Hildi shifts, exhaling softly. Her arms stretch over my middle, and she snuggles against my chest.
Gods.
I’m contemplating my next move; do I extract myself slowly? Do I bolt and run? Or do I flip her over on her back and climb on top of her amazing, lithe body. I’m leaning toward option number three when another knock bangs at the door. Hildi jumps up, alert and instantly awake. She looks at me--no, at our entanglement--with horror and quickly hops off the bed.
I do the same, painfully aware of the bulge in my pants. I gesture for her to hide behind the door and grab a blade from the bedside table. Once she’s in place I swing open the door, blocking her from view.
A student stands in the hallway. A boy with a note in his hands, he holds it out. “Here’s a note from the Headmaster.”
“Thank you,” I say, distressed at how hard my heart is beating. Why? This boy is no threat to me.
Unless he sees the Valkyrie and my messed-up bed.
I open the paper and it’s just a note about my class location the next day. I exhale and again say, “Tell him I got the information.”
He’s gone an instant later, obviously not interested in lingering. I shut the door, revealing Hildi pressed against the wall. A line from sleep crosses her cheek and her clothes are rumpled.
“Feel better?” she asks, running her fingers through her hair.
“Hmm?”
“You slept. Did you get some rest? I didn’t mean to fall asleep, too, but I think that fight with Agis wore me out.”
“I did,” I say, trying to present normalcy. Is this what happens when a person rests? Your brain shuts off? Or is it the fact I woke next to this beautiful woman, with her body so close to mine.
That hasn’t happened in a long time either.
“And yes, I feel better.” I rub the back of my neck. “You should probably get back to the dormitory before anyone notices you're gone.”
She groans. “You’re right. I was supposed to meet Marielle for dinner and totally bailed.”
I watch as she walks across the room and eases her feet into her boots. She bends to tie the laces and I look away, not wanting my body to betray me again. I’ve just barely gotten it under control.
“Don’t stay up too late,” she says when she’s ready.
“I won’t.”
“And no more sleeping on the floor. You’re an Academy instructor. Play the part.”
I nod dutifully.
She sighs and looks around the room. “Guess I need to go face the music, but don’t be surprised if you find me in here again. Your bed is amazing.”
She wants back in my bed? I swallow. “Any time.”
She smiles. “I’ll hold you to that.”
A moment later she’s gone, the door clicking behind her. I’m rattled, not sure of what just happened. I’d set up walls a long time ago to keep my life in perspective. No comforts. No hope. And especially, no women.
In just a few hours, I’d broken all three.
23
Hildi
My body buzzes as I walk back to my room. It’s not late and students walk up and down the hallway, heading to and from the library or the lounge. Waking up pressed against Armin’s body like that? I still feel the prickly heat on my skin.
Knowing Armin, he’s probably trying to figure out how to repent for his sins for daring to let down his guard and take a nap.