Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 357

Chapter 357 A Reward

LUNA

I was exhilarated all morning.

It felt like a dream that I might wake up from at any second. It made me want to pause time, just so I could live in that feeling a little longer. And I knew exactly who to thank for that. The man who walked into my life like he had always been part of it. The man who rebuilt everything I thought I’d lost.

I was in my room now, sitting cross-legged on my bed. I could hear the shower running in my bathroom, and I found myself unconsciously looking at the door. Apparently, the pipe system hadn’t been fixed yet in the guest bathroom, so Abel had to use mine.

He said he would stay in the guest room after that, refusing to even step inside my parents’ old room because it didn’t feel right. There was something so respectful in his tone that it made me want to hug him all over again.

I sighed, leaning back against the headboard. My heart felt like it was racing a little too fast for a quiet night. The full moon was only three days away. I didn’t know if this had an effect on anything, but it felt like every little thing he did seemed to affect me twice as much.

I even wanted the full moon to come faster so we could do that.

Was I desperate? Maybe.

But how could I not be, when he had done all of this-for me?

I heard the water stop.

The sound of footsteps followed. Then, the door creaked open.

My breath caught.

He stood there in the doorway, a faint mist wafting around him from the steam of the shower. His hair was wet, strands falling loosely across his forehead. He looked a little startled to find me sitting there, watching him. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

He ran a hand through his damp hair, clearly noticing my gaze, and cleared his throat. “Sorry,” he muttered, stepping back slightly. “I didn’t realize you were still awake. Go to sleep already. It’s been a long day.”

“I’m still full of energy,” I said softly, and that earned me the smallest ghost of a smile.

He nodded once, glancing toward the hallway. “I’ll be sleeping in the guest room,” he said after a pause. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll be heading back.”

I looked at the bed and then back at him.

“Don’t you want to sleep here?” I asked quietly. “With me?”

The question slipped out before I could stop it.

I could hear his breathing change. For a second, he froze. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said after a while.

His eyes

found mine, and for a moment, the silence felt heavier than any sound. I stood from the bed and started walking toward him until I was right before him. The distance between us wasn’t even a full step, yet it felt like a bridge I’d never had the courage to cross-until now.

“Luna,” he said softly, and the sound of my name on his lips nearly made me moan. Gosh, this full moon was really making me desperate for him, huh?

“Come on,” I said softly. “The bed is big enough. Let’s sleep together.”

“Do you even know what you’re asking right now?” he asked.

I nodded, but my throat was tight. “I do.”

His brows furrowed, as though he wanted to believe me but couldn’t. He let out a breath and ran his fingers through his damp hair, sending tiny droplets down his temple. His chest rose and fell, appearing to be holding himself back, and I didn’t know whether to be proud or terrified of that kind of control.

“Gosh, angel,” he said under his breath. “What’s gotten into you these days? Why are you so courageous?”

I swallowed hard. My pulse was everywhere in the space between us. “Because you are,” I said.

He was surprised by my response. “What?”

“You’re brave,” I whispered. “You’re influencing me to become brave, too.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m a coward, Luna.”

I shook my head. “I don’t see it.”

When I took another step forward, he instinctively stepped back-appearing afraid that if I

came any closer, he’d lose whatever restraint he had left. But I followed anyway.

“A coward is one who hurts other people,” I said quietly. “You-” I swallowed again, “you just want to help.”

He looked away, jaw clenched. “That’s not bravery, that’s responsibility.”

“No,” I said firmly. “It’s both.”

He said nothing. I could feel the conflict in the air. “You’re doing this,” I started off with a small smile. “You came to me because you want to protect your people. You got the diner back, and the house because you care for me… right?”

His eyes flicked up at that. There was something in them-something that looked a lot like guilt tangled with affection.

“And you help others,” I continued, taking another step forward. “You’re an inspiration, Abel. You always have been. You just don’t see it.”

He exhaled shakily, his hand lifting to touch me but stopping just short.

“Now you’re even afraid to hurt me right now,” I said softly. “When I’m asking you not to be.”

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