggled to breath properly. "You're my h..husband...I only did what any good wife would for their spouse."

I watched as Alexander's eyes gently lit up with a mix of gratitude and something deeper, something that made my breath catch. Before I could say another word, he pulled me closer and pressed his lips against mine.

The kiss was slow, tentative at first, as though he was testing the waters. But as I responded, as I leaned into him and let myself get lost in the moment, it deepened. His lips were warm and soft, and the way he held me—like I was the most important thing in the world—made my heart race.

It felt surreal, like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from. For so long, I had wondered if we would ever get to this point, if he would ever let me in. And now, being in his arms, his lips against mine, it felt almost unbelievable.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless, Alexander rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

"Heather," he whispered, his voice thick with raw emotion. "Thank you for everything."

"Thank you too.." I replied with tears in my eyes. My emotions were all over the place, and it was becoming more difficult to control them as the seconds passed. This was the first time I'd felt loved in a long time, and I had missed being stared at with genuine love in my eyes. I had missed it, and I prayed that those emotions would never leave his eyes.