Page 78 of The General's Captive
“It isn’t far, another thirty minutes, perhaps,” he encouraged.
“I know, it’s just my hip, it’s really bothering me, and I am dead on my feet here,” I said with my hand on my hip, giving him what I hoped were sad eyes. The second I heard him groan and roll his eyes, I knew I had won.
“Come on, I know a place,” he replied, making me grin. Then he picked me back up in his arms and started walking.
Before long he found an inn where all the rooms were separate little buildings. These chalet style rooms were all situated around a very green, sludgy swimming pool. One that now looked more like a pond and not something I would even dare dip a toe in, let alone go for a swim.
This time, Aster didn’t just kick the door in but instead just broke the lock by twisting the handle right off, making the other side thud as metal hit the floor. Then he put me down so he could duck and try and squeeze his way inside. But when this didn’t work, he ripped the door off its frame in frustration and tossed it back so far that it landed in the algae filled pool with a splat.
He finally wedged himself inside, by first breaking the doorframe. I was left to watch in amusement, as he maneuvered his big body into the room. It was hilarious because he had to remain hunched over before he attempted to sit on the bed. Attempted and failed, because as soon as his heavy ass touched the bed, it groaned in protest. Its legs snapping and dropping him to the floor suddenly.
“Comfy?” I teased, making him shoot me a look that had me giggling.
“How long until sunrise?” I asked him as I fumbled with my bag, removing it from my shoulders then collapsing into the bed furthest from the door.
“In about six hours, why?” he replied.
“So, I know how long I have to sleep, that’s why.”
He made a strange sound, as if I had just tried to strangle him.
“I thought you just needed to rest!”
“Yes, and this is me doing it, weak human, remember? I need sleep.”
“I never said you were weak,” he argued.
Which was when I rolled to my back and counted on my fingers.
“Small legs, can’t see in the dark, inferior smell, lame, wasn’t it? Do you want me to go on?”
“Alright, fine, but you better wake up the second that sun starts to rise, and no more with your big puppy eyes.”
I gave him a sickly-sweet grin. “Aww, does the big bad Minotaur have a soft spot for little ole’ me?” I teased.
“Emphasis on the little,” he grumbled, teasing me back and making me giggle.
“I hope you don’t snore,” I commented, trying to push his buttons because it was weirdly fun. Like poking a bear you knew secretly loved it and wouldn’t attack.
“No, but you do, so try not keeping me awake,” he replied, leaning against the wall and tipping his head back as he closed his eyes.
Despite the way his big feet were crossed at the ankle, hanging off the end of the bed, he still managed to look comfortable. As for his comment about me snoring, I grabbed one of my pillows and tossed it at him. The huff sound made me smile in the moonlit room. But then after a minute or two of tossing and turning, I whispered back…
“Hey, Aster?”
“Yes, Alex?” Came his dry tone.
“Can I have my pillow back?”
His chuckle was my only reply… well, that, and the pillow that quickly hit my head.
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As soon as morning came, I heard him gently rousing me from sleep by speaking my name.
“Alex… Alex…”
“Just ten more minutes.”
