February 23th, 2025
Sunday; night
Ethan always took pride in the notion that he was not a particularly mean-spirited or petty person. While not immune to an occasional onset of pointless stubbornness or bursts of anger, at the end of the day, Ethan liked to fancy himself a decent man with a well-developed sense of right and wrong.
That's why, rationally thinking, Ethan felt like he did nothing wrong earlier today during the confrontation with Daniela. Sure, his choice of words was perhaps not the wisest, yet the man knew that it was important to be decisive and transparent in matters of the heart. Surely it was better to deliver such heart-breaking news in a straightforward manner than to beat around the bush and give the poor girl false hopes?
Nevertheless, there was no truly winning outcome in the situation he was presented with. Therefore, now the man simply could not fall asleep as he tossed and turned in his bed, thinking of all the other possible ways he could've rejected her advances. Perhaps he could've gone with a smoother approach; minimized the amount of hurt the poor girl experienced?
While Ethan could not possibly comprehend the full depth of her grief, he was keen enough to recognize it as truly monumental. And that was hardly surprising - Daniela had run away from her home, after all; from her very family - only to be cruelly rejected by her heart's biggest desire. Such a denial had to be crushing…
The raw, unadulterated hurt Ethan had seen flashing in her large eyes as he pronounced his verdict would no doubt stay with him for a long time. The sheer strength of her emotions was staggering and he could barely withstand the flood of her suffering that had broken through the dam at that moment. It didn't help that the hurt was compounded by what Ethan could only decipher as hatred in her eyes. For a second there, as he lay sprawled on the floor - pushed by her thin but strong arms, and as Daniela seemingly contemplated reaching for a kitchen knife next to her, Ethan was sure that this was his end - brought on by a woman scorned. At that moment, Daniela appeared not unlike her elder sister Cassandra, with her twitchy fingers reaching for a knife and murder in her gaze.
Instead of striking out, however, the distraught girl merely hissed at him to leave her alone and swarmed upstairs to lock herself in her own bedroom, allowing Ethan to retreat from her dwelling and contemplate on his life choices.
As unwelcome as it was, a brush with death was not exactly a novelty to Ethan, at this point. What was unusual, however, was the fact that the aforementioned hostility was provoked by Ethan's own tongue. All in all, it was quite a unique situation where a couple of words shattered the heart of a person Ethan cared for, while also almost putting him into yet another life-or-death struggle.
Ethan knew that there was no point to dwell on the past - he could not take back his harsh words, no matter how much he tormented himself over them. Yet his relentless mind would still not let him rest this night, as it apparently was hellbent on producing the various scenarios that exchange could've went.
Rationally, the restless man could only blame the Duke for withholding crucial information from the overly-eager redhead and putting them both in such an unenviable situation. Not like Ethan wanted to break the heart of one woman that had provided him compassion and succor in that Romanian hellhole. Rationality was left in the dust once he was confronted by these expressive amber orbs and the depthless suffering contained within. In fact, Ethan almost felt like a villain of this particular story…
However, the fact of Daniela's suffering - caused by Ethan's cruel words - was not the only thing that was keeping the father up so late in the night.
Even without the added drama of their heart-wrenching reunion, the sheer, mind-blowing fact of her presence here in Valencia would've been a justification enough for a sleepless night or two. To think that this seemingly airheaded and ditzy vampire would turn out to be resourceful enough to escape that accursed valley and make her way across the continent… While she didn't strike Ethan as a particularly academically-inclined individual, clearly - she was far from stupid, and he would do well to keep that in mind.
Of course, Ethan contemplated all that throughout the day and the evening. After coming to terms with the irrefutable fact of her presence, as well as the unfortunate outcome of her declaration of love, Ethan realized that he had one more pressing issue to consider - something he absolutely had to make a resolution about before his brain would allow him to rest.
What exactly should I do about Daniela Dimitrescu?
A fair line of thought, considering the fact that Daniela was not just some cute girl. Beneath her charming exterior lay hidden a deadly predator - armed with an array of supernatural abilities and for whom murdering a human being in cold blood was just another Tuesday. A 'B.O.W.' they called her kind - a Bio-Organic Weapon. A monster.
