Note: Unedited copy on AO3. Had to take out a chunk to keep it T rating. This chapter might not flow that well. Sorry!
Chapter Twenty-Six
When everything settled, Will made her way to her room, collapsing on the bed. After a while, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," she called, praying it wasn't her dad coming back for another round.
To her relief, it was Phobos. He entered, tossing his travel bag at the foot of the bed, and sitting down next to her.
"A see the storm has passed," he joked, hand rubbing her back.
Will sighed. "For now. Until my dad yells at me for you holding my hand or looking at me too long. Who knew it was going to be him that reacted like this? Here's hoping him and Luba don't join forces with their bitching."
Phobos wasn't bothered. "His opinion means nothing to me, as it means nothing to you."
Will rolled over, opening her mouth to protest that, but stopped, knowing it was truer than she would ever voice. "He's my dad. I care about him. But…" she trailed off, not sure what to say.
"Do not dwell on that now. It's late and we both need proper rest," he said, leaning over to kiss her.
"You're right," Will agreed, now feeling a little giddy at the idea of sleeping next to Phobos again, now knowing between the Earth blessing and her friends patrolling, they were safe enough to sleep.
Sleep. Beautiful, beautiful sleep.
They took turns in the attached bath, getting ready for bed, settling down under the warm covers. They nuzzled for a while, kissing and holding the other. Soon they both proved tired as they fell into a deep sleep.
It proved to be a waiting game.
On Monday, Dean when to work to handle the girls, Caleb, Matt, and Phobos needing to be absent from classes for a week. Irma, Taranee, and Hay-Lin went brimming with magic to help make things go smoothly. Hay-Lin kept them invisible, with Taranee reading the minds of staff to know what was any cause for concern. Then Irma would compel a consenting Dean to say the right thing. They also convinced office staff that they already did mandatory procedures like calling families and documenting sicknesses.
Cornelia spent the day with Serena, growing houseplants in decorative ways that would have taken years of perfect care to achieve. Will spent time with her mom, answering questions about times Will snuck out and missed curfew. It was a harder conversation than Will expected, reliving all the times she broke her mom's trust. Susan was the opposite, deeply relieved that her daughter at least had a damn good reason to do what she did.
Thomas was antsy, so Caleb and Matt offered to go with him to pick up groceries and food so they could leave the apartment. Serena teased they should take Phobos to make it a boy's trip, which made her fiance grumble under his breath as he left. Said prince was keeping to himself, moving between Will's room and the common room. He seemed to study on his tablet, either needing to keep busy, or wanting to stay ahead of Taranee, was anyone's guess. That day passed in an odd rhythm of small fights from the fear that coursed through everyone, and quiet moments with Will drifting between person and person.
Matt took Cornelia and Taranee to watch Lilian as the three Earth Regents spent a few hours scouring the city. Later, with still no luck, Irma tried scrying, but they had no real attachment to Nerissa to be able to connect to her. Phobos tried scrying as well, but he had the same lack of ties to the older witch. He suggested using Caleb's blood, which freaked Cornelia out. But Caleb agreed, saying if his blood ties to his mother could help Will, he would do it.
"She's your mom?" Serena yelled, shocked.
"Oh, did we leave that bit out?" Caleb said, embarrassed.
"She's not his 'mom' mom," Cornelia defended, not wanting her boyfriend to be labeled with his mother's wicked deeds. The topic was dropped, but Caleb's blood was a dead end, as the power of two Hearts was proving to be too strong to bypass easily.
The end of the second day was not as productive as they had hoped. Yet Dean had came home beaming at his successful task, so Will was happy something was done, no matter how little it seemed.
Back in her rarely used room, Will was trying to handle her day's disappointment in a more positive way.
Phobos was sitting on the edge of the bed, thumbing the tablet, night clothes next to him as he was soon to dress for sleep. Seeing her prey, Will walked over in sweats and a tee, hands behind her back.
"Are you showering soon?" she asked, keeping her tone even.
"Yes," he answered, not looking up. "Feel free the go first, if desired."
