Chapter 12:
A light breeze blew over me, sending a slight shiver down my body. I lay where I was, eyes still closed, but mind now waking up, and turned over slightly. My eyes shot open, suddenly aware of the warmth beside me.
I looked at my surroundings, realizing that I was not in my home. I thought for a second... Oh Goddess, how could I have forgotten? I was waiting out the storm in the hot spring building and… and I wasn't alone. My eyes drifted slowly, almost paranoid, to the source of the warmth beside me.
Just as I thought. It was Gray.
"Ah-!" I slapped my hand over my mouth to avoid letting out the loud sound that was trying to escape. Gray was still asleep. I took a deep breath and calmed down, placing my hand over my heart. Thank the Goddess he was asleep. I don't know what I would've done if he was awake.
I glanced at him, quickly looking away, my face a deep crimson color. He looked so… at peace and content when he was asleep; it was a nice expression on him. One that I would be happy to look at longer, were it not for the fact that he was in nothing but a towel.
Which reminds me… I tiptoed over to the door of the building, careful to avoid Gray while trying to make as little noise as possible, and cracked it open ever so slightly. The storm had stopped. That's good. And the sun was beginning to set. That's… not so good. I still had a little bit of work I wanted to get done today. I closed the door and, once again, tiptoed around Gray.
Retrieving my partially dry clothes from where I had hung them on the cabinet earlier, I stole another peek at Gray. It seemed like he was out like a light. I guess if I wanted to get dressed, now would be the time. As I did, I kept peeking over at Gray, just to make sure he didn't suddenly wake up or anything.
Just as I finished getting dressed and ready to head back to my farm, I took another look at Gray. He hadn't moved an inch. I watched his face, his expression calm as he breathed softly, his chest rising and falling with each breath. I couldn't help but wonder just how long I had laid there next to him. Last I remembered, we had been sitting up, back to back. I don't even know when exactly I had fallen asleep. I blushed as I wondered how we had ended up lying down. Had he moved me to that position? Oh Goddess, I hope not. And yet… at the same I really hope that he did. I'm such a contradiction. My face flushed redder still as I remembered the feeling of his body heat next to me. It felt wonderful. Just the memory of it made my heart pound.
But enough of these thoughts, I shook my head to dispel them. Leaning over Gray, I lightly shook his shoulder. "Gray," I whispered, "Gray… the storm's stopped." But he didn't so much as twitch.
"Hey…" I whispered, lightly resting my fingertips on his cheek. He still didn't respond. I never would have guessed he could be such a heavy sleeper.
A slight blush once again spread across my face as I watched him. His hair had fallen a little over his face, so I brushed it aside. My heart fluttered. I traced my fingertips down the side of his face. His skin was surprisingly smooth and his eyelashes… had they always been so long? My fingertips reached to his jawline, and then continued past it down his neck. The fluttering in my heart changed to a pounding and my face turned even redder as my fingers traveled down over his collarbone, soon resting over his heart.
I felt the steady thump thump of his heart, and every bit of my skin that was touching his started tingling. After a few moments of taking in the feeling of his heartbeats under my hand, my body started feeling hot. I was lost in the sight of him, lost in the feeling of him, and I had never felt so frightened and yet absolutely exhilarated before now.
I lightly dragged my fingers farther down across his chest, over his stomach, and around his belly button. I had always known that he had a nice body, but Goddess the sight and feel of it was much better than anything I could have imagined. I was so caught up in what I was doing, the only thing I could hear was the loud pounding of my own frantic heart in my ears. My skin tingled, and my very core felt like it was burning. I continued, lightly tracing my fingers over the soft skin above the line of his towel.
"Nnn…"
I froze. Immediately snapping my hand away, my face burned brighter still, but now out of shame more than anything else. I glanced up at the face of the sleeping man. His eyes were still closed, his breathing still the calm, even pace it had been before. I nudged his leg with my foot. Nothing.
Letting out a heavy sigh of relief, I mentally kicked myself. Why the hell did I just do that? No, bad question. I know why I did it. What I should be wondering is why the hell did I let myself to that?!
I reached into my rucksack and pulled out a scrap of paper and something to write with. After scribbling a note on the paper, I covered Gray's sleeping form with the towel I had been using earlier and placed the note on him. I was originally planning on waking him up just before I left, but now… man, I don't think I'd be able to look at him if he were awake.
Once again, I tiptoed past him to the door and opened it. I stepped outside and glanced at Gray briefly before I closed the door behind me. I took a deep breath, cradling the hand that I had touched Gray with against my chest. My cheeks were red, and my body was still warm from what had just happened. Taking another deep breath, I began boldly walking back down the hill to my farm.
Though my mind was still reeling from the events back in that building, I was going to have to try to best to pretend like nothing had happened the next time I see Gray…
