Chapter 129: The Next Morning
Xavier woke up naked, the sheets tangled beneath him like ripped silk. The room was warm with the faint trace of last night’s heat still hanging in the air. For a second, he just lay there, arm over his forehead, staring at the ceiling like it might flash a memory or two.
No one beside him.
He sat up slowly. The bedsheets were creased and stained with the raw mess of what they’d done. His clothes were scattered across the floor. Her robe, too. He smirked at that.
Xavier got up, stretched his back with a grunt, and pulled his pants on. As he buttoned up, he heard it—quiet movement from the kitchen.
He walked over barefoot and leaned against the doorframe.
Seraphina was there.
Hair still damp from a shower, tied up in a lazy bun. Her neck and collarbone glistened with the leftover drops. She was wearing that same thin robe from last night, loose and short—too short. Every time she bent down to reach for something, it rode up just a little too far. She smelled like flowers and steam and something maddeningly sweet underneath it all.
"Morning," Xavier said.
She jumped slightly, turning fast. "Oh—Xavier... I didn’t know you were awake."
He gave a small smirk. "You weren’t acting so shy last night."
Her cheeks exploded red. "T-That was... different."
He didn’t reply. Just walked in and sat down while she awkwardly stirred something on the stove, pretending to stay busy. Her hand shook when she reached for the seasoning.