•12.2.19 - 3 PM EST •
To Wattpad and Radish

Word Count: 1645

~Rosie

I run my hands along the duvet, my throat dry.

Time stands on the other side of the bed, rifling through the dresser. My heart flutters, my stomach turns over. Why did I agree to this again? I know why, because I'm lonely, and curious, and could do with a good night sleep, which could be assisted by the warmth of a body next to me. Even if that body belongs to my mate, who I shouldn't even be near right now.

I stare at his back. Beneath his inky blue shirt, I can see his muscle shifting as he closes the dresser draw. Quickly darting my gaze away, I concentrate on my duvet smoothing, until he turns around, tossing me a long shirt, which must belong to him.

He raises an eyebrow at me wordlessly. I could protest, knowing I have less revealing options back in my room, but I decide against it.

I'm too tired to argue.

"Turn around," I scold. Surprisingly, no protest, or snarky retort, as he turns around, facing the wall. I quickly change, not taking my eyes off him for a single second. Thankfully, he doesn't risk even a glance over his shoulder. "No touching tonight, okay?"

"You didn't agree to this just to say that, I hope," he comments, turning back around once I'm dressed. Balling my clothes up, I leave them at the end of the bed. There's that snarky retort.

"I'm actually quite tired, and I enjoy having someone to sleep next to," I reply. At least I don't have to lie about that to make myself feel better. Sleeping next to someone will hopefully give me a good night sleep, since recently sleeping has been plagued by negative thoughts and worries about what Time from my era is doing and where he is being held captive.

"Right," Time murmurs suspiciously, not buying a single word I'm telling him. Risking a glance at him across the bed as I begin preparing the bed, I see him watching me, the slightest smirk on his face. "You interest me Rosie."

I have to force my face not to react. "Why? Because I know how to fluff a pillow?"

"The way you avoid what would make you nervous is fascinating," he says, causing my cheeks to warm in response. I hate how true that is. "You have quite the way with words."

That's what he thinks.

Pulling the sheets back, I eye him warily. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe being able to sleep next to him without it meaning anything is a goal that is out of my league. He's my mate, and despite every part of me wanting to not react to him, that's wishful thinking. Regardless, I still slip into the bed, letting the coolness of the sheets lower my burning temperature.

"Let's just get some sleep and enjoy each other's warmth ... from a distance. Got it?" I confirm, as he joins me in bed. Thankfully the bed is big enough so I shoulders aren't awkwardly pressed together.

I can hear his smile. "Yes Ma'am."

We sit in silence for a moment, both starting at the ceiling, hands folded across our stomachs. I risk a glance at him from the corner of his eye, seeing the smile touched upon his lips. No doubt he's finding this amusing, whereas I'm practically drowning in regret. How could I think this could be normal.

"You-"

"Shh," I cut him off as he goes to speak, dousing the room back into silence.

The last thing I need is for him to talk right now. I'm too busy concentrating on his scent which clings to every surface of this room, including the pillows and sheets I lie on. That fresh, heady scent has my body tingling, reacting in a way that if he had any idea, I would be mortified. Not to mention to electricity which seems to exist between us, as we sit close, but not close close enough to be touching.

All of a sudden, before I have a chance to react, his body moves. His hand slides underneath my back, wrapping around my waist to pull me to him. I'm not sure how it happened, but I twist around until I'm nearly on top of him, leaning on his bare chest, looking right down into those mischievous golden eyes.

"Woah..." I breathe.

"I don't think I can lay next to you and not touch you any longer," he tells me assuredly. Now that we are touching, my skin has erupted into shivers, which unrelentingly consume the entire surface of my skin. Time seems unbothered. Is there even anything under that cool, disciplined expression on his?

"Time, this isn't a good idea," I affirm, even if the reaction my body is having is awfully pleasant. "You can't be getting attached."

"Why not?"

"Because..." I draw off, wondering if I've stepped too far without being able to turn back. His reaction is one I'm worried about. As much as my body wants to feel one way about him, I have to remember he's the part of Time's past I should be scared of, and that at any moment, the dynamic between us could change. "After this, I'll be returning back to future you, from my era."

Instead of appearing offended, like I thought he would be, Time smiles. He even has the audacity to laugh a little.

"You know we are the same person, right?" He says in disbelief.

"No, you're not. You have different states of mind. That makes you different. Kind of," I say, really unsure of what I mean by that, but knowing I have to be right to some degree. The Time I'm speaking to hasn't seen and experienced what the Time from my era has. That makes me completely different to be around.

"This is too philosophical for this time of night," Time murmurs, eyes gleaming with amusement.

Pulling away, lie back down, drawing his heat with me. He doesn't protest, as we sit close enough to touch. I, however, almost immediately feel regret from pulling away, even if my rational mind is cursing myself. Maybe I'm being generous to myself, thinking I can handle this...no, I'm strong enough to not feel anything.

"My point is, it would be like cheating, in a way," I say uneasily.

"That's a stretch," Time says, still having a quiet laugh to himself. "You're not cheating on Time because I am Time. And Time would love to kiss you right now."

I turn my head, seeing him looking at me. Pulling a face at him, I look away. Even if his words are convincing, they aren't going to make me kiss him. Especially when I'm wearing next to nothing under this shirt of his, and he's gloriously shirtless next to me. Even if I am strong enough to avoid him, I will admit, I don't trust myself under that much sexual coercion.

"Well Time is going to have to not talk in third person," I mutter, nudging him in the side. He doesn't even flinch, as my elbow hits hard muscle. Does he even have time to work out, or does this just come with being a pure-blood immortal?

"Do you always play this hard to get?"

"Just with you."

"What if I told you, that the things I want to do to you right now, in this bed, would make you very happy," he says, his voice like a sultry purr. I can't help but roll my eyes at his hopeless flirting. It's almost a shame that this skill diminishes the older he gets...that is, if Immortals even get older. Time from my era is a lot more serious. I suppose that's the consequence of all the horrible things he has ever done.

I look at him, wondering if I should shuffle over to allow some space in between us. "You shouldn't be talking to me like that."

"What do I do in the future that is so unforgiveable?" Time questions, his tone lowering back down again. Sighing deeply, I lean on my side, placing my hand on my chest. Maybe it's because I feel sorry for him, that I feel so guilty about not answering his advances.

"I don't know," I admit. Time hasn't been completely honest with me about all that yet. He told me everything he did was for out of revenge or out of fear. "You kill people, torture people, terrorize people. At least that's the vibe I've been getting."

"And you don't like a bad boy?" Time teases, to which I shake my head. "Liar. I can feel your desire."

I shake my head at him. I never had the chance to go through crushing on the bad boy, since in my mortal life, I was too busy with other things, and also young. I lost my life early, along with my brothers, who made it out of Death's realm quicker than me. Finding them seems so much more out of reach as the day goes by.

"Actually no, I don't like bad boys, even if you were one. " I drawl. "which you're not by the way. You're just pure evil."

"I can prove you're lying," he challenges.

Before I have a chance to protest, once again, he leans over me, pushing me back down flat against the bed. I have only a moment seeing those glistening golden eyes, before he kisses me.

And against all better judgement, I relent, kissing him back.

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Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, you can head over to Radish and read Time ahead of Wattpad!

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I've released Thought's own story on Radish, which is available now! I want to see by the end, which of the brothers your prefer

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~Midika 💜🐼