Chapter 30 A Kiss on Her Hair
He told her this place was dangerous and asked her to run.
If she didn’t leave now, she might not leave at all.
But the girl didn’t run. Not only did she stay, she dragged him into at hidden cave nestled deep in the woods.
“It’s safe here,” she whispered, brushing dirt from her skirt. “They won’t find you here.”
He looked at her then. She was just a little girl, no more than ten, in a thin white dress faded from too many washes. Winter had already set in, vet she didn’t even have a coat. She seemed to have lived alone in this forest for a long time. Her only companion was the ragged doll in her
arms.
Wayne was injured, bleeding, and freezing.
That’s when she hugged him. She wrapped tightly around him and said, “Are you cold? If I hold you like this, you won’t be anymore.”
He remembered her eyes, which were bright and clear.
“Why are you here all alone?” Wayne asked. “Where’s your home? Your mom and dad?”
She paused. “I don’t have a home. I don’t have a mom or dad. No one in this world wants me.”
He pulled her into his arms. “If I make it out alive, I’ll take you with me.”
He took off his jade pendant and looped it gently around her neck.
стории 30 А кола ол Негнан
They huddled together through the icy night, the heat from their bodies. the only thing keeping them alive..
But when morning came, she was gone. He searched. But she had vanished.
His comrades found him and airlifted him out.
“Where are you… don’t go…” Wayne murmured as his eyes flew open.
It was a dream.
Again, he had dreamt of that girl.
But he had found her long ago. That girl was Jennifer.
Everyone in their circle saw them as the perfect couple. And that was because, for years, Wayne had kept Jennifer close, raising her like a delicate flower, pampering her until she bloomed bright and proud.
Everyone knew she was his one and only.
Yet even with Jennifer right beside him, he kept dreaming of the thin girl who dragged him out of danger.
He dreamed of her warmth, her sudden disappearance, and his waking up in the emptiness she left behind.
Wayne stirred but suddenly realized something soft and warm was curled up against him.
He looked down. It was Danica.
Memories of the night before surged back. At some point, they ended up sleeping together. Her smooth back turned to him, and his arm wrapped around her from behind.
He had held her like that the entire night.
Now, morning light spilled in through the gauzy curtains, casting a golden glow across the room.
Danica was still asleep in his arms, her face pale and soft. Even the tiny peach fuzz on her cheeks glimmered in the light. Her long lashes drooped, fluttering against her skin.
She lay there, soft and sweet in his arms, and for no reason at all, Wayne suddenly felt as if the whole world had gone quiet.
It was like that girl from years ago had returned to him.
Wayne couldn’t stop staring at her.
Then, Danica shifted slightly. She didn’t wake, but the oversized white shirt she wore slipped off one smooth shoulder, revealing a gentle curve. and skin that gleamed under the sun.
Wayne’s eyes darkened. He was fully healed now, young and strong, and her soft, supple body was curled right against him. He forced himself to look away.
But he remembered her injury.
Beneath the blanket, he carefully lifted the hem of her shirt. He didn’t. look down further, keeping the sheet in place to maintain decency.
Her waist came into view. The sore spot had already turned into a shocking shade of purple and blue.
Wayne thought, “How much must it have hurt when she fell?”
He reached out and gently rested his palm on the bruise, cradling her soft waist. A pang of guilt surged in his chest. He couldn’t deny it. He felt something more than regret.
He lowered his head toward her, his voice husky and rough from sleep. “Danica… did I hurt you? I’m sorry.”
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He whispered the apology near her ear.
Danica didn’t respond. Sound asleep, she was breathing lightly, and she smelled like something warm and sweet. Even her hair seemed soft to the
touch.
Wayne’s throat burned. He tried not to look at her and tried not to notice her youthful, tempting body. But he couldn’t help it..
He leaned down, wanting to kiss her hair. Just as he was about to do s Danica stirred. With a soft sound, her eyes fluttered open..
She was awake.
- SO.
Wayne snapped out of it, horrified. “What was I doing?” he wondered.
He had almost kissed Danica’s hair!
Wayne had seen every kind of beauty imaginable, but he was actually losing control over Danica.
He let go of her like he’d touched fire, flung the blanket aside, and jumped out of bed.
Danic
sat up
sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes with tiny fists. “You’re awake? Did your fever break?”
She climbed out of bed and reached out to check his temperature.
But he blocked her hand before she could touch him.
Danica froze and thought, “What was that about? It’s just his forehead. Why did he react so strongly?”
Wayne turned and strode toward the bathroom. “I’m going to take a cold shower.”
The sound of running water echoed out moments later.
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Danica stood there, blinking. “Wayne! Are you crazy? You can’t get that wound wet! Did you hear me?”
But he didn’t answer.
She wondered, “What’s with him this morning? Is he out of his mind?
Well…”
Later that night, at 1996 Bar, Wayne found Emilio in a VIP booth. “Where’s the thing I asked for?”
“Relax. You think I’d show up empty–handed?” Emilio grinned, pulling out a bottle of traditional herbal tonic.
It was a family remedy from the Griffin family, supposedly magical for healing injuries.
“This stuff works wonders on bruises. Just rub it on, and the mark fades in no time. By the way, is this for Jenny? She’s the only one I can imagine you’d go out of your way for.”
Wayne took the bottle and stood up, ready to leave.
just then, he caught sight of a familiar figure across the room. Danica was here.
She was with Florence, who was ranting, “Dani, whoever messed up your back? I swear I’ll chop his damn hand off!”
Wayne froze.
He was just about to walk over when someone else appeared in his line of sight. It was Keyon.
Keyon walked right up to Danica. “Dani, Florence told me about your injury. Here, I brought you some herbal tonic.”
He handed her a bottle identical to the one Wayne had.
“What the hell?” Emilio gawked. “Wayne, Keyon asked me for one of these earlier too. Said it was for Danica. Wait, don’t tell me you also asked for one for her?”
Up ahead, Danica accepted the tonic with a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Carson.”
Wayne’s expression darkened. He shoved his tonic back at Emilio. “You talk too much.”
He turned to leave.
But just then, a slender arm slipped around his. “Wayne, there you are.” Jennifer cooed, appearing at his side.
Jennifer had arrived.
Wayne looked up, only to see Danica’s cool, distant eyes locking with his across the bar.
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