“You are very young,” he reminded me, but it didn’t have the same lightness in his voice as it did when he called me young one. “And very much lonely.”
I frowned at that and stepped out of his arms. “Please don’t assume my emotions. Like the word says, you only make an ass out of you and me.” I pointed to the bedroom he’d gone to earlier for clothes. “You can move whatever you need around to lay down. I have to head to work by eight, and I will be back by six tonight.”
“Is it safe?” he asked gently.
“It’s been safe for the last year. Do you come with danger?”
“Very well, I will try not to rest long.” His failure to answer the question didn’t go unnoticed.
Though I could tell he was tired; he didn’t move, still watching me, and it made me feel awkward under his striking gaze.
“Thank you—”
“Good—”
We both tried to speak at once.
He smiled, and I waited for him to go first. “Thank you for the room.”
“No problem. Have a good morning and good sleep,” I replied, and he nodded, turning and heading back. When the doors closed behind him, I spun around and wanted to bury face in my hands.
Good morning and have a good sleep? Ugh, what was that?
What in the hell was going on with me?
Heading back into my room, I fell onto my bed and closed my eyes, wishing I could go to sleep, too. Then I could wake up, and this would be a dream. A very long and odd dream. Instead, I just listened as he carefully shifted boxes, not opening them but stacking them neatly in the corner of the bedroom before laying on the bed.
It was only then that I realized the bed had no sheets, and I shot up like…well a vampire out of the grave, looking to the wall beside me. I opened my mouth to speak but shut it, not wanting to disturb him.
“I am not asleep yet,” he said, reminding me that he could hear every move I made as well. “Is there something the matter?”
“…Ugh, I was just wondering if you needed sheets or something?”
“We do not get cold, Druella.”
“Yes, but the sheets will feel better than the bed itself, right?”
“I have slept on much worse.” His voice trickled through the wall.
“Right,” I whispered, imagining him just laying on top of the bed with no sheets or pillows. Ugh, there were no pillows.
“This shall bother you, will it not?”
“Yes, so badly.”
He laughed, and it sounded like wind rushing through the leaves in the forest. “Very well then, come.”
With great speed, I ran into my closet, pulling out my best silk sheet set and taking one of the pillows from my bed before appearing at his door. I paused, wondering if I should knock, but he opened the door.
“You are aware this is your home? You do not need to knock.” He leaned ever so handsomely on the doorframe.
Ever so handsomely? God help me. I had this bad habit of adjusting or copying how other people spoke.
“I’m aware, but that would be rude.” I stepped inside. I moved quickly to make the bed, but he moved just as fast, taking the other end of the sheet. I looked at him, and he looked back. Not saying anything, we quietly set up the bed. When it was done, I smiled.
“What a strange thing to get satisfaction from.” He stared down at the dark grey silk sheets.
“