I was exhausted from sleeping in an uncomfortable position all day so I lay down on the comfy couch and stretched my limbs. I could hear the sound of utensils moving in the kitchen but I didn’t bother to check. Instead, I turned on the LED to watch something. I changed the channels in the hope of finding something interesting but when I didn’t, I turned it off and put the remote away.

The room soon filled up with delicious savoury aroma and it made my stomach grumble with hunger. Finally leaving the couch, I walked towards the counter where Mr. Miller was busy making pasta. Never did I think I would watch Mr. Tall, dark and handsome in a kitchen, cooking something. His sleeves were folded, his hair was disheveled and his mouth was thinned into a scowl. Dare I say, he looked kinda sexy.

“Are you going to just stand there or are you here to help me?” He said while straining the pasta.

“Nah, I am fine.” I said and hopped over the counter, watching him make the sauce for pasta calmly. “I didn’t think you could cook.” I commented.

“What gave you that impression?” He asked.

“Um… Maybe the fact that you have a chef.” I shrugged.

“Just because I can cook doesn’t mean I have to.” He replied snarkily.

“Brat.” I said and his jaw ticked.

“What did you say?” He turned towards me after putting the lid on the pan.

“Nothing.” I lied straight to his face.

“Then why did I hear you call me brat.” He asked as he slowly walked over to me.

He stopped just a few inches away from me and put his arm on both sides of my legs, locking me on the counter. I looked around nervously, feeling a strange rush through me. We were alone in the jungle. For all I know, he could bury me here and nobody would find my body. But that was not the thing that concerned me at the moment. There was something else that could happen here and nobody would ever find out.

“Maybe you are a brat. That’s why you thought I called you brat.” I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

“If I were you, I'd learn how to control my tongue.” He looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“Good thing you aren’t me.” I whsipered with an equally hard glare.

Our staring competition went for a little while as neither of us tried to back down. It wasn’t until the smell of char filled tha air around me. Realizing, Mr. Miller rushed to salvage the pasta sauce while I walked out of the kitchen with a smug smile.

About ten minutes later, he arrived with two plates of spaghetti and handed one over to me. I suspiciously took a bite, expecting it to taste like shit but to my surprise, the food tasted good.

"Good enough for you?" He asked, swirling his fork around the spaghetti.

"It is. I'm surprised you are good at something other than threatening and killing, Mr. Miller." I commented, earning another glare from him.

"There are other things I am great at." He added.

"Like?" I asked, curious.

A smirk appeared on the corner of his lips. "I am afraid you won't find out." He replied.

"What is it?" I asked in an annoyed voice. "Tell me."

When he didn't reply, I turned my face away from him in anger and indulged in eating. Once I ate to my heart's full, I cleaned the dishes and retired to one of the two rooms.

The room looked like it belonged to a teenage girl. It had cutouts of popular actors pasted on the mirror and all the walls. There was a twin bed just beside the window and the sight outside the window wasn't pleasant. I hated jungles and the sight of tall trees swaying in the dark made me feel a little uneasy.

I turned off the lights, pulled the comforter over my head and lay down to sleep but I knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

••••••

SEAN

I sat in the lounge for some time, a part of me expecting to catch another glimpse of Penelope in case she came out to drink water or use restroom. It was rather pathetic of me to give up sleep in the hopes of spending some more time with her, even though whenever we together, either we fight or stay silent.

When I was sure she had fallen asleep, I made my way to the empty room, not bothering to turn on the lights. I took off my shirt and made my way to the bed.

The room was drowned in darkness, with only a faint ray of moonlight coming through the window. The forest was drowned in silence and the only thing that gave hint of any life here was distant howling.

I rolled over on my back and closed my eyes but the peace was short lived. There was a knock on my door and I knew whom it was. There were only two people in this cabin. I hurriedly leapt out of the bed and opened the door, revealing a very pale Penelope.

"What is it?" I asked, faking annoyance.

"I...." She looked around nervously. "It's scary in that room. Can I sleep here?"

On the outside, I acted like I wanted her gone but internally, I had a strange surge of excitement at the prospect of sharing a room with her again.

"Sure." I said and walked over to the right side of the bed.

She was wearing the same clothes she had been wearing all day, a crop top and a pair of shorts. Her long legs had been a distraction the whole day, not that I was complaining. I'd rather be distracted by them than her snarky mouth.

As she lay down, her scent filled the air around me, making me hyperaware of her presence. Her shallow breaths in the pindrop silence made the room thick with tension, thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Goodnight." I said and turned to the other side.

Few minutes later, a loud howl of an animal thundered through the room. It felt like it had come from somewhere close. I tried to turn but realized Penelope had scooted very close to me, only leaving few inches between us.

"You are on my side." I said, feeling her hot breath on my back.

"Um... It's... I...."

I rolled around with difficultly to face her although only the lower part of her face could be seen in the dark. "Scared of wolves?I thought Penelope Woods isn't scared of anyone."

"You're a dick." She whispered.

"If I were a dick, I'd throw you out of the window and let the wolves eat you." I said and she gasped in surprise and fear. "Don't worry. I won't do that."

"Mr. Miller, I..."

"You can call me Sean now. I'm afraid we are past that kind of formality, given our position." I commented.

"Sean." She chewed the word angirly. "If you're going to act like a jerk, tell me beforehand so I can leave."

"You have anger issues. Do you know that?" I asked.

"No, I don't." She burst out.

"See." I said and I could imagine the smoke coming out of her ears.

Just then, there was another loud howl. She leaned into me and placed her arm on my waist so we ended up in a hugging position. Even in the dark, her touch made me shiver. I was too distracted to retort now that her arm was around me and she was practically glued to me. My whole focus was on not letting her feel my arousal down there.

"Mr. Miller... Sean..." She trailed off in a whisper.

"Yes." I asked, smelling her hair that smelled like strawberries.

"Let's not argue anymore and sleep while we still can." She sounded timid and innocent like a baby afraid of dark.

"Sure." I said and rested my face in the crook of her neck. The position was too intimate and comfortable for two people who don't like each other apparently.

"Don't tell anyone I cuddled with you because I was afraid of dark. It will damage my reputation." She whispered.

"Sure, Miss. Woods." I said, fighting my smile.

"Why should I call you Sean when you call me Miss. Woods?" She said.

"Should I call you Penelope then?" I asked.

"You can if we are going on first name basis." She replied.

"Ok. Now go to sleep." I said to avoid this feeling of immense need to do more than just cuddling.

"Goodnight, Sean Miller. Just a reminder, I still hate you, don't forget that tomorrow." She said and although meant as a joke, her words made my heart ache.

"I'd say I don't consider you important enough to even hate you, Penelope Woods." I retorted because I knew that would hurt her, just like her words hurt me.

Just as I expected, she didn't say anything and rolled over so now her back was facing me. Our bodies were still touching but there was less warmth now.

Just as it should be.

•°••°••°••°••°•