I saw him standing on the balcony. He looked furious and in pain. I couldn't explain why my heart was bleeding for him.
"Richard, are you okay?" I asked.
"Leave me alone, Annabelle!" he yelled.
If he can stubborn I can be as well.
"I'm not going anywhere, Richard, until I'm sure you are okay," I grumbled. "You can't chase me away."
"Annabelle, go away!" he ordered.
"No."
Richard clenched his fist, then stomped it on the railings. "Leave me alone!"
"I can't leave you alone, especially when I know you are not okay." I protested.
"You don't have to show any concern for me," Richard grunted. "Just leave me alone."
I reached out to touch his left hand it felt so cold, and it was wrapped in a bandage. "I'm your friend and do care about you, believe me, I understand what you are going through."
"No, you don't Annabelle!" he yelled. "You have a family that cares about you and not one that only wants you to gain power."
A part of me felt tongue-tied because he was right I do not know how it feels to be used by your family members nor did I know how it feels to have a demon voice speaking to your head.
"You are right, Richard, but I can help you," I said in a calm voice because that's what he needed.
"Annabelle left go of my hand and let me be," he ordered. "I don't want to do something...."
"What will you do?" I challenged. "There is no way I'm leaving until I know you okay."
"Annabelle, let me be," he yelled before pushing me, which caused my head to slam against a vase but luckily for me, I didn't sustain any injuries.
Richard's face turned pale. It didn't seem like he wanted to hurt me. I felt a sharp pain in my arm it had the same burning feeling as when I was pierced with a poison dart.
'Oh no please don't tell me I've been poisoned again.'
Richard rushed to my side. He removed the thorn that had pierced my skin. "Annabelle, I'm sorry I hope I did not hurt you."
"I'm fine," I muttered before letting out a breath of relief after realising there was no poison dart on my body but he didn't seem conceived.
"So you ought to stay away from me. I hurt people around me," he said in a painful voice.
I couldn't help myself so I held cupped his face in my hands, which forced him to look into my eyes. "I'm here to support you and to continue encouraging you, I have no idea how it feels to have a crazy voice in your head or how it feels to be used by your parents as an evil vessel but just know that I will always be there for you."
"Annabelle." he started, but I hushed him.
"There is no need to say anything."
My eyes travelled to see his bandaged hands. It smeared blood around the bandage. It looked really painful.
"I heard his voice after you left, couldn't help myself so I hit a vase with my bare hands. Victoria saw it and got it bandaged." Richard shrugged his shoulders. He knew I was worried, but it looked like he doesn't care about it.
"You can't keep on smashing things it will hurt you," I whispered before taking his hands in mine. "Don't you think it wrong?"
"I don't know, princess," Richard whispered back. "It feels so right."
The goosebumps on my skin rose. I dropped his hands down "You know you are incredible."
"How so?" he asked.
"Many people would have gone mad by now," I said. "But you are still pushing on."
"Careful princess." He laughed. "You do not know if I have actually lost it."
I laughed with him for a while then the room became silent for a while.
"Annabelle," Richard muttered. His eyes were dilated a bit. "I can't help myself after this you can slap me but just let me do this."
I starred at Richard like a lost puppy what did he want to do. "Richard...."
My voice was cut off because someone's lips were on mine. He was kissing me, but the difference between this and the last one is that there is more passion in this one. He held me close to him like if he lets go of me I will disappear.
I kissed him back because deep down I wanted this, and that was not a lie. My hands travelled through his hair, caressing every strand slowly. Our kiss was slow and passionate.
'Just perfect.'
We broke the sweet kiss that had us longing for more. Richard rested his head against mine and stared into my eyes.
"Annabelle I'm sorry," Richard sighed. "I promised not to kiss you again, but I did I can't help myself. Everything about you makes me so happy, I don't seem to understand why I feel this way."
"Richard I don't get you," I muttered.
"I always thought this was impossible. I used to believe there was no way this feeling was possible, but for you..." he paused for a second. "I can't deny it anymore."
"Deny what?" I asked.
"My feelings for you," he said. "Annabelle I love you."
"Eh?" I exclaimed. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered. But I didn't want to get all excited now.
'What if he is joking and trying to play with my head?'
"I love you, Annabelle, and it is not a joke. This is something I have been trying to hide and deny to myself but I can't." he proclaimed.
"Richard." I smiled. "I love you too."
The way his eyes lit up after he heard me was so funny. "Are you serious? You don't have to lie to me or say anything to please me."
I rolled my eyes. "Would I lie to you besides we can read minds and easily find out if we are lying?"
"True." he chuckled. "But seriously Annabelle you don't have to lie."
"Are you stupid?" I asked. "I love you, Richard."
The asshole smirked before coming closer to me. "Say that again."
"I love you."
Richard leaned lower. His lips were so close to mine, but instead of kissing me, he kissed the skin behind my ear. "Say that again, sweetheart."
A slight moan escaped my throat. "I love you, Richard."
Richard smiled against my neck. "You smell so amazing, princess."
"Richard." I moaned slightly. "Stop it."
"No," he said. A wicked smile appeared on his face. He grabbed my waist and pulled me to his chest. I let my hands trailing through his chest slowly and I enjoyed feeling it.
Richard pressed his lips against mine slowly but I didn't want that so I used my hands to bring his head closer, sealing our lips together and so amazingly. He left out a deep moan, which caused me to run my hands through my hair.
'He loves me. I love him. This is perfect.'