Even through my worries, I managed to smile. “How did you know?”
He shifted a little, and I moved back so I could look at him. “Because I can feel you; because I can read you. You remember me telling you that, don’t you?”
I swallowed at the intensity in his eyes. “Yes.”
“Good.” He then cupped the left side of my face and gently pulled me closer. “Nothing’s going to change, Zaira. How I feel about you won’t at all change once we leave here. If anything, it’ll only grow; it’ll deepen. Because, baby, once we leave this trailer, I’ll have a chance to make you mine – for good.”
I tried to breathe through my emotions as I wrapped my fingers around his wrist. “I still don’t understand, Gall. Why me? You keep saying it’s because you think I’m amazing and perfect, but it’s just…”
“You doubt me? You don’t trust what I say?” he asked with a neutral expression on his face.
“No, no.” I shook my head. “I believe you; I really do. It’s just that…I don’t believe in myself. I don’t feel like I am what you say I am; that I am deserving of someone like you.”
His gaze hardened. “Why would you say something like that?”
I lowered my head a little. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent years of my life listening to people say that I’m worthless, that I’m a burden to the world. It really broke my confidence in myself. It’s…it’s hard being subjected to such taunts, and somewhere on the inside, it breaks a part of you; it shatters a piece of your imagination and ambitions.
My parents are the best, and have always stood by me. But sometimes…sometimes I don’t like pressuring them with my insecurities and…thoughts, so I just keep them all in. That bundled up darkness makes me feel like I’m undeserving of privileges.” I sighed and closed my eyes.
I didn’t want Gallan to see me like this. I didn’t wanna tell him what I had, but it was so easy to open up to him that I just… I couldn’t resist.
“Hey.” He nudged my face upwards. “Look at me, Zaira.” The gentle command in his statement resulted in goosebumps to blanket my entire body.
I opened my eyes and gazed up at him.
“I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, only because I want you to know that it’s true,” he said. “You’re phenomenal; you’re amazing. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve seen, Zaira. You’re perfect – for me. You’re everything, and I pity those who don’t see it; who don’t see you the way I do. Because what I see is pretty effin fantastic, and I don’t wanna lose it.”
A tear slid down my cheek at the honesty written on his face. “Thank you,” I breathed.
He smiled. “No.” He shook his head. “Thank you for being who you are. I’m lucky to have you.”
My cheeks warmed at his words. “You know just what to say, don’t you?” I scanned his chiseled face; I let my eyes drink in his raw beauty.
He grinned. “I know how to speak the truth.”
I chuckled, and then leaned in before pressing my lips to his.
With a soft sigh, he pulled my body closer and kissed me like he wanted to devour me; like he wanted to consume me whole.
“Wait, hold on,” I managed to say between kisses.
Gallan moved back and looked questioningly at me. “What?”
“We didn’t even get to taste myaloosabjhi.” I may or may not have pouted after saying that. “And we can’t have it now, because I’m sure the damn rodent has pooped a buffet in it just to spite us.”
Gallan chuckled. “I’m sure that’s not how things work when it comes to human-and-animal feuds, but okay.”
I raised a brow. “Feud? Really?”
He chuckled again. “That damn thing is my arch nemesis, I’m telling you.”
I laughed. “I’m sure that’s not how things work in general, but okay.”
He smirked. “Aren’t you a sassy little thing…” His eyes gleamed dangerously.
I stuck my tongue out at him, which made him grin.
God, he was perfect.
