Our War Zone

26

**The Following Morning**

Eliza awoke, not in the comfort of her own bed, but nestled against unfamiliar warmth. Her eyes fluttered open, greeted by the soft glow of dawn filtering through the tent's canvas. The instant recognition of the fact that she wasn’t alone hit her like a wave, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, as her groggy mind sharpened, the realization dawned on her—this was Alexander’s bed. **His** tent.
It was then that she noticed him, leaning against the other side of the bed, watching her intently. Alexander’s dark, piercing eyes seemed to search hers, as though waiting for her to catch on to something unsaid.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered why he was staring at her so intensely. Then it hit her—*this is his bed*. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she shot upright, suddenly too aware of the situation. She had fallen asleep in his tent, on his bed, and what’s more, they had shared it through the night. *What was I thinking? Why did I agree to stay with him here*

"Morning baby nurse" Alexander’s voice was low and teasing, a sly smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’ll admit, I didn’t expect you to snore that loudly all night.” His gaze softened as he spoke, his tone more affectionate than she expected. There was something about seeing her so relaxed in his space that made him feel... pleased. Close, even.

Eliza, however, was mortified. She scrambled out of the bed, clutching the sheets to her chest in a futile attempt to cover her embarrassment. “I-I need to go and do something” she stammered, her hands shaking slightly as she fumbled with her belongings, trying to stuff them into her suitcase. Her hands couldn't seem to work properly, nerves fraying as she felt his unwavering gaze on her.

Alexander, lounging casually on the bed, watched her with an amused expression. His eyes, dark as rich coffee, seemed to follow her every movement. “What are you looking for?” he asked lazily, his voice as smooth as velvet. He propped his head up on one hand, completely unfazed by her panic. His relaxed posture was the polar opposite of her flustered state.

Eliza froze, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to concentrate. “I... I need a towel,” she mumbled, barely able to focus with his attention fixed so thoroughly on her. *Why does he have to stare like that?* Her cheeks flushed red under his scrutiny, her fingers clumsily fumbling through her bag. It was as if her brain had forgotten how to function.

“Could you... maybe... look the other way?” she managed, the words barely escaping her lips. Her voice was soft, trembling slightly with her unease. She could feel the heat creeping up her neck, knowing full well how ridiculous she must seem right now.

Alexander chuckled, his laugh low and deep. “Fine, fine.” He turned away, still smirking, clearly amused by her discomfort. “You know, I could get used to this. Breakfast in bed, maybe?” he suggested, settling back against the pillows, completely at ease.

Eliza rolled her eyes, trying to mask her embarrassment with sarcasm. “You’re a grown man, Alexander. Surely you can manage to get your own breakfast?” She grabbed her uniform and bathing supplies hastily, anything to distract herself from the tension between them.

He tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes glittering with amusement. “Ah, but you’re my nurse. My stay-in nurse. Surely, taking care of me is part of your job description?” His voice was teasing, but there was a possessiveness to it, something that sent a strange shiver down her spine.

Eliza turned to look at him, trying her best to appear unaffected. But the way his smirk deepened, the way his eyes never seemed to leave her, made her pulse quicken. She stood there for a moment, staring at his handsome face, as the weight of the situation began to sink in. *This is the same man who used to loathe me,* she thought. *The same man who once took every opportunity to belittle and embarrass me.*