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Chapter 26 to 41 Already there!
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James quickly dried himself off, the heat in his face slowly fading as the earlier tension in the room began to ease. He glanced toward Ofelia, who was kneeling by the bucket, her back turned to him as she wrung out the cloth. Her motions were slower now, less precise—clearly dulled by exhaustion. Strands of her dark, damp hair clung to her neck and shoulders, and her breathing came in quiet, steady draws, like someone trying to stay composed despite the weariness weighing her down.
Stepping closer, James cleared his throat softly, not wanting to startle her."You know," he said gently, his voice low and sincere, "you've done a lot for me today. Let me return the favor."
Ofelia froze mid-motion, her hands tightening around the soaked cloth. The tension in her shoulders visibly spiked, and she turned slightly, just enough for him to catch the flicker of surprise in her emerald eyes."W-what?" she stammered, clearly caught off guard. Her voice was unsteady, and her gaze darted toward him before flicking away.
James met her with a soft smile—warm, unpressing. "You've taken care of me this whole time. And I feel a lot better now. So… let me help you. Just this once."
Her heart skipped a beat. Why does he always say things like that so casually?"I—I can manage," she said quickly, tightening her grip on the cloth, trying to inject strength into her tone. But the slight tremble in her voice betrayed her exhaustion.
James shook his head slowly, then knelt beside her. The closeness made her breath catch."Ofelia," he said, more gently this time, "you're exhausted. I can see it in your eyes, in the way you're holding yourself up. You've done more than enough today. Let me give something back. Just… let me take care of you. Even for a moment."
She opened her mouth to protest again—but the words refused to come. Her gaze dropped to the cloth in her hands, now cool and dripping into the bucket. Her lips parted slightly, but all she could manage was a quiet breath. A warm flush began rising up her neck, creeping into her cheeks.Why does he have to be so stubborn?But deep down, she already knew the answer. And maybe… just this once… she didn't want to argue.
"…Fine," she muttered after a long pause, barely louder than a whisper. "But… just my back."
"Just your back," James agreed with a nod, his tone light but respectful. He reached out and took the cloth from her hands, his fingers brushing briefly against hers. The contact was simple, fleeting—yet it sent a small shiver up her spine.
Ofelia turned around slowly, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. Her back was to him now, her body tense, rigid with nerves. Droplets of water still clung to her skin, glistening in the soft light like dew on morning leaves. Her breath came in shallow waves, and her heart pounded in her ears. Every instinct screamed at her to keep her guard up—but she stayed still.
James dipped the cloth into the soapy water, watching it soak before lifting it with practiced care. The water trickled down his arm, warm and slightly scented—lavender, maybe, or something close to it. He wrung out the excess, then turned back toward her.
As he raised the cloth to her shoulders, he paused.
Scars.
Some faint and silvered with time, others fresher—thin lines, abrasions, reminders. They crisscrossed her back like a silent language only pain could write.
His breath caught.
A flicker of something sharp ignited in his chest. Anger. Helplessness. Not toward her, never her—but at whoever had left these marks. Whoever had thought it acceptable to treat her body like this.
He forced his fingers to loosen. Not now.
"Hey," he said softly, his voice low and steady. "It's alright. You can relax."
Ofelia didn't respond. But her shoulders, drawn tight like a bowstring, eased just slightly. It was enough.
He began to wash her back—slow, careful strokes, gentle pressure gliding across her skin. He kept his gaze fixed on the cloth, never straying, never lingering. Just focus. Be present. She deserved this moment—safety without strings, care without judgment.
The cloth moved in small arcs, following the ridges of her spine, circling the base of her neck, trailing lightly across the curve of her shoulders. He dipped it again and worked lower, each movement deliberate, respectful. She didn't flinch, but he felt the tension that pulsed just beneath her skin, like a coiled spring waiting to snap.
Ofelia squeezed her eyes shut.
It's just cleaning, she repeated inwardly. Just cleaning. Just… damn him.
"You know," James said after a long pause, his tone light and warm, trying to break the tension without shattering the moment, "this isn't so bad. I think I'm getting the hang of it."
"Don't get carried away," she muttered, her voice sharp—too sharp—but it was all she had.
He chuckled softly. "Alright, alright. Just saying. You did a good job earlier. I'm just trying to return the favor."
She clenched her hands tighter around her knees, nails digging into her own skin. Why did he have to say things like that? Why did he make her feel… safe? But unsafe? And flustered?
After a few more minutes, James leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose. "There. All done."
He stood, stretched his arms overhead with a low sigh, and glanced down at her. Ofelia was still kneeling by the bucket, her back turned to him, strands of damp hair clinging to her neck.
"Well," he said, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips, "we've done the back. Now it's time for the front."
Ofelia froze.
Her spine straightened instantly, like a jolt of lightning had struck her. She turned her head sharply, her eyes wide with disbelief, cheeks already burning. "The... front?" she echoed. Her voice trembled. "No. Absolutely not. I can handle that myself."
