“You really can’t handle this much pain?” Amara asked calmly, though amusement flickered in her eyes.
“I’m fine,” he muttered immediately.
‘Stubborn bastard,’ Amara let out a quiet scoff and reached for the towel hanging nearby. She leaned closer to dab the water from his face carefully, her fingers brushing his damp skin.
Elias stopped paying attention to what she was doing after that.
All he could focus on was how close she was.
The soft pressure of her hand under his jaw. The warmth of her body standing between his legs. The way a few loose strands of hair had fallen beside her cheek while she concentrated.
His gaze dropped unconsciously to her mouth.
His throat tightened.
It had been a long time since she touched him this gently. Without anger. Without coldness.
And maybe that was the problem.
Because suddenly every tiny thing felt dangerous.
Amara continued wiping the water from the corner of his eye, completely unaware of the shift in him.
Elias’s hand moved before he even thought about it.
His fingers wrapped around her wrist suddenly.
Amara paused.
He was still sitting there with damp hair falling over his forehead, water trailing slowly down the side of his neck. Unusually quiet.
Amara lifted her eyes to him.
“What?”
Elias stared at her face for a second too long before speaking.
“I’m hungry,” he said hoarsely.
She blinked.
“…What?”
His thumb shifted slightly against the inside of her wrist, slow and absentminded.
“I’m hungry,” he repeated, voice lower this time. “Do you want noodles?”
Amara pulled her hand free gently.
“I already ate.”
Then she stepped back immediately, creating distance between them. The loss of her warmth hit Elias instantly.
Amara turned toward the door.
Elias rose to his feed behind her at once.
“I’m hungry,” he repeated again stubbornly, towering behind her now. “Eat with me.”