Chapter Thirteen: The Morning After
I awoke from a night of blissful sleep, and my eyes began to explore around me. No longer was I in the bare bedroom, opening my eyes to the blank walls. Instead, I was presented withs walls of lilac. I then focused onto the sheets that were covering me. They were a deep, passionate red, and my eyes wided to the realisation.
"Morning, my dear," I heard a velvety voice from behind me. I stopped dead, cutting short my breath. I swallowed slowly, then turned around. There, the Professor lay, between the red sheets, his eyes hazey from sleep, and a look of content across his face.
"Ohh, morning Prof- err, Hershel," I stuttered, remembering his new title. The memories from the previous night were very much stuck in my head, yet I knew adjusting to 'Hershel' was going to take some time.
"I assume you had a pleasant night's sleep?" He asked, slowly raising himself up to kiss me on the cheek.
"Indeed, t'was very nice" I nodded, "Very blissful and comfty, not like the other bed in the spare room."
"Ahh, well you don't have to worry about that anymore," the Professor smiled, "You'll be in our bed from now on."
I grinned. Our. That tiny word pulled at my heartstrings. The recognition that me and the Professor were now one, two parts of the same puzzle. I sighed happily.
The Professor climbed out of bed and stretched the stiffness out of his body. I averted my eyes. Seeing him undressed was something I knew I had to get used to, but for now I still found it incredibly strange.
"Right my dear, I'll go change and put some tea on. I shall leave you to yourself for a while," he stated, making his way to the door.
"Ermm, Hershel?" I said, just before he left the room.
"Yes, my dear?" He answered, leaning his head to one side.
"Last night, we didn't...you know...we didn't...did we?"
"No Victoria, we didn't," he answered, firmly yet contently, and disappeared through the door.
A huge sigh of relief escaped from my lips. I was fully aware that the Professor would never be shallow enough to sleep with a girl on the first night, yet having it clarified put my mind at ease. I got out of bed, putting on my clothes that were carelessly spawled across the floor. I then smoothed over the sheets on our bed, and made my way downstairs. I sat down upon the sofa as the Professor came in with a tray of tea, placing it on the table. An uncomfortable aura fell between us, unsure of what to say or do. A niggling thought came into my head.
"Ermm, Hershel," I began, "I'm aware of how important these investigations are to you, and if our relationship comes in the way of them, just say the word and I'll go. I don't want to make things awkard for you, and the last thing you need is some girl-"
"Ssh ssh, Victoria," he hushed me, "You're not some girl, okay my dear? You will never get in the way of my investigations. I want you to accompany me on them, you have the potential to do great. You'll be my assistant as well as my lover. And I promise you that."
I smiled and nodded, taking a cup to my lips, and slowly sipping some tea. Just then, the telephone begin to ring.
"Excuse me, my dear," the Professor said, gently brushing my leg with the back of his hand as he went. I felt a chill run down my spine, then I exhaled.
You need to grab a hold of yourself. These are the sorts of things you need to get used to. How can you possibly expect things not to be awkard if you react to everything he does?
I nodded in agreement. There was a lot that I needed to get used to, and I was determined to make me and the Professor work.
After all, we both want it. The DS predicted it...
"Victoria, that was Luke," he stated as he put down the phone, "He's seen Bruno heading towards what we think is his hide-out, so now we must go."
He took hold of my hand and led me to the Laytonmobile. We were now facing this investigation together, prepared for what ever it had in store for us.