Temporary Fix | 18+

36

My head jerked to the sound of knocking on the door and I watched it push open to reveal Niccolò. He had a tray in his hand and walked over to the bathtub where I was sitting.

The rectangular piece of wood fit perfectly across the tub and I silently took in the bowl with the green grapes and the cup of orange juice. My hand lifted from the lukewarm water to grab one and push it past my lips.

The sweet flavor coated my tongue easily and I hummed in appreciation. "These are good."

"They're cotton candy grapes. A surprisingly accurate name." He took a seat on the edge of the tub and I let my hand sink back under the light layer of bubbles.

When I made no move to grab another one, Niccolò took it upon himself to start feeding them to me. I let my eyes trail up to his, resting my head on my knees to stare comfortably at him.

"I think it's time to get out." He dipped his fingers in the water and I watched the ripples that followed, "the water will run cold soon."

I nodded against my legs, "ten more minutes."

He lifted the cup, pushing the straw to my lips and I took a few gulps of the pulp-less orange juice. "It's been fifteen minutes since you last said that."

I sighed after pulling away and licked my lips. For some reason, I didn't want to get out. Baths weren't my thing. They never were. I hated having to wash the tub before every bath just to sit in some scented water. It was pointless to me, but with how much my muscles relaxed from the bath I was having, I wanted to take back my words.

It was the most relaxed I'd felt in a while and the peony scented bath bomb was a gift from heaven. I sighed again before lifting my hands to the edge of the tub so I could stand. Niccolò followed suit and grabbed my towel to wrap me in the fabric.

There was shuffling behind me as I stepped out and I could hear him releasing the water as I dried off. My shower cap was left on the bathroom counter as I moved into the room to find clothes. The boy shorts underwear served enough for a bottom and I easily grabbed a tank top before I climbed under the sheets.

It was a few more moments before Niccolò walked out the bathroom and took in my position. "Do you need anything?" Though his stance was calm as he leaned against the doorframe, the tension in his shoulders wasn't missed by me.

"You're upset." It was more of a statement, but I couldn't help but point it out. I didn't know why but I could sense the man was just keeping his anger in check. Stupidly, my mind was replaying his harsh words from before.

"I am."

"At me?" My hesitance to ask was no doubt detected. He had all right to be, especially because of the last conversation we had prior to me leaving.

"Not necessarily."

I paused before speaking again, gesturing to the other side of the bed, "will you lay down with me?" He nodded and I pushed for more, "for the entire night?"

His head tilted to the side and I watched his hair fall across his eyes, "you want me to sleep in here?"

A nod was my reply. "It's your bed. Where do you sleep anyways? I've never woken up with you here."

He pushed off the door and rounded the bed, "I fall asleep in my office most nights." He pressed a button on a small remote and my eyes shot up as the entire headboard of the bed reclined a few inches. He grabbed the remote and the tv mounted on the wall sprung to life. I'd never actually watched anything before and it brought on slight excitement. "Pick something. I'll be back after my shower."