Chapter 19


    His long arms wrapped around my thin framepletely as he buried his head in the crook of my neck.


    His breath tickled my throat and neck, sending excited tingles through my body and making me feel


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    warm and protected. I felt hyper-aware of every inch of him that was touching me. His hair tickled my


    cheek and his broad hands held me firmly. After a long quiet moment, I pulled away, much to his


    dismay, and smiled at him softly. He reluctantly took a step back and cleared his throat.


    "So what''s the n of the day for tomorrow?" I asked, remembering what he said to the girls.


    "I figured we could go on a pic and then go for a swim at thiske in a wooded area of town," he


    exined.


    "We?" I asked curiously. He shrugged.


    "na, Anya, you, and me," he borated.


    "I didn''t think you would want to go. You were so ufortable around the orphanage and around the


    girls," I noted. He shrugged, his face looking more tired and defeated.


    "That''s because I know how each of their parents died. I had to confirm their deaths and ce the kids


    in a new home. Some of them had family members willing to take them in... but those kids are all alone.


    And I hate that there is nothing I can do about it except hope someone will adopt them. But I hate that I


    can''t give them a family. No body wants them... and no one should have to grow up with that thought,"


    he exined. "I feel like I failed them."


    "Well, poor Yana. She''s taking care of all those kids by herself," I noted. "How did she end up being the


    only one?" I asked.


    "She''s windowed. Her husband died and she miscarried. She was about to give up on her life when


    she found out that no one was looking after these kids well. She threw herself into caring for them, and


    treats them like they''re her own kids. She shows them love, but I know that it won''t be enough for those


    kids," he exined.


    "That''s really sad," I said, more to myself than to him.


    "You can help her all you want now that you''re here. I''m sure the kids would love that," he said. I sighed


    and moved back towards the door.


    "I promised to say goodnight to the girls... but thank you," I smiled at him. I went back to the girls'' room


    to find them dressed and waiting. I smiled and pulled the covers over each of them, tucking them in and


    kissing them goodnight. I turned off the lights and soft snoring soon followed. I mentally smiled at how


    tired they were.. As far as I knew, this was probably the most exciting day of their life. I closed the door


    softly behind me to find Elias waiting on the other side.


    "They''re asleep," I said quietly as I moved away from the door and into my room. Once I sat on the


    bed, I noticed how truly worried Elias looked. I stood again and ced a gentle hand on his arm. I tried


    to ignore the butterflies running amuck in my stomach. The feeling I had when he touched me seemed


    to be getting stronger with time.


    "What''s wrong?" I asked, worried myself. He took my hand and led me back to his room. I was starting


    to get nervous. We went inside, closing the door behind us, and he sat me down on the couch before


    he began pacing in front of me. "Elias," I said quietly, trying to bring his attention back to me. He looked


    at me and sighed.