A Gift from the Goddess novel Chapter 129

*knock* *knock*

C’mon… please…

*knock* *knock* *knock*

Please open the door…

*knock* *knock* *knock*

Kieran…

*knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *kno—.

I was beginning to panic, thinking that I’d left it too late but then, finally, the door opened.

“Raven,” Kieran said, almost in disbelief. “You actually came. You’re—.”

But I didn’t wait for him to finish.

Without missing a beat, I instantly moved forward and threw my arms around his waist.

His scent was mixed in with soap and water, clearly having interrupted him from a shower. But it was the best thing I had ever smelt. Already, I could feel my body start to relax from the warmth coming off of him. Something much needed to help calm the adrenaline pumping through me.

Hesitantly, his arms then moved to encircle me, reciprocating the hug. Almost as if he was still in shock I’d arrived.

“I was starting to think that you weren’t going to change your mind,” he said. “I’ve been putting off leaving for a few hours now, stubbornly in denial.”

“I’m glad you were stubborn… Thank you for waiting.”

He pulled away slightly so he could look at my face, bringing a hand to touch my cheek.

“How though? Are you in danger or…?”

But I quickly shook my head. “I’m fine… I just don’t want to talk about it, if that’s okay.”

It wasn’t that I wanted to hide it from Kieran… I just wasn’t sure what to say yet. I didn’t entirely know myself what I was doing. Was I truly escaping? Or was I just merely playing along with what my father wanted? It felt like I was hedging my bets rather than actually making a decision. Waiting to see how things would turn out first.

Kieran held my gaze for a few seconds, obviously trying to tell if I was lying about being fine, but finally he nodded.

“Okay… I’ll grab my things and we can go.”

I sat on the couch as I waited for him to get his luggage together, happily watching him move about. Every now and then he would look over at me, almost as if he were expecting me to not be there, and I would give him a small wave in reassurance.

By the time he was done, all I could feel was intense nervousness fluttering inside. We took all our bags outside to his car and, once everything was loaded up, he then turned to me, politely holding open the passenger seat door.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked. “There will be a lot to learn.”

But I’d never been so sure in my entire life.

I walked right up and smiled at him, now buzzing with anticipation.

“I’m glad to have such a great teacher then.”

Only, as I expected him to return the expression, instead he seemed almost taken aback.

“What is it?” I asked, thinking something was wrong.

He looked almost in a daze, but my voice seemed to pull him out of it.

“Nothing, nothing,” he quickly replied, but he then brought his hand up to my face and brushed his thumb gently against my lips. “It’s just… that’s the first time you’ve done that.”

Immediately, I felt myself succumbing once more to those sparks. That feeling of being captivated by the way he spoke… the way he felt… the way he touched me.

“Done what…?” I managed to ask quietly, though I couldn’t help but notice how he had moved in closer.

“…Smiled at me. That’s the first time that you’ve genuinely smiled at me.”

I started to become flustered, feeling a little guilty for faking during our first meeting. But he continued before I could get an apology out.

…And it was something that made me forget whatever was in my head.

“It’s so beautiful,” he whispered, his eyes focused on my lips.

*Thump*

My cheeks started to burn and I quickly turned my head to the side, feeling embarrassed.

How did he do that to me so easily? I could have melted into a puddle from just the way he looked at me alone… and yet his words were making me want to evaporate entirely. I was experienced in persuading men to fall for me, that had been something I’d picked up quickly in my job, but that experience did little to defend myself against every little thing Kieran did.

He had me completely under a spell… one that I was finding impossible to deny.

Carefully, his hand then moved my face, coercing me to look at him once more, and my gaze locked with his. He looked like he was going to kiss me… and I really hoped that he did.

I could still remember it from the other day, how perfect it had felt. But, due to circumstances at that time, it had been cut far too short. Now, with little else standing in the way, I allowed myself to wonder what more than a kiss felt like.

Wonder… what his skin would feel like as it moved against mine… what his—.