OUR LITTLE SECRET

Part 63

By the time you went to bed a few hours later, he was already fast asleep, snoring softly, which made you chuckle as you slid under the thick comforter.

As you lay awake in the dark, half listening to the rhythm of his breathing, it occurred to you that this was the first time you were sleeping in the same bed as him since, well, you can't remember honestly, it had been too long. And as you drifted off to sleep, half dozing off, half thinking about things, you couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over you.

But unlike Cillian, you were a restless sleeper and, after few hours, you stirred in your sleep, bumping into him slightly without noticing.

He slumbered on, barely stirring at your movement but, being only half asleep now, you found yourself becoming aware of the scent of his cologne, a woody, musky aroma that immediately brought back memories of the nights spent in his arms.

A nervous exhale escaped your lips as you imagined his arms wrapped around you protectively, the sensation of his skin against yours. Your body seemed to long for the comfort he once provided, and for a moment, you thought you may be dreaming.

But the heat radiating from his body was real, as was the gentle snore. You resisted the urge to scoot closer to him, focusing instead on getting yourself back to sleep.

You forced your mind to go blank, but it was impossible to ignore the presence beside you. Every movement you made seemed to awaken your senses further, making you more and more aware of his warmth. For a tense moment, you debated whether to wake him up and retreat to the couch, but the thought of leaving this cozy cocoon made you shiver.

Eventually, you went back into a deeper sleep again but, just as you did, you rolled to your side and you found yourself practically plastered against his chest.

The heat from his body enveloped you and, almost instinctively, your body took advantage of this by shifting even closer to him, seeking comfort and warmth.

You found yourself breathing in the scent of his cologne and, as you did, your mind somehow started to wander.

Unwillingly and almost unnoticed, memories from your past returned to you. You thought about how perfectly he used to hold you after lovemaking, his body folded around yours protectively as you both fell asleep in his bed.

His lips used to brush your forehead gently in a sleepy caress, sending shivers of delight running down your spine.

His arm would be draped over your hips as if to hold you in place, and his breath would ghost over your skin, warm and comforting. You remembered how it felt to be cherished like that, like he couldn't bear the thought of letting go or of having you any further away.

Suddenly, the realization that you were no longer in his arms, no longer in his life, hit you like a cold, hard slap in the face.

You weren't sure why this was affecting you so profoundly in your sleep, but it brought tears to your eyes, and as you lay there with your face buried in his chest for hours, you felt as though you couldn't move.

When, finally, Cillian's alarm went off at 4 o'clock in the morning and he realized your presence, you too stirred in response to the sound of his phone and the slow movement of his body.

"Y/N," he whispered, stroking your hair gently before carefully trying to wiggle away from underneath you. His face was flushed, and there was a rosy glint in his eyes as he took in the sight of you cuddled up against his chest, sleeping peacefully.

You stirred slowly, sensing that you were being moved. Opening your eyes, you saw Cillian's warm smile as he watched you, looking reluctant but also somewhat relieved.