Office Intertwined⚝

Chapter 13 - Stirring Slumbers

Kass gradually stirred from her slumber, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal the warm, dimly lit cabin. The crackling fireplace cast a comforting glow across the room, and she couldn't help but notice that she was cocooned in Jason's clothes, feeling remarkably cozy despite her grogginess.

 Jason sat nearby, his unwavering gaze fixed on her as she awoke, his face, which was usually cold, breaking into a soft, reassuring smile the moment their eyes met.

"How are you feeling?" he inquired gently, concern etched in his features.Kass blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness that clung to her. Her knee ached less now, and she was aware of her extreme hungriness.

 "Groggy," she confessed, her voice a raspy whisper. "And really hungry."

Jason wasted no time, immediately rising from his seat to attend to her needs. However, Kass noticed his soggy clothes and scolded him playfully.

 "You should change first. You'll catch a cold."

He couldn't refuse her; the infatuation he felt for her was evident in his willingness to comply. He exchanged his damp clothes for warmer, dry attire, meticulously towel-drying his hair before rejoining her at her side.

As Kass began to piece together the events after their return to camp, her memory was hazy, like trying to grasp smoke. She frowned slightly, asking, "What happened after we got back? I can barely remember anything." Her voice carried a touch of vulnerability.

A fond smile tugged at Jason's lips as he recounted the events. "Tessa gave you some morphine for the pain," he explained gently, "then I brought you here to my cabin. I hung your clothes to dry, dressed you in some of mine, and let you sleep." His eyes held a warm, reassuring glint. "You were soaked to the bone; I couldn't leave you like that."A hint of crimson colored Kass's cheeks at his words, touched by his care. "Thank you," she said, her gratitude sincere.

He sat down next to her and held her hands. 

''I'm a mess. I know I am. I can't control my emotions and I'm terrible at dealing with, or coping with them.'' He admitted. The vulnerability in his confession hung in the air like an unspoken truth.

Kass listened intently, thinking about her own feelings and emotions. She squeezed his hands gently, her eyes locked onto his.

 "You know," she began softly, "I'm equally afraid of my emotions. Sometimes, I don't know how to handle them either. But that doesn't mean there's anything bad about us. We just have to learn to cope with our emotions, to deal with them properly and not let them get out of hand, leading to anger and confusion."

Then, in a rush of adrenaline, she blurted out, "I think you're extremely handsome." Instantly, her hand flew to cover her mouth, her cheeks burning a bright shade of red.

Jason couldn't help but chuckle at her cute embarrassment. "Well, I think you're absolutely stunning," he confessed, his eyes locked onto hers. "Your hair, your gorgeous sage green eyes—they drive me crazy."Stunned by his words, Kass wasn't sure how to respond. She clutched his hand tighter, her heart pounding in her chest. She hesitated for a moment before admitting,

 "At first, I was hesitant to advance romantically because you were my boss, and it felt weird. I also didn't want to do something stupid and risk my job. But I couldn't deny the attraction."

Jason's eyes softened as he reassured her, "Right now, I'm not your boss. Things can be personal outside of work." He leaned in closer, his gaze filled with sincerity. "Ever since I first saw you, Kass, you've been the only girl I can think about. I love how hard you work, and on the coach, I loved talking to you."

Unable to contain her feelings any longer, Kass leaned toward him and planted a tender kiss on his forehead. Jason, taken aback but pleasantly surprised, couldn't move for a moment. Then, breaking into a warm grin, he pulled her into a tight embrace, reveling in the warmth of their connection.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted their intimate moment, and when it opened, Tessa, Juliet, and Jess entered with warm smiles. They were carrying gifts: cookies that Jess had baked, a vase of vibrant flowers, and a comforting air of friendship. They exchanged glances and playfully pushed Jason aside to tend to Kass.

Juliet took charge of fluffing Kass's pillow while Jess delicately placed the vase of flowers on the bedside drawer. 

Tessa set the cookies on a plate, and Kass couldn't help but exclaim, "These cookies are amazing!" Jess, the baker of the batch, received Kass's praise with a proud smile.

Kass hand-fed one of the cookies to Jason, who happily accepted. Kass blushed as he nibbled her finger jokingly. Juliet couldn't help but tease, "So, have things advanced between you two yet?" Kass blushed, her eyes averting, but Jason chuckled and replied, "She'll tell you in her own time."

Jess, feeling the oddity of such a casual interaction with her boss, confessed, "It's just a bit weird, you know, talking to you like this."Jason leaned back, wearing an easy smile, and reassured them, "Outside of work, you can treat me just like anyone else. I don't want to be seen as different or better." The girls giggled and shared amused glances at his down-to-earth attitude.

''Alright, now get out! Me and Kass were talking!'' He told them in a jokey manner.

Soon enough, they had left and it was just Kass and Jason left in the little hut. The fireplace crackled and raindrops fell on the window. Jason looked down at Kass, his eyes meeting hers as she gave him a look that nearly drove him crazy.