Chapter 116: Chapter 116 On his bed
Bella twirled a loose strand of hair around her finger.
So bored, she whined inwardly, her lips forming a tiny pout. She peeked at him again, his strong back, the damp hair at his nape, the way his pajama shirt clung to his broad shoulders.
She hugged her knees tighter and rested her chin on them, her eyes turning soft.
Does he never get lonely? she wondered.
She wanted to ask him that out loud but the way he stood there, so stiff and distant, made her shrink the question back down inside her chest.
So instead, she let out a tiny yawn and kicked her feet gently against the edge of the couch.
"...So boring," she mumbled, pouting. She didn’t even realize she’d spoken out loud until she felt a sharp prickle down her neck.
When she peeked up, she found Leonardo standing still, turned halfway to face her. His dark brows were pulled together in a frown, his gray eyes narrowed slightly, like he wasn’t sure he’d heard right.
"What did you say?" he asked, his voice low but sharp.
Bella’s eyes widened. She hugged her knees tighter, her toes curling against the couch cushion. "N-nothing..." she stammered, looking away quickly.
Leonardo’s frown deepened. He turned fully toward her, arms folding over his chest, the faintest flush still lingering on his strong neck from the fever. He tilted his head slightly, eyes locked on her small, guilty face.
"What do you mean... boring?" he asked, his tone cold but something curious flickered beneath it, like her tiny complaint had rattled the icy shell around him for just a moment.
Bella peeked up at him through her lashes, her lips puckered in a shy pout. "I didn’t mean it like that... It’s just... quiet here. No TV, no music, no books... just you."
He raised a brow at that. Just you? His jaw twitched as if he were holding back a dry laugh, though his face stayed as unreadable as stone.
"Next time," he said, his voice deep and flat, "bring your toys or whatever keeps you entertained."
After he turned away, Leonardo lay back down on the wide bed, one arm draped across his forehead. His breathing sounded uneven — half from the fever, half from the tight storm still swirling behind his eyes.
Bella stayed curled up on the couch, hugging her knees, her eyes darting from him to the dark window. Guilt poked at her chest. He must’ve thought I meant he’s boring, she thought, frowning at her toes. But I didn’t mean it like that...
The rain had quieted now, replaced by a softer tap against the glass. She peeked over at him again and noticed the way he shifted under the covers, restless. His shoulders twitched, and his heavy arm slid down toward the edge. He looked like he was half-asleep, half-fighting the uncomfortable heat pooling in his body.
Minutes ticked by. Bella’s fingers fidgeted with her cardigan sleeve until she couldn’t sit still anymore. With tiny steps, she tiptoed closer to the bed and leaned down.
"Leo..." she whispered, her breath brushing his cheek. No answer. Only his brow twitched, his head turning slightly, his body inching closer to the edge of the bed. Her eyes widened — if he moved another inch, he’d roll right off!
"A-ah..." Bella quickly climbed onto the bed, balancing on her knees as she braced her small hands on his broad chest. She tried to push him gently toward the middle, her tiny strength barely enough to budge him.
"Why are you so heavy..." she mumbled under her breath, her cheeks puffed out. She pressed her palms more firmly to his warm skin, her face leaning closer as if willing him to just roll back.
But before she could push again, his arm shot out — strong fingers wrapping around her wrist. Bella let out a tiny squeak, eyes wide. In one smooth pull, Leonardo dragged her forward, her knees slipping from under her as she toppled onto the mattress.
"Ah—!" she gasped, her palms landing flat on either side of his chest. Her face hovered above his, so close she could feel the warm puff of his uneven breath against her lips. His half-lidded eyes cracked open, heavy and dark, pinning her in place.
"W-why..." she stammered, her voice trembling. The storm outside was nothing compared to the storm now roaring in her chest.
Leonardo didn’t answer. He just tightened his hold on her wrist, his thumb brushing the soft pulse there. Then, with one slow shift, he rolled fully onto his back, bringing her with him until she was half-sprawled over his hard chest, her soft hair tumbling across his neck.
Bella froze. She felt the heat of his bare skin through her thin cardigan, the strong rise and fall of his chest against her belly. Her heart raced, her lips parted as she stared at the sharp line of his jaw just inches away.
"You..." she breathed, flustered, her cheeks turning a deep pink. "I was just trying to help—"
He let out a low, rough hum, half a warning and half something softer. His eyes slid shut again, but his grip stayed around her wrist — anchoring her there, right against him.
She lay there, stunned, her small fingers slowly curling into his shirt. The thunder outside faded to a distant murmur, replaced by the steady thump of his heartbeat under her ear.
"...You’re so warm," she whispered, her lashes fluttering as her eyes drifted shut too. A tiny smile tugged at her lips as she let herself sink into the heat of him, the cold storm outside forgotten.
Hours later, the storm outside had finally drifted away into a quiet hush, the ship swaying gently on calmer waves.
The curtains in Leonardo’s cabin fluttered slightly from the breeze of the air conditioning. The only sound left was the soft, steady breathing of two people tangled together on his bed.
Leonardo stirred first. A dull ache pulsed at the back of his head, the fever’s edge finally slipping away thanks to the medicine and warm meal .
A low hum rumbled in his throat as he shifted his arm. That’s when he felt it– the distinct, warm weight pressed into his side. A soft, delicate warmth that rose and fell with each tiny breath.
His eyes cracked open, gray and still hazy from sleep. He glanced down...and froze.