As we left the haunted house, I couldn't shake the feeling of fear clinging to my skin like cold sweat. I turned to him and muttered, "I'm so scared. I didn't think I'd react like this."
Cody chuckled softly. "Uhm."
"No, seriously," I said, clutching my arms tighter around myself. "I always said I wasn't afraid of stuff like this, but… that was terrifying."
He smiled and looked over at me. "I know, right? But hey—we made it through."
The ride back was quiet at first. The chill from the haunted house still lingered in my bones, even though the car's heater hummed around us. Then Cody glanced at me, brow furrowed.
"Why are you shivering?"
"I'm not a kid," I replied, crossing my arms. "I'm just cold."
He laughed and teased, "Oh, I see. The vampire must've cursed you."
Then, without saying anything more, he shrugged off his jacket and reached over to hand it to me. I smiled, touched by the gesture—until both of us took our eyes off the road.
That was the last thing I remembered.
A blinding light. Screeching tires. A truck swerving in the wrong lane. And then—impact.
Everything went black.
♠♠♠
When I came to, everything felt wrong. My head was pounding, my body sore in ways I couldn't describe. I blinked, the ceiling swimming above me, and then I heard his voice.
"Alva? Hey, are you awake?"
"Cody?" My voice was hoarse. "What… happened?"
"We got hit. A truck ran a red light. You've been out since yesterday."
My whole body ached. "My head… my leg… or maybe all of me…"
He helped me sit up. That's when I noticed the IV drip and the quiet hum of machines. But this wasn't a hospital room. It was his bedroom.
"How did I get here?"
"You passed out in the ambulance. They released you, but you wouldn't wake up. So I brought you here."
"You brought me to your room?"
"I didn't want to leave you alone."
I touched my head and groaned. "Ugh, my hair is disgusting. I need a shower."
"The doctor said you shouldn't bathe yet. Your bones are too stiff. You need rest."
Just then, the doctor, who'd been packing up, turned to us. "Miss, your bones are still healing, so try not to strain yourself."
"But I can shower, right?" I asked, exhaling the sour scent in my hair.
"Well… technically, yes." He cleared his throat. "If someone helps you."
He glanced at Cody and then hurried out, clearly uncomfortable.
We both blinked.
"Did he just…?"
Cody's face turned crimson.
"You don't have to," I said teasingly. "But you could…"
"Alva."
"I mean, you've already seen me half-naked before…"
"Stop talking," he snapped, but I could see the way his jaw clenched.
"Fine. Then bathe me," I said with a smirk. "Besides, this accident was your fault…"
Before I could finish, Cody was already at my side, his hands sliding under the hem of my shirt. He moved slowly, deliberately. I gasped softly as he pulled it up over my head. His eyes met mine, asking for permission, but his hands didn't stop.
His fingers brushed against my skin, lingering at my sides, then moving up to unclasp my bra. As it fell away, his eyes drank me in, pausing at my breasts, now bare to him. My nipples hardened at the touch of the cool air—and at the heat in his gaze.
Next came my skirt, and then my panties. I stood before him, completely naked, my breath uneven. He lifted me gently, holding me in his arms as if I weighed nothing.
He carried me to the bathroom.
The tub was already filled with warm, soapy water. Cody stepped in beside me, cradling me as he lowered me in. The heat of the water soaked into my skin, chasing away the soreness.
His hands began to move—slow, careful, reverent. He lathered soap in his palms and ran them over my body, starting at my shoulders, down my arms, over my breasts. I gasped as he brushed against my nipples again, this time lingering.
"Cody…" I breathed, eyes fluttering.
He didn't speak. He just kept going, his hands sliding down my waist, my hips, then between my thighs.
My breath hitched, a low moan escaping me. "You haven't bathed yet," I whispered, eyes locking on his. "Let me take care of you."
He didn't answer, but his eyes told me everything.
I reached for his shirt and pulled it down, my fingers grazing his chest. He leaned in, our foreheads touching, his lips brushing mine.
And then—his hands found me again, and I surrendered.