Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



"Seriously? Not only are you a grump, but your memory is like a sieve. What's up with that?"

Leda Reynolds lobbed a pillow at him, "Zip it!"

York dodged, a move that screamed experience.

Leda reached for another pillow, but-

"Stop searching, it's right here." York patted the pillow behind him.

Leda was dumbfounded, "How did it get there?"

York just sighed. A clear case of bad memory.

"Miss, you've already thrown one, and this is the second. Thank you." "...Oh."

Awkward silence.

Leda then asked, "What time is it?"All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

"...Half-past ten." As if prodding his patience.

"No rush, it's still early. Took a little extra time getting ready to meet the future mother-in-law, that's understandable, right?"

""

"Could you help me with—"

York quickly added, "Water, right?"

He grabbed a glass from the vanity, already filled.

"Drink up, get dressed, and let's hit the road!"

Leda took the glass, immediately noticing something off, "You got warm water?"

"Yep!"

Leda retorted, "Go get me some ice water."

"Are you sure...? Early morning ice-cold drink, can you handle it?" Despite his own habit of ice-cold drinks in the morning.

"So what?" Leda rolled her eyes, "Who told you all women drink warm water? Ridiculous!"

"My exes..." Oops!

"Those ex-girlfriends, right?" Leda smirked.

York was speechless.

"Idiot!"

"Why do you always resort to name-calling?"

"I'm asking you, did your ex-girlfriends drink milkshakes? Eat sushi? Enjoy ice-cold cocktails?" "...What's your point?"

"Which of those isn't cold or even raw? So, did they or did they not eat and drink those?"

Uh-oh!

York was stumped.

Leda stretched comfortably,

throwing off the bedcovers to get up: "Since when did drinking warm water become the hallmark of a

proper lady? What if I don't like it?"

York murmured, "So, you're admitting you're not proper."

"Looking for a slap?"

He instinctively stepped back.

"Go on, fetch me that ice water, and I'll get dressed. Oh, and there are two cups on the nightstand I used the other day, just pile them up and take them to the kitchen. The maid will wash them later."

"Those cups were yours?" York asked.

"Who else? For ghosts?"

"Heh... Wait for me. I'll get your water."

Leda was puzzled.

Why the goofy smile for just getting water?

When York returned with the ice water, Leda was already dressed.

She stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, curtains wide open.

Sunlight streamed in, casting a golden glow on the wooden floor.

There she was, amidst the golden hue, in a blue dress that reached her ankles. The dress hugged her curves, and as she turned towards him, bathed in the brilliant sunlight, she looked like a vision.

From this backlight angle, light and shadow played across her form in perfect harmony, making her seem like an angel on a pedestal yet with the allure of a siren.

For a moment, York was breathless, the air seemed thinner, and his heartbeat slowed.

Thump-thump...

Once, twice...