"Desired?" she mumbled, eyeing the arch of his neck and the broadness of his shoulders. "Um, sure. I was actually thinking of taking a bath. The tub here is so big," she pointed out. "Big enough to fit two people, even."
"It is more spacious," he agreed without looking up.
Will grinned as she tried a more direct approach. She plucked the tablet from his hands, gaining his full attention. "Phobos, can you repeat what I just said for the class?" she said playfully.
Phobos stood, reaching for the tablet, which Will handed over. "What? That you are going to bathe?"
"After that."
"That…" he trailed off, pale skin flushing as he understood what he missed. "Ah."
Will giggled, moving to wrap her arms around one of his, pulling him towards the attached bath. "On the same page now, my prince? Good."
Phobos stopped her, placing the device down to look at her far too seriously, considering what she was offering.
"That sounds deeply appealing," he admitted. "Yet, I think there is something we must speak of first."
"That is?"
"Only two days ago you said you wished for us to take things slow, remember?"
Will felt her mood sour. "Yeah. But things are kinda different now, you know."
"And that is why I worry. That you wish to speed things along out of desperation, not want."
Will felt confusion swell in her. "I have literally had screaming matches at my dad over me 'wanting' you."
Phobos gave a small smile. "You miss understand. I know you want a relationship. And finding out how Earth and Metamoor's courting differ is something I enjoy learning. But you have given up so much of yourself in your magical life. Your relationships with your family are the most glaring. Even your time with the tengu expired sooner than if you had a less eventful life." He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer. "What we have is unexpected, cherished, but not immune to the same strains in your life. In mine."
His free hand brushed her hair back, fingers tracing down her face to cradle her jaw.
"If you can assure me, with no doubt, you have sincerely changed your mind and wish me to bed you, I shall do so now," he announced, eyes deep, breathing faster, grip tightening. "Barricade us both in this room and finally give into the pleasure you invoke in me like a blinding, white fire."
"Phobos," she whispered, body shaking with want, excitement.
"Tell me that in a week's time, when you are well, you shall not regret giving into fear." He was pleading, as he wanted her. Wanted her for so long. And now he was so close.
So close.
Will closed her eyes, not sure what to say.
"It is alright," Phobos assured, moving now to hold her to him. "Do not pressure yourself to do what you think we should. If we miss out on a few things, know I am here because I want to see you well. Not because I seek something from you. Even that."
Will nodded, eyes burning as she tried to keep her emotions in check.
Phobos kissed her crown. "How about a compromise? As 'slow' does not mean stagnant."
Will looked up, chin on his chest, waiting for what he was comfortable with.
"I think a bath, with some rules, is feasible."
Will blushed and deadpanned. "Rules? So sexy."
Phobos chuckled. "The moment I am naked, I fear you shall jump me within seconds. Have you forgotten we shared a wall not long ago?"
"Never gonna let that go?"
"Never."
Her face felt so hot to openly talk about things like this. "So what… what do you…?"
Phobos scanned her red cheeks, smile widening. "You are so beguiling, letting your sweetness show."
What the hell does someone even say to that?
She grabbed his shirt, wanting to bury her face and disappear.
"And it's that sweetness I want to taste," he said, mouth at her ear. "You pleased me with your mouth. It is only equal to do the same for you." He kissed her ear, her shaking like a leaf, mixed in embarrassment and want. "That is want I can offer you tonight, my light. Just that and nothing farther. Does this sound reasonable?"
So since she gave him oral before she was cursed, he felt that wasn't pushing things too far to perform it on her.
Will thought about rejecting it, as Matt wasn't a fan of that action. But she had to stop comparing them in this situation. Phobos wouldn't offer something he wasn't comfortable doing.
"Okay," she said, voice a whisper. "I, um, want to shower first, then."
Phobos pulled back and nodded. "Let me know when you are ready." He kissed her before letting her go.
Will felt like a ball of exposed nerves as she showered, scrubbing and prepping until she felt comfortable, and then some after that. Once done, she started the bath, using sweet smelling soaps and salts. The bathroom had a dimmer, but she only lowered it slightly. The silence of the bathroom was broken by the slosh of water, and Will wished her phone was still there to help break the oppressive quiet.
