Being slightly uncoordinated, I have some difficulty getting the comforter out from underneath me, but when I succeed it’s over my whole body with only my eyes peeking out. He continues to smile at me and chuckle to himself as he watches me.
“Let me go check on something in the other room,” he says, chuckling. “Then, I will be back to give you all the cuddles you desire.”
I lower the blanket down to my neck so he can see the grin on my face so he knows how much I like that idea. He exits the room and I hear his footsteps walking towards the front door before stopping. I can hear him mumbling something, but it’s too soft for me to make out any distinct words.
After a few moments, I hear his footsteps returning to the bedroom. When he appears in the doorway, my heart skips a beat. He never ceases to amaze me. That white hair and gorgeous, blue eyes have me hypnotized. His handsome face and toned body don’t hurt, either. I don’t think I will ever get enough of him.
He crawls into bed next to me while I’m ogling him. Laying on his back, he opens his arms so that I can scoot next to him. I lay my head on his shoulder, and snuggle as close as I can against his body, his natural chill cooling off the heat flowing in my veins.
Though it seems like an odd combination – fire and ice – it’s perfect in our case. We’ll never be too hot or too cold next to one another.
“Do you feel that?” I ask, wanting to know if he feels his ice cooling the fire streaming within me.
I hope it’s not just me
“Your heat melting the ice in my blood?” he queries, squeezing me against him. “Yes, I feel it. I’ve lived in Eden for many years, but I do believe this is what heaven feels like.”
“I would have to agree with you,” I say, blushing.
I smile, closing my eyes for the night. It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep – literally a few minutes thanks to how comfortable I am. I drift off into what I can only explain as the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time.
I don’t snore, toss and turn, or wake up at all until morning when Degory adjusts himself to get up out of bed. I don’t have any nightmares, not even of what is on the horizon for us.
I sleep in the same position the whole night, my hand in his and folded together neatly on the top of his chest. I groan softly when he moves, letting him know I’m awake and sad he decided to get out of bed. Extending my arm, I grab hold of his clothing to pull him back, but he slips easily from my grasp.
Moaning again, I whine as he lets out a small chuckle at my reaction. I’m still half asleep so I don’t feel embarrassed or join him in laughing, just sad he doesn’t get back into bed with me. It’s only been one night but already I’m feeling spoiled and want more of his touch.
“Sorry,” he whispers, still grinning. “I was trying not to wake you.”
“It’s okay,” I reply, sleepily. “I’ll forgive you if you get back into bed and snuggle with me some more.”
He laughs, but doesn’t rejoin me. I don’t mind, though. He knows full well I’m just being silly hoping my charm will convince him come back. I wouldn’t be able to stay mad at him if I tried. Either way, I don’t want to get up quite yet. I want to stay in bed all day and not have to worry about anything.
I know that isn’t possible, but that doesn’t mean I can’t relax for a little bit longer. I will have to get up eventually, but while we are here, I’m going to try and make the most of our spontaneous vacation. Nothing, and no one, is going to ruin the time I’m able to have with Degory, alone in his family’s cabin.
Oh, crap, family…
I wonder if anyone has noticed I’m missing yet. Even then, since dad trusts me, it’ll probably take them forever to realize that something is wrong. Which is sort of good, I guess. I don’t want cops looking for me while I’m on the run from Eden. That could be problematic.
However, it’s a little heartbreaking, too. How long until they decide to contact the authorities? I can’t blame them, though. I’m sad to be away from my family, but I don’t miss them like I imagined I would. Being with Degory makes up for any misgivings.
To distract myself, I focus on my host. I can hear his footsteps go through the living area and pass the front door to the kitchen and dining room. I try to ignore the noise and go back to sleep, but I can hear the clinking of pans.
After that, it’s quiet for a few minutes, but it isn’t long before the sweet smell of pancakes reaches me. I ignore it, still trying to fall back to sleep. I expect him to call for me to come eat, but he never does. I don’t even hear his footsteps when he returns. I don’t even know he’s back in the bedroom until he whispers my name.
“Sunny,” he calls quietly. “I’ve brought you some breakfast.”
I roll over, a little annoyed for being forced to wake up but do so with a smile. I rub my eyes trying to wake myself up faster. Either way, I have to be grateful for this amazing gesture he’s done for me.
Knowing that he has made me breakfast in bed without me having to do anything for it feels really good. I didn’t even have to ask. No matter how annoyed I am, I swallow my pride and sit up to eat breakfast with him.
I finish rubbing my eyes and see him still dressed in his black robe and pants, but he, also, adorns a blue and white checkered apron with white frills all around the outside of it. It looks like it’s at least fifty years old.
“What are you wearing?” I chuckle, my hand in front of my face to try and hide my snickering.
“What?” he asks, looking down at himself.
“Why are you wearing that apron?” I clarify, giggling uncontrollably.
He blushes.
“I didn’t want to get any flour on my uniform…”
His voice is almost a whisper from his confusion and embarrassment. I nod, say okay, and let it go before I lose it. He’s so cute that I don’t want to discourage him from doing more things like this by embarrassing him.
