Her embarrassment spiked.
"I-I’m sorry," she croaked, her voice weak and hoarse from sleep. The unintended huskiness only made her sound more delicate, more alluring.
Leo’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.
As the others slowly began to stir, Hera’s embarrassment was momentarily forgotten—until Dave’s groggy voice broke the silence.
"Oh, shit! I dreamed I was being tortured and drowned in water."
In an instant, he shot up from his side of the bed, his sudden movement startling everyone—except for Xavier, the only one still blissfully asleep. Curled up in the same shrimp-like position on Luke’s side, Xavier hadn’t budged an inch, his peaceful expressionpletely unaffected by themotion around him.
Hera giggled at Dave’s dramatic reaction, but his sudden movement caused the bed to dip, creating a ripple effect that made it feel like they were hit by a wave. The shift in weight sent Hera sliding slightly along the mattress—right against Leo.
Leo let out a low grunt as the unexpected friction pressed her against him, igniting a spark of tension between them. The unintentional contact stirred something deep within him, making his muscles tense as a flicker of desire shed in his still-groggy eyes.
But since Leo knew how exhausted Hera was, he had no choice but to suppress his urges, though his frustration was evident in the sharp re he shot at Dave—the root of his current predicament.
Meanwhile, Hera also became aware of the firm pressure against her thigh through Leo’s pants. Feeling the heat creep up her neck, she awkwardly cleared her throat and attempted to pull herself up. That was when she realized Luke was still holding onto her foot.
Before they had fallen asleep, Luke had offered to massage her feet, only to doze off alongside her the moment their heads hit the pillow. Now, as the memory resurfaced, she noticed the strain in her posture.
Having been in the same position for hours, a dull stiffness settled in her muscles, making it difficult to move without difort. If she didn’t adjust soon, she was sure she’d wake up with a cramp.
As if recalling what he had been doing before drifting off to sleep, Luke instinctively resumed massaging Hera’s foot. His fingers pressed gently into her stiff muscles, feeling the tension that had built up from hours of immobility.
"Are you having cramps?" he asked, concerncing his groggy voice.
Hera, despite the difort, managed a reassuring smile. She knew they were all just as exhausted as she was, so she didn’t want to make a fuss.
However, with Luke still holding her left foot, she found herself unable to move away from Leo.
Every small shift she made was acutely felt by him. Leo’s dark eyes, still heavy with sleep, flickered with something more intense—hunger, longing.
His self-control wavered as he bit his lower lip, his gaze locking onto hers before trailing downward—first to her lips, then to the delicate curve of her neck.
His restraint was admirable, but barely hanging by a thread.
The unsuspecting Hera was still focused on Luke, making sure he wasn’t feeling bad as he massaged her foot.
Meanwhile, Dave was trying to shake off the lingering unease from his nightmarepletely unaware that his struggle to breathe in his sleep had been real. Hera’s hand had been resting on his face the entire time, inadvertently smothering him.
<i>Creek...</i>
"I knew it—you all made it back home." Rafael’s deep voice resonated from the doorway as he and Zhane stepped inside.
Rafael leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, while Zhane walked in, carrying several bags in hand.
"Wee back, little minx," Rafael drawled with a smirk, his eyes glinting with a mix of longing and mischief as they locked onto Hera.
Zhane, ever the gentleman, approached the bed without a word, kneeling down to ce Hera’s slippers neatly in front of her, his actions effortless and refined.
"Did you guys just get here?" Hera asked as she tried to climb off Leo.
But just as she was about to move away, Leo’s arms tightened around her waist possessively. He buried his face against her soft chest, as if seekingfort, his warm breath fanning over her skin.
Then, he looked up at her with a pitiful expression, his dark eyes silently pleading, <i>’Are you really going to forget about me the moment they walk in?’</i>
Hera, seeing through Leo’s antics, chuckled softly and gently ruffled his hair. "Good morning, Leo," she said with amusement before turning to the others who had stirred awake.
"Good morning, Luke. Good morning, Dave," she greeted, her voice warm and cheerful. A giggle followed, rich and melodious, as she shifted her attention to the two neers.
"Good morning, Zhane. Good morning, Rafael. It’s been a while," she said, her eyes glinting with familiarity and warmth.
"Indeed..." Zhane said, setting the paper bag he was holding down on the coffee table before reaching out to Hera.
He ced a gentle kiss on her cheek, followed by a soft peck on her lips. "I missed you," he added with a smile, his tone sincere.
He pulled away, and Hera couldn’t help but notice the lingering scent of disinfectant on his clothes, a clear sign that he hade straight from the hospital. His eagerness to see her despite his busy schedule made Hera’s heart flutter, filling her with warmth and happiness.
As happiness surged within her, Hera wrapped her arms around Zhane’s neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. She inhaled his calming scent, feeling the warmth of his hug spread through her.
It feltforting, and she couldn’t help but think about how others were right—hugs really did have a way of easing depression and clearing away negative energy. After holding Zhane close, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, as if the weight on her shoulders had lightened.
Noticing her smile, Rafael couldn’t help but step forward. Despite his injury, he extended his uninjured arm wide, his smile yful. "What about me, little minx?" he teased, leaning down to meet her gaze, his eyes filled with warmth.