Alex's POV.
I watched her fidget with the blanket. “I mean, it's a huge bed. We can take sides and sleep peacefully.”
Oh! Damn, my dirty thinking!
But now, sleep peacefully on the same bed with her? How on earth did she think that was possible?
“I know sleeping on the floor is a task.” She continued. “What's the point of having a king-sized bed if one of us has to toss and turn uncomfortably on the floor every night?”
“You're making sense, I guess.” I scratched the back of my neck.
“Okay.” She cleared her throat. “So which side do you want?” Left or right?”
Something in me wanted to reply with ‘your side’ but instead, I murmured “Any Side.” eyeing her while placing my pillow and blanket back on the bed.
She nodded and laid back at her side while I gathered every ounce of strength I had to not pounce on her in the middle of the night.
That's going to be a hard nut to crack!
***
Sophia's POV.
I wanted him near me. He lifted my mood just by sitting next to me for a while. The way he talked to me, was promising. A promise that there was still hope for us.
When I asked him to sleep on the bed with me, I thought I was going to regret it. But now, as he lay beside me, looking so peaceful, I just knew that it wasn't such a bad decision after all.
“Sophia?” He called, turning on his side to face me. I did the same. “Yes?”
“Can I take my shirt off?”
I brought my blanket up to my chin and stifled a laugh.
“no.”
Retracting his arm backward, he switched the lambs off, causing our surroundings to turn pitch black.
The moonlight coming into the room was the only source of light.
“Can I take it off now?”
Why's he so persistent?
“Alright! Take it off.” I replied, exhausted.
My cheeks heated up and I was thankful for the darkness at this point.
I heard some shuffling and I saw him sit up, take off his t-shirt, and toss it carelessly on the floor.
I shut my eyes for a while, enjoying the rhythm of his breathing and trying to match mine with his.
“Thank you, Sophia.” He whispered.
I was silent for a few seconds trying to figure out why he was thanking me.
“For what?” I said after some seconds had passed.
“For today.” He said shortly.
“It truly amazes me how I can help without knowing what I helped with,” I said.
“It amazes me too.” His voice was directed right towards me. He must've been facing me.
I sensed something near my cheek and opened my eyes to find his hand right above my face, twitching to reach forward and touch my cheek. When I made no move, he withdrew it. Biting my lip, I extended my hand to him.
What are you doing, Soph?
Pushing all thoughts away, I was about to lift my hand to his cheek but because of the lack of light, it brushed against his chest.
I placed my palm flat on his chest, feeling his heartbeat under it.
He sucked in a breath, almost like my touch burned him. I started to pull away but he was quick to place his hand above mine, pinning it to his chest.
Taking in a deep breath, I shut my eyes. No words were exchanged between us and the silence was the most comforting one I'd ever come across. Soon, my eyelids were dropping.
That night, I had a dreamless and peaceful sleep.
*****
When I woke up the next morning, Alex wasn't in the room. Upon checking my phone, I found a text from him.
'Out for a run.'
I didn't know why he felt the need to tell me that.
After brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower, I was in front of the dresser combing through my hair, when the door behind me opened and Alex stepped inside.
His gray t-shirt was drenched and his forward was glistening with sweat. He lifted his water bottle to his mouth and took a few large gulps before removing his earphones.
“Good morning, Alex.” I smiled at him through the mirror. “Good morning, Sophia. Sleep well?”
My heart picked up at his question, at the way his eyes beamed suggestively when he asked that.
Maybe I shouldn't have invited him to sleep in the same bed as me last night. I nodded anyway.
“Aren't you gonna ask me if I slept well?” He smirked.
“I just figured you did.”
“As a matter of fact.” He stepped closer and I clutched the comb in my hand. “I didn't sleep at all.”
I sucked in a breath. “Why not?” I asked, half wishing not to know the answer.
He chuckled like he already expected me to know the answer. And yes, I thought I did.
“How could I have slept when you cuddled the life out of me.”
My jaw dropped. “What are you talking about? I was on my side of the vessel the whole night.”
“Were you?” He wiggled his brows playfully.
“You're just messing with me.” I smiled, relief washing through me because a moment ago, I was dying of embarrassment.
Shaking his head, he set his water bottle down on the coffee table.
“Anyways, is it just me or is the weather unusually hot today?” He asked, changing the subject. “I guess it's just you.” I shrugged.
“Thought so.” Reaching for the hem of his t-shirt, he lifted it above his head and threw it over his shoulder.
My mouth fell open and I quickly focused my gaze on combing my hair, watching him secretly through the mirror.
“You know....” He started walking towards me.
Don't look at him, Soph!
Don't let him see how much he's affecting you!
Within a second, he was right behind me, searching for my eyes through the mirror. But I kept my gaze fixed on my hair, trying to avoid his eyes.
“What?” I said.
“I lied.” He said in a husky voice. “Last night, I slept well. Thank you for letting me sleep with you, Soph.” He emphasized those three words.
“You're impossible,” I said once I noticed him trying to hold back a laugh.
He chuckled.
Then he looked in the mirror once more. This time, his eyes were running over his own body. “Thank God. I was beginning to worry about losing muscle with no workout these days. But no.” He flexed his muscles, gazing at them profoundly.
My mouth went dry. Oh my!
Pretending not to care, I let out a breath. Moving aside, I tried to walk away but he placed his hands beside me on the dresser, trapping me. He leaned forward, bringing his rock-hard chest in contact with my back. I shivered.
“I'm not done yet.”
“W–What?” I blinked.
What are you up to, Alexander Hayes?
“Turn around, Caroline.”
My eyes grew wide. “Why?”
“Because I have to ask you something.”
“I'm good. I can listen to you from here.”
The humor had drained from his face as his now intense eyes watched me. “Turn around.”
Slowly, I turned to him. He angled his face down, scrutinizing me for a few seconds. “Why did you kiss me yesterday?”