Every atom in Jasmine's body craved for care and attention from Ander. His charm and radiance didn't escape her notice.
Jasmine clasped and unclasped her hands in angst. Ander's behavior puzzled her, he showered her this kindest eyes and paid her needs heed like never before.
She closed her eyes, remembering the dusk when, to soothe his feelings, he locked his lips with her in a passionate kiss. The feeling of the kiss still lingered in her heart.
Ander peered at the seats at the waiting area, which seemed tidy and clean for her to sit on. But to be cautious, he wiped them clean with a sanitizer and a handkerchief. The staff at the store along with Jasmine watched his movement with a piqued interest.
He glanced at the chair with a satisfied smile, giving his approval for Jasmine to be seated. At the sight of his sweet gesture, Jasmine's eyebrows rose.
"Good gracious!" she exclaimed. "I was unaware that you were such a gentleman."
"Hmmm...I'm full of surprises," Ander forced a weak smile on his face.
Her ailment worried him and he didn't know how to bring up the topic. He'd set his determinations in getting to the bottom of the problem before they leave the mall.
"I'll get some jewelry for you to take a look."
With that, he dashed off further into the store. The idea of leaving Jasmine alone for long, unchaperoned, didn't appeal too well to him so he hurried in his tracks.
Jasmine took a look at Ander through the looking glass. He looked uncommonly handsome and quite alluring from the angle. Her heart swells for a split second from admiring him.
Ander went around the store checking out different types of jewelry. From gold, to diamonds, to pearls and even emerald, he picked out everything he saw met Jasmine's standards.
One attendant of the store joined him to help him carry the jewelry that he had already selected. They judged from the outfit he and Jasmine wore to reach a conclusion that the two of them were probably young heirs of a prominent family in Lavena. Hence went out of the way to help them.
Ander and the attendant took around trip in the store and came back to Jasmine. They set down the jewelry, from earrings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets and rings on the table in front of her. Jasmine took a look at Ander's choice and smirked.
"Come, let's try these," he invited.
A small smile bloommed in Jasmine's face, the princess treatment from him meant the world to her. She wanted to hold such moments in her life while she still had a chance.
"Help me try them on," she said.
They spent the next hour trying on every set of jewelry on the table. Jasmine had her prince charming adorn her in the expensive designer jewelry from all the famous brands around the city.
Every time Ander hooked or unhooked the edge of a necklace, anklet or of bracelet, His fingers would brush against Jasmine's skin. Causing tiny little butterflies to do flips in her tummy. Her nerve endings would tingle as the sensation of his skin set of embers on hers.
The attendants of the store watched their interactions with dreamy eyes. It was a feast for their hearts to witness young love in full bloom.
Jasmine's focus was mostly on him; the tender way in which he handled the jewelry and the warmth of his fingers as they caressed her skin. She filled every inch of her yearning for more than feathery touches from him.
They made slow talks and Ander cracked up some jokes to lighten the air. Everything was going well untill Jasmine choked a cough on her her handkerchief in between laughs.
She went to fold the handkerchief to put it back in her pocket, only to catch it stained with blood. Jasmine hastily squeezed her hand around it and stashed it away and tried to cover up her shudders.
Her eyes darted around the store, avoiding Ander's intense gaze. Secrets hid in her eyes, ones she needed to take to her grave and she worried they might spill through her eyes to his.
He had that effect on her. The ability to melt her heart and lower her guards. He made her feel safe, heard and loved. The things she yearned for the most in her life.
Ander took her hand in his, he caressed it, meeting her eyes and refusing to let her turn away. "Is everything alright, Moon?"
Jasmine's knees weakened. His eyes tempted her to speak her truth, confide in him about her medical condition. But she felt it would break his heart and force him to force sincerity with her in the last months she had left. Jasmine hated being pitied, her pride wouldn't be able to handle that, so she kept her mouth shut.
"I'm Jasmine Kincade, why wouldn't it be?" she remarked dryly.
Ander's eyes gleamed warmly like the gold of early autumn. She gazed unto him with interest, a burning desire to taste his lips and conquer them with her burning at her core. Jasmine began to view with rising alarm the steady chocolate brown eyes that were so silently inspecting her.
He sensed a pretty sparkle about her eyes. The peace he desired to find in her, settled with a shimmering light in her eyes. Ander gasped at the beauty.
Her usually cold eyes were far from cold. They stared at him as though he was the ocean, for which she didn't mind drowning. With her eyes still fixed on him, he licked his lower lip suggestively.
He looked into her very clear eyes, now brightly blue as they took all of him in. Ander leaned his head down and kisses the back of her hands. Her hands were beautiful, soft and snowy. The snowy part he figured was from her being ill. His heart nearly breaks as her ailment haunted his mind, he peppers feather light kisses all of her palms and fingers...hoping in some way, they'll heal her.
A slight head overwhelmed her cheeks as he kissed her fingers, her face reddening with pleasure. After a moment or two, she rose, her eyes averting from his as she made a move to leave. Her heart's reaction to him scared her. The feeling was new to her and uncontrollably provocative, she sought to run from it and process it later.
"I like you alot, Jasmine," Ander spoke, Jasmine's feet came to an immediate halt. Her mind going blank at her heart nearly broke free from her chest. "But I know deep down the feeling is slowly growing into love. It's a little scary, do you like me?"