𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 | 𝟏𝟖 +

𝐓 𝐖 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐓 𝐖 𝐎

Dakota

I woke up to the unmistakable, gut-wrenching feeling of nausea clawing its way up my throat. My head was pounding, a dull throb that made every movement feel like torture. I opened my eyes, squinting against the faint morning light streaming through the windows, and realized I was laying in Genevieve's arms. She was still asleep, her face peaceful, her strong arms wrapped securely around me.

But my stomach churned violently, and before I could even think about savoring the moment, I scrambled out of bed, barely managing not to trip over the covers, and bolted to the bathroom. The second I reached the toilet, I dropped to my knees and emptied the contents of my stomach. The sound of retching filled the room, and my throat burned like hellfire, tears streaming down my cheeks as I gagged.

I barely registered the soft sound of footsteps behind me before I felt a gentle hand on my back, rubbing soothing circles over my spine. Genevieve's calm voice followed, low and steady. "Get it out, Cielo. I'm here."

Her touch was grounding, even as another wave of nausea hit me like a truck. I gripped the edges of the toilet for dear life, my body convulsing as I threw up again. Each heave left me feeling weaker, and by the time it stopped, I was trembling, exhausted, and utterly miserable.

Genevieve crouched beside me, her hand still on my back. "Are you done?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern. I nodded weakly, my throat too raw to speak. She reached over to flush the toilet, the sound of the water filling the silence. "Come on." she murmured, her hand sliding under my arm to help me up. "Let's get you cleaned up."

She guided me to the sink, her movements gentle but firm. I leaned heavily against the counter, barely able to keep myself upright as she handed me my toothbrush. My hands trembled as I brushed my teeth, desperate to get rid of the awful taste in my mouth. Genevieve stood close, steadying me when I swayed, her presence a lifeline.

When I finished, she took the toothbrush from me and set it aside before scooping me up effortlessly, carrying me bridal style back to the bed. I didn't even have the energy to protest, letting my head rest against her shoulder as she walked. Her scent, clean and slightly floral was oddly comforting, and I closed my eyes, trying to focus on that instead of the lingering queasiness.

She laid me down carefully, tucking the blanket around me like I was something fragile. Her hand brushed over my forehead before she stood. "I'll get you something for the headache and nausea. Stay here."

I nodded weakly, letting out a low groan of how awful I felt. Every inch of my body ached, and my stomach was still twisting, threatening another rebellion if I so much as moved. I closed my eyes, hoping the world would stop spinning by the time Genevieve came back.

It wasn't long before I felt the bed dip beside me, and I opened my eyes to see her holding a glass of water and a couple of pills. "Here." she said, sliding an arm behind my shoulders to help me sit up. "Take these."

I took the pills from her and popped them into my mouth, washing them down with a few sips of water. Even that small action felt like a monumental effort, and I flopped back against the pillows as soon as I was done. "Thanks." I muttered, my voice hoarse and scratchy.

Genevieve smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. "You're welcome, Cielo."

I let out a dry laugh, wincing at the strain it put on my throat. "I'm never drinking so much again." I said, my voice half a groan.

Genevieve chuckled, her laugh low and warm. "We'll see about that." she teased, her lips quirking into a smirk. "You say that now, but I'll remind you the next time you decide to go out."

I rolled my eyes but didn't have the energy to argue. Instead, I mumbled, "I feel disgusting. I want a shower."

Her hand rested on my arm, stopping me before I could try to sit up. "Not yet." she said firmly. "You'll just make yourself sick again. Rest for a bit first. The shower can wait."

I wanted to protest, but the nausea still lingering in the pit of my stomach was enough to convince me she was right. "Fine." I muttered, sinking back into the mattress.

Genevieve stayed beside me, her presence steady and reassuring. Even in my miserable state, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her. She made me feel safe, cared for, like nothing could touch me as long as she was around. And as much as I hated feeling like this, having her by my side made it just a little more bearable.

I was sprawled in bed, my body heavy with lingering exhaustion. My head rested on Genevieve's chest, the rhythmic rise and fall of her breathing soothing against my cheek. Her hand rubbed slow, comforting circles on my back, the warmth of her touch easing the remnants of my hangover. It was peaceful, too peaceful to ever want to leave.

I let out a low sigh, nestling closer into her. "I'm so glad it's Saturday and not Monday." I murmured, my voice still scratchy from all the damage I'd done to my throat. "If it were Monday, I think I'd drop dead."

Genevieve let out a soft, amused scoff, her fingers briefly pausing on my back before resuming their gentle rhythm. "Cielo," she said, her tone dripping with exasperated fondness, "you're lucky you didn't get alcohol poisoning after last night."

I grinned despite myself, tilting my head up to glance at her face. "Come on, Genevieve." I teased, trying to sound nonchalant. "I'd have to drink the whole bar to get alcohol poisoning."

Her sharp eyes narrowed down at me, though there was a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. "With a body as small as yours?" she countered. "It wouldn't take much. You're not exactly indestructible, Dakota."

I groaned softly, letting my head fall back against her chest. "Fine." I grumbled. "Point taken." I shifted slightly, my hand resting lightly on her side. "Still, it feels good to just lie here like this." My voice softened with the admission, and I realized how much I truly meant it. Being in her arms felt... safe. Like nothing in the world could touch me.

Genevieve's arms tightened around me slightly, her hold protective and strong, yet still gentle. "I love holding you against me." she murmured, her voice low and warm, sending a shiver down my spine.

Her words made my cheeks flush instantly, and I buried my face in her neck to hide my reaction. My breath hitched slightly when I felt her chuckle, the vibrations rumbling through her chest. "You're so easy to fluster, Cielo." she teased, her hand moving to lightly stroke the back of my neck.

I mumbled something incoherent into her skin, too embarrassed to form actual words. Her scent, clean and faintly floral, wrapped around me, adding to the cocoon of warmth and comfort. I didn't want to move, didn't want to leave this moment. If I could, I'd stay like this forever, cocooned in her arms, shielded from the world.

Genevieve shifted slightly beneath me, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. "You really are something else." she murmured, her tone affectionate. "Only you could turn being hungover into something adorable."

I groaned again, louder this time, though the smile tugging at my lips betrayed me. "Stop teasing me." I muttered, though I made no move to pull away from her embrace.

Her laugh was soft and melodic, her arms tightening around me again. "Never." she replied, her voice playful yet sincere. "Teasing you is far too much fun."

I rolled my eyes, though she couldn't see it, and let out a small sigh of contentment. For all her teasing, Genevieve had this way of making me feel cared for, like I mattered. And even though I felt like a complete mess, I couldn't help but think that this, being in her arms, hearing her laugh was worth every second of it.

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~ R