Page 3 of Teach Me How To Fly

The moment his calloused fingers brushed my cheeks, I quivered and froze instantly.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

Stop counting, Annalise.

It happened every time he surprised me with gentle touches. I was never prepared for those tingles that erupted inside my body, and I was scared that he might notice it. His touches always felt good, while the touches of other people seemed to remain imprinted on my skin and make me feel uncomfortable in my own body.

“I came to speak with your father. Him and I will leave for a week,” he explained, keeping his eyes on me.

“He’ll come back home in less than an hour. You came too early.”

His lips curved into a smile, revealing a bit from his perfect teeth. “I know. I wanted to see you before he’d be home.”

I blushed instantly. Was he always like this or was it just my heart that messed with me right now?

“Well, here I am,” I quickly replied and instantly slapped myself inside my head.

“Let’s go to our place,” he said and I instantly felt a wide smile stretching on my face.

I didn’t give him an answer because I already knew what place he was referring to. My heart filled with joy and I involuntarily jumped from one foot to another as I turned on my heels.

He laughed at my reaction and he immediately followed me as I started walking towards the back doors. His shadow towered over me considering how tall he was and that made me soften.

We got out of the house and the chilly air hugged our bodies on our way to the swing set. It was our favorite place to spend our time and this didn’t change not even now that we were grownups.

I sat on the soft pillow that covered the seat and he sat right next to me. His knee was touching mine, and his fragrance was tingling my senses.

I was home all this time, but now that I had him beside me, it felt more likemy home. He was the only one who could make me feel comfortable – and protected.

“How are you feeling lately?” he spoke as his gaze got lost somewhere between the tall trunks of the pines.

His question made me fall on my thoughts, thinking of an answer. I didn’t even know how I felt lately, but now that he asked me, I realized that everything around me seemed to have lost its color.

“I’m fine, but I’ve been better,” I answered, chewing the inner side of my cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Don’t change the subject and make it about me,” he replied, turning around to face me. “Why haven’t you told me that you’re not okay?”

Exactly, Annalise, why haven’t you? You’ve always told him how you felt.

“I guess I didn’t realize I wasn’t well until you asked me,” I replied.

He turned to me, burning me with his glance. His darkness wrapped me into its fingers as he continued to look at me and his jaw clenched at every second that passed by us. Once I let my lips stretch into a gentle smile, his face softened instantly and his body wasn’t as tense as it was when he came home.

“I sensed that there’s something wrong with you. I hate it when I have to make you speak instead of seeing you opening up to me like you always have.”

“I didn’t know I wasn’t feeling okay until now.”

“Don’t lie to me, Annalise. You’ve been like this for months now,” he instantly replied, this time his tone of voice coming out more harsh.

I’ve been realizing that I might feel something for you for months now. Maybe that’s why I was so different. I was trying to lie to myself and ignore my feelings because I knew it was impossible. My father wouldn’t allow this, and Maksen was surely not interested in me.

He was a manwho did a lot of things, and I was just a girlwho did nothing with her life.

“I’m sorry, okay?” I said, letting my hand fall on his hand.

His muscles tensed instantly when he felt my touch. With a gentle movement, his fingers entwined with mine, a gesture so old but that feels so new right now. He always had my back, no matter what. And since he had become an assassin, he turned into a fearsome man so different from the one I knew in my childhood. But he was still my best friend.

“I promise I’ll tell you next time when…”

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