I take deep breaths to calm my giggle fit, and he sets a tray of two plates full of pancakes on the bed between him and me. Then, he sits down on the edge of the bed so that we are facing each other as we dig in.
Using my hands, I pick at my pancakes while Degory uses a knife and fork to eat his. I’m not sure I have ever tasted anything like them. They are so good – the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten. I will have to ask him how he makes them when we are in a safer situation.
We eat in silence, Degory glancing at me from his pancakes every once in a while, which leaves me to my thoughts. I feel so useless and it’s starting to affect my mood more than my family not noticing my absence.
I know he’s the experienced one in all of this, but I don’t want to just be a burden and leave it all in his hands. I don’t want to be the damsel in distress that always needs to be saved.
Maybe I can ask him to train me to fight and control my powers so I can help?
I’ve never been a fighter, but if it’s necessary so I don’t get caught in some lab or killed, then what choice do I have?
Once we finish breakfast, I get up and grab the tray of empty plates before he has the chance to. I know he will try to do all the work if I let him. I’m so happy he wants to take care of me, but I need to do something after feeling so helpless. I’m already getting antsy.
Plus, I want to do something for him for once. He’s done so much for me since we’ve met, all of it good minus this situation, that I feel the need to try and repay him. At least a little bit.
“You don’t have to do that,” he says to me, getting up from the bed to stop me. “I’ll take care of it.”
“I know,” I respond. “I don’t want you to do everything by yourself.”
“I want to,” he reassures me, laying his hands on top of mine.
I look up at him as he continues, his eyes glistening with affection. My heart melts.
“I want to take care of you,” he continues. “I don’t want you to ever have to worry about anything again. Not as long as I have a shred of willpower left within my being
.”
“That’s a lovely sentiment,” I reply, softly.
And it is. It’s absolutely sweet and amazing, and everything my six-year-old self would have wanted from the person I spend my life with, but my pride won’t allow that. I have to do something and I have to fight back.
I can’t just sit and watch everything happening around me. Now, I have to figure out how to tell that to Degory without offending him.
“But I don’t want to be completely useless and do nothing,” I say. “That would just make me a burden.”
I start walking towards the bedroom door with the tray so he can’t argue with me when he stops me, standing behind me with his hands touching my shoulders. His touch is so gentle, it’s difficult for me to believe he has the power to destroy cities. I can feel his hands shaking slightly against my skin.
“Please don’t say that,” he begs, voice so soft I can barely hear him. “You aren’t, haven’t been, and will never be a burden on me.”
I can’t even try to argue with that, I can feel the truth in his words. I’m relieved that he doesn’t feel that way, but I’m, also, sad I hurt him by insinuating it. I want him to be happy, so if that is what he wants, then I can’t help but let him have it – let him take care of me.
Of course, there’s always a compromise so I won’t feel absolutely helpless.
“Okay,” I concede, sighing. “But hear me out. I have an idea.”
“I’m listening,” he hints, leaning to my side so I can see his expectant, and somewhat suspecting, face as I speak.
“How about we clean up together?” I announce, hopefully. “That way we don’t butt heads. You’ll still be taking care of me. I’ll just be helping.”
“I suppose that would be alright,” he chuckles, agreeably.
He takes the tray from me before I can protest, and leads the way to the kitchen. I roll my eyes with a grin, and follow closely behind him. Walking into the kitchen connected to the dining area, it surprises me how much space there is compared to what I originally imagined when we first arrived, but it’s no bigger than the living area. The whole cabin is extremely small, but extremely comfortable.
We decide to split the chores: I wash the dishes while he dries and puts them all away since I have no idea where he got them from. It doesn’t take us long since we didn’t dirty much, but it’s interesting seeing a Division Captain doing menial chores.
I want to take a picture and show his regiment mates to see how they would react. A few days ago, I never even knew anything about Eden or Division Captains, but I imagined this being strange behavior for one, especially with his reputation there.
Chapter 13
Once we finish washing and drying all the dishes, he takes my hand and leads me into the living area where I retake my place on the couch. He restarts the fire that burnt out while we slept by placing new logs into the fireplace and lighting them with ease, almost instantly warming the cool air around us.
He never seems bothered by the cold but actually enjoys it, which I understand with his naturally chilly body temperature, so I know he’s making sure there’s a fire for me. I guess he doesn’t really know yet that my abnormal body temperature keeps me warm even when it’s really cold out.
Once he finishes, I wait for him to join me but he doesn’t. When the fire is stable, he saunters over to me, kisses me on the forehead, and walks towards the front door. I’m a little stunned since he’s usually a little more touchy-feely with me.
“Where are you going?” I ask, pouting.
I don’t want to admit it, but the thought of him leaving me alone makes me panic a little. He chuckles and turns back to me with his hand situated on the door knob to the front door of the cabin.
“I’m just going outside to train a little,” he reassures me, smiling lovingly. “Very strong people are trying to find you. I want to make sure I’m at my very best if they happen to find us here. If we can’t outrun them, then we must face them. I promise I’m not going to leave you here alone. I’ll still be protecting you. I’ll just be outside.”
He winks at me and I giggle.
