When I woke up to find the bed empty, panic seized me, so strong and fierce that I could barely breathe. Then I heard her in the shower but the fear hadn’t eased. I couldn’t calm down until I saw that she was safe with my own eyes. That was no excuse for what I’d done. I should have glanced in and then closed the door.
Instead, as soon as I saw her, I’d walked inside the bathroom and watched. She was artwork in motion. Given her short stature, I hadn’t expected her body to be so voluptuous. It made me a perverted asshole, but I hadn’t been able to look away.
The sound of running water cut off and I dragged my mind out of the bathroom with Ava. It had been less than a day and already too much had changed.
I sat down on the chaise and pulled off my boots and socks and then looked down at my jeans. It seemed like I would be sleeping in them.
The door to the bathroom swung open and Ava stood there, dressed in a pair of loose cotton pajama pants and a tank top.
“I left a new toothbrush out for you,” she stated. Her eyes dropped to my jeans. “I don’t have anything you could wear—”
“I’m fine in my pants,” I interrupted.
“If you get too uncomfortable, just take them off.” There was a small gleam in her eye. “I won’t peek, I promise.” As quickly as it appeared, the mischievous glint vanished and she cleared her throat. “I’ll just grab you a blanket and a couple of pillows while you’re in the bathroom.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she left the room. I didn’t understand what was happening here. She was so aloof, so distant, yet she didn’t argue about my insistence that I sleep in her room. And a spark of humor lit her gaze just a moment ago.
Confused, I walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. In all my years on this earth, I hadn’t had a relationship. I’d fucked a few women, yes, but only when the loneliness became unbearable. I didn’t know how to navigate this situation, how to make things right. I’d been a complete asshole earlier and I wasn’t sure what my next move should be.
I brushed my teeth and scrubbed my face with cold water. Finished, I re-entered the bedroom and saw that Ava was already curled up beneath the comforter in her king-sized bed. A pair of pillows were stacked against one end of the chaise and a blanket was spread over the rest.
The room suddenly felt uncomfortably warm and the waistband of my jeans seemed tight and itchy. I hesitated and felt a drop of sweat roll down my spine. There was no way I’d be able to sleep while wearing the heavy denim.
Without looking at Ava, I unfastened my pants and took them off, leaving them on the floor next to the chaise. She said she had no problem with it, so I would take her at her word.
There was no sound from the bed and I wondered if she was already asleep. I climbed onto the chaise and covered my lower body with the light blanket. Now that I’d removed my pants, the air felt cooler.
The chaise was too short, so I bent my knees and tucked my hands behind my head, staring up at the ceiling.
“Good night, Ewan,” Ava whispered.
The sound of my name on her lips, it was perfect. Without thinking, I blurted, “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I know it’s not your fault that Rhiannon has the grimoire. I was angry with myself and I took it out on you.”
Silence followed my apology then I heard the rustle of sheets as Ava rolled onto her side to face me and lifted up on her elbow. I twisted my head and our eyes met.
“Apology accepted,” she replied. “Sleep well.”
“Sweet dreams, Ava.”
Her brows lifted at my words. “We’ll see.”
I heard her settle back into the mattress, move around for a few moments until she was comfortable, and then nothing. Not long after that, her breathing grew slow and deep and I knew she was asleep.
I turned onto my side so that I faced the bed, bending an arm to rest beneath my head. Though the room was in almost complete darkness, I could easily make out her shape on the bed. Her eyes were closed and her face was smooth and serene.
I watched her for a long time before I closed my eyes and joined her in sleep.
