EZRA
I lay in Malachai's arms, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against mine. His fingers traced idle patterns along my back, making me shiver under his touch. We had been lying like this for a while, teasing each other with soft words and gentle touches as we waited for his brother to bring breakfast. My stomach growled loudly, making Malachai chuckle as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"Hungry, love?" he murmured, his voice laced with amusement.
I pouted slightly. "What do you think? You're the one who told me to stay in bed and wait."
Malachai smirked, tilting my chin up with his fingers. "And you obeyed me so well. Such a good boy." His teasing tone made my cheeks heat up, and I buried my face against his chest to hide the blush creeping across my skin.
"Stop it," I mumbled, embarrassed by how easily he flustered me.
Malachai only chuckled again, clearly enjoying my reaction. "You're adorable when you're shy, Ezra. I could tease you all day."
I huffed, pretending to be annoyed, but truthfully, I loved moments like this. It was rare for me to feel this safe and at ease with someone, and Malachai always knew how to make me feel wanted.
A knock on the door interrupted our moment, and Malachai tensed slightly before calling out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and a man stepped inside carrying a tray of food. I looked up at him curiously, taking in his sharp features and dark eyes. He bore a strong resemblance to Malachai, though his expression was more serious, almost unreadable.
"Here's your food," he said simply, placing the tray on the table beside the bed.
Malachai didn't move right away. He was still holding me close, his arms wrapped securely around me. He made no attempt to get up, nor did he acknowledge his brother beyond a brief glance. Instead, he picked up a fork and scooped up a bite of food, bringing it to my lips.
"Eat," he commanded softly, his eyes fixed on mine.
I hesitated for a moment, aware of his brother's presence in the room, but the way Malachai looked at me made it impossible to refuse. I parted my lips, letting him feed me, my cheeks warming as he smirked in satisfaction.
His brother cleared his throat. "Malachai."
Malachai ignored him, bringing another bite to my lips. "Open up, love."
I did as he asked, feeling both embarrassed and comforted by his attentiveness. It was only when his brother spoke again, more insistently this time, that Malachai finally acknowledged him.
"We need to talk," his brother said firmly. "Alone."
Malachai let out an irritated sigh, finally turning his gaze to the other man. "I'm busy."
His brother's jaw tightened. "This is important."
Malachai scoffed, still not moving from his spot. "So is feeding Ezra. Whatever it is, it can wait."
The tension in the room thickened, and I felt a strange unease settle in my chest. I glanced between them, unsure of what was happening. It was clear that this wasn't just a casual sibling argument…there was something deeper, something heavier lingering between them.
His brother exhaled sharply, his expression hard. "It's about her."
Malachai stilled. The shift in his demeanor was immediate, his body tensing against mine. His grip on the fork tightened, his knuckles turning white. For a moment, he didn't say anything, just stared at his brother with a dark, unreadable expression.
I frowned slightly. "Her?" I echoed softly, looking between them for answers.
Malachai's jaw clenched. "Not now, Elvis."
So that was his brother's name…Elvis. It was the first time I was hearing it, but that was the least of my concerns. The air between them was heavy, charged with something unspoken yet deeply significant.
Elvis shook his head, his expression filled with frustration. "You can't keep running from this, Malachai. She's pregnant."
The words hung in the air like a bomb, and I felt my stomach drop. Pregnant? Who was pregnant? And why did it seem like such a big deal?
Malachai's entire body was rigid against mine, his breath coming out in slow, measured exhales. He looked furious, more furious than I'd ever seen him before. His grip on me tightened, almost possessively, as if he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go.
"I don't give a damn," Malachai said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Elvis looked taken aback for a moment before his eyes narrowed. "You should. This isn't something you can just ignore."
Malachai let out a humorless chuckle. "Watch me."
Elvis sighed, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. "Malachai…"
"No." Malachai's voice was sharp, final. "I don't want to hear another word about it. Not now, not ever."
Elvis stared at him for a long moment before shaking his head, his expression filled with something akin to disappointment. "You're making a mistake."
"I don't care."
I remained silent, unsure of what to say. I didn't know what was happening, but I could tell it was serious. The way Malachai was reacting, the way his brother looked at him, it was clear that this conversation ran deeper than I understood.
After a long moment, Elvis sighed again, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Fine. Do what you want. But don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.
Malachai exhaled slowly, his fingers rubbing soothing circles into my back as if to ground himself. His expression was still unreadable, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"Malachai?" I asked hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper.
He looked down at me then, his expression softening slightly as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Don't worry about it, love. Just eat."
I wanted to press for answers, but I could tell he wasn't ready to talk. So, I nodded silently and let him continue feeding me, even as a million questions swirled in my head.
Whatever had just happened between them, I knew one thing for certain….
it wasn't over.