No Longer Alone

Chapter Thirty-Six

***Nicole's POV***

    I woke up slowly, alone in a room I didn't recognize, the events of last night slowly coming back to me, unsure what to feel at this moment.  A bunch of shame,  a dollop of humor, a pinch of hope, and a heap of confusion.  Covering my face with my hands, I think back over my actions, knowing that I owe Alex, and more so, Damian, apologies.  Faintly, I hear the sound of a shower shutting off, and a door opening nearby.  Reflexes are a thing that can completely destroy your state of mind, I decided at that moment, since my reflex was to look up at the sound of a door opening.  Damian stood there in a towel,  water trailing down his body as he was drying his hair with a second towel.  His body was well toned, without being too over the top, and he moved with an almost self-less grace that showed a full comfort in his skin that I hadn't ever had.  Either he hadn't noticed me looking or was choosing to ignore me as he walked over towards the drawers and pulled out some clothing, my eyes drawn to the way the muscles in his arms flexed, and that's when I saw he was looking at me through the mirror at the dresser.  His eyes held a glint of humor, but that was it, no smug look, no ice.

    "I'm not used to bringing clothing into the shower, but if you give me a few, I'll be out so you can take care of whatever you need.  There's a spare toothbrush, but I'm afraid there is only my brush in there if you want to use it."

    "Thank you." I looked away, I can feel my face heating up from the force of my blush, and try to hide this behind my hair.  His steps go towards the door to the bathroom again, and I hear the door shutting again.  I start to get out of the bed, remaking after I get up, that habit hard to break, while it also gives me something to do while I wait.  Moments later, the door opens again, Damian walking into the room in an outfit almost identical to the first night I met him, and he glances at me before getting another shirt out of his drawer, offering it to me.

    "We really didn't give you a chance to get any of your own clothing, and while you many need to wear your pants from yesterday, I can at least offer you a shirt to change into."  He says with a bit of a smile when I take the shirt from him, another quiet thank you given for the thought, hurrying into the bathroom and that smile that makes my heart beat a little too fast.

    I looked around for some the normal hotel shower shampoo in a bottle, and was unable to find any, only finding what I could assume was Damian's shower supplies, and I hoped that he would be okay with me using some, after all he was letting me use his shirts.  I stripped and climbed into the shower, letting the heat soak away some of the aches in my body before using his shower supplies.  They were good earthy scents that blended well and gave me a sense of comfort.  I realized I must have been in for a while and hurried out of the shower to finish my morning grooming.  I'm torn between using his brush like he said I could, knowing that it will be a total pain to get my hair out of there, or tying it back in a messy bun, where it will dry knotted.  Sighing, I pick up his brush and run it through my hair as carefully as possible, and finishing up to go out, at this moment I might hurt someone for a cup of coffee.  I leave the bathroom, finding a place to the side to put the shirt Damian loaned me to sleep in, and left the room.  I could hear Alex's voice with far too much energy to deal with before coffee.  

    Damian was back on the couch where he had been the night before, sitting at one end drinking a cup of coffee, while Alex was pacing and talking on the phone.

    "Yes I understand you are concerned after last -"  Alex stopped talking, running a hand through his hair, "Well why didn't you -" silence from Alex again "He isn't asleep now!"  Alex turned and saw me, his eyes going wide before quickly motioning me to stay quiet.  "What, of course I am listening to you, I wouldn't dare do otherwise."     

    Damian looked over towards me, then lifted a second cup of coffee that was next to him towards me, and at this point I might have been willing to do unmentionable things for that cup of coffee.

    "There's some cream and sugar if you want some."  Damian told me softly, as if trying to keep the person on the phone from hearing, which given the pained look on Alex's face, wasn't soft enough.

    "No, please don't....Val please give-" Alex cut off looking at his phone, shaking his head, and running a hand through his hair again.  "So Damian...I tried to stop her, I really did, but -"  Alex was cut off by a knock on the main door to the suite.  Damian lifted an eyebrow at Alex then stood, and walked to the door, opening it and greeting the people that were outside.  I just focused on the coffee in my hands and my will to live returning to me slowly as I took a sip.

    "You've had enough time!  I rather liked her and want to talk to her myself, and so does your father!" I heard Val before I saw her.  I froze, knowing how bad this must look, and felt a bit of panic, they heard Andrew last night, and the past tense that she had used started triggering my anxiety.  I was already far outside my comfort zone as is, and now things were going further out of control.

    "Mom, I'm not going to stop you and dad, I was just going to say give her a moment.  She hasn't even been up long enough to finish a cup of coffee."  Damian's voice carried over to us and I took another drink of my coffee just to see Val leading the way back into the room, with Damian and Xander trailing behind her.  I tried my best to control my fears, but the next thing I knew I was wrapped up in a hug by a woman I barely knew.  What was going on?  She barely knew me, why was she hugging me after everything last night?