Always Down

Chapter 23 ? Il calore

He veered the car to the right and then made another cut to the left before pressing onto the brake. With one hand on top middle of the steering wheel and the other around my headrest, he reversed the car, his focus shifting from the side mirror to over his shoulder and effortlessly parked his car.

"Thirty but close." He inclined forward to the steering wheel and pulled out the keys.

"Excuse me?"

"I do inform you about our plans but only thirty minutes before." He repeated.

I crossed my arms. "Was that supposed to make me feel better because it certainly didn't and again, why are we here?"

Observing me thoroughly and quietly, he leaned in towards me and gently held my jaw as I intook a sharp breath of his scent like an absolute creep. His stare kept moving from my lips to my eyes as if he was having an internal battle. Looking over my shoulder, he then tilted my face to the side and motioned me to look behind. A huge board hung up, the words written in bold black- Lovers Bank. The sight of a stack of books piled in endless rows could be seen from here and already this was the most prettiest sight.

Facing him, he was slouching in his seat, watching me. "You told Riven to get you some more books, so I thought you can come and choose for yourself."

A flare of emotions swamped through my heart at his words, part of it visible on my face. He might have noticed my expression and he shifted his attention to the windshield.

"Thanks and I'll be quick, don't worry." My words came in a rush.

Reaching for the door handle, he drew me back again and spoke. "I'm coming with you."

I frowned at my own thoughts. "I won't run away if that's what you're worried about."

He let go of my wrist and pulled away. The air which was once consumed by his presence only minutes before was mixed with his scent. I wasn't complaining, not that I'd ever be in the first place. His scent was something that I'd recognise in a heartbeat, no matter what.

"I said I'm coming with you."

I closed the passenger door behind and hurried my steps inside the bookstore, feeling the excitement running. Once inside, my eyes lit up at the amount of books heaped high onto the shelves, the fragrance of crispy new and old pages filled the air, it brought a feeling of comfort in a sense. With my attention set on the last end aisle, I walked in that direction, squishing past several people in the way.

I didn't bother waiting for Hades because by the rushed footsteps, I knew that he was closely following behind. Reaching the isolated aisle, my fingertips carefully skimmed along the books, mind-reading the titles that sounded too perfect for the real world. Perhaps that's why I loved reading so much because even for a few hours only, I could live a fairytale where love wasn't just a word and happy endings were their reality.

"How many?" I asked, casting a glance over my shoulder.

He took a step forward, his hands tucked into his pockets. "How many what?"

I closed the distance between us and stood in front of him. I had to tilt my head up to meet his face. "How many books can I take?" I rephrased my words.

"As much as you want."

I let out an unintended scoff at his words. He stood unphased as if he had enough of me.

"Cute but I can't take the whole library, Hades." I scoffed.

"I can get you the whole fucking library if you want me to." He looked at me dead serious.