Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Forty-One: Into You

The storm was still raging outside, heavy rain pattering against the windows. A bright flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder startled Clorinde awake. Disoriented and tired, she raised her head slightly, her eyes taking a moment to adjust before she noticed Wriothesley beside her. Without a second thought, she cuddled closer, laying her head on his chest. His calm, steady heartbeat was soothing, and she quickly drifted back into sleep.

Throughout the night, Wriothesley unconsciously wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as they slept peacefully, undisturbed by the storm still raging outside. The thunder and lightning gradually faded, leaving only the rhythmic sound of rain tapping against the window.

Morning came, and though the rain continued its gentle pattern, the storm had long passed. The room was quiet, save for the soft breathing of the two. It wasn't until midday that Wriothesley's eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times, momentarily confused by the unfamiliar surroundings before remembering where he was.

As his gaze shifted downward, he saw Clorinde still nestled against him, her arms wrapped around him as she slept peacefully.

A soft smile rested on her lips, and the sight of her, so relaxed and serene, gave him butterflies. The longer he looked at her, the more beautiful she appeared. Her hair strands fell almost majestically across her face, framing her delicate features. Wriothesley remained still for a moment, careful not to wake Clorinde, who was still curled up against his chest, her soft breathing matching the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He couldn't help but smile to himself.

As he lay there, his mind wandered back to the previous evening—the wine, the playful conversation, how natural it had felt to be close to her, and how she had closed the distance between them with such ease. He gently shifted his arm, not wanting to disturb her, but even that slight movement caused her to stir. Clorinde snuggled closer, her head resting deeper into his chest as she mumbled something incoherent in her sleep.

His heart raced as he blushed, thinking about how adorable she looked in this moment. Her usual stern exterior had melted away, revealing a side of her he had rarely, if ever, seen. She looked soft, vulnerable even, and it made his protective instincts kick in even more.

Wriothesley wondered what would happen once she woke up. Would things become awkward? Would she feel uncomfortable being this close to him? But then again, the entire evening had been full of closeness. Her posture had been open and honest; she had seemed at ease with him.

His thoughts were interrupted as Clorinde slowly opened her eyes, blinking as the light filtered into the room. In a moment of panic, Wriothesley shut his eyes, pretending to still be asleep, unsure of how she'd react to waking up like this.

Clorinde opened her eyes, taking a moment to adjust with a soft yawn. She lifted her head slightly, her gaze landing on Wriothesley beneath her. "Has he always been this muscular?" she thought, taking in the sight of her human pillow. She rested her head back down, suddenly very aware of how close they were and how his arms were wrapped around her. Her cheeks flushed as the reality of the situation sank in.

As seconds passed, she realized his breathing wasn't as steady as someone who was truly asleep. He was awake.

"Morning," she said softly, her voice low, testing the waters.

Wriothesley opened his eyes, meeting hers with a small, easy smile. "Morning," he replied.

Clorinde tried to maintain her composure, her cheeks still tinged with a soft flush from the realization of their close proximity. Wriothesley, sensing the shift, opened his arms, no longer holding her close. She cleared her throat slightly, pushing herself up, sitting upright slowly and carefully, trying to ease the transition without making the situation more awkward.