Page 44 of Thanatos' Craving

Chapter Fifteen

Juniper

As I slowly regained consciousness, the sensation of my tangled hair startled me, tickling my face. In a reflexive panic, my hands instinctively swatted at the unexpected rush of wind and the rhythmic flapping of wings. Piercing screams erupted from my mouth, a mix of confusion and fear engulfing me in the momentary chaos.

In my dream, I was rounding the enormous couch, trying to find Hypnos. He’d just vanished right when a cute elf was gifted with a sock. When I bent over, a vortex of wind and darkness sucked me from the floor, and lightning struck me with such force that I felt my arm burn.

“Juniper, it’s me!” The thunderous voice rattled me, and I blinked and saw two blue eyes staring down at me from the hood.

My racing heart still pattered in my chest, and I stopped my frantic arms from waving and my legs from kicking.

Thanatos, it was just Thanatos.

The God of Death was holding me in his arms.

Freaking cradling me like I was some sort of child.

I wasn’t short, or small by any means. My figure boasted a gentle curve in my hips and chest. It seemed that my presence as the moneymaker of Fuzzy Bunnies was owed to this very fact. The once prevailing notion of “thin is in” had given way to a new era where men embraced the allure of curvy women.

That was both a blessing and curse for me, but I digressed.

“W-why are you holding me?” I slapped my hand over my chest.

I wasn’t wearing a bra, but it hadn’t bothered me before with Hypnos. He was the God of Sleep. I’m sure he’s seen plenty of women, men, and children in pajamas before. Plus, he never stared at me hungrily, his eyes never trailing below my neck. I wasn’t wearing Victorian pajamas like I was the previous night. This time, I went for something more modern. Long flannel pajamas and green short-sleeve top.

But the fabric was still thin.

I couldn’t read Thanatos, though. I couldn't read Thanatos because his face was covered, which worried me the most.

What was this guy thinking?

“Hypnos took you to the Dream Realm.” Thanatos carried me to the bed with extra care and sat on the half-made bed. He didn’t let me go and my eyes wandered around the room and then back at him.

Why isn’t he letting me go?

“Because you are still in distress and I am here to calm you.”

His voice was deep and calming.

“Dammit, I shouldn’t have said that out loud.” I pressed my hand to my mouth. “Sorry,” I said, my voice muffled behind my hand.

He tilted his head. “Why be sorry? You should not be sorry for expressing your opinion, or your wonderings. You should feel comfortable confiding in me.”

Who was this guy exactly? Why should I confide in him? He was death. Literally death. He pulled souls out of people and he wants me to share what I’m going through? Or maybe this is his way of figuring out emotion by examining mine?

Fair enough, I suppose.

“Right, okay. With me being in the Dream Realm, why did you have to hold me, then?”

Thanatos sighed, without lungs, I might add. Another weird thing I didn’t think I could wrap my mind around.

“When Hypnos takes a mortal to a Dream Realm, he must bring you out. Unfortunately, I woke him and he could not bring you to the waking realm. I cradled you in my arms because I needed to wake you. In order for me to do so, I had to take drastic measures and wake you in another way.” He cleared his throat.

Sweet crackers, what did he do?

He cleared his throat again. “I had to touch you.”

“Where the hell did you touch me?” I snapped.

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