63 Coaxing (1/2)

It has been a few minutes since Mark left the ward. I can't stop worrying about Cain: what if the Lion finds traces of him once more? I don't want to be his weakness, I don't want him to lose his cool for me all the time. Though his actions warm my heart, his world is way too cruel for him to be impulsive. He can share his weaknesses with me, but I can't let him show them in front of anyone else. This time we are lucky it is Mr. Jason. But what if someone gets the winds about me and uses me to threaten him? No wonder he was keeping his distance from me back then. I feel a whirlwind of emotions: angry, happy, scared, expectant. The list goes on and on, but whatever I feel doesn't change the fact that today my impulsiveness put him into a dangerous situation.

Though I know that he is willing to give up everything for me, I don't want it. I need to reprimand him about his behavior. And I feel like I need to take radical approaches for this.

The door of the ward suddenly opens, and I instinctively turn around to look at the newcomers. Seeing him with disheveled hair and still in his sweatpants and homey clothes, I can picture how he ran out of the house the moment he heard Mr. Jason's threat. He rushes to me and I stand up to greet him and calm him down, but he quickly embraces me, and his warmth washing away all the scoldings I had in mind.

It seems like he is slightly trembling: his hold on me is so tight as if I will disappear if he loosens his grip. I want to talk, but he is faster than me, blocking my words by claiming my lips. He starts rough, and then he becomes incredibly gentle and slow. It feels like the first part was his punishment for putting myself in danger and the latter part is his way of telling me that he is with me now. I can't help the smile that is creeping to my face: I am the luckiest and the most fortunate person to have him.

He loosens his arms around my waist and instead cups my face. He abruptly takes a step back and starts observing me from head to toe. I open my mouth to speak, but I suddenly notice his penetrating gaze on my neck. Damn! Seems like trouble is coming.

And indeed, it doesn't take much time for it to come: Cain turns towards Jason and looks at him with a murderous glare. If eyes could kill, Mr. Jason would have died a million times by now.

”Seems like you took my words as an empty sound.”

His voice is low, very low. Added to the fact that he spoke through gritted teeth, plus his glare, I know that things will go south if I don't intervene.

”Cain, it's fine, really. This happened before the call and it's nothing serious. It's just my skin that is too sensitive.”

”Cain, look at me.”

Though my voice is slightly stern, there is still no response from him, except for his hands clenching into tight fists. I can see the veins on his forehead from the side.

”What exactly happened?”

He enunciates each and every word, but his question is directed towards Mr. Jason and Mark who wisely choose to remain quiet. However, I can see guilt and regret in their eyes. I honestly don't blame them, but knowing Cain, he won't put the matter aside even if they try to explain him. I know I am the only one he will listen to now, so I throw all manners out of the window and copy his action to cup his face.

”Cain, I am alright. I promise he just did it because he lost control. He didn't mean it. And he didn't hurt me in the slightest.”

He finally turns to look into my eyes with his own blue ones that have now turned many shades darker. They look like the bottomless ocean and even I am having difficulties to figure out his exact thoughts. Have I convinced him? Or is he still seeking to deal with them?