In a towel, Will came out of the steamy bathroom to see Phobos was back on the bed, staring at his tablet. Only his leg was bouncing rapidly as he waited for her. He looked up at her return, eyes tracing her wet hair down to her wiggling toes, and it reminded Will of his first day in her apartment.
They had come a long way.
"Hey, do you have any music on your tablet?" she asked.
"Yes, I am fond of your planet's classical music," he said, playing a song with a soft piano.
"That's nice," she admitted. "The bath is ready if you can bring your tablet… when you're ready, that is!" she ended with an awkward laugh.
Phobos stood and followed her, hairs on the back of her neck standing as she could feel his stare. Once in the steamy room, Will kept the door open, letting in cool air so she didn't feel so overwhelmed. With the tablet on the counter, Phobos pulled off his shirt, the muscles of his back flexing with the action.
Will turned away, not sure why she was so worked up when she just wanted to jump him earlier. Maybe because she thought it was going to be quick and over with? Because she had a sense of wanting to know she had done that with her new beau. Not liking the idea Nerissa stole that from them.
Phobos was right to worry, as Will was vividly aware she had a bucket list in her head. That had Susan, Thomas, Matt, and Phobos all at the top. If she survived, she wanted them all in her life still, and doing something out of desperation would only lead to regret.
The sound of water hitting the smooth porcelain drew Will's attention. Turning, Will saw Phobos was in the water, unglamoured, long hair disappearing under the soapy hot water. His tattoos were glowing strong with his gifted magic, the skin wet as he took a moment to wash the hot water over him.
"Enjoying the show?" Phobos said, looking up at her as his hands traced down his biceps. "Join me."
And she did.
...
...
...
...
It wasn't surprising that in the heat of it all, the prince had a slip of the tongue.
"I love you."
Will knew he felt that, back when he confessed in Meridian, clinging to her in the Whisperer garden. Then Hay-Lin confirmed it, saying it so plainly even her, deep in denial, couldn't dodge it any more.
Hearing it from him was different, because she had to think of how she felt, of what to say. But he was kissing her before she could respond, maybe to even stop her.
"Hey," she said, caressing his hair, as they held each other in the cooling water. "Cuddling might be a bit more comfortable on a bed?"
Phobos was slow to respond, pulling away and not looking at her as he stepped from the water. He used magic to dry himself and his hair, putting it in a loose braid, pulling on his robe. Will sat on the edge and unplugged the drain, feeling a little awkward at the sudden silence between them.
Standing, she relaxed as Phobos wrapped a dry towel around her shoulders.
"Don't be alarmed," he warned, as he used the same unspoken spell to dry her. Her skin was so supple and glowing, with her hair bouncy and fresh.
"This explains why you look so good even at the ass crack of dawn," she joked, feeling so refreshed, both from the magic and their encounter. He turned her, pulling the towel around her as he struggled with holding her gaze.
Phobos grabbed the tablet and turned off the music. They left the bathroom and Will pulled on her nightshirt and pajama bottoms. Phobos pulled on boxers, as he wore little else to bed. Hopping on the bed, she wiggled under the covers and pulled the blanket back for Phobos to join her.
He smiled, joining her at a more restrained pace. Settling down, Will curled against him, happy for the moment.
"I'm really glad it's you I'm here with, Phobos," Will said, kissing his chest as his hand rubbed her back.
He was quiet, and she could only guess he didn't mean to confess at that moment. Plus, enough time had passed that it was clear Will wasn't about to say it back.
Because did she love him?
Nerissa had said the scrunchie was a 'token of her love'. Was she being dramatic, or did she really feel that way? So soon? Right now, she felt so close to Phobos, but she was in the middle of a crisis. Days away from dying. Tonight was a wonderful distraction, a splendid memory, no matter how things ended for her.
She fell asleep in his arms, wanting to say something meaningful, but unable to find the right words to let him know his love was cherished, even if she couldn't say it back right then and there.