Taint, Time and Tangents✔️

≑ Chapter Thirty Six

To @badmeansgood, for being one of those who stayed :)

A/N: This chapter is a bit short so I prepared a separate PRIVATE chapter as a gift for my naughty readers. I think I've made it a little too explicit - something not for everyone's eyes so brace yourself. Hihi. Anyway, here's my quarantine update. Enjoy!

∞ 36 ∞

CALLIE

I lay there, staring--- staring at the darkness, trying to make out the strong features of his face while he sleeps. The ticking of the clock and the silent knock of midnight breeze against the wooden walls of the house sang inside my ear as my eyes slowly traced the slant of his nose down to his jaw until my gaze reached his Adam's apple. It was something he developed so early in our adolescence letting me remember how he almost made me believe that it has a secret jewel inside that makes him resistant to any poison, including my cooking.

He was so silly back then... so carefree and innocent. I thought I would never see him like that again, but being with him these past few days, I was glad that the playful boy I once knew was still within him.

Deep in thought, I tried making out his silver hair splayed carelessly on the covers. They are longer now, the strands tangled and messed up after what happened between us earlier. I looked at him for a bit more and I couldn't resist reaching up and brushing the few silver strands pricking his forehead.

As my fingers felt the soft texture of his hair, I wondered how his typical day starts. Does he eat good food? Does he talk to the children of his pack --- play with them, perhaps? What does he do in his leisure time? Does he still have this weird habit of twisting door knobs multiple times to check if he had locked them?

My mind was in a blur, trivial questions popping endlessly which I was sure will just be forgotten and not be asked once we woke up.

He suddenly stirred, his eyebrows furrowing. My finger paused in mid-air, waiting. He stilled afterwards and I watched as his chest slowly rose up and down from breathing- probably letting his dream took over his consciousness again.

I settled my hands on the covers, drumming my fingers lightly against the velvety silk of our blanket. With its warmth covering the lower half our body, his chest and necklace were exposed in front of my eyes. I propped on my elbows, looking closely at the black string which has twisted around his neck, the pendant lying against his right clavicle. I was about to reach out and feel the intricate design of the pendant when I saw a flash of light from my peripheral vision. It came from the hallway. And I knew, someone has passed by.

Someone is here.

He is here ---the one I was waiting for.

Carefully, I moved from within Zeke's embrace, hoping he would not wake up as I slid from his right arm. Grabbing a robe from the night stand, I stood up wincing as I felt a pang of pain between my legs. I felt so sore, my arms and legs heavy. I donned the thickness and comfort of the beige robe and tiptoed across the room, trying not to make any sound.

I faced the narrow living room, squinting, as I make out a silhouette of someone perched on one of the couch's arms. It was dark but with the moonlight seeping in from the windows-I could somehow see a translucent body standing up and gliding across the room.

"I've been waiting for you to get up."

With that flat voice paired with long hair tied high on the back of his head, I knew right away that it was Five.

He turned towards me, his usual smirk already pasted on his pale face. "Did Ezekiel tire you so much? I heard he is wild in bed."

I crept towards him. The soreness I felt suddenly disappeared as embarrassment slowly set in, thinking he - or they- must have watched our night together.