Midnight Spice


Breath deeply the scents of the Sandalwood and Frankincense infused cushions as the road rushes outside the window. The peppermint gloss biting at tinted lips.

-Cressa Candles

Willow laid in her queen size bed. Her cotton pillow having been flipped repeatedly. Her sheets and comforter now tangled together. The Sandman did not appear to be coming to her this night. Sighing in annoyance she sat up on the edge of her bed. She rubbed her face with her hands and ran them up and through her hair. A shower would probably help. Her mind had been racing. What were those images that played in her head? Why on earth would such an innocent act produce such a conflictingly intimate reaction? Whatever it was she knew in her gut that that response was important. Filing it away for later thoughts she got up and walked over to her elongated wardrobe and pulled out a fresh towel and clothes. 


Walking down the hallway she noted silence coming from Thane’s room. Must be nice to sleep so soundly. She hadn’t even finished the thought before the bathroom door opened and Thane stepped out in nothing but a towel. Steam rolled off his muscled torso, a towel draped around his hips. Willow couldn’t help but to stare. 


“Enjoying the view?” Thane asked, a smirk playing across his lips. Willow came to her senses watching as Thane placed a serene look on his face and looked off to the side. “You look like a painting done by Angelo,” Willow scoffed, “Bit cocky much?” Thane let out a light rumble of a laugh, “It’s not cockiness darlin it’s confidence.” Willow rolled her eyes “You gonna move out of the way so I can shower or just stand there?,” she asked. Thane looked mildly taken aback, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “As you wish,” he said, moving towards her. He slid around Willow, careful not to touch her. The heat from his skin radiating on to her shoulder and arm. Thane knew it affected her and found her attempt to ignore it adorable. “Enjoy the shower,” he said as he waved his hand over his shoulder.


That man is so infuriating. Willow thought as she turned the shower on. The interaction from the hallway only added more questions about what was happening. Brushing her hair in the mirror she noticed the bathroom held faint hints of his body wash. The scent tickled her nose as she sighed in dismay. Well at least he smells good. She stepped into the shower. The hot stream hitting her head had her instantly calm. She stood under the water just allowing her mind to shift through the day and process the things that happened. She was so deep in her mind that she methodically showered. Stepping out to dry off, she slowly seeped back into reality.


A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she wiped the fog off the mirror. She looked tired and depleted. Strange that in this moment she felt her hurt after years of it being buried away her fresh pink cheeks faded to a pale white, her eyes barely shined and sunk in slightly along her nose. Her hair clung to her skin, ratted and dripping. Her skin felt tight across her muscles and bones. Taking one more look at herself she turned from the mirror and started to dry off.  She hummed the melody of her soul, a bitter sweet call for a home she could grasp at but never find.  She pulled out her favorite almond and honey body lotion and began to rub away the sadness almost like it was a ritual. She started with her feet and calves working the lotion into her skin in clockwise circles and always away from the center. As she did this she pushed the negative energy out and cycled the positive energy in. Working her way up her body and to her face. She stood in front of the mirror again examining herself. She took stock of her body and took note of areas she needed to pay attention to. Noting she needed to stop biting her nails, remembering to set alarms so she could eat and go outside for a while.


Dressed and hair combed she smiled at herself in the mirror. “You are strong, you are intelligent, you are beautiful,” she said, looking herself directly in the eye. It felt silly to do but it helped her center herself and gave her confidence. She turned and stepped out of the bathroom, cool air hitting her damp skin. The small hallway was lit by the crack of Thane’s door. Loud snoring riverbeated from behind the door. Dear gods, that sounds so obnoxious. She thought to herself as she walked past. His door was cracked just enough to see where he laid in bed. Awe, Mr. Big Bad cuddles his pillow. She giggled to herself. It was the most adorable thing she had seen and comparing the glimpse she just saw with how he was downstairs made it even more amusing. Ugh no. She shook her head trying to shake the thought process she was having out of her mind. Absolutely not, that is trouble right there, keep moving and don’t even think about it. She got back to her room and laid in her own bed. Her mind finally relaxed enough to start drifting into a list of things she needed to do tomorrow. Her eyes finally shut and for the first time in a long time she slept deeply.