Chapter 31 A kiss that binds the body and soul
Dona froze in complete shock. Her breath was caught somewhere between her chest and her throat as Miguel’s lips pressed against hers. His kiss was firm, warm, and shockingly sure of itself.
For a second, her mind went blank completely. She didn’t understand what was happening. She didn’t have time to understand, she barely even had the time to react.
He leaned in even more, his hand was wrapped around her arm, pulling her close enough that she could feel the heat of his body through her clothes. His other hand found the side of her waist as if it belonged there and the kiss deepened.
That was when the shock on Dona's face faded, replaced by a surge of electricity rushing through her veins.
It wasn’t magic, it wasn’t witchcraft, it was something else entirely. Something that felt right, like it was always meant to happen. Something she never expected to feel.
Her hands which were originally stiff at her sides, slowly moved up until they rested on his chest. She didn’t pull him closer, but she didn’t push him away either. Her heart was beating violently, as if her ribcage wasn’t enough to hold it in place anymore.
But the moment didn’t last as her eyes flung open in realization.
'what the hell? What are you doing Dona'?
She thought to herself and with a sudden gasp, she broke away from the kiss, stumbling two steps back as if she had just touched fire.
“Miguel…”
She whispered, her voice trembling, as she looked at him with nothing but shock and confusion written on her face.
He stared at her, breathing hard, his chest rising and falling like he had run all the way from the training hall to the garden. His eyes were darker than usual, clouded with something she couldn’t name.
Desire? Anger? Confusion? Or… lust?
She didn’t know.
She didn’t have the courage to ask.
“Why…”
Dona swallowed hard, her voice barely a breath as she tried to muster up courage to ask.
“Why did you do that”?
Her cheeks were burning, her hands were trembling. She wished she hadn’t looked at him. She wished he wasn’t staring at her like that, like she was something he had been trying to resist for a very long time. She wished he didn't pull her back and just let her go. She wished she wasn't tied up in so much confusion as her mind and heart played a tug of war on what this man truly wanted with her.
Miguel raked a hand through his hair, looking like he was fighting himself.
“I don’t know”.
He said finally and Dona felt like a huge stone was tied on her leg and she was thrown into the ocean to drown.
“I’ve been trying to ignore it. All day, yesterday, the day before that, ever since you walked into the mansion, I…”
He shook his head as if he hated admitting it.
“You’ve been driving me insane”.
Dona’s eyes widened, her heart skipped a beat and then tripped over itself. She was looking at him as her heart kept beating up and down in a rush.
“You’re… joking”.
She laughed nervously.
“You don’t even like me, you… you said you didn't want to be friends”.
She said.
Miguel stared at her like she had just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.
“How could I possibly be friends with you when I can't stop thinking about you? When I can't stop thinking about the things I want to do to you”?
He asked and moved a bit closer but she moved backwards.
“I don’t like you”?
He asked, looking at her seriously but with a much more gentle gaze.
“Dona, I can’t even look at anyone else when you walk into a room”.
She nearly stopped breathing. When they walked into the training room earlier, she thought he had his focus on Hazel but it turns out she was wrong.
He took a step closer and this time around, she couldn't bring herself to move at all but he stopped immediately when he noticed how nervous and confused she looked. His jaw tightened and he spoke with his head down.
“I’m not going to force anything”.
He said quietly before raising his head to look at her.
“But I’m not going to lie either. I’ve been trying to stay away from you. For your sake, for mine. I thought I couldn't possibly love anyone this much. I thought my head was playing games with me. But today…”
His eyes flicked to her lips.
“…I lost control”.
Dona’s knees almost gave out.
She didn’t trust her voice, so she didn’t respond. She just stood there, feeling her heartbeat in her fingertips.
The silence stretched between them like a fragile thread.
Miguel finally spoke again, letting the truth out.
“Dona”.
He called so calmly she felt shivers all over her body.
“You're my mate”.
Dona looked at him with her eyes opened wide.
'is that why it all feels so right'?
She thought to herself but immediately shook her head. Miguel got the wrong idea from her reaction and immediately apologized.
“I’m sorry”.
He said, and though the words were simple, they sounded like something pulled straight out of him with a knife.
“I shouldn’t have done that without asking, and I shouldn't have dropped that on you like that”.
She shook her head frantically.
“No no, it’s not… I mean…”
Her face felt like it was on fire.
“I just… wasn’t expecting it”.
His eyes softened.
“I know, and I'm not asking you to accept me immediately, take your time”.
He said and she looked into his eyes for a few seconds before nodding.
They stood there in the quiet garden, both pretending they weren’t replaying that kiss in their minds.
Dona finally clenched her fists and forced herself to breathe normally.
“I… I should go”.
She whispered and Miguel nodded.
But when she turned to leave, he called out softly.
“Dona”.
She froze but didn't turn.
“Just… don’t avoid me, please”.
She didn’t look at him, she suddenly didn’t trust herself to.
She simply nodded before walking away, nearly tripping over a patch of grass in her haste.
Miguel watched her go, his jaw clenched so tightly he thought it might crack.
'Is this right'?
He thought to himself.
He didn’t know if he regretted it, he didn’t know if he wanted to do it again. All he knew was that everything had just changed and the only woman he could think of right now was Dona.