Winter (Not Edited)

Chapter 15

"I made lasagna for dinner." Winter's voice said softly as she opened the door for Emerson. It was a couple days since she had first started cleaning the pool.

She had gotten everything out the pool and vacuumed it. The only thing left to do was to add chemicals and clear the water.

"That sounds good, I am going to change, I will be back in a few minutes." Emerson said gruffly. He was so tired, restlessness filled his nights.

Winter could tell he was tired, she wondered if he was working too much.

She sat a plate for the two of them, at the same time Emerson walked into the dining area. He was wearing plaid pants and a white shirt. The shirt wrapped around his muscular arms.

Winter thought he looked handsome, she blushed at her thoughts and looked down at her food. Containing herself.

"You look tired." Winter said quietly. She honestly didn't mean to say it, it just came out. Emerson looked up at her, his eyes were dark and he looked sickly tired.

"I am," Emerson said. It was all he said.

"I'll make you some chamomile tea tonight, it always makes me sleep better sometimes when I'm restless." Winter said, her voice filled with care.

He nodded.

After dinner, Emerson had sat on the couch. He usually didn't like movies, but he had nothing else to do. He could hear Winter cleaning up, mostly the clinking of dishes.

Picking a movie he sat back down on the sofa. Emerson's ears perked up at the sound of small footsteps behind him.

Winter sat down a tray with two tea cups and a kettle. She poured a cup of the hot liquid for Emerson.

She handed the cup to Emerson slowly, not to spill it. "This will make you sleep better, I promise." Winter said softly.

As he took the cup, he nodded and took a sip of the warm tea.

"Sit with me." Emerson said.

"Can I change first?" She asked Emerson. He gave her a look that said, yes.

She hurried upstairs and into her bedroom. Choosing small shorts and a larger shirt. She finally took her hair down, before grabbing her blanket and walking back to Emerson.

She rounded the couch and watched Emerson, he sat with his eyes glued to the television.

She sat down a little bit away from Emerson, it looked as if she was trying to get away. She wrapped the blanket around herself. She peered at the tray, his cup of tea was empty.

Emerson sunk into the couch as the movie played on, Winter was so focused on the film. So focused she didn't even realized Emerson had moved closer to her.

Warmth invaded the air she breathed around him. Winter's breath hitched as his knee touched hers. Would this always happen whenever her skin was in contact with Emerson's.

"I'm not going to bite you," Emerson joked as he moved his leg away from her electric touch. Winter giggled a bit before shocking Emerson as she scooted a tiny bit closer to him.

As much as she wanted to stay away from the beast, something was drawing her closer. A force of fate. And Winter was starting to realize he wasn't at all a beast. She knew that from the beginning though.

Emerson's leg burned the pale skin of her leg. Her heart was about to burst, his touch was pure desire in the most simple and innocent way.

"What is the name of the movie?" She whispered trying to ignore the chills that grew upon her skin.

"The Outsiders." Emerson said slowly. Winter tried to focus on his voice, but now his entire leg was pushing into her frame.

Winter finally looked away from the screen and peered at him. His eyes were closed and his chest was rising and falling silently. He had fallen asleep.

Emerson was finally asleep, it was because of her presence. She made him feel safe, maybe he never showed his vulnerability, but it was certainly there.

Her hand wave a bit of air in front of his face to make sure he was asleep completely. She wanted to leave and let him be, but she was also selfishly wanting to invade his space.

What is wrong with me, she thought.

She stayed still until the rest of the film was over. She looked back at Emerson, he was so steady and content. It would appear he was fine, but something was telling Winter he was anything but okay.

Slowly she stood up and went to grab a pillow. Winter could not move him to his bed, for obvious reasons, but him sleeping sitting up was enough to probably give him a back ache tomorrow.

Placing the pillows on the end of the sofa, Winter moved closer to the sleeping beast. Her hands found their station upon his shoulders. Winter leaned him down slowly onto the pillows. She pulled her blanket over him, he needed much more than she did tonight.

Emerson's body was pressed further into the couch, leaving enough room for Winter's small frame sit down. She didn't know if she should, she wanted to, but she didn't want to intrude.

But she couldn't help it, maybe it was her kind nature. She wanted to comfort him, even though he was asleep.

As Winter sat down, slowly her hand raised and she brushed the dark hair out of his face. Her fingers brushed the side of his face. As her fingers fumbled with his hair and caressed his tan skin, Winter couldn't help but wonder what caused his nightmare a couple weeks back.

She hoped it wasn't too scary, she hated when she had nightmares. Even though it was rare for her to have nightmares it still happened. She didn't struggle much, but her only fear was being alone. Which was ironic, since she was terribly shy in her nature.

Emerson could feel someone touching his face, the way his mom used to. His eyes were still close, he had finally made it to his family. They must hate him.

Winter watched as his mouth opened slightly. She thought maybe he was going to snore.

"Momma," Emerson's eyes were still closed and the fingers rubbing his hair instantly stopped. He opened his eyes missing the comfortable contact.

Winter's heart stopped completely.

Emerson's vison refocused and there sat Winter. He watched her eyes widened like a doe's in that of a driver's headlights. She was frozen in the silence until she began to panic.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. I really shouldn't have touched you like that. I- I apologize if I made you uncomfortable." She began to ramble on as her eyes glossed over.

She was mostly embarrassed, she was also a bit scared he would raise his voice, or worse kick her out.

Emerson still half asleep watched her freak out, he was no longer half asleep. Seeing her upset made his heart drum harshly. He knew how sensitive Winter was, he had learnt that the first week. Last time he yelled at her, she absolutely broke down.

He reached out and grabbed her shaking hand. Placing a soft kiss on her hand, he shook his head.

If Winter's heart couldn't beat any faster, Emerson proved her wrong. As his lips were on her skin, she couldn't breathe. Her chest constricted and she froze.

His voice called her out of her trance. "I am not mad, please continue if you wish." His tone was one octave deeper, drawn out from his sleep.

Winter brought her hand, the one he had kissed, and ran it over his forehead gently. He closed his eyes as she continued playing with his soft hair.

The interactions between these two were blooming. Their friendship was sprouting. Emerson was watering the flower attached to Winter's heart with kindness. Winter was planting a seed of love in roots of the beast's heart.