Twisted Devotion

Thirty Six

The next morning, Ava awoke to a world still blanketed in white, the snow having settled over everything in sight, wrapping the forest in a serene, almost magical quiet. She could hear Dominic moving around the cabin, the low hum of his footsteps and the creak of wood as he went about his work. Her knee and hands ached, a dull reminder of her stumble yesterday, but the warmth of the blankets cocooned her, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a sense of safety within the cabin's walls.

Ava swung her legs over the edge of the bed and wrapped herself in one of the thick blankets before making her way into the main room. She spotted Dominic at the doorway, tugging on his coat and gloves, his eyes distant, already focused on the tasks ahead.

"Morning," she murmured, still clutching the blanket tightly around her shoulders. He looked over, a flicker of something unreadable in his expression.

"Morning," he replied, his voice even. He didn't say much more, simply nodding toward the pile of blankets he had pulled from the basement. "It's going to be colder tonight. I need to make sure everything's ready."

Ava watched him as he gathered a few tools, stacking them with an air of quiet determination. She couldn't help the strange surge of gratitude she felt for his efforts. Even though he was her captor, the care he took to prepare the cabin felt oddly... thoughtful.

"Can I help?" she asked, breaking the silence. Her voice came out quieter than she intended, a shy, tentative offer.

He shook his head, glancing at her knee. "No. You need to keep off that leg," he replied firmly. "Stay inside, rest, and keep warm. I'll manage out there."

Ava frowned, the blanket slipping a little as she stood straighter. "But I feel fine. At least let me make you some coffee. And... maybe I could come out and keep you company?"

He hesitated, his gaze shifting to her injured knee, then back to her face. For a moment, she thought he might refuse, but eventually, he nodded. "Fine. But only for a bit. It's freezing out there."

With a small smile, Ava turned to the stove, setting water to boil and finding the worn coffee pot. She worked quietly, aware of Dominic watching her with a strange look she couldn't quite place. Soon, the familiar, comforting scent of coffee filled the cabin, warming her in a way she hadn't felt in weeks.

She poured two steaming cups, wrapping her hands around one of them to keep warm, and followed Dominic outside. The cold hit her immediately, the sharp, biting air prickling her cheeks, but she steeled herself, focusing on the warmth radiating from the mug.

Dominic had already begun chopping wood, his axe slicing through the silence with a rhythmic intensity. His movements were strong and precise, the muscles in his arms flexing with each swing. Ava sipped her coffee, keeping a respectful distance, yet close enough to feel as if she was part of his world, even if only in this small, fleeting way.

They stood there in companionable silence, the sound of his axe echoing against the snowy landscape. She wanted to ask him questions, to peel back the layers that he kept so carefully guarded, but something about the stillness between them felt too fragile to break.

Dominic paused to catch his breath, wiping a sheen of sweat from his brow, though the cold air around them showed no mercy. He glanced over at her, eyebrows raised as he caught her watching him.

"Don't you regret coming out here?" he asked, his tone light but his gaze heavy with something she couldn't quite name. "It's freezing."

She shrugged, hugging the mug closer to her chest. "I wanted to help, or at least... keep you company. I didn't want to sit inside and do nothing."

He shook his head, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "You're more stubborn than I thought." He took a few steps toward her, reaching for the coffee she held out to him, their fingers brushing briefly as he took it from her. For a moment, his hand lingered, his warmth grounding her in the cold.

They drank in silence, watching the snow fall around them, each lost in their own thoughts. Ava glanced at Dominic out of the corner of her eye, studying the sharp lines of his face, softened slightly by the quiet morning light. He looked... peaceful, almost as if the snow had blanketed some of his inner turmoil along with the forest.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper.

He looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly in question. "For what?"

"For... keeping me warm last night. For looking after me." Her cheeks flushed slightly, though she wasn't sure if it was from the cold or something else.

Dominic's gaze softened for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Don't read too much into it, I'll always look after you." he said, but there was no bite in his words. Instead, he simply turned back to his work, leaving Ava standing there, sipping her coffee, wondering just how much more lay hidden beneath the surface of the man who had taken her world apart—and now seemed intent on holding it together, piece by piece.