Combined with her erratic nature and volatile emotional state, Ethan could not even begin to guess the amount of harm she could cause, were she inclined to do so. What exactly was going through her bug-brain in this moment was beyond him, as well. Who could possibly know her intent now that he had ruined the whole purpose behind her arrival?
The amount of possible directions the erratic redhead could head towards was baffling. Was Daniela going to peacefully return to her home now that she knew she had no chance to win his heart? While Ethan could not claim to truly know the redhead, that particular outcome sounded less than likely to occur…
In that case, was she planning to do something more malefic? To take vengeance against him, personally, perhaps? Steal him like a spectre in the night and go all Cassandra on his sorry ass? That thought alone was horrifying enough, yet it paled in comparison to the next one.
Would she blame Mia? Could she possibly go after her?... she wouldn't, wouldn't she?
Ethan felt cold sweat trickling down his forehead from the very notion.
The next, random but nevertheless bone-chilling thought was even more horrendous to contemplate.
What if she decides to kidnap Rosie? To take her back to her accursed castle and raise her as her own daughter!?
Could Daniela do something spontaneous and otherworldly like that? There was no doubt about the answer to that particular question in Ethan's mind.
Yes, she can.
Would Daniela do something like that? Now that… that Ethan did not dare to speculate upon.
But even beyond the potential harm Daniela could cause to his family, there was the issue of all the innocent bystanders that now unknowingly stood in between himself and Daniela's potential wrath. Ethan had no doubt that the Dimitrescu progeny could drown this whole neighborhood in blood, if she so desired. And who could stop her, if she decided to go on a murderous rampage - with no cold to weaken her? The vampire was far stronger and swifter than she appeared, even discounting her inhuman ability to freely shapeshift into a swarm of bugs and her apparent immunity to piercing weaponry. Just how many innocent people would she be able to murder before the properly-equipped authorities would arrive to put a stop to her? Could Ethan really live with himself if his actions… or inaction resulted in such massive casualties?
There was a solution to the Dimitrescu dilemma, of course. Ethan wasn't just some lone survivor stuck in the middle of an inhospitable hellhole, not anymore. Calling for help was an option now.
While creatures like Daniela Dimitrescu were certainly exotic, they were not exactly unheard of. And while she could run amok among the hapless civilian population with little repercussions, a properly-informed and equipped B.S.A.A. kill-team would have little issues putting a permanent end to the vampiric menace. A single call to Chris or one of his lieutenants and the issue with Daniela would be solved swiftly, decisively and… permanently. Moreover, were her vicious sisters come snooping around - like Daniela implied they would - Ethan was more than certain that a particularly lethal welcome committee could be arranged just for them, as well.
Not opening his eyes, the man reached for his phone and after a couple of seconds of fumbling in the dark, grabbed it from its place at his nightstand. Cracking one tired eyelid open, Ethan glanced at the fateful device.
Two in the night… Wonder what she is up to, right now… Is she sleeping peacefully, resolved to return back home… or is she out murdering right now, while planning how to best ruin my family?
Hadn't he gone through enough, already? All the bloodshed in Louisiana, all the misery in Romania. And now, the monsters of his past managed to catch up to him even here, in Valencia. Hasn't he suffered enough? Just one call and it would all go away.
Just one call and someone else will come and deal with Daniela while he could go back to his peaceful and happy life, as if nothing happened.
Ethan's numb fingers slowly got to working on unlocking his phone, before scrolling through his contact list, searching for that one man that could make every bioweapon-related problem go away.
There he was.
Nibbling on his lower lip, Ethan proceeded to toss and turn on his messy bed sheets some more, as he considered his next move carefully. True, he owed Daniela a lot for her aid in that Romanian mess, even if it was her crazy family and their Holy Mother that got him into it in the first place. But that didn't mean he had to deal with the clear threat that Daniela and her sisters presented. That gratitude he felt towards the redhead didn't count for shit when scaled against the lives of the innocents and his loved ones. In a similar vein, the affection he sensed towards her could hardly prevail against the weight of the atrocious crimes committed by her family. How many people had been killed over the years in and around their castle? Hundreds, probably.
The responsible husband, the caring father and the dutiful citizen all demanded for Ethan to make the call.
"I am sorry, Dani."
With a single trembling finger, Ethan pressed the call.
Positively gnawing on his own lip, the shuddering man had to endure the repeating ringing tone. Perhaps this was a wrong thing to do, after all? Daniela had murder in her eyes the last time he saw her, yet was she truly going to do anything nefarious?
