Page 45 of Light in Your Eyes (Romero Brothers #1)

Layla

Today, we finally manage to spend time in the hammock after we didn't make it the other day because of the rain.

The hammock is quite spacious. It can fit four people, so Kellan and I can lie on it comfortably with still enough space to stretch our legs. I'm now lying on my back and staring at the blue sky above. Kellan is right next to me, hugging my shoulder.

I rest my head on his shoulder blade, smiling softly. It feels so peaceful here. The birds are chirping above us, enjoying this beautiful forest as well.

"Can you tell me what you feel about the woods?" I ask.

"Hm?"

"I know that you can feel everything," I say, "and you can know what's happening around you by using your other senses. I want to know."

"Birds," he says with amusement because it's just so obvious.

"How many?" I grin.

"Three. At least, they're the ones who are not shy to stop at the branches just above us," he jokes.

I gaze at the birds. He's correct. There are three of them, and I don't know how he does that. Maybe he can even feel their movement.

"Wait." Kellan suddenly sits up.

My curiosity kicks in. I sit up too.

"I think one of them is flirting with the other," he says.

I can't help but laugh. "You're impossible." I push his chest playfully.

"No, listen." He puts his finger over his mouth, and my laughter stops short. "Can't you hear that?" he asks as I watch the birds again. "One of them keeps fluttering its wings to attract its mate."

My eyes widen as I find out that he's right.

"See?" he says, still with the same amusement glinting in his eyes. "I think it's a male, fluffing out his feathers. Usually, the male ones will dance to begin the courtship. He's going to do it."

I watch as the third bird suddenly flies away. "That one doesn't want to be a third wheel." A burst of laughter leaves my mouth again.

I gaze up at them while one of them is indeed doing fantastic dancing to attract the other. I can't help but giggle because it's such a fun and interesting thing to watch.

When the dance is over, I ask, "Now what?"

Kellan looks like he's in deep thought. "I don't know. Judging from the sound of his legs starting to get restless against the branch, I think that he can't wait to fly away."

To my surprise, the bird does just as Kellan expects. He flies away but is then followed by the female one.

"Where are they going?" I ask curiously .

Kellan shrugs. "Some birds build their nests for their mates. Maybe he's showing her the nests to let her choose."

My mouth hangs open in amazement. "I hope they get their happily ever after," I say giddily.

It's just a simple story about what happens to the wild lives around us, but witnessing it brings me so much joy. To enjoy the simple things in life is a blessing.

Kellan tilts his chin up at the trees above us.

He stares up at the sky, crossing his legs and resting his elbows on each of his knees.

The corner of his mouth curves into a small smile while the wind blows his hair softly.

There's only contentment in his expression, and this beautiful sight makes my breath catch in my throat.

I take out my phone and secretly snap a picture of him. I think that he can feel it because he then diverts his eyes to me.

"Did you just secretly take a picture of me?"

I chuckle. "What if I did?"

Had this happened when I met him for the first time, I would have thought that I was tottering on dangerous ground by secretly taking pictures of the heir of Black Wings.

But now, the man who used to give me a menacing look only shakes his head in disbelief.

Kellan lies back in the hammock. I take my book from my backpack and lie next to him, snuggling up to him.

"Should we read the book again?" I ask.

"Yeah," he whispers. "I like it when you read to me."

I begin to read the poetry book. My voice echoes, mixed with the sound of the rustling leaves blown by the wind and the birds chirping again above us .

I keep reading, unaware that the atmosphere slowly lulls me to sleep. My voice is getting softer and softer the longer time passes.

"Some nights, the stars whispered…" I falter. My eyes feel so heavy. "And the wind curled…" I can't even continue the sentence because I start to doze off.

The last thing I feel is Kellan's kiss on my forehead.

***

Kellan and I are lying on the bed, facing each other. I wrap my arms around his waist while he pulls me closer to him. His hand is on my back, over the fabric of my sleep shirt. The other hand caresses my head while I bury my face in his chest.

I inhale his scent, feeling safe and secure in his arms. These past few days in the cabin have been like a dream that I don't want to wake up to.

I wish that we could stay like this forever.

"What's your dream, Layla?" he suddenly asks. "What do you want to be in the future?"

My dream is right here with you.

I want to answer that, but the latter question makes me realize that he's actually asking about something more accurate.

"I don't know," I say. "I haven't applied to any colleges because I thought that I wouldn't be able to afford it."

I remember exactly why I accepted the job Jaxon gave me.

I never thought that it would turn into something like this .

With the money Jaxon already transferred to my account, I will have no problem helping my family financially and applying for college. But I don't want to leave just yet. In fact, I don't think that I'll ever want to leave Kellan.

"What do you enjoy the most?" He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

I stare into his beautiful gray eyes, drowning in them.

"Maybe it can help you choose your major," he says.

I sigh, closing my eyes as I shake my head. I lean into his chest even closer, my fingers gripping the back of his shirt.

"I don't know," I say. "I like giving help to people, though. I honestly thought of becoming a nurse or being involved in a volunteer program for kids somewhere in the world," I pause. "Why are you suddenly asking me about that?"

I tilt my chin up and see Kellan giving me a serious look.

"Don't you have a plan for your future?" he asks softly.

Now that he asks me, I honestly haven't thought about it in detail.

I shake my head again. "I haven't thought about it specifically. What I'm sure about is that I want to help Nana and my brother, Archer, financially — "

My brows furrow as I think hard about what I'm going to do in the future. I don't think that I'll be able to live like a normal person now that I'm a part of Black Wings, so I don't understand why Kellan is asking me these questions.

"What's wrong?" he whispers.

When I look at him again, I see the concern on his face .

"Never mind." I chuckle softly.

He tilts my chin up again with his finger and gives me a soft kiss on the lips. I sigh in contentment and push my body against him.

This time, I initiate the kiss, circling my arm around his neck. I move my mouth against his and suck his bottom lip, earning his gasp. He immediately tightens his hold on me, wrapping his arms around me possessively and starting to kiss me hungrily.

I kiss him back with all my heart, and before I know it, we are burning with passion and desire. Our tongues dance with each other as I wrap my leg around his waist. He groans, and the next thing I know is that he flips me onto my back.

He locks my hands on my sides, his jaw tight. "Layla," he growls, warning me.

"I'm sorry." I gulp. "Sorry."

His eyes soften, and then he releases me. I lay on my side, facing the opposite direction.

Again, I pushed him too far.

I scold myself for how stupid I am. Kellan is not ready yet for that kind of intimacy.

I feel him moving behind me and spooning me. He rests his chin on my shoulder, and I smile.

"Cuddling time?" I tease. "Okay. Cuddling only."

"You're going to be the death of me," he mutters under his breath and places a soft kiss on my neck.

I sigh dreamily, feeling him placing more kisses on the back of my neck.

"Kellan." I giggle. "It tickles."

But he doesn't stop, and more giggles burst from me.