---
Her voice shot up instantly.
-"No… no… thanks, I trust you.
_"Get up, take a shower, and put this on."
Jacob held out the towel toward her.
-"Just leave it on the console."
She glanced from the console to the tub, a flicker of helplessness crossing her face as she amended,
-"Okay… no, just stand there and turn around."
Jacob let out an exasperated sigh and turned his back, muttering under his breath,
_"Like I haven't seen one before…"
-"Hey! At least let me feel decent around you…"
_"Fine… Sorry."
Diana swiftly removed the tub's cover and rinsed the suds off her body. She'd been too out of it when she came in to grab slippers, so she moved cautiously toward Jacob, careful not to slip.
-"Can you hand me the towel?"
Still facing away, Jacob reached back with the towel.
She wrapped it around herself, covering up.
-"Let's go…"
Jacob turned with a smile, giving her a quick look, but the scattered red marks on her neck dimmed his expression. Unaware of his gaze, Diana rubbed her shoulder, massaging it.
-"I shouldn't have slept there… my whole body's aching now. Ugh… damn it"
Jacob stayed silent, biting the inside of his lip before stepping closer. He slipped an arm around her frail shoulder, forcing a grin.
-"We'll head down for breakfast soon get you back on your feet, little one."
Diana groaned at the thought of Matthew.
-"Can we skip going downstairs?"
He answered with gentle warmth,
_"Sure we can."
He gave her arm a soft squeeze, nodding toward the small tray on the table.
_"While you get dressed and eat that, I'll pop downstairs to grab a few things."
-"This is enough, Jacob."*
_"I know, but I'm starving too."
He hoped Matthew wouldn't be in the kitchen he didn't want a fight over Diana before the day even started, and luck was on his side. He took his time, ensuring she was fully dressed. He piled the tray with hearty snacks and headed back up.
With his hands full, he called out,
_"I'm coming in!"
-"Great…"
A chuckle escaped him. her sass seemed endless.
He moved to the balcony, sliding the door open, and set the tray on the table.
-"Jacob?"
_"Yeah?"
-"These clothes, were they here already? Are they for me, or just left from before?"*
Jacob glanced at her.
_"No clue. We didn't know which room you'd pick, so they were probably here. This isn't my place.
Matthew handles that stuff. ask him."*
He added with a playful tone,
_"Come here, breakfast's ready, madam."