Degrees of Desire (gxg, txs)

chapter fourteen

-Isabella

I woke up to the gentle warmth of the sun peaking through the blinds. Rubbing my eyes from tiredness, I reached for my phone, the screen showing the time – 8 am. Not too early, not too late. With a sigh, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stretched, feeling the knots of tension slowly unraveling from my muscles.

I quickly got up making the bed as I smoothed the sheets and fluffed the pillows, taking a moment to admire the room. It felt oddly comforting to be back in this space, surrounded by the memories from a few weeks ago.

I always managed to get myself into trouble and there she was, helping me. With a final glance around the room, I made my way to the bathroom, intent on freshening up for the day ahead.

Once I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I made my way out of the room, my footsteps echoing softly on the polished hardwood floors. As I walked, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the house, the elegant furnishings and tasteful décor making the house a home.

Turning the corner into the kitchen, I spotted Diana perched on the counter, a mug of coffee in hand as she gazed out the window.

"Good morning," I greeted her with a smile, the corners of my lips turning up in genuine warmth.

"Good morning," she replied, returning my smile with one of her own. "How did you sleep?" she asked, hopping down from the counter to join me.

"I slept pretty well, thank you for asking. What about you?" I asked, curious about her own night's rest.

"It was alright. I couldn't sleep much, to be honest," she admitted with a shrug, taking a sip of her coffee.

Suddenly, a small black cat leaped onto the counter, rubbing against Diana's arm. I couldn't help but jump a little at the unexpected sight, my heart skipping a beat before settling back into a steady rhythm.

"Isabella, this is Luna," Diana introduced me to her cat, a fond smile playing on her lips.

"She's gorgeous. I love cats," I exclaimed, stepping closer to pet Luna on her head. The cat immediately began to purr, a contented rumble that filled the air with warmth.

"Would you like some coffee?" Diana offered, gesturing towards the coffee pot on the counter.

"No, thank you. Coffee isn't really my thing," I declined politely, my attention still focused on Luna.

"Wait, just to make things clear, you make your own coffee at home yet decide to go to the cafe to buy plain black coffee there" I asked curiously.

Diana chuckled softly at my question, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, I suppose I do. Is there a problem with that?"

I shook my head, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "No, I'm just surprised. I would rather make it at home than spend six dollars for a cup of coffee."

"Maybe I wasn't there for the coffee," she teased, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her response. "So what do you go for?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"I think you know, darling," she replied, her voice laced with playful laughter as she placed her mug into the sink.

I stood there, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks as I struggled to find the right words. Before I could form a coherent response, Diana turned and walked towards me, her movements graceful and purposeful.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, her voice soft and inviting.

"Um, yes," I stammered, suddenly feeling a flutter of nerves in the pit of my stomach.