𝐓 𝐖 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐘

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Mattie

I wrapped my favorite grey blanket around myself, feeling its comforting warmth as I padded down the hallway towards Evangeline's room. My pyjamas were soft and loose, and I felt a bit silly for showing up at her door like this, but I couldn't resist the urge to ask her if she wanted to read with me like last time. The memory of us curled up in the library, flipping through old books, had been so cozy, and I wanted to recreate that tonight.

When I reached her door, I hesitated for a moment, biting my lip. What if she was busy? I didn't want to interrupt anything important. But after a few seconds of standing there awkwardly, I knocked softly.

"Come in," Evangeline's voice called from inside, smooth and inviting.

I pushed the door open slightly and peeked in. Evangeline was lounging on her bed, the soft glow of the fireplace casting shadows across her elegant frame. Her eyes flicked over to me, and I could see the amusement immediately spark in her expression.

"Oh my," she chuckled, her voice low and teasing. "Look at you. Wrapped up like a little bundle. Are you planning to hibernate tonight?"

I blushed instantly, tugging my blanket a little tighter around myself, both for comfort and to hide how embarrassed I was. I couldn't help the shy smile that tugged at my lips, though. "I, uh... wanted to ask if you wanted to go to the library with me. To, um, read. Like last time."

Evangeline's lips curved into a smirk as she sat up, her dark hair falling around her shoulders in waves. "Hmm, tempting. But," she tilted her head towards the fireplace, "since the fire's already on in here, why don't we just read in my room?"

I nodded quickly. It was hard to say no when she looked at me like that. The warmth of the fire already made her room feel inviting, and the idea of spending more time with her in this cozy space made my heart race. "That sounds good."

"Pick a book," she said, gesturing to a small shelf by the wall. "Whatever you're in the mood for."

I wandered over, still clutching my blanket, and browsed through the collection. There were so many choices, romance, adventure, history. I finally settled on a novel that looked interesting, something about a knight and a forbidden love. It seemed like the perfect thing for a quiet night like this.

As soon as I sat down on the couch, though, I felt Evangeline's hands tug at me gently. Before I could react, I was pulled onto her lap, and she wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me close. I felt my heart lurch, my face heating up again as I realized just how close we were.

Evangeline chuckled softly in my ear. "You look like a baby in my lap with that blanket around you."

"I'm not a baby," I mumbled, though my voice sounded a little more flustered than I'd meant it to.

Her fingers lightly brushed the edge of my blanket, and she smiled. "Oh? Then why do you look so adorable right now, sweetheart?"

I could only grumble in response, trying to hide how much her teasing was affecting me. It wasn't fair how easily she could make me blush with just a few words. But I didn't move. In fact, as flustered as I was, I secretly liked being so close to her. It felt... safe.

I opened the book, trying to focus on the words, but the sensation of her arms around me, the warmth of her body against mine, made it hard to concentrate. I fidgeted slightly, trying to get comfortable without making it obvious how much her presence was getting to me.

"Are you going to read, or do I have to read for you?" she teased again, her breath warm against my neck.

"I'm reading!" I protested, though the slight tremor in my voice probably gave me away.

Evangeline's laughter was soft, and she leaned back slightly, letting me settle into her lap as I began to read the first few lines aloud. The crackling of the fireplace filled the room, mingling with the sound of my voice as I read. After a while, though, Evangeline's teasing grew quieter, and she simply rested her chin on my shoulder, listening.

The moment was peaceful, intimate, and I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. Even though her teasing had made me a little self-conscious, it was clear she enjoyed these quiet moments with me just as much as I did.

As I turned the page, I glanced down and noticed her fingers gently tracing patterns along the edge of my blanket, her touch light and almost absent-minded. I felt a soft warmth bloom in my chest, a warmth that had nothing to do with the fire or the blanket.

Evangeline was more than just teasing. She was gentle, thoughtful, and every little gesture she made showed just how much she cared.

Eventually, I relaxed fully against her, allowing myself to sink into the comfort of the moment. My initial nervousness had melted away, replaced by a sense of belonging that I hadn't felt in a long time. Here, in Evangeline's arms, with the soft glow of the fire lighting up the room, everything just felt... right.

I wasn't sure what the future held, especially with the whole mate thing hanging over my head, but for now, I was content to be here with her, wrapped in my favorite blanket, sharing this quiet, intimate evening. And even though I would never admit it out loud, I didn't really mind when she called me adorable.

Maybe, just maybe, I liked it more than I was willing to admit.

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~ R

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