Page 43

42

C arrying her up the stairs, I feel the slight weight of her body in my arms as she starts to relax and drift off to sleep. Her breathing steadies and I know she is close to slumber. With careful steps, I push open the door to her room, glancing at the clock; just after six in the morning. The soft rays of sunlight filter through the window, casting a warm glow over the room.

I carry her into the bathroom, setting her gently on the seat in the shower. She groans contentedly as I step inside with her, a quiet chuckle escaping my lips. "Keep your eyes closed," I murmur to her, and she complies happily, trusting me. I toss my mask onto the bathroom counter and turn on the water, adjusting it until it runs warm against the wall.

Turning back to her, I help her stand as I take my time washing her body. The scent of soap fills the air, mingling with the lingering smell of our earlier games.

With gentle strokes, I clean her body, starting at her shoulders and working my way down to her feet. She leans against me for support as I lather up a sponge and carefully wash away any traces of our playtime. Her eyes flutter in pleasure as she feels the warm water cascading over her skin.

Moving slowly and deliberately, I cleanse every inch of her skin, paying extra attention to sensitive spots like her bottom where Blade had left his marks. Despite any discomfort or tenderness, she remains still and allows me to tend to her.

Once her body has been thoroughly washed and rinsed off, I turn my attention to washing her hair. She hums softly as my fingers massage through her scalp, removing any sweat or dirt from her hair and replacing it with the sweet-smelling suds of shampoo. I take my time in rinsing it out, enjoying the feeling of her soft locks between my fingers.

With her body now clean and relaxed, I turn off the water and wrap a towel around her before grabbing another to dry her hair. Once it's mostly dry, I carefully braid it down her back, a gesture that brings a smile to my face.

Leading her back to the bedroom, I grab a soft facemask and place it over her eyes before helping her into bed. I take her wet towels and replace them with fresh ones for myself. Finally dried off, I join her in bed, wrapping my arm around her as she instinctively moves closer to me, seeking my warmth and comfort. As we lay intertwined, I gaze up at the ceiling above us, savoring every sensation of her warm skin pressed against mine.

As I begin to drift into sleep, a gentle knock breaks the silence and Raven enters the room. His presence is calming, and I watch as he sheds his boxers and slips into bed on the other side of Red. A soft sigh escapes me as he yawns, knowing we were all exhausted from our sleepless night and early morning activities.

"Where's Blade?" I ask, breaking the stillness between us. He shrugs nonchalantly, his eyes closing as he wraps an arm around Red's waist, drawing her closer to us.

"Cleaning up the kitchen," he says with a tired grin, and I can't help but chuckle before settling back against the pillow.

Raven's breathing soon becomes steady as he drifts off to sleep. I prop myself up on one elbow to gaze upon Red's peaceful face. The hot shower has left her skin with a rosy tint, which glows softly in the dim light of the room. A slight smile plays on her lips as she snuggles deeper into the sheets between us.

"You're making me uncomfortable," Raven mumbles, his voice heavy with drowsiness.

I ignore his comment, my focus solely on Red. Her long lashes cast delicate shadows over her flushed cheeks as she sleeps soundly.

"Brooding over her?" Raven's voice is barely audible now.

I hesitate for a moment before admitting softly, "Afraid of getting too attached." But I doubt if he hears me. I lay back down and wrap an arm around Red's slender waist, inhaling her sweet scent that brings a sense of peace to my restless mind. Slowly, I succumb to the pull of sleep, my thoughts consumed by the enigmatic woman sleeping peacefully beside me…