Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

48

"Xena? Xena are you awake?" I groaned flipping over as I saw a large figure in the doorway.

"What do you want?" I groggily asked motioning the person over. "Shut the door." They did as I asked while I rolled back over. Making space as I pat the bed.

"I'm sorry that I woke you up." I turned my head blinking up at the guy.

"Rafe?" I asked my vision blurry.

"Uh yeah?"

"Don't get too cozy. Once we're done I'm kicking you out, but I'm exhausted. And you're sitting on my blankets and it's restraining. So..." I trailed off, lifting the covers much to his shock. "Offer ends soon." I joked, still wiping sleep from my brain.

I sighed once he slid under the covers my back to him, a blissful smile taking over as I eagerly melded into the new warmth and curled up into my blankets.

"Oh God." I heard him whisper as I made myself comfortable.

"What did you want to talk about?" I finally asked as I found my cozy spot.

"I couldn't sleep." I was quiet as I slowly rotated to look at him, his eyes up at the ceiling.

"Want to talk about it? Or do you want a distraction?" His head turned and I saw something twinkle in his eye.

"What'd you have in mind."

"Not like that, get your head out of the gutter." I grumbled as I heard his voice deepen. "Dumbass." He let out a bark of laughter. I couldn't help but blink at him in awe. It was so, happy and gentle. And contagious as I felt myself give a tired smile.

"You know Rafe," I whispered my eyes closing, "this entire situation is like a huge no-no."

"Trust me, I'm well aware. But maybe it's just another tick mark on the broken conduct chart." I gave an amused huff.

"Man, pretty soon we will have to get a new page and start tallying again. But what's going on? You said you weren't able to sleep." He sighed.

"I guess my mind is just running." I nodded leaning my head further into the pillow.

"I know the feeling. Just focus on the present. Besides, you will never get the chance to lay in my bed ever again. Enjoy the comfort, sleep will come when you're ready." He laughed as I grinned sinking closer to sleep.

"I really do appreciate you opening your home to me." I gasped playfully.

"I can't believe it. I must be dreaming."

"What? That there's a super hot rich guy in your bed?"

"No," I scoffed, "that you thanked me."

"I know. I know." It was quiet for a little bit. "You know, I don't hate you, Xena." I hummed.

"I'm not quite so sure if I hate you either." I turned around, finding my cozy spot again.

I felt myself drift off to sleep, and I knew Rafe was too as I felt him burrow further down into the mattress. I was officially in the stage where I had no control over what came out of my mouth. My brain slowly turning off.

"Rafe, you ever thought we may be friends if Kooks v Pogues wasn't a thing?" I was mumbling now.

"Maybe." I closed my eyes picturing a world without the clan war. Something I found myself doing a lot.

"Xena," I hummed, "I don't think I've ever been more comfortable than I am now." I sleepily grinned, yawning.

"It's the nesting affect. Go to sleep. I won't kick you out tonight."

That comment sat in the air as I walked back into my dreams. Sleep quickly returning once I went looking. Rafe on the other hand was up for a few more minutes staring at my back.

"I'll take what I can get, Xena."

_______•*•*•*•_______

I let out a gentle hum, my body content as I burrowed further into the warmth and comfort I found. My brain on the verge of fully waking me up as I fought for a few more moments of sleep. Warmth enveloped me as I relaxed. My body naturally falling back into the abyss.

_______•*•*•*•_______

The sun finally broke through the trees, filtering in through the curtains as I began to wake up. My eyes fluttering open as I basked in my cocoon. I hadn't slept as good as I did last night in a long time. My joy was soon bat away as my eyes found the clothed chest of someone wrapped around me.

My eyes widened as I looked up to see a blissful look on Rafe Cameron's face. The tension in his face absent, no lines or emotion other than peace. He had his arms around my waist and a leg hooked between mine. He was giving me a giant hug, and I wasn't doing much to deter him. I had my right leg wrapped over his thigh, one hand pressed to his chest, the other around his torso, no doubt that my grip had been tighter when I slept.

"Well shit." I whispered trying not to move and disrupt the sleeping giant. I think the Pogues would disown me just knowing I let the 'enemy' into my home. They'd absolutely push me off a boat in the middle of the ocean now.

I plotted my escape seeing the blankets pooled at our waists, the material low enough that I should be able to slip out of the bed and his embrace without having to fight the covers.

I took a steady breath before slowly moving over so my back was to his front. Knowing I move a lot in my sleep, the subtle movement shouldn't have been too much to alert him. I managed to get my leg off his hip and out from between his, my hands moving to curl to my chest as I finally faced the balcony windows. My shoulders relaxing as I heard him breathing steadily, he was still asleep.

I looked down to see his arms still wrapped around my waist, his lower arm had to be asleep. I examined the situation and realized I'd either have to go under his arms or somehow get him to loosen his hands. I steadily rose my hands, covering his softly as I tested to see if I'd be able to pull his fingers apart.

Which in theory would have been easy, but of course nothing could be easy when it came to Rafe Cameron.

I gasped, holding back my squeak of surprise as I was yanked backward. My back colliding with his chest as he hugged me to him. My eyes widening as his right hand drifted to my left hip and his left hand wandered higher, his fingertips just below my sternum, his hand flat in between my rib cage.

And sue me for being affected by it. My stomach held butterflies and my heart was running a 3k as my breath grew unsteady. I bit back a whine as I realized my progress was just undone.