Chapter 23:My room

Atheline closed the door behind him his heart pounding on his chest as he looked at the woman seated on his bed.

She had her right leg crossed over the other and her hands linked on top of them.

"What are you doing in my room?" Atheline asked in confusion his gaze moving to the slightly opened balcony doors, "Let’s forget that... how did you even get past so many guards?"

’

Are the guards’ father appointed really that useless’

All the guards were his father’s warriors and the thought that they were so easily evaded really didn’t sit right with him.

’

Did she teleport here?’

"You don’t have to know, I’m already here aren’t I?"

Atheline nodded. The initial panic had passed and he finally took a good look at her under the Light crystal.

Today she was dressed in a dress that Alaric had never seen her in before. A long dark blue dress that reached her ankles.

It clung to her body like a second skin and the long slit on the side that came to a stop mid-thigh, made it more tempting.

’

This is pure sin’

"You look gorgeous," Atheline said before he could stop himself.

Lily smiled at his words.

"I know....did you miss me?"

Her stare prevented Atheline from answering anything different from her expectations.

"You didn’t come yesterday."

Atheline avoided answering the question.

She chuckled softly her eyes narrowing just a smidgen. She patted the right side of his bed her intentions clear.

"Come here."

He really didn’t want to.

’

I really need a bath’

Her stare made him fold.

Atheline walked to the bed and sat down but still maintained arm’s length distance from her.

She didn’t comment about it.

"How have you been?" He asked awkwardly

Lily tilted her head a little at his question, an amused smile touching her lips.

"I’ve been well," she said lightly," though apparently I wasn’t gone long enough for someone to notice my absence."

Atheline frowned a little. Of course, he did, she had pointedly ignored his first question for her to come around and accuse him of not noticing.

"I did notice," He said sighing dramatically," you weren’t here.....yesterday and today then you mysteriously popped into my bedroom."

She stared at him for a moment, her golden eyes searching his face as though looking for some sort of sincerity in his words.

"Did that bother you?" She asked him.

Atheline shifted slightly on the bed. He clenched the bed covers as he tried to come up with a response.

"I’m used to seeing you," he admitted, "it feels ... strange not seeing you."

For a split second something warm flickered in her eyes as she studied him.

Then she leaned back in her arms, the movement causing the slit of her dress to climb higher just a little.

"I had matters to attend to," she said casually.

"For two days?" Atheline bluttered letting his curiosity win.

Her smile deepened. She shifted, just a bit her satisfaction palpable.

"Do you wish to know about everything I do when I’m not with you?"

’

What?’

Atheline choked on his spit causing him to fall into a coughing fit. She had twisted his question out of context.

"I didn’t say that," he said after he calmed down.

"Mmh."

They stared at each other in silence while Atheline tried to stop his eyes from moving downwards from her face to her cleavage that seemed to be calling to him.

’

I’m not a pervert, I’m not a pervert..’

The chants in his mind were enough to help his wandering eyes. Her face was eye-catching on its own.

"You kept your distance from me," she paused weighing his reactions," ... I don’t like that."

Atheline was genuinely confused. He had tried keeping his distance from her the first time and it had backfired on him. He really didn’t have much of a choice in this distance thing.

’

I’m a gentleman okay’

"How?" He asked.

"When you sat down...," she said calmly, " you stayed away from me."

Atheline chuckled nervously. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I thought you might prefer your space."

Lily stared at him for a moment then laughed slightly. Atheline swallowed.

’

Light, it sounds like music’

"Space?" She repeated as though puzzled by the word.

"Yes?" Atheline answered but somewhat unsure.

She scooted over and moved closer to him closing the distance between them until they were in full close contact.

Her scent hit him like a punch, Jasmine and something he couldn’t quite put a finger on.

"I invited you to sit beside me Atheline," she said.

’

Can’t you see I’m sweaty!’

"I was beside you."

"Barely. "

Her voice was angry, if anything she sounded amused at the predicament she was putting him through.

’

Soft

’

Her breasts were now pressing against his arm. Atheline was left in an awkward position, not knowing whether to move his hand or enjoy the feeling.

A small chuckle reached his ear.

’

She noticed’

Atheline could feel her gaze fixated on him.

"Do I make you nervous?" She asked.

Atheline looked up at the ceiling then leaned back on his free hand.

"Sometimes," he said hesitantly.

"Why?"

He turned to glance at her.

"Because I can’t read you... " I find it unsettling that I can’t understand you," Atheline said in a moment of vulnerability.

Her smile deepened.

"Really, who do you think I am in your own precognition?"

Atheline exhaled softly.

"That’s exactly the problem... I can’t place you, you’re like a mystery. You appeared out of nowhere and barged into my life like a train wreck... here we are," he chuckled," in a room alone."

’

What the heck am I even saying!’

Atheline felt like cringing.

The room was quiet each of them lost in their own thoughts. Her hand came and intertwined with his. She lay her head on his shoulder and played with his fingers unconsciously.

The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable it felt peaceful, even grounding.

Then she finally spoke. "Did you do anything interesting yesterday?"

He shrugged.

"Training. Reading. The usual."

"How dull."

Atheline smirked slightly.

She let go of his arm and stood up.

’

Is she leaving?’

She didn’t move far, she turned around and straddled him. Atheline didn’t have time to escape the unexpected embrace.

"I have something for you."