Chapter 5 Chapter Five

I help Leilani into bed as flashbacks from earlier tonight force their way into my mind. “Goodnight angel. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I place a kiss on her cheek before turning to leave.

Leilani grabs my hand, “Please stay.” My heart skips a beat. How can I say no? “Please Malakai, I don’t want to be alone.” Fuck, this girl has already put her spell on me.

“Fine, I’ll stay. Now get some rest.” She releases my hands from hers and I head to the chair by the desk.

“No, lay with me.” This is the worst idea I have ever heard of. Tiberius will blow a fuse. She stares at me insistently.  

I reluctantly climb into bed. She raises up the covers beside her. “If I’m going to stay, we have to have boundaries angel, I don’t want to give your dad a heart attack.” Leilani giggles as she lets the blanket fall back down.

I lay down beside her on top of the covers. “Now get some rest, you have had a long day.” I smile as Leilani yawns again.

“Goodnight Malakai.” She rolls over and snuggles her head into my arm. “Goodnight angel.” I whisper.

-Leilani's POV-

I slowly wake after the first night of good sleep I have had in years. Last night feels like a dream. Malakai flirted with me, maybe he was feeling the same weird feelings as me. I roll over to find Malakai sleeping on my bed. Maybe I didn’t dream it all.

I take a deep breath inhaling his scent of bergamot and sandalwood. Malakai stirs, slowly waking up. “Good morning, Angel. How did you sleep?” He smiles, his gorgeous blue eyes shining.

“For the first time in years I slept amazing, thanks to you.” I flash him a flirty smile. For a split-second Malakai’s blue eyes darken, he quickly returns to his usual calm expression. “How did you sleep?”

Malakai takes a deep breath. “Honestly good, I normally toss and turn all night.” My heart skips a beat. I’m not crazy right he’s having the same feelings. I lean in for a kiss, but he quickly dodges me.

“Umm Leilani I better get going. Your father will be awake soon and if he sees me in here, he will get the wrong idea.” Malakai shifts uncomfortably. Maybe I was wrong. My heart fills with disappointment.

“Yeah, I guess so.” I say trying to hide my disappointment. Malakai’s smile falls.

“Hey angel, I’m sorry. You’re eighteen and I am your dad’s best friend and beta, we can’t be together. It…” Malakai sounds upset. I cut him off before he can say anything else, tears fill my eyes.

“Just leave Malakai. Leave. Now. Please.” Malakai reaches for my hand, but I quickly jerk away as the first tear falls. Malakai sighs loudly but stands up off the bed. I climb out of bed too, following him to the door. Wiping a stray tear that falls. I watch as Malakai heads through the door, turning around one last time before disappearing down the hall.

I slam my bedroom door before collapsing on the floor. Why am I so stupid? How could I ever think someone like Malakai would want to be with me? I drop my head into my hands as the tears stream like a waterfall down my face.

There’s no way I imagined everything from last night. He looked at me differently than ever before. He looked at me like I was a woman not some kid he helped raise. I know my crush on Malakai didn’t force me to see what I wanted to see.

I thought after years of being infatuated with Malakai he was finally feeling the same way as me. I hug my knees to my chest tightly as tears stream down my face. There’s a knock on the door behind me causing me to jump. “Mija breakfast is almost done are you coming down?” My dad knocks lightly once more. “Mija?”

I try to clear my throat. “Umm yeah I’ll be down in a minute.” I choke out through the tears.

“Mija are you alright?” My dad’s voice filters through the door full of concern.

Clearing my throat once more I try speaking a little clearer. “Yeah dad, I will be down in a minute.” He sighs loudly, but retreats down the hall towards the stairs.

I quickly wipe my tears as I stand and walk towards the bathroom. If Malakai doesn’t want to be with me because I am only eighteen, then I will make him regret his choices. I take a quick shower and fix my hair. The makeup person my father hired taught me how to do simple makeup, and even left some for me to try out.

Patting on a little concealer I try to cover the redness in my cheeks. I apply a light coat of silver eyeshadow, and some mascara which makes my gray eyes pop. To finish it off I apply a dark red lipstick, with a light coat of gloss. Checking myself in the mirror I smile. There’s nothing I can do for the redness in my eyes but hopefully no one will notice.

Looking in my closet I try to sift through the jeans and t-shirts. Malakai will never look at me like a woman if I keep dressing like a slob. I pull out a light green long sleeve satin dress and slide on some stockings and knee length black boots. I check my full-length mirror once more before heading out of the room.

This outfit is definitely out of my comfort zone, but so is trying to win the heart of my dad’s best friend, my mate. I slowly walk down the stairs trying to listen into the kitchen. I hear Nova, the cook and Nora, the maid chatting quietly as they cook and clean. They are twins, my father couldn’t decide which one to hire so he took pity and gave them each something to do. They are in their mid-fifties, with gray hair and bright green eyes; my father hired them when I was only six months old. Nora and Nova are like the grandparents I never had.

I listen closer, right as I reach the last step, I hear that same deep laugh that makes my heart flutter. Malakai is here. I was worried after this morning he would skip breakfast at our house. That would raise suspicion with my father though.

I make my way into the kitchen; father greets me with a hug. “Mija have you been crying?” I quickly glance at Malakai as he fidgets uncomfortably in his seat. Forcing a smile I say “No dad, why would I be crying?” I can feel Malakai’s eyes on me.