The Alpha's Dark Revenge novel Chapter 57

Liyah's POV

The smile dropped from my face as soon as I was safe inside my room. My hands slowly came up to clutch my shoulders as the memory of the last ten minutes started to replay in my head.

What the hell just happened?

I wondered if I had only be dreaming or if I actually caught Nikolai studying my face... staring at me, actually. If I didn't know better I would've said he was checking me out.

And I was so clumsy and awkward as as usual that I hadn't realized we stood that close when I looked up. I felt myself reeling when I realized that it would take just one small motion to have our lips touching. For some reason, the memory of the time when we had kissed at one of his business events came to mind, and my heart began to thump louder in my chest.

I couldn't understand the way I had felt. It was both annoying and confusing. When I saw his gaze move to my lips, I couldn't understand the goosebumps that quickly formed on my skin. Instead of the usual fear and anxiety I had always felt around him, it was almost...warmth.

Maybe it was because his aura was warmer. Or maybe it was the almost permanent wide smile that had come to be on his face a lot these days. Maybe it was the concern in his eyes when he rushed to my side to see if I was okay. Or maybe it was the fear that I might have gotten hurt.

Maybe it was all of the above.

Just maybe.

But for a brief second, I had felt a shiver of anticipation at the thought of our lips touching. It was surprising and strange, but not unwelcome...

My eyes widened as I caught myself. Why on earth was I even thinking about this? I facepalmed, slapping my forehead repeatedly. This had just shown that I needed a brain reset. And quick.

"Don't be stupid, Liyah," I chided myself, slapping my cheeks to awaken myself and then peeling my clothes off my body. When I was done I hopped into the shower.

A blast of cold water might do me some good, I decided, shuffling to the bathroom and trying to occupy my mind with something else. Anything at all.

***

I turned on my back for the hundredth time to try to make myself comfortable but to no avail. It annoyed me because I really wanted to get some sleep. But no matter what position I lay in, or how long I shut my eyes, I couldn't convince sleep to come to me.

Great.

When he finally sliced the apple into two, I saw Eve pick up the bigger piece and speed away. Surprisingly, Nikolai chased after her, picking her up like she was a feather and placing her on his neck amidst her squealing and laughing.

Watching him with Eve was quite comforting. He really would make a good father, I decided, taking another sip of my coffee.

I chuckled, watching as he went on one knee when she asked for a piggyback ride. As he picked her up, I could see her lips move continuously as they plunged into conversation.

If I didn't know any better, I would say they looked like father and daughter. It was shocking yet amazing to see him having so much fun that he grinned from ear to ear. Sometimes I couldn't believe he was the same person I had known.

The darkness had gone out of his eyes, those frown lines were nowhere to be found, and his bright smile was enough to put anyone in a good mood. For me, it was like getting to see a new version of him, a better version. But for the everyone else it was just the old him come back to life.

And I liked this version.

I really did.