'The fire won't last long, but it's better than nothing,' Landos admitted while kindling some small pieces of wood.

They had searched for a safe hiding place for hours and just when they were about to give up, they found a small cave, or rather an opening in the base of the mountain that could shelter them from the wind and snow. It wasn't ideal. It barely fit all four of them together and its walls were slimy and cold, but at least it would be just for one night.

'Here,' Inerma said, holding a green apple in her hand. 'Take some. I know you love them.'

Ines smiled at her and eagerly grabbed the apple, like it was the most precious thing in the world. Without a second thought she started biting into it, savouring the delicious flavour of her favourite fruit. It was kinda hard to procure it in that time of year, so Ines allowed herself to enjoy that rare moment of satisfaction.

'That was fast,' Landos mused once she had eaten the apple in record time.

They chuckled, their light whispers drifting into the night, like a fragment of a song echoing from somewhere. Her gaze unconsciously drifted from the flames to the cave's opening. There she saw Matthew still sitting in a rock and looking up at the stormy sky.

'You should go and talk to him,' Inerma nudged her.

'I think so, too.'

Ines stood up and started walking towards him. The warmth the fire provided was no longer there to keep away the cold and Ines had to tighten her coat around her shoulders. She had no idea how he managed to stay outside in that weather.

'Come inside,' she urged him once she was close enough to hear her.

He didn't answer. He didn't even move a muscle. Since their capturing the masked woman, he had been distant from all of them. He didn't talk nor look at her, he just silently followed them during their search for shelter. Ines was getting worried.

'Matthew!' she called him, more persistently that time. 'Stop being so headstrong and listen for once!'

She saw him glance at her momentarily and then return his gaze to the sky. Although their eyes connected only for a second, Ines sensed something was wrong. His troubled look made her regret yelling at him.

'You're tearing my guts out, Peter,' he said after a while, his voice cracking in the end. He stared at his hands, all torn apart, defeated and broken beyond repair. His face, void of any emotion, reflected the emptiness he carried inside him, as if he was incapable of feeling anything anymore. That man before her had been hit so many times, that he had bottled up his feelings and raised up walls around his heart in self-defense.

When she saw his weak state and the pain that was written in his eyes, she feared the distance between them couldn't be bridged after all. What if by trying to pick up the pieces she realised she couldn't stick them back together? Maybe she was cursed with hurting the people closest to her.

'Matthew?' she gently touched his shoulder to attract his attention.

'I can't do this anymore, Peter,' he said, sliding a palm over his cheek. 'I know I swore to stand beside you, but I don't think I'm that strong after all.'

'What do you mean?' she frowned in confusion, her heartbeat thumping frantically in her chest.

Matthew got up and stood with his back at her. She could see he was hesitating to speak. 'When I heard you scream, I felt like I lost a part of myself out there. I wanted to rip their heads off with my bare hands for what they did to you, but still, it wouldn't make any difference.' He turned around and looked at her with his sad eyes and sullen face, and Ines felt her breath hitch in her throat. She couldn't look at him, not when it pained her so much, so she averted her gaze and stared at her feet instead. 'I won't be able to control myself next time,' Matthew went on. 'I will keep disappointing you, again and again, even though I promised to you I would be better. I think you would be better off without me.'

Her eyes shot up to his face. Was he willing to give her up after all they had been through? Was it so easy for him to walk away? Anger started boiling inside her and she glared at him. 'And you get to—' she said, but he cut her off.

'Stop, Peter. Can't you see I'm doing this for you? I have messed up more times than I can count, and I don't deserve you. Please, don't make it harder for me to do the right thing for once.'

So, he thought he was expendable. He believed that if she got rid of him, it would do her good. He couldn't be more wrong. It was true he was sometimes overbearing and loud, but if he was willing to fight for her love, she would be there, waiting for him at the end of the road.

