Chapter 55 55
Fernando returned home and immediately went looking for Sofía. She was nowhere in sight. His steps carried him instinctively toward her room, and there he found her lying on the bed, utterly still, like a porcelain doll lost to sleep.
She had been studying relentlessly, day and night, determined to score well in her exams. That was the very reason he’d kept his distance. He hadn’t wanted to distract her, hadn’t wanted to be another weight pulling at her concentration when she needed it most.
After making sure she was truly asleep, he left her room and retreated to his own. A long, hot shower eased the tension from his muscles. He changed into sweatpants and a plain white shirt, hunger finally making itself known he hadn’t eaten a single thing since morning.
He was on his way to the kitchen when his steps slowed in the corridor.
Muffled cries.
Whispers, broken, desperate.
They were coming from her room.
His instincts flared instantly. He turned and crossed the hallway in long strides, pushing her door open just in time to see her thrashing on the bed. Sweat dampened her skin, her body shaking violently as her hands clawed at the sheets beneath her.
“S-stop…” she sobbed.
Fernando was at her side in seconds, pulling her trembling body into his arms. She shook like a leaf against his chest.
“D-don’t h… h-hurt me…” she whispered, her words fractured and broken.
His jaw clenched hard.
Has someone hurt her?
Is she reliving something from her past?
The questions slammed into him as he tried to pull her out of the nightmare.
“Ana?” he whispered, shaking her shoulder gently at first.
Her face twisted into something horrifying and then she stopped breathing.
“Ana, wake up!” Fernando roared, panic surging as he shook her harder.
She went frighteningly still in his arms.
Her skin turned cold.
His heart nearly stopped.
Then she screamed.
“NO!”
Her eyes flew open as she began to thrash wildly, terror overtaking her but his voice cut through it, grounding her as she recognized him. He turned her soft body to face him, pressing gentle kisses to her forehead and temple while murmuring soothing reassurances.
Slowly, her body relaxed.
Her sobs faded, dissolving into quiet hiccups.
“It’s okay, baby,” he murmured, his voice low and steady and it worked. She calmed, clinging to him as her breathing evened out.
She sniffed, then lifted her head to look at him.
The sight of her shattered him.
Her eyes were red and glassy, lashes damp and clumped together, her expression fragile and apologetic. Pain constricted his chest.
“I-I’m s-sorry,” she whispered, hiccupping softly.
His heart swelled at her innocence and dark fury ignited beneath it.
Whoever had hurt his little mate would pay.
Fernando would make sure of that.
“Why are you sorry, my doll?” he asked softly.
The way he said it made her heart flutter.
“F-for d-disturbing y-you,” she whispered.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You never disturb me, Ana,” he replied, just as softly.
A small, hesitant smile curved her lips.
Then the insecurities crept back in.
“Why were y-you i-ignoring me f-for the past few d-days?” she murmured, eyes dropping to his Adam’s apple. Her arms rested between their chests, uncertain.
“I-if you’re b-bored of me n-now… then t-tell me. I-I’ll… l-leave.”
He went completely still.
“Are you done?” he asked calmly.
She peeked up at him through her lashes and the deadly set of his green eyes made her look down immediately.
“N-no… I m-mean y-yes,” she stuttered, bracing herself for the blow she was sure was coming.
It didn’t.
“Your exams were going on,” he said evenly. “I didn’t want you losing marks because of me. I know how much of a distraction I am.”
Her head snapped up in disbelief.
Then she gasped.
The corner of his lips twitched just barely.
“Thank you,” she whispered, warmth blooming in her chest as butterflies exploded in her stomach.
“You’re welcome.”
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, rough knuckles grazing her flushed cheek with surprising gentleness.
“Why are you always so brooding and cold?” she asked, emboldened now. “Why don’t you ever smile?”
His gaze had been fixed on her lips, dark and intense, before it lifted to meet her curious blue eyes.
“I don’t know,” he said simply.
She scrunched her nose at him.
He found it unbearably adorable.
“You’re very mysterious,” she murmured.
Her delicate finger traced the tattoo on his neck, the word deadly inked there making him suck in a sharp breath.
“Can’t help it,” he muttered, shifting with a low groan.
His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.
She gasped as sparks flared between them.
“D-do y-you f-feel that?” she asked timidly, then rushed to explain, cheeks burning.
“I-it’s j-just… when y-you t-touch me, I f-feel t-tingles… s-sparks…”
A soft chuckle rumbled from his chest, stealing her breath. His eyes closed briefly, creasing at the corners as he laughed under his breath, white teeth flashing. He looked younger like this less distant, more real.
She smiled too.
“I do,” he whispered, smirking as his gaze darkened again.
Her heart jolted.
“Y-you s-scare me sometimes,” she admitted softly.
And he loved it loved how she was slowly, bravely opening herself to him.
“I know,” he said quietly.
She nodded, then hesitant, trembling lifted her lashes and met his eyes fully.
They stared at each other, soul-deep, time stretching thin around them.
Then Sofía leaned forward.
Ever so slowly, she pressed a soft, feather-light kiss to his sternum.
Fernando froze.
“I… I l-love you,” she breathed.
And for a heartbeat
Time stopped.