AMNESIA'S TYRANNY

Chapter 15 | Breathtakingly Handsome

His fingers grasped the hems of his hood.

The man pulled it down, letting it fall down the back of his head. 

Lily's heart picked up, eyes tracing up and down his facial features to desperately memorize them.

The soft lights of the room kissed his tan skin. A dark brown beard hugged his sharp jaws, and slightly curly but short hair was a bundled mess atop his head.

The stranger's eyebrows were narrowed, sharp cerulean eyes gazing up and down her figure with a foreign hunger. Lily slowly raised a hand and traced the scar on his nose bridge. Her fingers moved to graze another scar on his cheek.
Even his hands were covered in scars. The man truly was a dangerous hunter- battleborn and deadly. Another scar slightly parted into his beard like a sea of hair. Slowly looking further down- she couldn't help but stare at his full lips.

Lily withdrew her hand before she got ahead of herself.

He flexed his jaws- eyebrows softening and slowly raising up his forehead. After this big reveal- all he had to say was a simple grunt.

"Why do you hide your face?" She asked. Hoping to raise his confidence, thinking he was self-conscious, she added, "You're really handsome."

The man tensed again, pursing his big lips for a moment. "Thank you." He muttered. "... I don't want to talk about it."

"That's okay." She smiled.

His hand raised to graze his fingers against her neck. She'd wince- feeling him touch the red marks caused by Vor's assault. The man's eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes narrowed.

He clicked his tongue in distaste, "It bothers me." He hissed.

She gently rested her hand on his, "It's a little sore, but it's okay now." She reassured him softly. He didn't appear convinced, though.

"... I don't like it." He muttered lowly, raising his hand to tuck a strand of white hair behind her ear.

Lily leaned further toward him- hearing his breath waver as she did this. "Can I ask you something?" She'd tilt her head, watching his brows rise and eyes sparkle when he saw her cute movement. "Of course." He'd whisper seemingly without thought.
"Why are you always so jealous?" She asked straight forward, "You're... protective." Lily added. The man hummed, tucking another strand behind her other ear. He gazed down at her lips briefly before adverting to her eyes.

"... You're beautiful and attractive." He'd purse his lips, "You're hard to resist. I feel someone could take you away at any moment."

Lily felt her heart pick up, pounding in her ribcage as her breath hitched. The blush on her cheeks was as hot as an oven. He was more straightforward than she could ever imagine being.

She felt a familiar comfort in him. Being so close to him made her feel safe, but...

Why did she want to be closer?

"Can I hug you?" The woman blurted.

His eyes widened, obviously not expecting this. "Of course." He immediately breathed.

Finally- Lily could lean forward completely. She tightly wrapped her arms around his large torso, nuzzling her nose into his cloaked chest. He hooked his hands under her thighs, hauling her onto his lap and gripping her securely.

He grunts, breathing picking up, but she hid her hands under his cloak and soothingly rubbed his back.

The man tucked his nose into the nook of her neck.

His smell overwhelmed her- holding her in an embrace as warm as his. He smelled of cedar and a warm fire- like a warm cabin in the woods. She'd love nothing more than to smell this scent forever.
Her gentle touching made his breathing slow- his heart slowing down alongside hers. She felt his hands trail up from her thighs, tracing over her bottom and onto her hips. The man grunted again- gripping her hips tightly.

Immediately, she felt her heart pick up, and her face brightened with redness once again. Lily gasped.

He had kissed her neck!

"Shit..." He muttered. She felt his lips against her neck, teeth biting down on his bottom lip. The man shifted under her- something hardening under her.

Lily squeaked when he lifted her off his lap, leaning his head away and adverting his eyes. "Sorry, S- Lily." He muttered.

Confused, she watched him stand up, raising his hood and using his cloak to hide his body.

He cleared his throat. "... Have a good day."

She narrowed her brows and watched him turn around and curtly leave the room- politely closing the door behind him.

What was that?