❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 84

Narrator

The sun had been long gone on the horizon, replaced by the moon. Though it wasn't quite visible on the night sky as dark clouds covered the bright planet. Rain hit the earth heavily, bringing electrifying lightings and grumbling thunder with it.

Charles turned around in bed, unbothered by the increasing storm weaving outside.
He only lifted his eyelids with hesitation as soon as he registered uneasy movements next to him.

Confused, he rolled on his other side again.
Entirely forgotten the fact that he wasn't alone in bed tonight, he stared at the person laying beside him for a long while.

Valerie faced him with her back, the blanket wrapped around her body chaotically. Her chest lifted and sank rapidly and Charles could almost see her shivering through his squinted eyes. 

He knew that she was wide awake.
And then it hit him.
Of course, the thunderstorm freaked her out.

He chewed on the inside of his cheek, not being able to fall back asleep now.
The loud wind outside was disturbing his flow of thinking.

In any other scenario, he wouldn't have hesitated to comfort her, cuddle her until she would fall asleep.
However, with his current situation, Charles' contemplation with himself gnawed on his nerves.

At least three times, he reached out his hand for her, but quickly pulled it back when he caught himself doing so.

A sigh left his throat.

By now, Valerie must've known he wasn't asleep, either.

A few more heartbeats passed before Charles finally agreed with his own mind.
Slowly, and with hesitation, he moved his body closer to her side of the bed. His chest was nearly touching her back now as he breathed against her hair.

Now that they were utterly close, Charles noticed her quickened breathing, her trembling body.

She was almost hiding in a fetal position, whimpering very, exceedingly quietly.

"Hey...", Charles whispered over her shoulder, his hand meeting her waist carefully.
Both of them shivered at the encounter of touch. Possibly because none of them had felt the other's contact in months.
Nonetheless, Charles kept his hand there, his warm breath hitting her neck out of a certain distance.

Valerie noticed his presence and leisurely lifted her head, exhaling deeply.
Charles wanted to believe that she did it out of relief.

They went to bed earlier with being quite mad at each other.
Valerie because he kept things from her.
And Charles because she continued trying to find out.

But he couldn't watch her struggle and just do nothing about it.

Her body suddenly shuttered heavily as a lightning illuminated the room. She covered her eyes in fear, burying her face into her pillow.

"It's okay", Charles spoke softly and moved closer to her body, his arm slung around her side immediately in a protecting manner, "I'm here."

Valerie didn't flinch away from his attempt to comfort her.
In contrary, she snuggled into his arm after a moment of realization, her breath against his skin.