The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 148: Awake

Chapter 148: Awake

"I was completely terrified when I saw you suddenly appear - it really caught me off guard," Rhys explained in a hushed tone, attempting to keep his voice steady despite the trembling.

"Remember when you said you wouldn’t go off alone?" Rhys asked, taking a deep breath as he observed her breathing, recalling the intense fear he experienced when he couldn’t locate her earlier in the washroom. "You promised that you’d wait for me."

, "I regret not being there," he muttered as he exhaled shakily and kissed her knuckles, squeezing his eyes shut. He had cried more today than ever before.

"You shouldn’t have been alone," he told her. He pondered if she had been frightened, if she had cried for help, or if she had understood the situation. The thought was so painful that his entire body recoiled.

"I’m with you now," he reassured her, sniffling and snuggling closer to her. It felt like his body was enveloped in a warm blanket when he was near her again. "I’ll ensure your safe from nowadays."

"I don’t say it often, but you mean the world to me. Do you know that?" Rhys choked out, his voice sounding feeble as he attempted to swallow down the lump in his throat.

Uncertain if she could hear him, he felt an overwhelming urge to speak to her. With a trembling voice and tears streaming down his face, he buried his face in his hands, trying to stifle his quiet sobs as he expressed his love for her.

Despite feeling like he was the worst thing that had ever happened to her, he couldn’t help but believe that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Rhys’ breathing quickened and he tried to hold back his tears, attempting to clear his misty vision as he settled back onto the bed, refusing to budge.

Her piercing green eyes were all he could think about, longing for them more than anything he had ever wanted. "I won’t leave, I’ll be here when you wake up,"

He reassured her, hoping that the words that once brought him comfort will also bring some to her too. It was his fault, he caused this.

He felt like a knife had been stabbed in his chest as he said the only thing that kept running through his head, he couldn’t think of anything else as he tried to stop his voice from trembling again.

"I’m sorry Bear... I’m so sorry"

All his life he had wanted nothing but to escape the harsh reality of his life.

He had grown up hating every second of his teenage years. He had felt the betrayal of his own loved ones. Watch as they shattered his heart and trust and left him bleeding and broken.

Hope was something he wasn’t used to. He hadn’t ever hoped for anything as much as he’d hoped for Beatrix to wake up right now.

He had hoped to spend all his days with her and he had hoped to keep her in his arms all night.

He had hoped to go on adventures with her, see the world with her, and grow old with her.

He wanted to tell her. Tell her that he was mad about her.

Tell her that she was the only thing on his mind every night before he went to sleep and that she was the only sight he wanted to see when he woke up every day.

He wanted to tell her that she was it for him.

She was his life, his world, his everything. The protector of his heart, but most importantly that he loved her.

He was in love with her.

In love with her smile. In love with her green emerald eyes. In love with her luscious lips. In love with the way she giggled when he said something funny, in love with the way she held his hand as they slept.

In love with the way that she stood up to him, fought with him, and demanded love from him. In love with her in every way it was possible to love.

"Beatrix ..." He whispered, taking her cold hand into his own before leaning down and kissing it.

"Beatrix I know this might be too late but I... I don’t know if you can hear me right now, but I have to say this."

His fingers raked her hair and he pressed his lips onto her forehead, ready to confess what he had been waiting to confess more than ever.

"I love you,Beatrix. I love you so freaking much.

I can’t imagine a day without you. You make me want to wake up every morning so I can see you before anyone else, and falling asleep with you in my arms is better than any dream.

You are my dream,little mouse. You’re my cool morning and my peaceful night, you’re my small smiles and my bright light... You’re my reason to breathe and I hate myself for never telling you before. I love you, Baby. I love you my Little mouse.

I love you with everything. Just please, please wake up. I need you so much and I love you so much. I can’t be without you. I need you,Beatrix.

I need you as much as the night sky needs the moon. I love you,Beatrix. I love you."

His eyes were shut but tears still fell from them.

But the salty drops of water and salt that fell from his eyes were all she needed.

The doctors may have saved her life, but he had saved her soul. Medicine may have healed her wounds, but his love had healed her heart.

Just as a teardrop fell onto her cheek, her eyes flinched and her hands began to tremble.

"Rhys....Rhys"

Her voice was soft, barely a whisper but Rhys couldn’t miss it. Instantly, his eyes shot open and happiness surged through his body at the sight of her eyes opening slowly and her lips whispering his name.

"Rhys.."

Her voice croaked. Tears ran no further down Rhys’ cheeks as he stopped wearily to the voice that had called out. It couldn’t be?

No, it couldn’t be? It had to be a dream. He was just hearing things. It was making him believe things, this pain he felt within his heart was encouraging him to believe that she was okay but he couldn’t trust it.

Rhys listened intently waiting for another response or slight movement. In a matter of moments, Rhys felt his arm lift with ease from the existing position upon his body. With hesitation at first he gently lifted his head to meet the beautiful green eyes that met his own in return.

"B-Beatrix?" He choked as he slowly sat up taking closer inspection. Mirroring his own movement she sat up gently, disguising the true pain that was lodged within in her stomach.

Beatrix’s heart sank over how exhausted he looked, but it nearly flew out of her body when Damien’s bloodshot amber eyes land on hers.

"Beatrix ?" he rasped, like he didn’t understand what he was seeing and his own voice was raw and thick like had the flu and close to losing it.

"What’s going o-"

Her question was stopped by Rhys clambering towards her, damn near jumping on her as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and buried his face against her neck.

What the hell happened?

"You’re awake" he whimpered against her neck, pulling her tighter against him and she was so confused as to why he was acting like she had just woken up from the dead

.

"I’m awake" she echoed still not understanding, and wrap her own arms around him; hugging him to her.

She winched slightly in pain at how close he was hugging her.

He pulled away from her, "Are you okay? How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? Do you feel sick? Is your breathing okay?

Do you need anything? Do you want me to get the doctor?" he fired questions at her so fast. Beatrix smiled softly at him.

He sounded so relieved and panic stricken at the same time;

"Rhys -I’m fine don’t worry okay? You look awful though. How are you? She asked, bringing her hand up to push his messy hair away from his forehead and frown deeper at how haggard he looked "Are you okay? Both of you? Because you don’t look okay"

Rhys pulled his face back, with his brows pulled hard together as he sniffed; blinking the tears away from his eyes and it broke her heart.

"You’re seriously asking me if we are okay right now? You’re in hospital and you’re asking us if we are okay?" he rambled in shock, but he almost sounded annoyed that she had ask him that.

Beatrix shrugged, "You’re both important to me and seeing you both like this hurts."

Damien shook his head and leaned forward to press a kiss on her forehead.

"We are okay now that you’re awake now."

.

*****