But could he truly gamble all the lives on the possibility of her playing nice after his rejection?
Maybe, if Chris didn't answer his goddamn phone that could serve as his sign to abandon this callous idea of involving the B.S.A.A. in this mess? Could he really condemn Daniela?
"Ethan?" Chris' slumbery voice put that train of thought on pause. Clearly, the large captain was enjoying some well-deserved respite before being so rudely awakened by Ethan. "Something's wrong? It's late." Still, there was no such thing as private time for one who had dedicated his life to combating bioterrorism.
Ethan opened his mouth, prepared to pour out the words that would seal Daniela's fate. All of her suffering and misery filled life would come to an end - delivered by a man she dedicated her heart to…
"Ethan? Hello?"
Chris' impatient voice reminded the father that he was simply breathing into his phone, yet he simply could not find the resolve needed to continue on this course.
How can I do this to her? She did nothing but helped me in my biggest hour of need. She traveled all the way here to express her misguided love towards me…
Cold sweat now poured freely down his brows as his shaking breath left his mouth.
No… I cannot do this… Daniela deserves better than this… I called her a friend, didn't I? And I meant it. At the very least, she deserves a chance… and if she proves to be a real threat… I'll figure something out myself.
"I don't know what's going on, but I am sending a squad to check on your location. Sit tight, Ethan."
Shit!
So consumed was Ethan by his own erratic thoughts, that he had almost completely forgotten that he was still on the line with Chris Redfield - a humorless man, who did not appreciate being pulled by his leg. He needed to come with an excuse for bothering him this late at night… and fast.
"Oh, sorry - something was wrong with the connection, I guess - couldn't hear you before. There is no need for your men, Chris! I just wanted to ask if you felt like joining me for a beer, next week. I've heard you'll be around the area, then…"
Ethan wanted to facepalm at the lame-sounding excuse he had concocted on such a short notice, yet apparently Chris was bothered by his response for a completely unrelated reason.
"Wait, what!? How did you know that I'll be around in a week?"
Before Ethan could name the culprit, Chris guessed him himself, "Dion."
"Dion," confirmed Ethan, mentally wincing at the trouble that redhead was going to get in. The young Hound Wolf operative was a friendly and easy-going person. It was no wonder that Ethan had struck an odd friendship with Dion 'Canine' Wilson, who occasionally informed the father about the latest gigs the Wolves were up to - in a clear violation of their established protocols.
"Canine just can't keep his damn mouth shut, huh? Sharing confidential information with civies…" Before Ethan could vehemently protest the application of that term to him - what kind of a fucking civilian goes through an army of mold monsters and a horde of lycans, huh? - Chris changed his tune from bemused to suddenly casual, "Here I wanted to surprise Rosemary with Kaab el ghazal - a local delicacy here in Morocco."
Forgetting his own annoyance, Ethan merely slightly smiled at the notion. Chris truly became a cherished family friend and an uncle-like figure to Rose.
"But yeah, let's grab some beers, sure. Everything's alright, though? Can't help but notice the time…"
The smile died down as Chris reminded him about the reason for this call in the first place. Ethan was quick with his wits, however.
"Oh yeah, just having a little bout of insomnia, I guess. Mia is on one of her goddamn trips, again."
"Mhm…"
Chris' voice instantly hardened upon hearing Mia's name. For whatever reason, the two couldn't stand each other. Ethan had no idea about the origin of their enmity and both of them would always be tight-lipped about it, whenever he inquired. These days, the Captain would avoid visiting the Winters' household whenever the loving wife was around.
"Alright, then. I'd hate to advertise Umbrella, but credit where it's due - their sleeping pills are the panacea for insomnia… if only they stopped at them. Good night, Ethan."
"Night, Chris."
Ending the call, Ethan found himself resolved to deal with Daniela himself. He owed the bug-woman that much, at least. Not to mention the hypocrisy of involving B.S.A.A. now that she was imperiling his family.
He had already lied to them once before, after all. Having escaped their cursed valley, the first thing Chris inquired about was the state of the inhabitants… and Ethan had found himself unable to condemn the redhead and her vicious family, back then. So he had simply told the brave Captain that the castle was abandoned and its dwellers long dead - accepting the possibility that the Dimitrescu would reap a hefty toll on the innocent Romanian villagers because of his mercy. That act alone made Daniela his responsibility.
