A spy

I woke up the next morning with a throbbing head and a sour mood, the events of the previous night replaying in my mind like a relentless, tantalizing loop. The way Cole had left me teetering on the edge of desire, only to pull back and leave me in a state of frustrated longing, had kept me tossing and turning for hours. I groaned, rolling over to bury my face in the pillow, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains doing little to improve my mood.

Cole's scent lingered on the sheets, a mix of pine and earth that was both comforting and maddening. My fingers clenched around the fabric as I tried to steady my racing thoughts, but the memory of his touch, his breath, and his words refused to be silenced.

I heard the door creak open, followed by the soft rustle of footsteps. Before I could turn around, a warm hand settled on my shoulder, its touch gentle and reassuring.

"Good morning," Cole's voice was a soft murmur, full of an infuriating warmth that contrasted sharply with my mood.

I shrugged off his hand, sitting up and glaring at him. "Morning," I grumbled, my tone laced with irritation. "I barely slept."

Cole's eyes, warm and understanding, met mine. He didn't flinch or show any sign of offense at my harsh words. Instead, a playful smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I'm sorry about that," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of mischief. "But you needed to understand the gravity of what we're embarking on."

I narrowed my eyes at him, my frustration bubbling over. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Leaving me hanging like that? It's not fair."

Cole's smile widened, and he stepped closer, his presence a soothing balm against my frayed nerves. "I promise you, it wasn't my intention to frustrate you," he said softly. "But we have something real here, something worth protecting. I wanted you to be sure."

I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Well, I'm sure now. And I'm also sure that you're insufferable."

Cole chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down my spine despite my irritation. "I can live with that," he said, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to my forehead. "But I do hope you'll forgive me."

I sighed, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly at his touch. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And you love it," he replied with a wink, his hand cupping my cheek. "Now, how about we get some breakfast and start this day right?"

I couldn't help but smile, despite my lingering frustration. "I suppose so. But you still have a lot to make up for."

Cole's grin widened, and he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. "Oh, I intend to," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "In more ways than one."

My heart fluttered at his words, the promise in his voice sending a thrill through me.

Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the room. Cole straightened, his expression shifting to one of alertness. He crossed the room in a few quick strides and opened the door.

Standing there was one of the headmaids, her posture stiff and formal. Beside her stood a young woman, her eyes wide and nervous.

"Good morning, Cole," the headmaid said, her voice crisp and efficient. "This is the new maid, as per Mother Luna's request."

Cole's brow furrowed in confusion. "New maid? What happened to the old one?"

The headmaid's expression tightened slightly. "There was an...incident. Mother Luna felt it necessary to replace her."

Cole glanced at the young woman, his gaze softening. "What's your name?" he asked gently.

The young woman swallowed nervously before answering. "My name is Elara, sir."

Cole nodded, his demeanor warm and welcoming. "Well, Elara, it's nice to meet you. Welcome to our home."

Elara managed a small, tentative smile, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thank you, sir."

The headmaid cleared her throat, drawing Cole's attention back to her. "Is there anything else you need, sir?"

Cole shook his head. "No, thank you. That will be all."

The head maid nodded curtly before turning and leaving, Elara trailing behind her with a shy, backward glance at us.

As the door closed, Cole turned back to me, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Looks like we have a new addition to the household."

I watched the door close behind Elara, my mind racing with unease. Mother Luna’s involvement was never a good sign, and her sudden decision to replace the old maid set off alarm bells in my head. I turned to Cole, who seemed to be trying to shake off his own concerns.

“You don’t think it’s strange?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Cole’s eyes met mine, the playful glint gone. “Strange? Yes. Unexpected? Not really. You know how Mother Luna can be.”

“That’s exactly why I’m worried,” I shot back, my frustration growing. “She doesn’t like us, Cole. She’s made that abundantly clear. Why would she go out of her way to replace the maid unless she has some ulterior motive?”

Cole sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know, and I don’t like it either. But we can’t just turn Elara. Mother Luna might use that against us.”

I wanted to argue, but Cole’s words made sense. Elara was likely an innocent pawn in whatever game Mother Luna was playing. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something more sinister.

“Just promise me you’ll keep an eye on her,” I said, my tone pleading. “I don’t trust Mother Luna, and I don’t want to see you hurt because of her.”

Cole’s expression softened, and he reached out to take my hand. “I promise. But let’s not let her ruin our morning. We have enough to worry about without giving her more power over us.”

I nodded, the tension in my chest easing slightly. Cole always had a way of calming me down, even when everything seemed to be falling apart.

“Breakfast?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with a hint of his earlier mischief.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Breakfast,” I agreed.