The Creation (Book III)

(20) Present: 2024

                                                              (20) Present: 2024

It was the following night when I decided I finally get out of bed. My shoulder hurt and my back snapped from being in the same position for over twenty-four hours. Xavier was still out cold when I crawled out of bed, thankfully. Right now I kind of wanted to just be alone. Our past conversation had given me so much to think about, I wasn’t sure how to handle it all. I needed something to get my mind off of the fact Xavier might end up getting himself killed soon because I slept with Liam. Maybe some blood and liquor would help as well.

I shuffled into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine from above the fridge, thankful for Matthew’s wonderful taste in fine wines. After heating up a bottle of blood, I poured some into a wineglass along with some of the expensive wine. It was after I stood in the kitchen for ten minutes, sipping my drink, was when I realized it’s been well over a week since I last bathed. Bathing would help calm my shattered nerves.

Grabbing a book from the living room—the book choices were limited to the classics—I headed into the cozy master bathroom and knelt beside the porcelain claw foot bathtub. Reading about the French Revolution might take my mind off of my current situation, and the peace and quiet will help erase the worries. I began running the hot water and poured in some lavender scented bubble bath that was displayed on the counter like some sort of prize. Hopefully it wasn’t too expensive. I put quite a bit in, making the bubbles nearly pour over the sides of the tub. Quickly, I pulled off my musky smelling clothes and slid into the tub with ease, enjoying the too hot temperature because it gave me a slight distraction.

After adjusting to the heat, I slid under the water and bubble until I was fully submerged. I didn’t need to breathe, so I don’t know how long I was under there for. I just enjoyed the complete silence and warmth all around me. I broke the surface of the water and wiped my hair back and the bubbles from my face. It smelled intoxicating in here, and for once I wasn’t thinking about, well, anything. My mind was blank and I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, sighing peacefully. It lasted just a minute or two.

“That looks relaxing,” Xavier murmured, standing casually in the doorway.

I smiled at him. “How are you feeling?”

“Right now? Wonderful.” He stepped into the room and stood over the tub. “Do you mind if I join?” His fingers touched the bubbles delicately.

My stomach gave a flip, which was bizarre. Was I nervous? Around Xavier? “Oh, um, sure.” I sat up and pulled my knees to my chest while I managed to still cling to the side of the tub.

Xavier showed no nervousness or hesitation. His fingers gripped the hem of his shirt and he effortlessly pulled it off, tossing it where my clothes sat. He pulled off his belt and then began unzipping his jeans, which was when I almost bashfully looked away. The next thing I knew he was sitting across from me with his feet on either side of my crunched up body.

“Thirsty?” I held up my glass of blood and wine, offering it to him awkwardly.

He reached across the suds and took the glass, his fingers brushing the back of my hand. “Thank you.” He inhaled the drink. “I guess I’ll have to get used to drinking blood again.”

“Is it strange?” I questioned after he took several gulps.

He placed the glass aside and looked at me. “Not really. What is strange is the fact you’re curled up into a ball over there so far away. Is something wrong?”

I began to uncurl, yet still kept to my side. “I just wanted to make sure you, uh, weren’t cramped up over there.”

The look he gave me showed how much he believed that lie. “Are you still angry with me?”