Chapter 102: MIKE AND ELBA 2

Elba's POV

Sitting inside the bathtub, I had just managed to wash my body and my hair. All I needed to do now was rinse the soap off my skin and the shampoo from my locks.

At first, I had no problem using the human showerhead, right up until my hair was completely clean. But the moment I raised the showerhead above my shoulders, the once-warm water instantly turned scalding hot. A sharp scream tore from my throat as the heat bit into me, and I dropped the showerhead straight into the tub.

I stared down at my left arm as my skin turned a very painful, angry shade of red. I must have hit the wrong button by mistake while adjusting the handle, spraying the blistering water directly onto my flesh. It took the water burning my skin for me to realize what I had done.

“What was I fucking thinking?” I muttered to myself, groaning out in pure pain.

Before I could even reach out to activate my powers and heal the burn, the bathroom door was suddenly pushed open. In a flash of panic, I wove my long hair around my exposed body just as Mike's gaze locked onto mine.

“Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to barge in on you,” he gasped, instantly spinning around to face the wall, keeping his back firmly turned to me.

“It's okay, you can turn around. There's no need for that,” I said softly. Even in my pain, he had somehow managed to capture my full attention again.

When he finally turned back to face me, his eyes immediately fell upon my arm. Only then did the throbbing ache on my skin register fully.

He quickly walked over to the tub, gently lifting my injured arm to examine it.

“That looks pretty bad, but a little bit of cold water and some ointment should do the trick,” he murmured. All the while, my gaze was fixed entirely on him. I just couldn't look away.

The tenderness with which he held my arm and the genuine look of concern in his eyes made me hesitate. I held back from healing the injury myself. Just a few minutes more, I told myself, secretly basking in the warmth of his care. When his gaze finally lifted from my arm to meet mine, I think I completely forgot how to breathe.

“Okay, I'm going to give you some space so you can get out of the water, okay?”

I simply nodded. He took the showerhead, taking his time to carefully adjust the knobs until the water was right, spraying it over his own arm to confirm the temperature before handing it to me. I took it from his hand and muttered a quiet thank you before he stepped out.

I stared at my arm, the pain still lingering. It wasn't that I couldn't make it disappear in an instant, but I loved the care I was receiving from him. I had never had anyone show so much pure concern toward me before.

After washing the remaining soap out of my hair and off my body, I pulled on the plush bathrobe. I did my best to dry my hair with the towel before finally stepping out of the bathroom.

I found him in the kitchen, where he seemed to have something simmering on the stove. It was only then I noticed he had changed out of his rigid work clothes into loose pants and a simple T-shirt. He wore a cloth apron over them, which somehow made him look even more irresistible.

What is wrong with me? I scolded myself. I am not supposed to be having these thoughts. I was scheduled to leave before dawn, yet here I was, completely fantasizing over a human man I had met only hours ago.

“You're out,” he said the moment he spotted me. Taking off his apron, he walked over and motioned for me to sit on the sofa. He gently pulled the sleeve of the bathrobe away from my injured arm and began applying a cool, soothing medicine to the burn.

Looking at him, I realized it was time to stop this madness and wake up.

I gently pulled my arm out of his grip, creating a little distance between us. His questioning gaze soon met mine.

“Does it hurt? Are you okay?” he asked, concern etching his brow.

I shook my head. Then, holding my own hand, I let my healing light wash over the injury. I watched as his eyes widened in sheer shock when the vivid redness completely vanished beneath my touch.

“Sorry I wasted your time,” I muttered, as his expression shifted from shock to utter confusion.

“Why didn't you just heal yourself up until now?” he asked, moving to sit closer to me on the couch.

“Well, for starters... you were worried about me, and I liked it,” I replied sincerely, forcing a small, vulnerable smile. “I don't remember ever having anyone worry about me like that.” I drew my legs up, hugging my knees tight against my chest.

“But you do have people who worry about you,” he said softly, his voice full of an earnest warmth. “There's Alda, Xender... and me.”

His words comforted me so deeply that it brought a sudden rush of tears to my eyes, though I stubbornly refused to let them fall.

“Your hair is still wet,” he noted, staring at the damp strands. He stood up, went to the kitchen, and came back a moment later, stretching his hand out toward me. “Come with me. Let's get your hair dried up.”

I followed him into the bedroom, where he motioned for me to sit on the edge of the mattress. He pulled out a strange mechanical device that somehow blew out a steady stream of hot air.

“What's this called?” I asked curiously, tilting my head.

“A hair dryer,” he said with a warm smile and a slight shrug before he began moving it gently through my hair. Over the next few minutes, he meticulously dried every strand.

Once he set the machine down, he went over to his wardrobe and returned with a folded set of clothes.

“You can wear this, then come out and have something to eat before you go to bed. I made you some soup.”

I nodded, taking the fabric from him. “Thank you.”

“I'll be in the bathroom. I need to freshen up myself,” he said, heading out.

After the door closed, I let out a heavy, emotional sigh. What a wonderful man. He possessed this effortless ability to make a person feel special for no reason at all. And once again, it seemed I was destined to lose another good thing in my life.

Putting on the oversized pants and T-shirt—which nearly swallowed me whole—I made my way to the dining table in the kitchen, sitting down to enjoy yet another mouth-watering human meal.

Mike’s POV

She was all I could think about, especially the profound, sudden sadness that seemed to cloud her beautiful eyes.

I deliberately stayed in the bathroom longer than usual, wanting to give her some space to eat and unwind. When I finally came out, fully dressed and refreshed, I was surprised to find the dining table empty. Walking into the kitchen, I realized she had already done the dishes. I couldn't help but giggle softly to myself. An elven goddess who actually knows how to wash dishes.

Turning toward the living room, I saw her curled up tightly on the sofa, fast asleep. A tender smile tugged at my lips. I thought I had explicitly told her to sleep in the bed, yet here she was.

I stepped quietly over to the couch, intending to lift her up and carry her to the bedroom, but I found myself completely lost in her presence again. Without even realizing what I was doing, I reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face before lightly tracing the back of my hand against her cheek.

Perhaps I wasn't as gentle as I thought, because her eyelids fluttered, and her blue eyes immediately opened to meet mine.

But they weren't the fierce eyes of a goddess. They were filled with unshed tears and a deep, agonizing pain that I didn't quite understand.

“Elba? What's...?”

Before I could even finish the question, she caught me entirely off guard. She lunged forward, throwing her arms tightly around my waist and burying her face directly into my chest.

Not a single sob escaped her lips, but I felt the sudden, burning warmth of her tears soaking straight through my shirt.

Slowly, I wrapped my arms securely around her, overwhelmed by the intense need to protect and comfort her. I gently combed my fingers through her long hair, holding her tight in the only way I knew how. In that quiet room, it truly felt as though her heartbreak had become my own.