--: Author's POV: --
The heavy, suffocating silence of the upstairs hallway didn't stand a chance against the absolute chaos of the Highland kitchen.
When Jay Jay walked in, her eyes were still slightly puffy, but the sight that met her made her stop in her tracks. Aries was sitting at the marble island, looking like he was five minutes away from a migraine, while Percy was brandishing a spatula like a weapon.
"I'm telling you, Aries baby! If you don't flip them at the exact moment the bubbles pop, you lose the fluffiness!" Percy chirped, flour dusted across his cheeks.
Aries didn't even look up from his coffee. "Percy, if you say the word 'fluffiness' or 'baby' one more time, I will personally ensure you never see a kitchen again."
The room went quiet for a heartbeat when Jay Jay entered, followed by Keifer, and then the looming presence of Angelo. The boys instinctively straightened up. Keifer didn't move away from her; instead, he stood close enough that their shoulders brushed, a silent declaration of where he belonged.
--: Jay Jay's POV: --
We sat down to eat, the smell of burnt butter and maple syrup filling the air. Keifer sat right next to me, his presence a warm shield. I felt Aries watching me from across the island.
He waited until Angelo was distracted by a phone call before he leaned forward, his voice low and only for me.
"You look better, Jay," Aries murmured, his eyes searching mine. "The storm in your head... is it quiet now?"
I looked at the pancake on my plate, then at Keifer, who was listening intently. "It's quieter," I admitted. "I don't feel like I'm drowning anymore."
Aries reached across the counter and briefly squeezed my hand—a rare, grounding gesture from him. "Good. Because if he doesn't keep it that way, I'll help Angelo bury him. But for now... I'm glad you're back, little sister."
--: Author's POV: --
The two weeks that followed were spent reclaiming the time that had been stolen. Whenever Angelo was busy with meetings or away from the estate, the world narrowed down to just Jay Jay and Keifer.
They spent hours tucked away in parts of the mansion where no one dared to disturb them. They sat alone in the library or by the hidden gardens, finally allowed to exist without the weight of the "Bodyguard" mask. It was in those quiet, solitary moments that their connection deepened into something far more intense.
On their final night, they escaped to the old stone bridge. The air was biting, but the heat between them was enough to melt the frost.
--: Jay Jay's POV: --
"I'm never going to let you go back to that place where you can't breathe, Jay." Keifer whispered, his voice a dark, rough rasp.
I looked at him, my heart swelling with a mixture of relief and love. I reached up, my hand resting against the stubble on his jaw. "Then don't let go." I whispered back, my voice barely audible over the wind.
He searched my eyes for a heartbeat, his gaze softening before it darkened with intent. He leaned in slowly, his lips finally meeting mine in a kiss that started as a soft promise but quickly spiraled into something much hungrier. Our tongues danced in a fierce, silent battle for dominance, a delicious heat that made the freezing Highland air disappear. My hands bunched into his hoodie, pulling him closer as his large, warm hands slid beneath the hem of my t-shirt. The contact of his skin against my bare waist sent a jolt of pure electricity through me. I leaned into him, my heart racing, wanting to lose myself in the feeling.
But suddenly, he stopped.
His hands lingered for a jagged second on my skin before he slowly, almost painfully, withdrew them. He rested his forehead against mine, his breathing ragged and heavy.
"Keifer?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
"Not yet, Jay," he rasped, his eyes closed tight as he fought for control. "Not here. Not like this."
--: Keifer's POV: --
I was on the absolute edge of losing control. Every instinct I had was screaming at me to take what was mine. But I felt the small tremor in her frame. After everything she had been through—the nightmares, London, the fear—the last thing I wanted was for her to feel rushed. I had to wait until she was a hundred percent ready. She deserved a man who could master his own demons for her sake.
"I've got you," I whispered, forcing my heart to slow down. "We have all the time in the world, Jay Jay."
--: Author's POV: --
The morning of the return to the Academy was a different kind of storm.
When the black SUV pulled up to the gates, the student body went silent. The door opened, and Keifer stepped out. He didn't act like a guard; he reached back and laced his fingers firmly through Jay Jay's.
Ci-N didn't miss his cue. He jumped onto the hood of his SUV, cupping his hands around his mouth. "EY! MAKE A PATH!" he roared, his voice booming across the courtyard. "THE ANCHOR IS OFFICIALLY DROPPED! HERE COME THE LOVEBIRDS!"
Jay Jay felt the burn of a hundred stares, and her heart began to race with a sudden wave of shyness. She felt her face go bright red, her instinct telling her to look at the ground to hide her blushing cheeks. But just as she started to lower her head, she felt the warmth of Keifer leaning down toward her. Right there, in front of the entire school, he pressed a slow, lingering kiss to her temple, his presence shielding her from the prying eyes.
"Don't look down, Jay," he whispered, his voice a low, gentle rumble that only she could hear. "Just keep your eyes on me. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere."