Aselia’s POV

Dr. Wanstine left the room, her departure plunged me into deep thoughts, concerning him. I could never tell him this. He would never let me go, and although he won’t force himself on me he would believe everything to change between us.

Because it certainly had, I couldn’t see him in the same light anymore. He had attained a different role in my life now. It was already difficult enough to leave him behind and now this bonding stuff had my brain screaming at my poor heart. Always making poor choices, but falling for the enemy and then binding itself to him, was the worst of it.

Every touch and gesture which made me uneasy, every instant I had craved his touch came rushing back to me. My stomach became uneasy at the thoughts and I began throwing up again.

The door instantly opened and Xiran stepped inside. I quickly laid down closed my eyes and hoped against hope that he won’t have any idea about this bond sh!t. My whole being was burning and I didn’t want to face him right now.

"Are you ok? You are throwing up again? Did Dr. Wanstine give you medicine for vomiting? What did she say?" He threw question after question at me. His voice wavered between concern and worry.

"I am fine, stop with this myriad of questions." I placed my arm on my eyes, keeping them closed.

Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? It wasn’t his fault even and yet I was annoyed at him. None of it was his fault, he didn’t barge into my life, I did. It was my heart that decided to choose him over millions of people and tens of species that existed. And here I was clueless as to why I felt the way I felt about him. Not that clueless anymore, huh?

Silence prevailed in the room, I could hear the light rustling of his clothes near me. The bed lowered and creaked as he climbed up and I could feel him near me. His warmth called me to him, and although I was burning hot myself, my body still craved his touch.

His fingers grazed my arm which rested over my eyes and my insides screamed for him to hold me. Sighing I lifted my arm and glanced at his worrisome face which was lined with anguish.

"What are you not telling me, Aselia?" His voice came out soft but then it changed as he continued: "Is it some kind of incurable disease you are suffering from? I know you and Dr. Wanstine are hiding something from me and while I won’t force you, I have the means to force her, if it’s something life-threatening." There was an underlying threat in his voice now. This angered me further.

"So you will torture the poor woman just because you believe she is hiding something. Whatever happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?" I stared at him with my forehead burrowed.

"I won’t torture her but I have means to find out the truth. I just want to hear it from you." I heavily sighed again, this man never knew when to give up.

"Well, I am not telling you sh!t, because there is nothing to tell." I replaced the arm on my eyes, trying to shut him out. I felt his hands slide under me as he effortlessly transported me in his lap. Using his thumb and index finger he removed my arm from my eyes and tried to burn me with just his gaze.

"Why won’t you tell me? Just why?" I tried to wiggle out of his lap but he tightened his grip around my waist. Every muscle in my body screamed to stay there, right there with him. Maybe if I would stay closer he would stop questioning me.

"Stop, I am not letting you go." He brushed away my hair.

"Then don’t question me and I will stay." He gave me a scrutinized look before replying:

"Ok, but at least tell me it’s not something fatal."

"It’s not, you won’t be rid of me so easily. So don’t worry. I will be alright in a few days. It’s just fever and body aches. Why do you have to act so overdramatic? It’s not like I am dying." His gaze intensified at my words and his hands moved from my waist to my face.

"Don’t talk about dying in front of me. You are in pain and it breaks me to see you like this. How is that overdramatic? And I know you, there is something you are not telling me. But I am not going to push you further. Where does it pain the most?" His eyes darted all over my body.

"Legs," I just said where it pained the most in that instant. He moved his hand from my face to my legs and began to message them. The aches began to subside wherever he touched.

Purely based on my instincts I moved my head closer to his chest. It felt so heavy and I found it hard to keep my eyes open. He pressed it even closer and I revelled in the comfort his body provided. I needed it, I craved it, and mostly because I just wanted him to stop questioning me about what ailed me.

I moved my hands and hugged his slim waist, trying to snuggle into his chest. His scent hit all my senses like torrents of rain on a summer day. While he rubbed my legs so I could ease up and sleep a bit, oblivious to how his touch affected me and how intensified it had become in the past few months. I felt like crying in his chest but knew it would trouble him even more and a string of questions will follow that I won’t be able to answer or dodge.

Instead, I pressed my nose into his shirt but I wanted his skin. So I went ahead and opened the top few buttons of his shirt so my face could touch his bare chest. I stole a quick glance at him and his hands on my legs had stopped moving while he stared back at me with his mouth agape. I had stupified him, clearly.