Wings of Broken Time by Alina Das 521
After dinner, hearing that Haskell was going to play a game of chess with Zoltan, Larissa decided to stay instead of returning to the Judson estate immediately, watching with keen interest.
Haskell’s posture as he played was remarkably relaxed. He leaned back slightly against his chair, a chess piece dancing between his long, elegant fingers like a nimble sprite. His gaze was deep and focused, each move seeming both carefully calculated and effortlessly casual. Under the soft light, his handsome features were perfectly defined–the high bridge of his nose, his deep–set eyes, and the slight curve of his lips captivating Larissa completely.
Every time he placed a piece on the board, she felt her own heart flutter, as if each move rippled across the surface of her soul. The thought that this impossibly handsome man belonged to her, that they would soon share the most intimate closeness, sent a thrill of excitement through her. The feeling was so sweet, so deliciously private, that she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling aloud.
“Beaten again,” Zoltan said, looking at the board before slowly setting down his piece. He glanced up at the wall clock.
After two games, it was nearly ten. It was getting late.
“Alright, that’s enough for tonight,” Zoltan said to his grandson. “Haskell, you should take Larissa home.”
Haskell nodded. “Of course.”
As they left the study, Larissa took the handles of Haskell’s wheelchair, guiding him slowly down the hall and toward the front door.
Once there, she couldn’t help but say, “Haskell, you were absolutely magnetic back there. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” Her own eyes sparkled with admiration and affection.
Haskell paused, a faint smile touching his lips. “Is that so? It’s not often I manage to surprise you. Sometimes I wonder if someone as brilliant as you might find me… ordinary.”.
Larissa let out a soft laugh. “You? Ordinary? Never. Honestly, Haskell, with a face like yours, you could have absolutely nothing to your name and you’d still be anything but ordinary.”
He chuckled. “So, if this face were ruined, would you stop liking me?”
It was the classic no–win question, the modern equivalent of “If your mother and I were drowning, who would you save?” For many women, it would be a relationship minefield, but for Larissa, it was simple.
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Chapter 521
“I think,” she said without a moment’s hesitation, “that after what happened with Draven, you’re smart enough to never let anyone get close enough to hurt you again, except for me. So that face of yours is perfectly safe. And even if something did happen, I’d make sure it was restored to its former glory.”
She couldn’t bring herself to utter a dishonest platitude like, “Even if you were disfigured, I’d still love you“. Who, really, could love someone whose face was horrifically scarred? She might continue to admire Haskell’s mind and respect his strength, but the romantic spark would be gone. Desire, after all, began with the physical before it could ever reach the soul. Without the vessel, the rest was just an abstract idea.
Haskell’s smile widened with a hint of self–deprecation. “You’re right. From now on, no one gets to hurt me. I’ll protect this face, if only to keep you pleased.”
“In that case, I think I’ll enjoy it right now,” Larissa murmured, leaning down and planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
Haskell’s expression softened with a touch of longing. “I wish that at this time of night, we were heading to our room together instead of me sending you home.”
Larissa straightened up, her
wn voice full of hope. “Soon. Once your legs have healed,
we can start planning the wedding.”
By the time Larissa arrived back at the Judson estate, it w
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
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