Seclusion in the South
I watch the flames of the burning logs on the fire dance, as my system readjusts itself. Christian pulls a burgundy blanket off of the coach and drapes it over our bodies, that are curled up on the floor at the welcoming feet of the fire. The rest of the Cabin is lost in darkness, whilst our little area of floor is enlightened by the warm light donated by the flames. As my mind greedily basks in the memories of the day, I stumble upon something that had been bothering me.
" What happened earlier?" I ask Christian, my voice sounding more tiered than I felt. I feel Christian wrap himself tighter around me, his heat intoxicating me.
" Was it honestly so bad that you don't remember?" Christian says, pretending to sound offended.
" No, not that. Before that. You looked at me strangely." I explain, and I instantly feel Christian's body tense up around me. It remains silent for a long time, and I expect him not to answer.
" I realised something." Christian's says, his voice husky. I wait anxiously for him to tell me, knowing that whatever it is must be bothering him too.
" Ana, you..." He pauses, as if struggling to choose the right words to say. My heart tightens.
" You make me different. Better." He admits, and the tint of fear is clear in his voice. I try to turn over to face him, but Christian holds me in place.
"Better?" I question, trying to figure out what he means. What was wrong before? I feel his discomfort and sense the conversation slipping away.
" I've never brought a girl here, Ana. When I saw you standing there, I realised that I never want to bring another girl here. Just you." His sudden honesty steals the air from my lungs. Just you. what does that mean? I stay in shocked silence, playing the words over and over in my head, trying to work out what he had meant. We both lay in silence, and I eventually feel his muscles relax.
" I wish I knew what you were thinking." Christian says after a long period of time. I hear the warning in his voice telling me that he doesn't want to talk about what had just happened. I realise that I have lost any chance to ask into it, and decide to leave it for when Christian is in the right mood to talk.
" I'm still wondering what La forêt nue means." I lie in the attempts to distract Christian from his worrying. I can feel his smile in the darkness.
" It translates to The Naked Forest." Christian says, and I smile at the irony.
" That's certainly appropriate right now." I smile, whilst placing my hand on Christian's bare chest.
" Indeed it is, Miss Steele." He purrs in reply. I risk slowly moving and feel Christian tense in response. I gently turn myself and then lay down so I am lying across his chest. His body relaxes again and I know he's okay with this. Christian then wraps the blanket warmly over us, and I tuck my head comfortably under his chin. H begins to gently runs his fingers through my hair, comforting both of us, whilst we lay drifting into a warm, sweet sleep.
"Happy Valentines day." Christian mumbles from the darkness of the room. I smile at his words.
" You too, Christian." I hazily reply whilst slipping out of my final seconds of delightful conciousness.