Placing the phone back on the nightstand, the man tried to seek respite, once more. First thing in the morning, he would march to Daniela's house and do his best in learning her intent. At the very least, she deserved his friendship and support… and if that turned out not to be enough to placate the beast inside of her and she would prove to be an unmanageable threat, he would end her himself. There was a B.S.A.A. safehouse to which he had access, nearby - with some anti-B.O.W. weaponry inside. It would be a last resort, of course, but if Daniela turned hostile he had to be able to defend himself and his family.
I just hope I won't need it… God knows that poor girl has suffered enough…
With a clear plan of action in mind, the restless man could finally find enough solace to fall asleep; his body eager to recharge for the big day ahead…
…or so he thought, before a sudden noise woke him up. His bedroom was still engulfed in total darkness - that much Ethan could gather even without opening his eyes, implying that it was still night.
Moreover, the experienced survivor didn't need his sight - not when he had access to the rest of his keen senses - to most definitely be sure of one thing.
He was not alone.
A presence that disrupted the perfect harmony of his lonely bedroom - as if someone was breathing, so very lightly, yet still enough for Ethan's senses to pick it up.
The haze of sleep was swift to leave his, sharpened by experience, mind - only to be replaced by cautious alertness. Immediately his thoughts rushed back to that chaotic redhead and his breath quickened just a little bit from the very notion. Perhaps trying to calm himself down, the man proceeded to briefly recall the other potential candidates for disturbing him in the middle of the night.
It could be just Mia. It was her bedroom, as well as his, after all. Yet Mia was gone on her weeks-long trip and it was not like her to suddenly return home on the very night of her departure, especially without any communications beforehand.
The intrusive presence was unlikely to be Rose as well, as the young girl knew better than to sneak up on her dad like that. Despite her tender age, the child was astonishingly perceptive and considerate of others - she was quite aware and respectful of the fact that Ethan did not appreciate being startled, especially in the middle of a night.
The disruptive creature could be Roxy, yet the notion that the small dog would be able to manipulate the round handle to open the bedroom's door did not appear to be that plausible to Ethan's mind.
That left less than welcome possibilities. A burglar… or… her.
Cracking his eyes open, Ethan carefully proceeded to edge his right hand towards the nightstand's drawer and the potentially life-saving item held within; while doing his best to survey the room without moving a muscle.
The room has just enough illumination for Ethan to be able to make a barely perceptible silhouette of a person, standing in a corner opposite his bed - right next to a wide open window, which he usually kept that way - a clear mistake, it seemed; it's presence sending cold chills of fright running down his spine. From the shadow's head, twin dying embers glowered at him balefully - eyes - reflecting what little light was available in the darkened room.
Ethan didn't even get the chance to be appropriately horrified by the situation. Perhaps establishing eye-contact was enough to provoke the figure into attacking and akin to a blur, the shadowy silhouette crossed the distance to be upon him. And while Ethan's heart skipped a beat in undiluted terror, his hand did not waver and with remarkable dexterity the man was able to procure his LEMI pistol - only to firmly press its barrel against the figure's temple - just as it came to hover over him...
The silhouette's breathtaking speed was perfectly matched by his uncanny reaction. A momentarily standoff ensued, with Ethan trying to use the precious second to identify the unwelcome guest.
The contours of the figure's face were somewhat familiar even without the benefit of proper lighting, yet it was the voice, as well as the spoken words that betrayed the attackers identity. Not like anyone else called him that.
"Don't shoot, Ethie! You'll wake Rose!"
The playful whisper sent shivers running throughout Ethan's body. He was really not prepared to face her right now. But then again, was anyone ever prepared for the mayhem personified that was Daniela Dimitrescu? While he was somewhat surprised and touched that Rose was her primary concern in such a situation, the gun stayed pressed to the side of her head, even as the man attempted to reassess control of the situation with an unfortunately shaky tone.
"Dani? What the hell are you doing here!?"
Perhaps not feeling comfortable with the cold barrel of a pistol pressed to her temple or maybe simply witnessing the whirlwind of worry that was Ethan's face at that moment - due to her superior night vision - Daniela mumbled out several hasty sentences, seemingly to placate the man.
