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bloodlandsbook > Chains of Duty Chains of Desire > 4. Hope is in the air.

4. Hope is in the air.

  His grip softened as the warmth of our kiss still lingered between our faces. I took this opportunity to break free. Shaking my head, I chuckled to myself at how silly it all was. The fight had been nothing more than a pyful dance that always left my heart racing. I knew all too well that my resolve was as fragile as the gsses I handled. No matter how firm I tried to be, I could feel my heart softening under the weight of his charm. I walked to the backroom looking for a dustpan & brush so I could clean up the scattered gsses, hoping to find a little peace. But he just can’t help himself. He dances around me like an idiot, throwing pyful jabs, trying to stir me up again. “Stop it. I mean it,” I said, my voice mixed with softness and insistence as I caught his pyful gaze.His bright brown eyes sparkled with mischief for a moment before shifting into a serious yet pyful look. With a mocking salute, he stepped back, trying hard to compress a smirk. “Sir, yes sir!” He then began to help me tidy up, his movements sure and confident. He picked up the fallen chair, setting it back in pce with a gentle thud that echoed in the quiet bar. Once we locked up, we found ourselves standing outside, the cool breeze wrapping around us like a comforting bnket. The street was empty, the sounds of the night whispering softly in the background. For a moment, we stood in silence. I gnced over at him, the streetlight catching the sharp angles of his jaw and the way his nose cast a shadow on one side of his face, leaving but just a small triangle light on the cheek like a Rambrandt painting. There was something about the way he stood that no one I've been with seems to be able to emute. Rexed yet alert, it made me feel safe and seen and... Loved.“Do you ever just… stop and think about how ridiculous we are?” I asked, breaking the silence, my voice barely above a whisper.“Every day,” he replied, his tone serious but his eyes dancing with warmth.He then leaned down with both hands in his pockets as I closed my eyes, surrendering to his advance. When his lips met mine, the chill of the evening air faded into a distant memory. I could feel the gentle brush of his breath against my skin, a sweet contrast to the biting cold that lingered just beyond our shared warmth. Our kiss was soft yet urgent, a perfect harmony of tenderness and passion. The initial spark sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a warmth that spread through me like wildfire. Time seemed to stand still as the world around us faded into oblivion. The distant sounds of the night—the rustle of leaves, the faint echo of footsteps—were muffled like we existed in our own private universe. As he deepened the kiss, I felt the rush of emotions swell within me: joy, longing, and a sense of belonging that filled the empty spaces of my heart, then... Guilt."I guess this is goodbye then... It's te..." I whispered between our intertwined breaths."Goodbye..." He replied, despite his refusal to part our lips.

  I pushed him away, breaking our kiss. Without a gnce back, I started walking to my apartment. My heart was racing in my eardrums, drowning out the sound of the footsteps behind me. I thought I was finally alone. He understood the message. Then suddenly, a wave of sadness pierced my heart like a sad cupid's arrow."Is he... Really gone?" I thought to myself. "Is this really the st time?" I couldn't help but look back to check. And there he was still, trailing behind me like a lost puppy trying to py it cool, acting like this was normal behavior for a grown man. I turned my head back to the road. My voice shaky from walking, I asked, "What are you doing?"“Just making sure you get home safe," he said, fshing that charming smile that I could feel piercing my back."I can take care of myself.""I know..." "So...? Stop following me then!"“I’m not following you. I’m just walking with you to your apartment,” he insisted with a tone that made it seem like his grin had only grown wider."Ugh!" I excimed in frustration as I started running. Knowing too well that I wouldn't be able to shake him. He was a well-trained marine, strong and steady, like a human tank. I looked back to see that he effortlessly jogging behind me with that same goofy grin."You really think you can lose me?" he called out, his voice teasing. I couldn’t help but ugh, despite my irritation."You’re impossible!""Maybe..." He said, closing the gap between us. "But I’d rather be impossible than let you go home alone."I rolled my eyes, but my heart was racing—not just from running but from the thrill of having him by my side. This day couldn't get any crazier. It started as one of those quiet and cozy evenings. But then he showed up, and everything changed. One moment, we were at each other's throats, and the next, we were tangled up in a passionate kiss. Then, in one way or another, I'm here... Being chased to my apartment... Our footsteps echo through the empty streets, a mix of pyful pursuit and unresolved tension. I could hardly believe how this night had flipped like a rollercoaster.

  Puffing and huffing, we finally reached my apartment complex.“Okay… Thanks for walking—running with me,” I said, forcing it out between my heavy breaths.“Any time...” he replied, calm and composed, as if this marathon was just another day for him.“Goodbye… Again.” I managed, finally able to stand straight and meet his gaze. But this time, he didn’t say anything. His eyes were filled with a sadness that made my heart ache. I wanted to pull him close, to wrap my arms around him and never let go. Instead, I slowly beeped my keycard, and the heavy door creaked open. I stepped inside, leaving him behind.“Syl…” he called softly, his voice thick with unshed tears.Then cng! The door shut, cutting off his words, and my heart shattered. Standing there in the excruciatingly empty space, I felt the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. My heart raced as I thought about everything that could go wrong if I did what I was about to do. Yet, despite the fear, the ache in my chest urged me to go along. I couldn’t stop my own body... With trembling fingers, I pressed the door button from the inside. A soft beep chimed through the hall like an arm warning of a disaster as the door swung open again. He was still there, standing, his face a mask of joy and relief. In a silence I chose not to break, I turn to the stairs and begin my ascent to the third story. His footsteps echoed softly behind me. Neither of us speaks, our unvoiced longing hanging in the air, rich with desire and anticipation.