There is a moment while you sleep where you don't know if you are conscious or still in the arms of Morpheus, that dead point where the body is alien and the eyes are so heavy that it is impossible to respond to any call of mind. The brain is disconnected, it feels surreal, but still one struggles to wake up or simply surrender to fatigue. Benny was in that middle ground. He couldn't think clearly, but he could feel something on his body, like a soft cold caress. He didn't move an inch but he knew it was the wind. In the middle of limbo he remembered that they left the window open. He still didn't wake up. He simply received the sensation and waited to sink into oblivion once again.
Benny rolled onto his back. Ouch! That was uncomfortable. The surface was hard. Benny hesitantly opened his eyes, blinked a few times and frowned. Where am I? He stared at the ceiling, the place was relatively dark except for the warm light coming from outside, probably from a headlight. He seemed to be in the thick of something. Benny turned his head and appreciated the legs of the coffee table in the living room. Ah! The country house living room! He now remembered.
With a grunt, Benny rubbed his eyes, his brain slowly connecting the night's events. The move, the garden, Frida, the pool, the carpet... he smiled in the midst of his lethargy. Ah, the pool... the carpet, what a good moment. That memory ended up disconcerting him, Frida was... where was Frida? Benny frowned deeper, she had fallen asleep with him, both of them on the living room carpet covered with the blanket that he brought after they had made love again.
Benny pushed the blanket aside and sat up, taking two seconds to compose himself. His back was tense. Nothing like sleeping on a proper mattress. He looked around for her but nothing. Benny got up. The cool wind made his half naked body tremble, all he was wearing was his boxers. He ran a hand through his hair to smooth it, still confused. It smelled like coffee... gotcha! He knew instantly where she was.
The lights outside were still on, the clock in the living room read 11:15 at night. How much had they slept? Benny made his way to the kitchen, and there she was; the silhouette of her in the middle of the place made him smile. "Is it a habit of yours sneak out of bed at night?" Frida, who was busy stirring the contents of her cup, looked up at him, receiving him with a sweet smile.
"I didn't mean to disturb you. You seemed comfortable asleep."
"Not so comfortable now." Benny giggled as he approached, rubbing his arms. "The ground isn't so comfortable to rest on after all."
Frida shrugged, looking down and blowing into her steaming cup. "It seems quite cozy to me."
"The floor or me?" She giggled at his question. She'd practically slept over him, his arms around her all the time keeping her firm on his chest. Of course she didn't know what was like to sleep with the back on the hard floor. Benny approached her and cupped her face now freed of makeup, she looked divine.
"You." She replied in a whisper. Benny threaded his fingers into her hair and pulled her in for a brief, wet kiss. Her belly was instantly filled with butterflies. Frida had the feeling that overnight they were taking giant steps in their relationship. It was too much to process.
Benny kissed the corner of her mouth before backing up just enough to appreciate her face. "I see you've got dressed." Her cheeks became red.
"I'm more comfortable this way." She shrugged. "You should do the same. Aren't you cold?"
"A bit." He caressed her left arm absently.
"Fancy coffee?"
"No, thank you." He watched as she took the first sip. Heavens, he could watch her all night.