"Relax! I am not here to hurt you, Ethie… I told you - I'll never hurt you! Don't you believe me?"
Her tone positively radiated solace, not enough to completely calm the man, but enough for Ethan to swallow in fright and slowly pull the gun back, before placing it on the nightstand. Not like it would be worth a damn against her unnatural body, anyway.
With that same hand, Ethan turned the nightstand's lamp on and was finally able to behold his nightly visitor in all of her pale glory. There was not a speck of hostility or aggression in her soft features - further calming the man down. Perhaps she was telling the truth about her lack of ill intent?
But he still had no clue about the reason for her presence in his bedroom during - what was it? - 4:37 a.m., if his old-fashioned alarm clock was to be trusted.
For a couple of seconds, Ethan simply stared at the redhead, whose face was inches from his own, as she hovered over his frame, a soft half-smile gracing her delicate features. Apparently satisfied with her position over him, the girl merely gazed back.
"As lovely as it is to see you, Dani, might I inquire about the purpose behind this nightly visit?"
In response to his eloquent and polite greeting, the girl pouted at him and Ethan mentally cursed himself as an errant thought crossed his mind at the sight. She is unbelievably cute…
"You've said that we are friends, right?"
She answered a question with a question, naturally. A seemingly simple question, with a straightforward answer. Yet it stole the gift of speech from the man, nevertheless. What was he supposed to say, right now? During the day, calling her a friend nearly cost him a stabbing, but now it almost appeared that she desired an affirmation - judging by her eager expression.
Adding more confusion, Ethan suddenly had to consider whether he was truly worthy of still considering her a friend - after almost nearly getting Chris to exterminate her.
At his lack of response, Daniela tilted her head to the side, inspecting his face carefully, awaiting the answer. The longer the silence went, the more animated her own face became - a positive maelstrom of emotions brewing in her large eyes. When the girl started nervously nibbling on her lower lip, Ethan realized that he was running out of time, even as he considered what would be the price for giving out an 'incorrect' answer. Even though Daniela appeared unarmed, the survivor knew well how deadly the Dimitrescu daughters were. From their current position, her slender arms could likely easily restrain him while her sharp teeth found their mark in his neck.
Letting out a small sigh, Ethan finally spoke, with a certain finality in his tone, yet with honesty, as well.
"Yes, Daniela. We are friends."
For the truth is, Ethan wanted to be friends with this erratic creature. He wanted to get to know her better and if possible - provide whatever support she required and he was in a position to give. She deserved that much at least, didn't she?
Apparently, this answer was the correct one, as the girl's eyes immediately widened in mirth. Letting out a small giggle, Daniela caressed his cheek tenderly with her thumb, making the man release the breath he did not know he was holding.
He couldn't help but note how cold her digit appeared to be. In fact, inspecting her frame carefully, he noticed that the girl seemingly shivered, as if chilly.
"Friends invite each other to sleepovers, right?"
Again, Daniela spoke with enough sensual playfulness for Ethan's brain to go numb for a heartbeat. For a couple of seconds the man contemplated the sudden question that seemingly came out of nowhere. From the eagerness of her expression, it was easy to tell that she expected an affirmative answer, as well…
"I guess…"
Settling for a non-committing one, Ethan did not need to wait before the erratic girl suddenly plopped right next to him, on his bed, while chirping out in a happiest voice imaginable, "Excellent! I am coming for a sleepover, then!"
Sheesh! Not only did I not invite you, but you're already here!
Turning his head to stare at her playful orbs, Ethan had to disregard that particularly reprimanding speech, letting out only a subdued, "I am sorry?" instead.
Only to receive a bonk on his nose from her delicate index finger, before she elaborated further.
"I couldn't help but note that your cherished wife is absent from your little lover's nest… aren't you lonely… or cold?..." her eyes flashed longingly as she hissed out that word, "...I could help you warm up…"
Ethan felt the heat creeping up to his face from the combination of her proximity, playful antics and downright flirty tone. And while he, as a matter of fact - was not cold, someone in the room clearly was, if her shivering frame was any indication. Not one to beat around the bush, the man headed straight for the point.
"Are you cold, Dani?"
