Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I’m not asleep, but I will admit that I’ve been floating.
The exhaustion of the week, the insane surprises, the hard, hot body next to me with its intoxicating scent…
not to mention the two glasses of wine, all combined to make a very sleepy Casie.
The fact that Flint is still playing with my hair hasn’t helped anything.
I must drift farther than I think because the next thing I know, he’s gently pressing his lips to my forehead. My head is on his chest, one arm draped across his hips, as though anchoring myself to him.
“Hey,” he whispers.
Does he know I’m awake? Is this weird? I mean — I’m wrapped around him, but he doesn’t seem to mind. Should I be embarrassed? I should be embarrassed. Shit. He’s been here less than forty-eight hours and I’m probably drooling on his chest.
To be fair, it is a rather magnificent chest.
“Mmmmm.” That’s good. A noncommittal sound. Go, Casie! Go!
“Love, as much as I love being close to you, I should probably get you to bed.”
Ummm what?
He gently nudges me and when I decide it’s totally in my best interest to just not respond, I hear him sigh. He gently works his opposing arm under my knees, and lifts me into his arms.
I’m going to combust. I swear. This man just scooped me into his arms like some romance story heroine and is carrying me to bed.
He must be asking Calida to move because I can hear her grumbling protests in my head as she maneuvers herself into a less central position so Flint can lay me down on the bed.
I’m trying to keep my cool. Any other man would use this opportunity to sneak a kiss or initiate some play time.
At least, in my very limited experience.
I’m trying to not let on that I’m mostly awake and at least a little aware, but it’s hard not to brace myself for his kiss.
If this white knight carrying me to bed fantasy isn’t about to come true…
To my surprise and maybe dismay, Flint just brushes the hair off my face and places another, annoyingly chaste kiss to my forehead.
Sir!
Before I can give my creepy self away, he whispers “Sleep sweet, Ash…” followed by something else I don’t quite catch. I don’t have time to ponder it, though, as a glorious warm feeling envelopes my body and I drop into sleep like a stone.
With Ash tucked in for the night, I’m not really sure what to do with myself.
The small spell I used to ensure she’d have a deep sleep and pleasant dreams is as much for her as it is for me.
Not only will it buy me time in case I decide to leave, which I likely will, but I know she isn’t taking good enough care of herself and she needs the rest. If what Betsy and I had discussed today is any indication, her memories are beginning to resurface and I can’t imagine all of them are pleasant. I know they’re not. Mine aren’t.
I can keep watch if there’s somewhere you need to be.
Even sleepy, Calida sounds snarky.
Not that she needs to keep watch. What is there to protect her from here?
I sigh.
I could go and look into the apartment that Betsy gave me the key for. Realistically, I should be staying there and letting Ash have her space but… it’s been so long. I can’t bear the thought of being away from her anymore than is necessary.
I could also go home for a few hours and update those who are invested in where I am and what I’m supposed to do.
I don’t think that would be wise, at this time, as there’s still so many unknown variables in play.
I have no idea what the final outcome will be and I don’t want to inflate their hope or devastate them prematurely.
I find myself studying Ash’s laptop. In the past, she would have given me an open invitation to read whatever she was writing.
Now, though, when she only knows me as a kissing acquaintance, it feels like a violation of her privacy.
As far as she’s aware, I’m just a stranger off the street that she’s known for two days.
The fact that it’s been two days and I am already spending my second night in her home while she sleeps, appearing completely defenseless, speaks volumes about the woman snoring softly behind me.
It had been a worry, I admit to myself. No, more than that.
I had been terrified, in a visceral way, that that had been wiped from her being, along with so much else.
I had been afraid that there would be nothing of the female I knew left, and that we would both be seeing each other as strangers.
Even more so, that she had turned cold and uncaring. Heartless.
There are no words to describe the absolute relief I felt to discover that, in many ways, she is just as she always was.
She remains a beacon of courage, radiating warmth and compassion in everything she does.
She cares for few in this world, but those she has, she cares for deeply, and would do anything for them.
I can see the bonds already forming stronger and stronger, glowing brightly, between her and Calida.
She has always been fearless in facing her challenges and often tackles them head on with a petrifying level of strength and determination.
She is resilience in motion and I find myself more in awe of her than ever, seeing where she is now.
At the same time, part of me wants to scream at her about the absolute idiocy of bringing home a complete stranger and his “pet”, especially when she lives alone and has no way to protect herself.
Once upon a time, I’d yell at her, she’d yell at me, we’d end up sparring to relieve one kind of tension before relieving another in a more private way.
No. Not going there. I shift, uncomfortably, as I feel my cock stir and begin to lengthen at the thought of those types of tension relief.
Get a grip on yourself. You are not some common human man with all of the audacity and zero control. You definitely don’t think with your dick.
Rather than leaving for any other destination, I return to the couch. I spend the long night worrying, wondering and formulating a plan on how to move forward and locking up my own memories.
I slip out of the apartment before dawn, leaving Calida and Ash sleeping soundly in Ash’s bed.
Calida’s snoring is soft, but steady, as I make my way out into the hallway.
I slept like shit and, although I’d never admit it to Ash, sleeping at odd angles on the couch has everything tight.
A morning stretch and run should work out the worst of the kinks before both of us have to report to the bookshop, and I have to face my first day at work.
As I slowly begin jogging down the street, picking up my pace slowly, I consider the wisdom of doing this.
I’ve never worked in any sort of clerk capacity before.
It’s not exactly something I’d ever imagined doing either.
I don’t doubt I can do it, but I also know that clerks generally have more patience for assholes than I tend to possess.
I decide to focus on the good. In this case, it’s that I will get to be with Ash — damn it — Casie all day, while she’s working.
It will be nice to be able to be around her in a situation where she isn’t as on edge.
While I can sense she’s comfortable with me, I also know there’s some anxiety there as well.
I’m looking forward to watching her work.
I consider all of the ways that spending time with her could be great for both of us as I turn around and head back to the apartment building. I’ve worked up a slight sheen of sweat while lost in my thoughts and my body feels more limber, easier and my initial worries feel lighter.
I let myself back inside, using a small charm to open the door I’d locked behind me.
I quietly gather the clothing Ash had helped me wash the evening before.
Not wanting to wake her, and I wait until I’m within the bathroom to turn on the light.
Carefully setting my clothing down on the lip of the sink, I smile.
This is a familiar scene, even across worlds.
Various beauty products are cluttered together around the sink, no rhyme or reason.
There’s candles and crystals, both of varying colors and sizes strewn on every available surface.
A shallow bowl holding flowers sits atop a short, squat cupboard that holds thick, soft towels.
A wooden box with a handle on the floor holds a variety of products, I assume for her baths.
If there’s one area she hasn’t changed in, it’s this. She always did love her baths.
I turn on the shower and strip off my sweaty clothes. Pausing, I debate on what to do with them. Do I keep them separate from hers? If I throw them down with hers, is she going to assume I expect her to wash them?
I decide it will be less of a mess if I put them in with her dirty laundry. Besides, I’ll just do the laundry for her. I might as well make myself useful while I’m here.
And since she showed me how to do it prior to me attempting and failing on my own, it will be more successful than my botched attempt at making dinner.
Happy with my decision, I jump into the shower.
And let out the un-manliest squeal ever heard in any of the realms.