A Hot Bath is Nice

“There should be one waiting for me.” With no idea of what the staff was preparing for him, Gryphon stood in front of the reception desk while drying his hair, watching the receptionist arrange for their suite. He didn’t even glance at Andrea, who was looking around the hotel’s empty reception hall. It was obviously empty since no one would be here at such a late hour.

“Andy, let’s go,” Gryphon called out as he walked to the elevator lobby, key in hand. However, seeing no one behind him, he had to fetch her from where she stood. This girl must have turned deaf with all that water in her ears. He pushed her inside the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors.

When the doors closed, the two had no choice but to see their reflections on the metal doors of the elevator. The male stared at himself, noticing how his wrinkled designer white long-sleeve stuck to his body from the wetness it inherited from the suit jacket. The stay inside her car was not even enough to dry him. He figured women liked this image, but he had to be honest to himself: he looked like shit.

Gryphon’s gaze then strayed to Andrea’s thighs, which were pretty much exposed from the shortness of her red dress. They were like two pillars of light inside the dark interior of the elevator. Looking past the red and white skin, he remembered that Andrea was not this thick or shapely back in high school. She was skinny, and he could only feel skin and bones when caressing her.

At the thought of touching her skin, Gryphon reminded himself that Andrea was not his girlfriend anymore. He could only close his eyes and lean on the bar that kept people from leaning on the glass wall. “Aren’t you wearing too little? Are you hoping to have fun with your boyfriend tonight?”

The woman was only watching the garden that was visible from behind the elevator. It gave her a glimpse of the entryway to the hotel. She didn’t pay attention to him until she lost sight of the entrance; she remained to be so lost even after that. Andrea just didn’t know how to stop herself from imagining Mathias coming to get her from everywhere she went starting today. 

After realizing that she indeed heard his voice earlier, she turned to him. “Did you… say something?”

“…is that him?” Gryphon was not amused by her sudden spacing, but he could finally tell why. He reached out and touched her reddened cheek with the back of his finger. The face didn’t look swollen, but Andrea was clearly shaken. “Did he threaten to kill you?”

“Not really your concern.” Andrea only made a pursed smile and shook her head a little. She then looked beside her as if anything else was more worthy of her attention, especially those vague and blurred reflections on their bodies. She couldn’t help but notice how she could easily hide from Gryphon’s frame.

Andrea glanced at him upon realizing his silence. This man was wetter than her, yet he could even stand as if he was not freezing to death. Her arms then began to hug herself as she hid her huffing. It was getting cold… but Gryphon’s jacket was wet.

In the end, she only endured the walk to their VIP suite. There was a manager waiting for them, letting them know that the staff had left complimentary wines and had prepared the hot tub in case they would opt for it. After all, they were soaking wet from the storm.

Gryphon didn’t say much… until he closed the door after they both got inside. “My sister’s people are too intrusive. Hot tub and wine? It’s like they are sealing our fate for the night.”

“But a hot bath is nice.” Andrea walked to the bathroom and saw the hot tub already steaming as if ready for occupancy. She then dipped her hand inside and found the temperature good enough. Having the hot water on her hand was relaxing her entirety.

As if forgetting that Gryphon was with her, she quickly pulled up the short dress and dropped it to the floor. The dress made no sound as it was thin and not embellished, only providing a color screen on Andrea’s otherwise naked body. The water in it wasn’t even plenty enough to plop. Still, it took Gryphon’s attention. 

Andrea shook her hair to loosen the matted strands before lifting her leg and dipping it inside the hot tub. The woman found her spot on one of the seats and enjoyed the weak blast of warm water against her body. She placed her head on the rim, with her eyes closed.

That was the only time she remembered that there was someone else around her. Her eyes opened, and she stared at Gryphon, who was looking down at her as well. There was a smirk on his lips as if finding amusement at what he was seeing.

This girl had never changed—that was what Gryphon thought. From those three years that they were together, Andrea had always had the image of being a tease. Whether she planned for things or not, Gryphon found himself neck-deep in her traps every time. Just earlier, she dared to strip off her only piece of clothing. Gryphon was both appalled and tempted at the realization.

It’s just that his hands balled inside his pockets. Andrea didn’t belong to him anymore… albeit that the last person seemed to be a retard that didn’t realize what he had in his hands.

“…don’t talk anymore. I don’t want to hear it.” Andrea looked away from his gaze and consciously used her hands to cover her chest. She was not wearing a bra under the red dress, but it had its own padding, so she didn’t care much earlier. Right now, though, she was more exposed than she planned. She didn’t even remember taking off her underwear while cooking.

“You’re so distracted.” Gryphon laughed out before stripping down to his skin as well. Unlike her, he did bathe in the rainwater. Slowly running his hands on his own clothes, he was waiting for Andrea to look. After all, he was making a lot of noise as if reminding her that he was stripping right behind her. All she needed to do was move her head.

She was no fun. Gryphon scrunched his face without a sound when he finished, without getting a reaction. He then climbed inside the hot tub and sat next to the woman. “You don’t have to be shy. I already saw everything back in high school.”

“Right, but I’m not so much of a woman by then.” The corner of her lips pulled up in a bit of annoyance. Still, Andrea dropped the awkward hands and just enjoyed the water. “Don’t let me sleep in here for the rest of the night. That’s bad for my skin.”

However, a hand slipped under her head. She opened her eyes again and saw him invading her space, starting from that arm behind her and even pressing his chest against her shoulder. What was more infuriating was that he had his phone at hand, seemingly trying to take a photo of them. She then moved toward him to cover herself in a pose. 

She had a subtle smile on her lips as if matching the smug look on Gryphon’s face when he took the photo. Then, she dropped the feigned mood. “What was that for?”

Gryphon only chuckled, his eyes still on the screen. His fingers were fiddling with it as if preparing to send the photo to a few people. “Let’s have a little secret, Andy. I’ll let you off of running me over, but you have to pretend that you’re trying to win me back. 

“Nothing serious, just a pretend darling.”