James crossed his arms, his grin softening into something more sincere. "Ofelia," he said, voice lower now, "you took care of me when I couldn't move. When I was at my lowest, you didn't give me a choice. You just helped. Let me do the same for you."
She shot to her feet, hands crossing over her chest, despite still wearing her undergarments. Her breathing quickened, shallow and uneven. "No! You can't—I'll do it myself!"
James didn't move toward her. Instead, he turned, walked to the table, and picked up the blindfold she had once used on him. He let it dangle from his fingers, the cloth swaying gently in the quiet.
"You'll keep your undergarments on," he said calmly, his eyes steady. "I won't see anything. I'll tie this—just like you did for me. Fair is fair, right?"
Her arms tightened around herself. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. "James, you can't be serious…"
But when she met his gaze, what she saw wasn't playfulness. It wasn't teasing.
It was sincerity. And something deeper. Trust.
"I trusted you enough to blindfold me," he said. "Now I'm asking you to trust me."
Her breath caught. Why is he like this? So earnest. So damn stubborn. So hard to say no to.
Her arms lowered slightly, then her gaze dropped to the floor.
"...Fine," she mumbled, barely audible. "But if you do anything stupid—"
"I won't," he replied instantly, taking a slow step forward. "I promise."
Her cheeks flared crimson again as she turned her head away. "Just… hurry up."
He nodded. Gently, carefully, he approached her and reached up, hands brushing against her hair as he tied the blindfold. The cloth pressed lightly against her temples, shutting out the room, the firelight, him.
From up close, he could see the twitch in her lips, the tension locked in her jaw, the shallow rise and fall of her chest. She was trying so hard to stay still. To be strong.
And it made his heart ache.
"There," he murmured. "All set."
Ofelia stood awkwardly, blindfolded and exposed in a way she had never known—not in skin, but in spirit. Her hands gripped the hem of her undergarments, knuckles white. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to hide.
James dipped the cloth again, wrung it out, and stepped forward. She flinched slightly as he neared, her ears catching the soft squelch of water.
"Hey," he said gently, kneeling beside her. "I'll be quick. And careful. I won't do anything you're uncomfortable with. Just… breathe."
She gave a shaky nod, her lips pressed in a tight line.
James began at her shoulders, moving slowly and carefully. His touch was light, almost reverent, each motion deliberate and precise. The damp cloth glided along her skin like a whisper, never straying, never crossing the boundaries they'd both silently agreed on. And yet, every stroke carried a weight that made her nerves hum.
Ofelia kept her hands on her knees, fingers curled tight as she tried to focus on her breathing. In. Out. In again. She counted each breath like a mantra, a way to ground herself against the growing warmth that crept under her skin. It's just cleaning, she told herself again. Like earlier. But this time, she couldn't see him. The blindfold turned every sound into an echo, every shift in air into something more. It made her vulnerable in a way she wasn't prepared for.
Every brush of cloth lingered in her mind long after it passed. She imagined his fingers behind each motion, imagined the care in his eyes even if she couldn't see them. Her heart pounded. Her ears burned.
James said nothing, but his gaze never left her. He saw everything—the twitch in her shoulders when the cloth touched a tender spot, the way her spine arched subtly when he passed along her ribs, the way her breath stilled when he got too close. He was careful, respectful, and yet… his chest ached.
And then he saw them. The scars.
Faint. Old. But still there.
A jagged one across the side of her stomach, another like a slash above her ribs, and a thinner one near her collarbone, half-hidden by the angle of her neck. His breath caught in his throat. Rage flickered in his chest—hot, sharp, unwelcome. Someone had hurt her. Not in battle. Not accidentally. These had the signature of cruelty. Intent.
He swallowed it. Don't make this about you.
He slowed down, softening his touch even more, careful not to hover. He cleaned around each scar with the kind of precision one might use when handling a sacred relic. She's letting you in. Don't break that.
Ofelia felt the shift. The way he moved—gentler now, almost trembling. Something in her wanted to reach for him, to tell him it was okay, but the words stuck. She was too full of emotions she didn't understand. The worst part wasn't the exposure—it was how kind he was. How he didn't flinch at her scars, didn't look away, didn't pretend not to see them. He just… kept treating her like she was whole.
When the cloth finally left her skin, it felt like waking from a trance.
A faint splash reached her ears as he let the cloth drop back into the bucket. The sudden sound startled her more than it should have, a sharp crack in the silence they had built between them.
Then she felt it.
Not the cloth.
His fingers.
Soft. Bare. Real.
They brushed the side of her cheek, a whisper-light caress that made her suck in a breath and hold it.
"J-James?" she whispered, her voice caught between confusion and something far more fragile.
"Shh." His reply was tender, almost breathless. Not playful. Not teasing. Just… quiet, like a secret between them.