Her cheeks immediately flushed that adorable shade of red as she broke eye-contact in embarrassment, before letting out a quip that lacked her usual conviction, "Who, me? I'll let you know, mister, that I - Daniela Dimitrescu - is never cold! Nuh-huh! Not me! Bela is the frigid one!"
Daniela's unconvincing performance was enough to dispel any of Ethan's lingering fears and worries, putting the man fully at ease. She was definitely not here to cause trouble, at least not the kind that involved dismemberment.
Suddenly feeling bold, the man chuckled and lightly pinched her own cheek - confirming the fact of her being chill to the touch, contrasting their earlier physical contacts today - during which she appeared quite warm and healthy.
"Oh yeah? Why are you shivering then?"
"I most certainly do not, thank you very much!"
Amused at her continuous denial, Ethan snickered, but pressed on.
"Why is your cheek so cold, then?"
That was enough to break her performance, "Fine, I am very cold! Happy!?" Huffing and turning her gaze away with a pout on her pink lips, Daniela proceeded to fold her arms as she tried to curl into a ball.
The whole situation was rather intriguing to Ethan, who was quite aware of their vulnerability to cold. During the day, when the air temperature was above 15°C, Daniela appeared to be perfectly fine. And while it was never truly cold in Valencia, during the winter nights the temperature could sometimes drop to nearly 5°C - which was the case tonight.
"Is it cold in your house?" inquired Ethan, while doing something that he was sure would give Mia a heart attack - sharing his blanket, by putting it over Daniela's shuddering frame.
"Uh-huh…" confirmed the girl, even as she eagerly accepted the offering of warmth.
Her house did appear pretty bare-bones to Ethan's brief inspection, so it wasn't that inconceivable to presume that it lacked proper heating or insulation. For an average human that would probably not be a big deal in this climate, since a simple sweater or a blanket would provide enough warmth, but for a creature particularly vulnerable to cold… could be a different story.
Did she truly come here just to warm up, though?
"Can I stay with you tonight?"
Daniela's meek inquiry confirmed the previous thought for Ethan.
No harm in it, I guess…? The girl's just cold… Not like I'll be cheating on Mia by helping her warm up a little…
"Sure…" Daniela gasped in delight, but Ethan wasn't quite done yet, "...but just for tonight. We'll buy you a heater today, alright?" A light grumble escaped her lips, making the man let out a small chuckle of his own.
"Thank you, Ethie."
The words of gratitude sounded heartfelt, and Ethan was only too happy to return the favor.
"You're welcome, Dani."
A brief silence ensued, but as Daniela tossed and turned around, Ethan knew that it would not last.
"I am still cold, though…" murmured the girl, confirming her host's suspicions.
Before Ethan could propose several possible courses of action that would remedy the issue - such as bringing out their own heater, closing the window or finding additional blankets, Daniela beat him to the punch by suddenly snuggling closer to him. Too shocked for coherent speech, Ethan simply lay still as Daniela, without warning, started to snake her arms and legs around his own torso and legs, respectively. The fact that Daniela had apparently ditched her torn jeans for a shorter pair and now Ethan - who was just in his boxers himself - was exposed to a lot of contact with her soft and smooth skin did not help the man to regain his composure - while admittedly chilly, the sensation of her legs and arms around him was hardly unpleasant…the opposite, in fact.
Struggling with his discomfort at this very inappropriate predicament he had found himself in, Ethan managed to let out a couple of meek words of protest, "Dani, what…" in addition to attempting to meagerly disjoint her from him - only to be met with the unyielding strength of her deceptively svelte limbs, that stuck to him akin to a mite.
"Come now, Ethie! You don't want your friend to perish from the cold, right?"
That playful accusation hit Ethan closer to home than he would admit, beating all the struggle out of him. An immense feeling of guilt was suddenly washing all over his heart as a particularly dismaying train of thought made its way through his mind.
How could I ever even consider wishing for this beautiful, unique creature to be exterminated? She just wants to find love and enjoy her newfound carefree life… And I was this close to putting an end to all of her hopes and dreams… after she had taken so much risk for helping me! I am a real scumbag, ain't I…?
The man found himself overcome by remorse. Suddenly wishing to make up for it, slowly, tenderly, Ethan coiled his own arms around her slender torso, evoking something akin to a pleasant purr from the girl who eagerly leaned into his embrace. Compounding her feline nature further, Daniela proceeded to show her appreciation for the gesture by gently rubbing her cheek against his own, once again shocking the man with the surprising act that felt more intimate than would be considered appropriate to engage in for a married man such as himself.
