“I just do.”
Leading him into the car while I remind him to keep his eyes shut, I drive us to the special place I want to show him. He doesn’tmiss an opportunity to inquire about our whereabouts and even finds the courage to call me a potential kidnapper, which of course makes me cackle out loud.
“Are you seriously not going to tell me?”
“Nope.” I help him out of the passenger seat and catch him when he stumbles into my arms. “You’ll see soon enough.”
We walk through a secret, quieter entry which was arranged for us after the owner caught wind that I was coming. Aoi holds out his hands in front of him while I keep his vision in the dark. My ears pick up the slight giggles spilling out of him as he waves his hands in front of him, hoping not to hit anything.
As if I’d ever allow anything to harm him.
There are only a few steps left until we finally reach our destination. The muffled sounds of voices chatting further away catch his attention and he grabs one of my biceps.
“It’s all fun and games but I’m starting to get anxious,” he says, chuckling and holding my arm like a lifebuoy. “Please tell me where we are.”
I carefully uncover his eyes and drop my arms to my sides, eyeing his reaction as he blinks to adjust to the low lighting in the room. Hues of blue reflect on his pearl-white skin and his lips part at the sight of the massive jellyfish tank.
We remain silent for what feels like an eternity while he takes in the ephemeral creatures swimming inside the aquarium. He lifts a hand and lays it flat on the glass, eyes glazing over a jellyfish drifting carelessly.
It’s only when he turns his face to me that my heart drops. I don’t wait to cup his cheek and caress the corner of his eyes as a softtear rolls down. My eyes dart over his complexion, wondering if I missed something crucial.
“What’s wrong?” I tip his head up. “Do you hate it?”
The chuckle he lets out is like a boulder being lifted off my back. “It’s like looking into a mirror.”
“A mirror?”
He nods. “But this one doesn’t hurt when I look at the hues of blue.”
I push a strand of hair behind his ear sensing my heart flip in my ribcage when he leans into the touch. “Due to my brother’s profession, I have had to meet countless people over the years. But not a single one had eyes like yours.”
“Empty?”
“Overwhelming.”
His light smile falters like decaying flowers. “Well, sorry if I overwhelm you. Can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“That’s not what I meant, my Paradise.” I hold him firmly before he can slip away. “You overflow with so much kindness, wit, and affection that it’s overwhelming because you prefer to hide it all behind this glass wall of yours. But your eyes are different.” I smile, sliding my thumb over his cheekbone. “Everything is so clear when I look into them. You’re not a cold person. There is a glimmer of hope hiding in that ocean that even you don’t know of.”
“You’re blinded by my mask,” he shoots back but I can tell he doesn’t believe his own words.
I shake my head, leaning into him until I can feel his breath against mine. “All I see isyou.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I do. I knowyou.” I inhale softly, glancing between his eyes and his lips. “I have never fallen in love with anyone but you. I doubt my heart could ever beat for someone else. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. Something stronger than me played with fate and tied your soul to mine. I believe we’re bound as one.”
He parts his lips and takes my hand in his, placing a gentle kiss on my knuckles. “A part of me believes you–the love starved one–but I know better than to listen to the devil’s whisper.”
“Even the devil recognizes true love when he seesit.”
31
Aoi
Control is slipping between my fingers like a ball of yarn unravelling over a carpet.
A flame sparks in my chest, whispering to just stop thinking so much and let it guide me toward my true desires. Clearly, that flame did not strike a deal with my reason because it is demanding I let go of my control and hand it over to the ravishing fox in front of me, and that’s something only my stupid heart would do.
