Death of a Bachelor

#30 Taste

"You have no idea how much I miss this place"

Simone whispered as she looked around inside her studio, the studio smelled of paint, old books and freshly canvas, the familiar scent comforting Simone immediately. It was as if the room had been waiting for her to return. Brushes, easels, and unfinished canvases were scattered throughout, just as she had left them. It felt like a home away from home, she want to scream and kiss every corner of the room.

She walked in, her footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floors. The dim lighting made the space feel even cozier, the soft shadows flickering across the floor and walls, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of a nearby canvas. She hadn't realized how much she needed this-needed to be back in her creative space.

Lewis watched her from the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. His grin had softened into something more tender as he observed her taking in the space. He could tell how much it meant to her, how connected she was to this place. He couldn't shake the feeling that her life had been thrown into chaos because of him. The spotlight that constantly followed him, the endless media attention, and the dangerous world he lived in-if it hadn't been for him, her life would have been simpler, safer. She wouldn't be in hiding, feeling the need to shield their unborn child from the harsh scrutiny of the world. A knot formed in his stomach as he watched her, guilt mixing with the warmth of seeing her so happy.

Simone broke the silence, glancing back at him with a gentle smile. "We should dry ourselves off before we catch a cold" The rain had left them both drenched, droplets still dripping from her hair and clothes.

He nodded in agreement, shaking himself from his thoughts. He began to pull off his shoes and his socks, the cold fabric clung to his skin, making him feel even more uncomfortable as the chill from the rain had seeped into his clothes. He unzipped his padded jacket, shrugging it off and hanging it on a nearby hook. His hoodie, now drenched and sticking to his body, with a quick tug, he pulled it over his head, leaving him in just his sweatpants, which were also damp from the rain. As he stood there in the dim light of the studio, the warmth of the room slowly began to replace the chill that had settled in his bones. He rubbed his hands together, trying to generate a bit of extra warmth as he glanced toward Simone who was staring at him and nervously looked away.

"You should take a warm bath, Si" he suggest but she shook her head "Come on, you might get sick"

"I won't, don't worry about me"

Simone immediately answered before walking towards her room to change clean clothes and get clean towels. After a few minutes, Simone returned, carrying a couple of fluffy towels and some clean clothes for Lewis draped over her arm. "Dry off properly, change your clothers before you get sick" she said softly, holding out one of the towels to Lewis.

He accepted the towel, his gaze never leaving hers as he began to dry his face and hair. "You really should get warm, though" he urged again, his voice more gentle this time.

"I'm fine" she replied and started drying her hair throwing her attention at the other direction.

Simone took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, but it was then she realized she might be in more danger than she thought-not from the rain or the cold, but from the feelings stirring inside her. She glanced quickly over at Lewis, her eyes betraying her as they lingered on him longer than she intended. His well-toned body was hard to ignore, and for the first time, she noticed more of his tattoos, the ink tracing intricate designs across his arms and chest. She had always known he had tattoos, but she had never seen the others up close like this.

"Focus, Simone" she whispered to herself, forcing her gaze away and back to the other direction.

Her eyes widened when Lewis grabbed the towel from her and gently pulled her hand closer. His grip was firm but tender, and she could see the concern etched clearly on his face. For a moment, they just stood there, his eyes locked onto hers, a mixture of worry and affection reflected in his gaze.