Words Collide: Chapter 33 Day Off

The last thing I remember from last night was the gentle swaying of being carried to a bed. Waking up in a strange bed in not an unfamiliar experience for me, but feeling so cosy and comfortable while doing do is. I stretch out in the giant bed and take in the feeling of the silk sheets against my skin. Noticing that I’m alone in bed, I reluctantly open my eyes and see the sun peeping through the crack in the curtains around the bed. I open the curtains further to see the room more clearly and search for Juan.
Again I’m surprised by the homey feel of the room, it is full of warm colours and there are even little nicknacks cluttering some shelves. There is a small painting of a family on the bedside table and I assume that the adorable baby in it is Juan.
I search the room for my clothes, but remember that they were torn off and so I just walk back to the main room naked. As I walk, I’m drawn by the smell of something delicious coming from a room I haven’t been in. It smells like a bakery and I can’t help but investigate. I open the door to find a large kitchen with Juan peaking into the agar style oven wearing nothing but an apron.
“You are supposed to be asleep still, you ruined the surprise. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed, I don’t really want you to leave that bed ever again.” He says.
“If that smell is coming to me, I will wait in bed happily.” I say kissing his cheek and heading back to the room.
It’s only five minutes later that Juan arrives with a plate of pastries for me. I take one eagerly and moan as the flakey pastry crumbles and the chocolate melts in my mouth.
“You made this yourself?” I ask incredulously.
“Of course, only the best for the best.” He says, eating his own share.
“I could get used to this” I say, shoving another in my mouth.
“Please do. If I only get you for the night then I’m at least going to send you off into the day fully satisfied” He says.
“Well I’m only due back before midnight, so I have some time today if you want to do anything together. I feel like since I totally aced the teleportation spell I have learnt the right to skip my lessons today” I offer.
“I could show you around here, if you would like. Otherwise I’m sure we can find some activities to do here.” He says walking to the wall and revealing a hidden compartment with what looks like a sex swing and various bondage accessories.
“And here I was starting to doubt you lived in this quaint family home.” I say, rolling my eyes at his secret sex chamber.
“Well it was shared with my family, so I had to be somewhat discrete.” He explains.
“As tempting as all of that is, I would like to see more of your home first. There will be plenty of time for that at night.” I say, pulling my eyes away from the sexy man offering to dominate me and looking out the window.
“As you wish.” Juan says and bows playfully.
After repurposing one of Juan’s old shirts into a dress, we head into town. Juan points out all the notable landmarks and all the best shops for different occasions. The town reminds me a bit of my home in Edinburgh, with lots of green spaces and all the essentials packed into beautiful old buildings in the centre, making it easily accessible on foot. I only need to see someone change into a wolf in the middle of the street, to be reminded that I’m very far from home.
As we walk, around we talk and I mean really talk. We talk about all the important things, the deep meaningful conversations that really connect you to a person. We share our lives, our hopes and fears. We share embarrassing stories that normally I would only tell people if I'm drunk, but I'm not embarrassed with him. By the end of the day, I feel like I know more about Juan than anyone, well except maybe Lilly, but she has almost a twenty year head start on him. I definitely know him better than any of my ex’s, but since some of then are stored in my brain as Spanish guy or Rugby jock, it’s not a lot of competition.
As we circle back to the tower after dinner, I marvel at how much I love this place, how much I love him. I almost don’t want to leave, but I know I have to explain myself to Lily and I know I will be back soon. I kiss him goodbye, a soft sweet kiss that promises more.
“I will be back before you know it.” I say.
“Be safe, and be sure to boast to your friend about how magnificent I am. I love you.” He says.
“I love you too.” I reply
“I love you three” He adds.
I shake my head at him “Keep counting” I say and blow a kiss before I cast the teleportation spell to take me back to the emerald palace.

...

I manage to arrive right outside Esme’s office. I knock and wait for her to open the door. She lets me in and gestures for me to sit.
“Care to explain why I found Zia in a mound of ice?” She asks.
“What did Zia tell you?” I ask tentatively, testing the waters.
“Absolutely nothing” She says, seeming annoyed.
“Then that is how I think we should leave it. What happened is between us.” I say.
“Very well. Are you still happy to take on your role as an informant?” Esme asks.
“I am. I need to be able to tell Lily though, she is my best friend, we don’t keep secrets from each other and I know she can be trusted.” I say.
“You may tell her as long as she gives you a blood oath not to tell anyone else or attempt to break the barrier.” Esme says seriously.
“Thank you! I will make her swear, I promise.” I say excitedly.
“Very well. Now you must drink the potion and I must recite one of the most complex spells we know. You must not stop drinking until the spell is complete. I warn you the taste will not be pleasant and it is best you don’t know what is in the potion. You have to keep it down, if you throw up we will have to start again.” She warns.
“Don't worry I got this, I have played enough ring of fire to be able to stomach the worst cocktails known to man kind.” I say optimistically.
“We shall see, your mother had to try three times before she managed the whole ceremony. Let’s begin.” She says and leads me through a series of locked doors to a vault.
We enter and she locks the door behind us which makes me feel like there is more danger attached to this process than I anticipated. It doesn’t scare me though, it doesn’t change anything. I want both Juan and Lily in my life and I’m willing to go through hell to make that happen.