Chapter 13: Sunflowers

I woke up, gasping for breath. My hair stuck to my face, and the covers were off me. I sat up slowly, wiping my forehead.

I hoped I didn't scream. God, please tell me I didn't scream.

I hugged a pillow to my chest, trying to calm the painful thumping in my ribcage.

The ghost of the pain from falling backwards in that chair in my dream made my back throb.

"Leave her be. She might still be asleep," I heard a hushed voice say from the other side of the bedroom door. It sounded like Damian.

"I just wanna check if she's still breathing - if she's okay," I heard Nick respond. "She's been asleep for so long, it's noon already. And it's so quiet in there. What if she--"

"Oh for f*ck sakes, Nicolai. You're paranoid as f*ck," Damian said. "Do what you want. I need to get to the base."

I heard Damian's footsteps disappear down the hallway.

I thanked the heavens that I didn't scream in my sleep this time. I didn't have the strength to deal with that situation.

Seconds later, a little knock asked if Nick could come in.

I cleared my throat and told him he could enter.

Sunlight streamed into the dark room as Nick opened the door, making me cover my eyes.

"Hey. How are you doing?" Nick asked as he stood my the doorway.

"Besides the throbbing on the side of my face and the feeling like all my bones were crushed by the weight of a giant falling on top of me, I'm perfectly fine." I smiled cheerfully to drive the sarcasm even further.

Nick scratched the back of his blue head. "Sorry. Stupid question."

He pointed his thumb behind him. "Would you like some breakfast? I made chocolate chip pancakes."

My stomach rumbled loudly in response. "That would be nice, thank you."

Nick led the way to the kitchen, where I was welcomed by a sweet chocolatey scent.

On the kitchen island rested an enormous plate stacked with a mountain of pancakes. My mouth watered.

We sat down and Nick put a whole heap of them in a smaller plate for me. Then he held out a bottle of golden maple syrup, asking with his expression me if I wanted some.

"Yes, please." I was unable to stop myself from sounding feral.

Nick chuckled, and poured the syrup on for me. "You look like you could kill for these pancakes."

"I most certainly will. Be warned," I said with my gaze locked on the heap of warm, oozing pancakes.

Nick laughed out loud, before handing me a knife and fork. "So cute."

"You better hope your pancakes are better than Hannah's, or you would be in big trouble," I warned him. Hannah made the best pancakes in the world. No one beat her pancakes.

Nick looked smug. "Who do you think tought her?"

"No way."

"Yes way. I'm quite the chef, if I do say so myself." Nick grinned widely, proud of himself. I noticed that his eyes were ice blue today. It looked very natural, and I wondered if it was his real eye color.

"I'll be the judge of that," I stated before digging into my heap.

And moaned. It was the most embarrassing sound that had ever left my body.

Nick blinked at me with wide eyes. His cheeks turned rosy.

"Itch show good." I moaned again. The sweet chocolate and syrup flavors danced on my tongue. I never ate anything this delicious before.

When I saw his expression and realized how primal I must have seemed, a deep blush crept up my cheeks.

So much for not letting my guard down. Food, curse you for being my worst weakness.

"Sorry. That was weird." I managed, trying to eat more lady-like.

Nick looked away and scratched his cheek. "I... Uhm... I'm just glad you like them."

He glanced at me, looking satisfied with himself.

Nick's eyes caught what I was wearing. "Is that Damian's hoody?"

I looked down at the soft white fabric. "Yeah, he lent it to me because I had nothing to wear."

"Well, you could have asked me for some clothes. It might have been a bit more to your taste."

I munched on the last pancakes left in my plate. "This is fine. It's very comfortable and warm."

Nick picked at the edge of a pancake, pouting. "I have more comfortable clothes."

Wait a second. Was he...?

I gulped down the mouthful that I was chewing, and a little smile tugged at the edges of my lips.

He was jealous. A cold-blooded killer was pouting like a child because a girl wore another guy's clothes.