His thumb traced the curve of her cheekbone, pausing where the skin dipped ever so slightly beneath her eye. She trembled beneath the touch but didn't flinch. Didn't move. For once, she let herself feel it.
He studied her like a man trying to memorize a masterpiece—his gaze mapping every contour: the arch of her brow, the gentle slope of her nose, the way her lips parted slightly as though expecting something more. His hand slid upward, fingertips brushing the tip of one ear.
It twitched.
A faint, involuntary reaction that made his lips twitch in return, just barely. "Your ears are beautiful," he murmured, barely audible, as if he were afraid the words themselves might scare her.
She blinked beneath the blindfold. Her cheeks flushed. The compliment wasn't casual—it wasn't even about her looks, not entirely. It was about her. Her essence. And he sounded like he meant it.
His fingers drifted lower, stopping just near her lips. They hovered—too long. The space between them throbbed with unspoken tension.
She felt it. So did he.
His heart thundered in his chest. His entire body screamed to close the distance, to lean forward and—
No.
He pulled his hand back, forcing himself to step away. Slowly. Controlled. As if each movement weighed a ton.
"You're beautiful, Ofelia," he said. His voice was barely above a whisper, but the words hit her like a blow.
She froze.
It wasn't just the words. It was the way he said them. Like a statement. Not a flirt. Not a tease. Like a truth.
Her chest rose and fell too fast. Her hands clenched over her thighs. Her throat tightened. No one had ever said that to her. Not like that. Not like she was something precious. Something seen.
"You can take the blindfold off now," James said, his voice more composed than he felt.
Her fingers were slow, hesitant. She reached up and untied the cloth, letting the fabric fall into her lap. The light stung her eyes at first, but when her vision adjusted, she saw him.
James. Standing just a few feet away.
Rubbing the back of his neck, like a nervous boy caught doing something bold.
His eyes avoided hers.
"…What just happened?" she asked, her voice so quiet it was nearly lost to the wind.
He looked up finally and offered her a small, crooked smile.
"I just thought you should know."
James handed her a dry cloth and turned away, letting her finish. Without bothering to dress, he climbed onto the bed, the towel still loosely around his waist. He flopped onto his back with a quiet sigh, one arm resting above his head. His expression was unreadable, but his half-lidded eyes and faint smile hinted at calm, perhaps even peace.
After James stepped back and handed Ofelia a dry cloth to finish her toilette, he let out a heavy sigh. Without bothering to dress, he climbed onto the bed, the towel around his waist still loosely secured. He flopped onto his back, one arm resting above his head, eyes half-lidded. His expression was unreadable, but the faint upward twitch of his lips suggested he was simply too exhausted to care.
Ofelia stood for a moment, clutching the cloth in her hands. Her emerald eyes lingered on him, thoughts swirling as she tried to process everything that had just happened. What is he doing now? she wondered, biting her lip. He looked so relaxed—so comfortable in her presence—and it only heightened the awkward tension bubbling inside her.
She shook her head quickly, pushing the thought aside. Turning away, she finished cleaning herself and dried off with quick, efficient movements. Her damp skin clung to her undergarments, but she ignored the discomfort. The idea of putting on wet clothes didn't appeal to her—and she wasn't sure James even noticed, or cared, that she stood there in just her underthings.
When she turned back to the bed, she hesitated. James hadn't moved. His chest rose and fell in a calm rhythm as he stared at the ceiling. The sight of him, so unguarded and at ease, sent a strange warmth through her chest. He looks so… peaceful, she thought, a blush creeping back into her cheeks.
Gathering her courage, she stepped closer, heart pounding. She paused at the edge of the bed, then carefully climbed on. The creak of the frame made her stomach twist, but James didn't react—his eyes didn't even flicker.
Slowly, she lay beside him, pressing her side gently against his. Her movements were tentative, unsure if he would say something, tease her, or pull away. But he remained still, his body warm beside hers.
Taking a shaky breath, she reached out and lifted one of his hands, placing it gently against her. His palm was large and warm, the contact sending a tight flutter through her chest. She wrapped her arm around his, holding it against her like a lifeline. Then, with her other arm, she hugged his opposite side, drawing herself closer.
She could feel his heartbeat—steady, strong—and the rhythm calmed her. Resting her cheek lightly against his chest, she let her eyes fall closed. Why does this feel so… safe? she wondered, her thoughts finally beginning to quiet.
James stirred, tilting his head slightly to look at her. A faint, sleepy smile curved his lips as he draped an arm loosely around her.
"Comfortable?" he asked, voice low and warm.
Ofelia didn't look up. Her blush deepened as she mumbled against his chest, "Mmhmm."
He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through her cheek. "Good," he murmured, eyes slipping closed. "You deserve it."
Her heart fluttered, and she hugged him tighter, burying her face against his chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself truly relax, melting into his warmth.
And as they lay there in silence, the tension from earlier seemed to dissolve—replaced by a quiet, unspoken closeness neither of them wanted to lose.