Page 13 of Whiteout

She screamed, but it made no sound.

“Wake up now, princess.”

Cold.

Wet.

Breanna blinked her eyes open to Sinjin sponging her face with a washcloth. A sheet draped over them, he held her on his lap, worry evident in the lines of his forehead. She glanced around the dimly lit cabin. Flames danced in the hearth, casting shadows on the walls, but no menacing figure appeared. No music played. The only sounds were the crackling of wood, the howling of the wind, and the rapid beat of her heart.

A nightmare then.

But it hadn’t started that way. It was strange, yes, as dreams often are, but still oddly exhilarating. Parts of it had felt so real. Too real.

“That’s not how you get pneumonia, huh?” Sinjin teased, repeating her words from last night.

“Shut up. I don’t have pneumonia.” Breanna brought her fingers to her temples. Her head hurt and her body ached. “But I feel like shit.”

“You’ll feel better after a nice, warm bath. Water should be good and hot by now.” He scooted her off his lap and got up from the bed. “I’ll get it ready. Then we’ll get some food in your stomach.”

“Yeah, okay,” she said. Missing the warmth of his body, Breanna pulled the covers up to her chin. “Thanks.”

He wasn’t naked anymore, and eyeing the rack by the fireplace with their clothing, she wondered how that was. Sinjin wore a pair of long johns that left little to the imagination. Not that Breanna needed to use it, considering she’d already gotten an eyeful and then some. She watched him put a pot on the stove.

“What’s for breakfast?” she sniggered, knowing full well that oatmeal was all they had.

“You slept through it.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “You’ve been out of it most of the day, in fact.”

“Damn.” She rubbed at her forehead. “I was having the craziest dreams.”

“Oh, yeah?” Sinjin turned around. Leaning back against the counter, he folded his arms over his chest. “What about?”

“Ballgowns. Blood.” Fucking. Heat infusing her cheeks, Breanna cleared her throat. “You were there.”

“Fever dreams,” he responded, his mouth quirking up on one side.

You have no idea.

“I’ll just go and run that bath.”

With the comforting sounds of crackling wood and running water harmonizing with the wailing wind, Breanna curled into the thick, soft comforter. She turned her head on the pillow to see the snow blowing past the window. Minutes passed, her vision blurring at the stark white bleakness, until his tall, muscular form appeared, and she blinked.

He scooped her up from the fluffy nest of down. “C’mon, princess.”

Although she was perfectly capable of walking, Sinjin carried her into the bathroom. Steam rose from the tub. He set her on her feet but didn’t leave.

She glared at him. “If you don’t mind, I have to pee.”

“Not stopping you.” Presenting her with his backside, he pushed the long underwear down his legs.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“What’s it look like?” Sinjin turned around, naked as the day he was born, and, of course, her eyes went right there. He smirked. “I’m getting in with you. That tank only holds so many gallons of water. We have to share.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Breanna muttered under her breath, relieving herself as he settled back in the tub.

He chuckled. “Potty mouth.”

“Shut up.” She held onto his hand and got in, making room between his thighs. “I think you like it.”

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