AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cason stopped at the glass doors leading to the back gardens. There she was, standing in the rain, her hair plastered to her head and her clothes drenched. He went to look for a towel and grabbed an umbrella from the stand near the front door. Out in the garden, he raised the umbrella and put it in her hand. Then he used the towel to wipe her head and her face, careful not to be too rough.
Solette stood still, letting him work. When he was done, he wrapped the towel around her shoulders and drew her to his chest, relieving her of the umbrella at the same time.
“What are you doing?” he said.
She made a small sound, and he leaned back to look into her face. Her eyes were wide, full of shock.
“What?” he repeated.
“N-n-n-nothing.”
“You’re shivering, little mouse. Come on.” He held her close while they went inside, and he insisted she sit down so he could make a hot drink. After opening one of the cabinets, he stood there rubbing his jaw. “I think Clara has changed the kitchen around.”
Solette laughed and sneezed. “You just don’t know how to make tea.”
He glared at her. “Upstairs to change those clothes, and if you fight me on it, I’ll change them.”
She rolled her eyes but stood. “If I let you change my clothes, I won’t get any on.”
“That’s not a bad problem to have.”
“Says you.”
She left the kitchen, and he wandered around, wondering where the ingredients were. Maybe Clara really did move things. He wasn’t in the kitchen that often and certainly didn’t need to help himself to anything.
As if she sensed his struggle, Clara appeared, and Cason sighed in relief. “Clara, I need tea for Solette and maybe a snack. Don’t make it too perfectly because I want her to think I did it.”
“Ovviamente, Signore Cason. Un panino?”
“No, a pastry or cake. She likes sweets a lot, but she doesn’t like bread much.” Cason knew this to be true about Solette from spending so much time at her place. He waited around until Clara had gathered everything and then carried it up to the bedroom he shared with Solette when she came to stay. As he went, he considered how to convince her to move in permanently.
He held the tray in one hand while opening the bedroom door and made a noise of disappointment. “You’re already dressed.”
She eyed him over her shoulder as she pinched another button closed on her blouse. “I know you, sir. I wasn’t going to tempt you in the middle of the day.”
“The middle of the day is the best time.” He set the tray down and pulled her hand away as she was about to take the cup of tea. After he tucked her into his embrace, he pushed her head onto his shoulder.
She resisted for a moment and then snuggled close, and he aligned their bodies together.
“You’re right where I want you,” he said. Always.
She moaned. “It is a nice place to be.”
“Move in, Solette.”
She writhed against him, but he held on, crushing her to his chest. A sigh escaped her, and she smacked his arm. “You win. You always do because you use your strength against me.”
He grinned above her head. “I win? You mean you’ll move—”
“No.”
He released her, almost too abruptly and went to take a seat in a chair he’d used often back when he holed up in his room and wouldn’t come out. Now he threw one leg over the arm and let it hang negligently. While he prided himself that he could make such a move now, he also knew he couldn’t go on doing it forever. He would always suffer some level of pain, but he could handle it.
Solette finished dressing, moving about the room. He noticed in annoyance when she began gathering her clothing and stuffing it the bag she had brought to his house. His anger rose. She intended to go back home that night, and he also knew there wasn’t any sense in him asking her to stay.
Why? Doesn’t she feel…?
He grumbled under his breath. Solette walked over and leaned down to kiss his lips. “Thanks for the tea. I’m going to go chat with Shakarri really quick.”