He’s comfortable enough to flirt, now!
I nod to let him know that I understand his reasons, and he smiles back at me, making the jitters in my stomach calm down for the moment. He goes outside in one graceful and fluid movement, shutting the door softly behind him.
Facing the fire again, I gaze into the flames as if they can give me some sort of answer to all the questions floating around inside my head about him, the situation we’re in, and my powers. There are so many of them rumbling around inside my skull that I can’t even focus on just one to try and come up with some sort of plan of attack.
With a sigh, I get up, quickly get dressed in the clothes I arrived in last night, grab my coat and scarf from the bedroom, and make my way outside to watch Degory. I didn’t realize it, but it snowed while we were sleeping. I find him sitting on the freshly fallen snow about ten feet away from the cabin.
I look up at the canopy for a moment, wondering how the snow had fallen through the leaves and branches, but decide not to question Mother Nature and leave the question aside to join the million I already have.
With the cover, it’s unbelievably dark outside for being midmorning. At least I think it’s midmorning, I haven’t looked at a clock yet today. I have no idea how the snow managed to squeeze through the invisible cracks and fall to the ground.
Thankfully, I’m still able to see Degory pretty clearly – I’ve been here long enough for my eyes to become acquainted with the perpetual darkness.
I focus on the mystical boy in front of me who stole my heart. He looks right at home among the frozen ground and chilled trees. Like he belongs here. As I watch him, I see that he has his sword sitting on his lap while he meditates. He looks so peaceful with the wind gently blowing his hair back.
I’m a little jealous. I think his hair is more luscious than mine. Seeing it flow in the breeze somehow makes him look even wiser and older, and adds an air of confidence about him that I wish I could have. It’s clear by looking at him that this, being a Reaper and helping the world in the afterlife, is what he is meant to be.
I’m about to go sit by him, but before I can move even a few feet he stands, removing his sword from its sheath. He moves his blade methodically, as if practicing a routine. Although this is my first time seeing this, I realize I love watching him train. It shows me a side of him that I haven’t seen yet. His trained soldier, mission and duty above everything else side of him.
His movements are purposeful and graceful. At a sure pace, they begin to speed up until ice spikes start shooting out of his sword – or at least, that’s where it looks like they’re coming from – and hitting the trees around him.
I’m amazed he’s able to have enough space to train in the first place, but watching him now gives me the smallest inkling as to why he is a Captain. I’m hypnotized and in complete awe of his grace and skill.
One of his moves causes him to pivot and look in my direction. His eyes sparkle and widen a bit, noticing me watching him for the first time and a bit shocked by my presence. He immediately repositions himself out of his stance and walks over to me, his confidence never wavering for even a moment.
He’s not proud of his abilities, or embarrassed. He simply is. What I just witnessed is as much a part of him as his fabulous white hair.
“Enjoying the view?” he asks with a mischievous grin.
With only a few strides he’s in my bubble, my personal space, causing my cheeks to flush in excitement.
“Very much so,” I reply, biting my lower lip while my lips twitch into a smirk. “So, that’s how a Captain of the Ten Division Regiments trains himself?”
“It is,” he smiles. “Impressed?”
“Yes,” I beam.
I want to enjoy his flirting, but one thought stands out in my mind. If I want to ask him to teach me how to fight, now is going to be the best time to do it. I take a deep b
reath before talking again.
“Can you help me?”
“With what, Sunny?” he quizzes, his brow scrunching together in confusion.
I forgot he can’t read my mind. Another half grin escapes me seeing how cute his expression is.
“Teach me how to fight?” I ask meekly.
I know that the only thing he can do is say no, but I’m still nervous. I really want him to agree. Everyone should know how to defend themselves, right?
He doesn’t respond at first, which makes me even more anxious and I end up gnawing on my bottom lip. He just stares at me waiting to tell him I’m joking.
“You’re serious,” he states, dumbfounded.
It isn’t meant to be a question. He’s just helping the idea sink in for himself.
“Yes,” I confirm with a nod for emphasis, relieved he didn’t outright reject the idea. “I want to be able to defend myself and control my powers. I don’t want you to have to fight them alone.”
“You realize you being on the battlefield will just make it more likely that they will catch you, right? Not only will it make you closer to them, it’ll distract me. I’ll be focused on protecting you rather than the fight I may be involved in.”
“Yes, I’m aware, but I can’t stand the thought of you fighting my battles for me, and all by yourself, too. You shouldn’t do this alone. I don’t want to lose you…”
My train of thought kind of derails after that. I can’t handle the thought or the possibility that he could die. Or die again? I’m still not sure how that works.
Either way, I’m choked up by the thought of not ever getting to see him again or feel his touch against my skin. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve known him, from now on he’ll always mean the world to me.
I look down at the ground to hide my emotions. I didn’t realize until that moment how much I care for him and what he is to me. It’s overwhelming.
“You won’t lose me,” he comforts, placing his hand on my cheek.
He wipes away a tear I hadn’t even noticed escape.
“But I don’t see the harm in teaching you how to defend yourself,” he caves.
Waiting a Lifetime (The Waiting Series Book 1) Page 12