Chapter 68: A tense playful dance

Morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Esme and Kael remained tangled in the sheets, Kael awake, his gaze studying Esme intently as she slept beside him. His eyes blinked slowly, his thoughts far away, but his attention was firmly on her. His dark lashes framed his eyes as he silently watched her, the peaceful rhythm of her breathing somehow grounding him.

Esme stirred in her sleep, her face slowly emerging from the cocoon of blankets as her eyes fluttered open. She froze when she saw Kael's piercing gaze on her, only inches away.

"Ah!" she yelped, her face flushing bright red as she quickly hid behind the duvet, embarrassed by his sudden attention.

Kael chuckled, the sound rich and full of amusement. "Kael!!! Why would you do that?" she asked, her voice muffled by the blankets.

"Do what?" Kael replied innocently, the playful tone evident in his voice.

Esme, now thoroughly embarrassed, scrambled out of bed and dashed to the bathroom, leaving Kael to chuckle even louder behind her.

The morning wore on, and Kael prepared for his day at work. Esme remained seated on the bed, her eyes following his every movement with quiet concern. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling in her chest—the fear that those men might attack again.

"Kael…" she called out softly, her voice barely audible.

Kael paused mid-action, his attention snapping to her as he stopped what he was doing. "Hmm?" he asked, waiting for her to continue.

"Don't… don't go to work today," Esme said, her words laced with worry. Her gaze was steady but filled with an unspoken fear she couldn't quite hide.

Kael blinked in confusion, his expression unreadable. "Why?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I mean… after what happened yesterday… what if those men come back?" Her voice was softer now, more vulnerable.

Kael's face softened just slightly, but he quickly masked it with indifference. "Don't worry, Esme. I'll be fine," he reassured her, dismissing the concern as if it were nothing.

Esme hesitated for a moment, but she wasn't going to let him off so easily. "What do you want me to do? Sit at home and wait around all day while you go off to work?" she said, her voice gaining some strength as she continued.

Kael paused, unsure of how to respond to that. He finally turned to her, his posture stiff but his gaze inquisitive. "So… you want me to stay home with you today?" he asked, his tone a little more pointed now, though still light. He couldn't quite figure out what Esme was up to, especially with the sly smile that tugged at her lips.

Esme's smile deepened, and her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Actually… yes," she said, her voice full of playful intent.

Kael stared at her for a moment, feeling a flicker of confusion. He was not used to seeing this side of her, and it both intrigued and unsettled him. "Alright then, if you insist." He shrugged, but inside he was already bracing himself for whatever came next.

Esme's plan was simple: cook. But not just cook—she wanted to cook with Kael. It was an opportunity for them to share something, even if it was just something as simple as food preparation. Of course, Kael had no idea how to cook, but Esme was determined to teach him, and if she had to laugh at his cooking skills in the process, then so be it.

She handed him a carrot to chop, and Kael took it, examining it with suspicion as if he were holding a weapon, not a vegetable.

"How do I do this?" he asked, his voice dripping with confusion as he tried his best to slice it.

Esme burst into laughter, unable to control herself as she watched him fumble with the knife. "Oh my god, Kael!" she gasped, clutching her stomach as laughter spilled from her lips. "You're making mash out of the carrots, not slices!" She clutched her sides, still laughing uncontrollably.

Kael looked down at his work and stared at the ruined carrots, then at Esme. "What?? Why are you laughing?" His brow furrowed, his patience waning.

Esme wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. "You know, Lucan would do this with his eyes closed," she said, not thinking twice before she spoke.

The mention of Lucan in the middle of their playful moment made Kael's mood shift instantly. The carefree smile on his face vanished, replaced by a cold, hard expression. His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightened.

Esme, sensing the sudden change, stopped laughing immediately. "What's wrong?" she asked, confused by the sudden shift in his demeanor.

Kael's voice was sharp and clipped as he threw his apron off. "I'm out," he said, his tone dismissive, his irritation clear.

Esme blinked in surprise. "Wait, what? I didn't mean—"

But Kael was already walking out of the kitchen, his long strides carrying him quickly away from her. Esme sighed…

"Kael! Kael, hold on!" she called out, rushing to catch up with him.

She was just too slow, though. Kael had already reached the door and was almost out of the room. He stopped suddenly, and Esme collided with his back, knocking her head against him with a small thud.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed, rubbing her forehead.

Kael immediately turned, his face softening just a little when he saw her holding her head. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern despite his earlier irritation.

Esme nodded, still a bit dazed. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said quietly.

"Good." Kael's expression returned to indifference as he straightened up. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Esme standing in the hallway, her heart racing and her thoughts tangled. What had just happened?

Esme stood there for a moment longer, her mind racing. She hadn't meant to upset him, but the tension between them had grown so much that it was impossible to keep things light for long. She just didn't know how to navigate the space between them anymore, how to balance the playful moments with the unresolved emotions they both carried.

With a sigh, Esme turned back toward the kitchen, the carrot disaster still sitting on the counter, reminding her of the unexpected path their relationship had taken.