Valerio's Affection

Valerio's Affection
She smiled in delight, seeing the two together, happy that the two most important people of her life had been made for each other. 

And in those thoughts, she didn't realize when she dozed off against Adrian's shoulder.

Valerio chuckled when he tilted his head to watch her sleeping, using Adrian's arm as a pillow. Adrian smiled. 

"Is she okay?" He asked Valerio after confirming that she was asleep. "Finding out that she's pregnant in that manner could not have been easy." He said, referring to their conversation where Valerie had filled in both of them on what had happened in Sorin. 

Valerio sighed, "I don't think that she will fully be alright." He stated looking at her with concern, watching how innocent and stress-free she looked while she slept. He wished that she could always be this way. "Not anytime soon, at least." 

Adrian nodded, frowning softly, "I just wish that her life was a little easier than this, you know?" 

Valerio nodded his head, "yeah, I know. She doesn't deserve so much pain." He stated before raising his gaze to look at Adrian, "neither did you." He mumbled.

"Huh?" Adrian asked, not being able to hear him correctly. 

Valerio shook his head. "Nothing." He smiled before looking at the time, "are you hungry?" He asked with concern. 

Adrian was confused by the question but shook his head. "Not really, no." He said shrugging his shoulder. 

Valerio narrowed his eyes in his direction, "when did you last eat?" He asked.

Adrian looked away at that. Not wanting to reply. The truth was, he hadn't been able to keep any food down because he wasn't used to eating anything that wasn't stale bread. He had tried, before he had slept, he had tried to eat the food that Valerie had brought for him, but he ended up throwing up. 

Taking his silence as a reply, Valerio began to get off the bed, "I'm getting you some food." 

Adrian reached out to hold Valerio's wrist to stop him, without disturbing Valerie. Valerio sucked in a sharp breath at the contact but kept his face neutral as he sat back down and looked at him questioningly.

"Don't." He pleaded.

Valerio softened his gaze, "why?" He asked gently, "what's wrong? I can get the chef to cook anything that you might like, if that is the issue, I—"

"It's not that." Adrian said looking away, biting the inside of his cheek in nervousness.

Valerio unknowingly took his hand in his own, "then what is it?" He asked softly, not even realizing that he was letting his softer side out on display. "I can't have you not eating, Adrian. It's not good for your health and Valerie will kill me if I didn't help you get better." He said softly, using the sleeping brunette as an excuse to show his concern.

Adrian didn't think much of the way Valerio was holding his hand. He did, however, realize how well their hands fit together. 

"The truth is," he whispered, unable to stop himself from replying because of Valerio's piercing gaze. "I can't keep any food down. I ate last night and I tried to eat something today, but I just can't. All these years...I..." 

"It's difficult for you to eat anything more than what you were made habitual to." Valerio finished for him and Adrian looked up with glassy eyes, surprised and happy that he was being understood.

Valerio nodded his head. "Next time something like this happens, tell me about it, okay?" He asked softly.

Adrian nodded, smiling a little.

"I'll get you some fruits, we can start with small portions and build up your appetite slowly." Valerio told him, "but stop me if I become too overbearing." 

And saying that, he stood up and left after giving a gentle squeeze to his hand. 

As soon as Valerio left, Adrian found himself missing his warmth and he was once again, confused by those feelings.

Valerio returned with a plate of fruits after some time and when he entered the room, his heart warmed at the sight in front of him. 

Valerie slept with her head on Adrian's shoulder and Adrian had dozed off with his cheek on her head, after all, he too had been unable to sleep the whole previous night. 

Valerio smiled, placing the tray on the coffee table and covering it with a lid before he walked over to the window and closed the blinds. 

He then walked over to the bed and placed a soft kiss on Valerie's forehead. He just wanted her to be happy. He prayed that better things were coming her way. 

And just as he was about to walk away, he couldn't help but steal a glance of his mate's sleeping face. His heart fluttered at the sight. 

He couldn't stop himself when he bent down again and placed a tender kiss on Adrian's forehead as well.