chapter fifteen

Chapter fifteen

"I can't do this." She whispered. Her eyes showed signs of unshed tears.

Regan's eyes questioned her. He was disappointed. Wasn't he enough for her? This rejection was going to be the hardest one he'd have to face. He dragged his hands through his hair and on his face to contain what he was feeling. "This is about Connor isn't it?" he asked with bloodshot eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as his throat stung to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

Elena stared back at him. Her eyes scanned the beautiful features of his face that rested under that beautiful mass of red hair. Her own tears threatened her. "We can't be doing this." She said with a whisper and charged to her room.

Regan bolted after her. He couldn't take it anymore. Why wouldn't she just open up to him? He was lucky to get a hold of her before she could bolt her door shut. Elena didn't fight him as he pushed himself into the room and closed the door behind him. She just stared at him with a tear-streaked face.

For the second time that night, he acted on impulse. It broke his being to see her like that. He strode over to her with his long legs and wrapped her in a big reassuring hug. She weakly thrashed against him but the brick wall didn't budge a bit. She finally eased against him and relaxed into his hug and finally gave into her tears, soaking the midnight blue robe wet. Regan quietly kissed her hair and caressed it while resting his jaw on her head. He just wanted her to know that come what may, he would always be there for her. He carried her gently into the bed.

"Don't go." She whispered when she saw him make his way toward the door.

He was not expecting her to ask for him to stay he turned around to face her. "Why won't you open up to me Elena?" he wasn't sure she heard what he asked. He made up his mind to try for the final time and if she wasn't going to open up to him, then he would let things be the way they were between them. He took off his night slippers and eased into the bed beside her. To his amazement, he scurried closer to him. This was a good start. He quickly put a protective arm around her, bringing her closer to his sculpted chest which was now in full view as the string had come undone. He smoothed her long black hair.

She inhaled inaudibly, taking in his distinct scent of Creed Aventus and a brand of soap she didn't quite know, with a little bit of spice, thanks to dinner. Since the day she had seen him and remembered, she had felt a strong pull toward him. Attraction? No, it was way more than that but she was hesitant in accepting the fact that she was in love with him. She was scared of accepting her feelings for him. Her other relationship with Connor had not gone so smoothly, leaving deep and dark scars on her mind and memory. In a bid to cover her fear when she had returned from school, she had put on a mask of nonchalance and built big hard walls around her heart but this man beside her broke down every single wall and walked into her life majestically. He was slowly owning her. She had never taken her time to assess her feelings for him but right now in his arms, she didn't feel the need to think. There, it felt like home. If she had accepted his help in the first place then she would confide in him. How to start, she sighed.