Chapter 41 Red in shame
Ira’s POV
The door clicks and my heart jumps, my stomach twisting into a tight knot.
Slowly, the door opens and Cortis steps inside, her posture perfect as always. She moves smoothly.
Her expression is neutral, and yet, beneath her stone face, her eyes hint at something softer, something I can almost interpret. But to think someone who barely knows me will
care for me?
It's unreasonable.
My eyes drop to the tray with her.
“I brought your meal,” she says calmly, setting the tray beside me gently, adjusting the cup so it will not spill.
She checks the spoon twice, though she does not meet my gaze. Every motion speaks of attention, a care that confuses me greatly.
“Thank you,” I murmur, watching her closely.
“You need to eat,” she replies. Her voice plain, lacking the concern she's showing.
“I’m fine,” I lie. But I don't feel like eating when I'm aware that commander Ruel will soon return.
Cortis tilts her head slightly, studying me. “You don’t look fine.”
“I want to return to my room.” I start to argue, but she sits at the edge of the bed instead. Not too close. Not too far. Perfectly measured. Her fingers tap once against her knee and then stop.
“Eat,” she says quietly, her presence unwavering. It makes me wonder if she has nothing else to do.
I obey. Spoonful after spoonful of soup slides down my throat. My stomach twists, nerves tightening every muscle, but I continue. Cortis watches without staring, her eyes trained to observe without intruding.
Halfway through the meal, she shifts slightly, lowering her voice. “Did he hurt you?” The question holds a level of fierceness that keeps my eyes glued to hers for a couple of seconds.
“No,” I whisper. “I’m… I’m alright.” It feels strange to assure someone of that. No one's truly cared before.
Her shoulders ease just a fraction. “I’ll stay until you finish,” she informs. I glance at her again, this time studying her eyes which she diverts after a couple of seconds.
“Why?” I ask but she doesn't respond and instead picks my cup of water, lifting it to her lips.
After taking a sip, she hands it over to me.
“Drink.” She commands and I sigh, taking the cup from her.
I lift the cup of water to my lips but before the glass touches my flesh,
The door bursts open.
Cortis jumps to her feet immediately, her hand already moving toward her weapon.
Ruel storms in. His presence fills the room before his eyes even find me. Every step he takes excludes a strong sense of authority.
His gaze sweeps the room, lands on me, then flicks to Cortis. I watch silently as his jaw clenches.
“Out,” he snaps and I flinch.
Cortis glances at me. “Commander…”
“I said out,” he cuts her off. His voice drops low and dangerous.
Cortis inhales sharply, visibly offended. She steps back, giving me a final unreadable glance, then leaves. The door closes with a soft click behind her.
I stand immediately, my heart hammering as my instincts scream at me to run, to escape, to take myself away from danger.
I take a step toward the door but stop the moment his voice whispers.
“Sit.”
I take another step, pretending I didn't hear the first.
“Ira,” he says, his voice a strange mix of warning and plea. “Sit.”
I hesitate. The power in his tone makes me tense, but the softness beneath it confuses me. I take a careful step backward.
His voice rises, a roar that sends cold shivers down my spine. “I SAID SIT!”
I stumble, collapsing onto the bed. My breath shakes, quickly growing uneven and shallow.
Ruel stands by the window. His back is rigid, shoulders tight. He tilts his head to the side and inhales sharply.
Then he exhales roughly, as if each breath costs him effort.
“Relax,” he says coldly.
I glare at him. “Relax? How can I possibly relax when…”
Before I can finish, he moves. My words die in my throat as in three steps he's in front of me.
Powerful hands grips my arm, yanking me upright and pulling me into his hard chest. My breath shatters, trapped between panic and something deeper I cannot name. Something that instantly warms my heart.
His arms surround me, one hand pressed against my back, the other clutching the back of my neck, so possessively I nearly forget I own my body.
Then his head drops to the curve of my shoulder, his face pressing into my skin... the exact spot where my pulse hammers.
I bite down on my lip as the warmth of him anchors me in a way that is terrifying and soothing all at once.
My body freezes as pleasant heat explodes inside me. My hands instinctively clutch at his shirt, twisting the fabric for some grounding.
“R…Ruel…” My voice comes out thin, uneven, breathless.
His hold tightens almost painfully as his breathing turns tough, like he is fighting an internal storm, like he is barely holding himself together.
That's when his lips brush my neck. It's barely a touch and more of his warm breath. Yet the sensation shoots through me like lightning.
My knees wobble. A weak gasp escapes my lips unable to form words. I clutch his shirt harder as heat curls along my spine, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Ruel’s hands tighten around me, pressing me closer as his warm lips trace the side of my throat slowly.
"Hmm," I whimper, my cheeks burning red in shame.
I cannot tell why he's doing what he's doing but I know I don't want him to stop.
His warmth on my skin feels so intoxicating.
“Ruel…” I breathe again, trying to regain my senses as his tongue licks down my collar bone.
“Ruel,” someone calls.
The both of us jerk apart, our breathing heavy, our eyes darker as we create distance between ourselves.
Sergeant Elric stands there in the doorway, stunned.