Care

Isabelle.

It had been a few days since I'm living with Kaden and his family. Apart from Kaden, I'd gotten close to Cassandra. Jason and Carter were also friendly but they remained busy with their work most of the time.

Cassandra had given me a few books, I could read them quite nicely-- Even though I had remained locked in one single room for most of my life and my vocabulary was limited, with Cassandra's help I was getting to learn new words. The maids in the previous castle were helpful towards and that is the reason why I could learn to read.

Currently, I was reading a novel, and from what Cassandra had told me--It was a romance novel. I still was new learning about it, but all I knew about was that a hug and a kiss on the forehead were a sign of intimacy. I couldn't understand much, but in the books, it stated that sensing that bubbling feeling in the abdomen and the warmth in the chest was something related to a close connection between two people. A bond.

As I put the book down on the nightstand and leaned the headboard of the bed, a few minutes passed before there was a knock at the door. As I told the person behind the door to come in, I saw Kaden walking inside.

He smiled as his eyes fell on me, I could find the same happiness fluttering inside me just as I'd read in the books.

"Kaden..." His name fell off my lips automatically.

"How's your health, sweetheart?" He walked over and sat beside me.

"Better," I flashed him a small smile.

"Does your feet hurt anymore?" He glanced at my feet, his hand rested around my waist as he pulled me on his lap.

"No, it doesn't." I lightly shook my and rested my head against his chest.

"That's good," He nuzzled my hair, I heard him quietly inhaling as he did so, and absent kindly I found myself burying my face in the crook of his neck and rubbing my nose there. His body froze at my movement but I didn't bother to pay attention to it instead I let myself snuggle more into his warmth.

His hands helped me get closer to his body indeed. I loved being close to him, his embrace felt safe and comforting. There was a tingling feeling every time he touched me or pulled me closer and I didn't know the reason behind it.

"Kaden?" I spoke after a few minutes.

"Yes, Angel?" His response came almost immediately.

I looked up at him and blurted out my question, "Why does my skin tingle every time I'm close to you?"

Kaden's brows rose in surprise as if he hadn't expected me to ask such a question. But for some reason, I didn't feel any reluctance after watching his surprised expression--It only made me more curious.

He cleared his throat before he spoke, "Do you feel uncomfortable because of it?"

"No," I spoke, "I like the feeling."

I could see the tug at the corner of his lips as the smile stretched upon them. 

"You feel that because you are close to me, you and I have a bond." He informed and kissed my forehead.

"A romantic connection?" As the words left my mouth, I could the surprise that was already there in his eyes increasing more than ever. He looked speechless and I wasn't aware of the reason.

"How did you learn about it?" He asked, almost looking astonished.

"From the books," I admitted, "Lately I have been reading a lot of books."

"Oh!" He fell silent for a few moments.

I still looked at him waiting for his confirmation or whatever answer I needed, I understood Kaden knew more things than me and he had knowledge about many things so the most reliable person to me at this moment was him.

"Yeah it's a romantic connection," He finally spoke, I could notice the glimmer in his eyes as he uttered the sentence. Something about that glimmer unbelievably fascinated me.

I didn't say anything else and got back to my prior position with my head against his chest but this time letting my fingers draw small patterns on his black shirt--He wore black a lot, it was probably his favorite color.

Kaden's hand moved to the back of my neck where he pushed my hair to the side, exposing the bare skin on my back due to the half-cut back of the dress. The pad of his finger gently skimmed down to my back causing goosebumps to surge on my skin.

"So soft," A thoughtful smile spread on his lips.

His fingers moved back now lightly tracing the area behind my ear and leading towards my exposed back again, I visibly shivered under his touch and my hands automatically gripped his shirt.

"You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, Isabelle," He spoke leaning closer to my ear, the warmth of his breath melted my core.

I didn't know what to say, I stayed still in his arms. My body began craving more closeness even though I was close enough, the urge of something else was wrong but I couldn't identify it.

We both fell into silence. I remained silent with my head nestled under his jaw and he kept his gentle hold on me not even loosening for a mere second.

"Isabelle?" He spoke.

"Yes, Kaden?" I raised my head to look at him.

"Actually, I'm going to be out for work today and might return tomorrow evening and if late tomorrow night," He began, he too didn't look pleased with the announcement, "If you need anything, Cassandra will be here and if you feel bored you ask her or Jason and Carter if you feel to go for work but don't go anywhere alone. Okay?"

His announcement caused the smile on my face to fade away.

What if he was going away from me? The thought itself shook my soul. My whole life I had only seen everything getting snatched from me, having nothing to do and only staying locked in a room smaller than a cage.

Watching the monsters killing my family and taking me into the never-ending darkness. After all these years this was the first time I had ever seen the light, in Kaden, with Kaden. I didn't want to lose him too.

"You are going to come back? Right?" My lip quivered as I bit my bottom lip and tried to stop the tears that threatened to fall.

His expression replaced with concern as he noticed my tear-filled eyes. He quickly sat straight from his leaning position against the headboard and gently cupped my face, "Why are you crying, my love? Why did you as such a question?"

"I feel like you are going away from me," The tears rolled down my cheeks and I saw his expression softening.

"No, my angel," He shook his head and pulled me closer, my head got buried in his neck again but this time my arms moved to hug him, tightly as if he would disappear if I let him go.

"I'll never leave you," He spoke, "Don't cry, please." He lightly rubbed my back.

"You are not lying to me? Are you?" I hiccuped and he moved my face to make me look at him.

"I'm not lying, I will never leave you alone," He began, wiping my tears with his right hand," It's just that I got some important work to do, some people need our help and that's why I need to go there otherwise I wouldn't go there."

His words eased my thoughts and my restlessness started slowly fading into nothingness.

I nodded slowly and loosened my hold on him before I looked at him, "Take care of yourself, and if possible come sooner," I smiled softly and cupped his face, and gently pressed my lips on his forehead.

His body stilled at my movement, and I saw the hair in his arms standing up upon contact. Without thinking further, I moved lower and pressed a kiss on his cheek then the other one.

"I'll miss you," I rubbed the pad of my thumbs over the skin below his cheekbones. The light stubble prickled under my skin causing a strange feeling to wash over me.

"I'll miss you too, and I promise I'll come back soon as possible." A smile spread on his face and he pulled me for a long hug that would supposedly leave its warmth till he came back.