Colour Me Red

Chapter 29: Ellie

Chapter 29: Ellie

It was Monday morning and it was one of the rare occasions that I awoke before Dune. I lay on my left side, facing him and admiring him as he slept. He was lying on his back with one arm thrown above his head, offering me the view of his right armpit, his breath slow and steady, opposing the beat of my heart. I reached over and ran my hand through his hair, feeling each individual stand and committing it to memory. I never wanted to forget Dune, or the way he made me feel. I had the sudden urge to wake him and tell him that I loved him, so I stuck my fingers into his armpit and wriggled them around. Dune's brow furrowed and then a small smile graced his face.

"I'm not ticklish, you know," he said in a murmur, his eyes still closed.

I groaned and stuck my finger in his ear, trying to get some sort of reaction from him.

"Is there anything that bothers you?" I asked frustrated when he merely smiled.

Dune laughed and opened his eyes.

"It bothers me that you're plotting my downfall."

I grinned and rolled onto my front, propping myself up on my elbows so that I could look at Dune. He was watching me closely and he removed his right hand from behind his head so that he could trail a single finger down the length of my cheek. He leaned in and just when I thought he was about to kiss me he changed course and pulled back, climbing out of bed in a pair of boxer shorts only. My eyes widened at his attire - I'd been so tired last night that I hadn't noticed how he'd slipped into bed practically naked.

I let my mouth hang open at the sight of him, blatant appreciation for his physique spread across my face. Although I'd seen Dune without a shirt on too many times to count, I'd never seen him with any less clothing on and the sight had me utterly paralyzed.

Dune didn't seem fazed by his outfit and continued to search for clean clothes in the closet like nothing had happened. Only when he pulled on a pair of jeans did I shut my trap. He turned to face me with a smirk and buttoned his jeans, not bothering to put a shirt on.

"Pancakes?" was all he said, and a massive grin broke out onto my face.

*

After Dune had left to make breakfast, I spent a good five minutes rolling around in bed trying to motivate myself enough to get up for school. I rolled onto my right side, scrubbing sleep from my eyes as a smile broke out onto my face. A vase of red tulips sat comfortably on the bed side table, their vibrant colour brightening the entire room. When I first saw the tulips, I wasn't really sure how to feel. They obviously held some sort of significance to Dune, because the delicate bud was his signature mark, but I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable at that fact. It was only when he explained their symbolism did I understand why he found them so appropriate.

"Red tulips are a declaration of true love," he said. "I leave a carving of a single tulip on all the people I kill, not for the recognition, but so that people know the act was out of love and not hatred. I see it as releasing them from a cursed life and allowing them to be free of their wrongdoings," he explained, picking up a single bud and inspecting it closely.

His eyes flickered to mine and he smiled. "I didn't mean to creep you out."

I was staring at him adoringly at this point and I shook my head softly. "You didn't."

I'd spent the rest of the day squealing with excitement; that was the second time Dune had said he loved me - although discreetly and maybe even accidentally, he'd said it.

I clambered out of bed and pulled on my pencil skirt, smoothing it down before wriggling into my blouse. I hadn't had the chance to button it up when Dune slipped into the room, still shirtless, his eyes gravitating to my bare chest.