Ines took a deep breath to calm her nerves and decided to be brave and show him how much he deserved her. She marched towards him and grabbed him by the collar. Matthew opened his mouth to protest, but she ignored him. 'I love you!' she simply told him, staring into his foresty eyes. 'Tell me how you feel.'

He winced, as if her words dug a knife straight to his heart. Ines worried he had made a mistake and that he didn't really love her back after all, that he had overestimated his own feelings, but now it was too late. She had gone all out.

'Tell me,' she probed again.

The seconds trickled by. Her eyes bore into his, a medley of emotions etched on her features. The more he was stalling, the more anxious she got. The seconds trickled by, and he kept silent. She tried to read his thoughts, but he had masked his emotions too well.

In the end she got the message; she was delusional, and he was perfectly aware of that. He just didn't want to say it out loud and upset her. She reluctantly let go of him, too embarrassed to even look up at him. She took a step back to go and burry herself under a rock, but she didn't make it far.

With two long strides Matthew closed the gap between them and gripped her chin so that she couldn't look elsewhere except for him only. She could see then the way his eyes burned with true affection.

'I love you,' his voice was deeper than usual. 'I keep falling in love with you and each time is harder than the last. Every time the feeling gets deeper, more complete.'

Ines blinked at him in shock. Once she registered his words she sighed in relief and a hint of a smile appeared on her lips.

'But still, it doesn't matter,' he dropped his hand to the side. 'I am not worth it.'

'No,' she shook her head, 'you are all worth it. You hear me? You are one of the kindest men I know.' Matthew laughed like she had told the joke of the year. 'I mean it,' she insisted. 'You are the only one who can put up with my impulsive attitude. And my stubbornness.'

'That I cannot deny,' he said, grinning at her. 'Aren't you mad at me?'

'I little bit. I just wanted to see you make some effort first.'

'I'm sorry for the way I am.'

'I love you the way you are,' she blurted before she could stop herself. Ines cursed at her uncontrollable mouth and immediately sensed heat rising up her face.

Matthew smirked at her and advanced towards her, coming to stand dangerously close. He placed a hand behind her waist and pulled her to his chest. Ines froze. She had no idea how to react. Her mind was so focused on his strong arms around her body that caused sparks to warm her skin. Those arms were the ones that held her steady, the ones that welded her heart back to a whole. She gazed up at him and as she searched for answers in his eyes, she finally saw in them the feelings of her heart.

'Say it again,' he said huskily. His breath tingled her nose, her body burning up as every inch of her craved his touch. She was entranced by his captivating stare.

'I love you.'

The moment she uttered those three little words his lips crashed down on hers. A jolt of electricity coursed through her from where their mouths met, shaking her to the core. At first, surprised by his boldness, she stood there like a deer in the headlights, but then she let her instincts take over and returned the kiss with fervour.

Their lips moved in sync, battling for dominance. His arms wrapped around her even tighter and pulled her closer to him as they lost themselves in that passionate kiss. Ines melted into his embrace, eliminating any space there was between them. His hand fisted her short hair and tilted her head back and deepened the kiss further.

His toned body against hers was enough for her body to react to him. Lust pooled in her belly and drove her to become more daring. She had no experience with such intimate connections, so she would have to trust her intuition. She glided her arms over his, slowly reaching his broad shoulders, and felt the tight muscles that rippled beneath his shirt. Her hands traveled further and took a fist of his unruly hair.

Matthew seemed to like feeling her fingers tagging at his curls, because she instantly heard a groan of satisfaction deep in his chest and soon after she felt his tongue invading her mouth to explore the taste of it.

In his embrace the world stopped still on its axis. There was no time, no troubles nor cold. That was the love she had been waiting for, praying for. She inwardly thanked the heavens and hugged him all the tighter. Finally, she was home.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: UUUUGH!!! I'm literally SCREAMIIIING! Finally! But now their sweet moment reminded of my crush that told me he wouldn't date me unless I reached a thousand stars. Help me guys! I need some love

Phrase of chapter: cui protest scelus, is fecit / who benefits by the crime, is the guilty man - Senecus