Before he could question it, however, the flighty woman lost interest in his cheek, only to nuzzle her face into his neck, producing all these pleased 'mhms', all the while.
"You smell so nice, Ethie…"
Something told the man that being told by a bloodsucker who was nuzzling into his neck that he smelt nice was not entirely a good thing, yet - to his eternal relief - the girl made no motion to intrude upon his sanguine vessels - instead, she simply snuggled even tighter to his body, while rubbing her admittedly beautiful nose against his jugular.
If he could forget about the fact that she was literally a vampire, or the fact that he was a happily married man and his current bed partner was a stunningly gorgeous woman - who was definitely not his wife, he would've surely found this position they were in to be incredibly comfortable and heartwarming. It felt really good to have her head resting on his upper chest and even the horrible crater-like scar on her forehead somehow failed to produce any revolting feelings in the man.
The awkwardness of the situation - reflected by Ethan's increasingly flushed face - wasn't helped by Daniela's own smell - that of a peony shower shampoo.
You smell really nice, as well…
Not that he would say that out-loud, even as he shamelessly took her delightful scent in. Thankfully, she appeared unaware of his scenting session. Ethan was sure that he would've gone completely red from shame if she called him out on it.
"Mhm… so warm… so nice…" instead mumbled out Daniela, before letting out a cute yawn.
It was nice. Perhaps too nice, as Ethan was not blind to the truth that it was a very attractive young woman that was entangled with him. Moreover, he was quick to note that her body temperature was rapidly rising to match his own, which did not help his efforts to combat his growing arousal. In fact, as her previously chilly skin became pleasantly warm, in turn Ethan suddenly felt blood rushing to a certain organ in his own body. The feeling of her moderately-sized and firm bosom pressing against his own abdomen only added fuel to his fire. As did the sensation of having her slender and graceful legs interlaced with his own. Her socks-clad toes, unerringly rubbing against his feet and her possessive fingers caressing his back completed the heavenly, if forbidden, experience.
God, what would Mia think if she got wind of this?
Shockingly, Daniela herself appeared oblivious to his predicament, as she let out another yawn, this time much bigger, before mumbling a sleepy question.
"Mmm… am I in Heaven?... always thought I'd go to Hell…mhmm…"
Somehow, that was all it took to kill Ethan's arousal, as he recalled just how close he came to sending her to Purgatory himself. Overwhelming shame and guilt engulfed the man entirely.
A couple of minutes passed, with Ethan stewing in his misery and Daniela slowly ceasing all motion, except for the calm movement of her chest as she breathed. Her grasp on his body remained tight, but not unpleasantly so.
"I am so sorry, Dani…" whispered Ethan, receiving no response from the redhead. The girl appeared asleep already and soon the man was treated to a series of feather-light snores. In turn, Ethan let out a small chuckle, before placing a tender kiss at the scarred part of her head that was presented to him, as well as starting to gently rub her back with his palms. Even through her shirt he could tell that her skin was soft but the muscles behind it were strong and firm.
She is such a precious little thing… and I wanted to harm her… how would I ever live with myself if I went through with that horrible plan? God…
As he continued to hold her sleeping frame, a different thought crossed his mind.
She is all alone here, isn't she? And everyone will want to end her, if her true origins ever come to light…
A far cry from his earlier musings, Ethan came to a startling realization that he was determined to protect the precious creature snuggling to him, regardless of costs. He had lied for her; she came for him, and therefore, it was his responsibility to keep the flighty girl safe until her sisters came to collect her - at least that's how he saw it, now. Good thing Ethan was damn good at protecting those he cared about.
With his excitement and worries both melting into the night, the exhaustion was quick to take their place. Before Ethan knew it, he was fast asleep himself, with his friendly neighborhood bug-girl in his arms and a smile of contentment on his face. Something told the man that today was going to be a wonderful day.
Author's Note:
I wanted to portray Ethan's struggles in this chapter, as even though Daniela is undeniably cute, its fucking scary to have a vampiric bug-girl neighbor - especially when you have a wife and a young child. She will definitely has to win him over a bit more to make him fully at ease around her, but next chapter will have a lot of friendly bonding to help her with that! :)