Chapter 7: "Water, Wounds, and What-the-Heck Moments"
Reese's POV
Raiden suggested a game, and after he lost, I literally poured water on him. Who would've thought I'd show him my powers and use it to frame the question—as I was about to reveal what my powers really were, he did something I would never be able to erase from my memory.
He pushed his wet hair back. I was speechless. Then, as if that wasn't enough, he took off his shirt.
My brain short-circuited the moment his shirt hit the floor.
My eyes scanned him from head to toe—Abs. Lean, defined abs. Muscles sculpted like he'd walked out of a Calvin Klein ad.
I wanted to slap myself for staring, but my traitorous eyes took a damn tour—sharp collarbones, water trickling down his chest, that playful smirk like he knew what he was doing.
He was doing it on purpose. The cocky bastard.
And the worst part?
I felt it—the blush, the heat crawling up my neck, the inability to look him in the eye.
I'm never living this down. Never.
"Kitten, why's your face so red?" he teased with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes, trying to act unaffected, but I still couldn't look directly at him—because if I did, I'd get flustered all over again.
"Your turn now," I muttered, eyes fixed on the table between us. I could feel his smirk from here.
Raiden leaned back slightly, tilting his head as he studied her.
"You know, kitten, you're terrible at hiding things."
I stiffened. "Hiding what?"
"Your expressions."
His fingers reached out and gently tapped the spot between my brows.
"You scrunch this when you're flustered. Like now."
I pushed his hand away. "Shut up."
He chuckled. "Can't. I'm too entertained."
"Okay, kitten, here are your options." He held up his forefinger. "One—we're part of an order called the Order of Knights." Middle finger. "Two—we've been doing this job for, let's say, twenty years." Ring finger. "Three—I have feelings for you." He dropped his hand with a grin. "Choose, kitten."
"The third one wasn't necessary," I mumbled. I glanced around. "Wait… where did everyone go?"
Raiden looked around too. "Oh, they must've left during my escapade." He said it so casually, it annoyed me.
"But anyway, babycakes," he said, dragging out the nickname, "time to choose."
I sighed. "Okay, I've made up my mind. It's the first one."
He got up and sat beside me. My heart skipped a beat. Big mistake—he was still shirtless.
"What the—why did you—" I started to say, but he leaned in suddenly. I instinctively pulled back and ended up falling on the couch with a thud.
"Ow," I groaned, rubbing my head. When I opened my eyes, he was on top of me.
"Why didn't you pick the third option?" he asked, his eyes locked on mine.
"What was that again?" I asked, trying to calm my racing heart. Please, I silently prayed, let no one walk in right now.
"I have feelings for you," he said sincerely. My heart skipped again, and I blushed as I looked away.
"That was the third option," he added with a small chuckle.
I was about to push him away, but he pinned my hands beside me, his smirk growing wider. "Doesn't this remind you of that time in the lockers?" he teased.
"Oh? You got someone you're avoiding right now?" I shot back.
His eyes searched mine as if looking for something.
Why is he looking at me like that?
I tried to look anywhere but at him—his eyes were too intense, too full of something I didn't quite understand yet.
But when he leaned closer, I caught a hint of his scent—clean soap, mixed with something undeniably him. My breath hitched.
He's joking. He has to be.
Because if he's not… then what the hell am I supposed to do?
His eyes searched mine again, and I suddenly remembered his question.
"Because I wouldn't even think that you'd like someone like me," I mumbled. I hoped he didn't hear that—but given how close we were, I knew he did.
"You wouldn't think I'd like someone like you?" he repeated softly.
I looked away again, but he gently held my chin and turned my face back to him. He leaned in slowly—I could've stopped him. But I didn't want to.
We were just inches away when—
A loud gasp.
I shoved him instinctively, and he fell to the floor beside the couch.
I sat up straight, blushing like mad. Raiden groaned and looked up at me.
Then I saw them—Paicey and Bailey.
"Oh my, pretend we were never here!" Bailey yelped, grabbing Paicey's hand. But I stopped them.
"Wait—it's not what it looks like!" I said quickly, then glanced at Raiden—still shirtless on the floor. "Okay, maybe it is what it looks like, but I—"
Before I could finish, two more people walked in.
"Whoa, what do we have here?" Beck asked, grinning at the sight of Raiden and my obviously flustered face.
I looked away, humiliated, as Raiden started putting his shirt back on.
Then I noticed something else—Paicey and Percy were staring at each other with unreadable expressions. Something definitely happened between them, too.
More footsteps. The door upstairs creaked open.
"Valerie!" Bailey called out.
Valerie came down, face flushed. "Oh, guys… I'm just… gonna… get some water." She bolted into the kitchen, avoiding everyone's eyes.
Then Vayden appeared at the top of the stairs, equally flustered. "Oh. You're still here?" he asked, clearly avoiding eye contact. "Have you guys seen Valerie?"
"She went to the kitchen," Paicey answered.
We all stared at her.
"…Wait. You can talk?" I asked.
Paicey nodded. "Oh yeah. I figured I could talk ever since earlier when I saw Bailey and—"
"Vayden," Bailey cut in quickly, "Valerie seemed flustered when she came down. Did something happen?"
"I was out of line earlier," he muttered, scratching his head. "I'll talk to her." He headed toward the kitchen.
I glanced at Bailey again—what was that about?
Then Ophira walked in, looking carefree as ever. "Ooh, what a nice run I had. Oh hey, guys!"
She paused, sensing the tension.
"Did I come at the wrong time?"
None of us answered.
Raiden was now sitting on the couch beside Beck, who had materialized there without me noticing. Percy was watching Paicey like his heart just broke. Bailey avoided everyone's eyes. Valerie and Vayden were clearly hiding something.
And me? I was still trying to process Raiden's words.
This day… was full of surprises. And I had a feeling none of us would be able to move on until every one of those questions was answered.