"Would you like some more pancakes?" Nick asked with a kind grin.

"Yeah, sure." I was still hungry. It felt like I hadn't eaten anything in weeks.

Nick put some more of them on my plate and shook the syrup bottle to pour some on them.

But as he shook the bottle, it slipped from his grasp and conveniently fell on Damian's hoody, covering the whole front with sticky golden liquid.

"Oh shit! Sorry, I'm so clumsy!" Nick stood up frantically. "I'll go get you something else to wear."

I pretended like I couldn't see right through his 'accident'. "It's okay. Just tell me where I can wash this?"

Nick shook his head, "No, I'll wash it for you. I made the mess to begin with."

"Nick, I need to get it in some warm soap water immediately. Otherwise it'll stain," I explained. This hoodie was obviously from an expensive brand. I didn't think Damian would be impressed if it were ruined.

Nick understood what I was saying. "Oh. You're right." He pointed to a door just outside the hall. "That's the guest bathroom. You can use it. I'll bring you some clothes in a sec."

I nodded, and rolled my eyes after he turned away. He was such a child.

I went to the bathroom Nick told me to use, and turned the knob.

Huh. Odd. Is that the sound of water running? But who would be in there? Damian went to the base, Nick was upstairs, and Danté could not have been out of bed this quickly.

I shook my head. I must've been losing it and am bow hearing things.

I thought about checking on Danté later as I opened the door and entered the bathroom.

I was met with a cloud of steam.

And there was Danté. Completely naked, getting out if the shower.

His hair was combed back, dripping wet. He looked like me walking in on him showering was the most normal thing to happen on a Saturday afternoon.

My eyes instinctively traveled to his well-toned abdomen, which I could remember touching the previous night as I bandaged it. The square bandage was still stuck where I had put it. But I didn't remember seeing all those scars.

There were tiny droplets scattered all over his skin...

When I realized with a shock that I was eyeing him and the fact that he was standing there completely naked, I screamed.

I backed away with my eyes squeezed shut, but my foot slipped on the cold wet floor, causing me to fall onto my butt.

In seconds Nick ripped the door open. "What?! What happened? Are you in danger?" He pulled out his gun and pointed it at Danté.

Then realized what happened, staring stunned at his boss.

"I know I'm a greek god, but can I please shower in peace without being ogled?" Danté took his time to grab a towel, which was in a rack right next to me.

I slid backwards on my behind, looking everywhere except at Danté.

How was he even out of bed already? He was in such bad shape the previous night that he had to stay in bed for at least a few more days.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know you'd be in here." I said to Danté. I could sense how much he enjoyed seeing me this flustered.

Why did I save this man again?

"Boss, what the f*ck are you doing out of bed?" Nick asked, dropping his gun.

"I had to take a shower. And there was no way I'd stay in bed counting toes." Danté put the towel around himself. I still refused to look at him, and left the bathroom, standing right outside the door where I could breathe again. My head was starting to spin because of the steam in there. Or was it because of Danté?

No way it was because of him.

"Your body needs time to recover. You lost a lot of blood," Nick said, clearly worried.

"I'm fine. Princess Venus saved my life all heroically. I'm good as new." I heard Danté say.

I should've just let him die.

"I only patched you up," I said."You still need rest."

Danté came out of the bathroom, still only clothed by a mere towel. The hallway felt hot. Too hot for the middle of Winter.

Danté stood right in front of me. I could smell pine needles and lemon.

I was eye level with his chest, but I tore my eyes away, making myself look at a nearby vase of sunflowers.

He put a colossal hand on the wall by my head.

Sunflowers have pretty yellow petals and a fluffy brown center...

Danté leaned in. Some droplets fell from the tips of his hair onto my face, and down my neck.

The liquid slid slowly down my skin, all the way down my chest...

Sunflowers. Sunflowers. Sunflow--

"What a pretty shade of pink that is on your cheeks, Princess," Danté said in a low husky voice. His breath tickled my skin.

Oh brother.