As they both slept, their bodies remained intertwined. Olivia's head rested on Aiden's chest, her soft breaths matching his slow, steady breathing.
The night passed quietly, their bodies close together. Aiden's arms instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her closer as if even in sleep he sought the comfort of her presence.
In the wee hours, Aiden stirred slightly but didn't wake completely. He pulled Olivia closer, nestling her body against his, his arm around her waist as if to keep her safely tucked against him.
Hours later, the first light of the morning filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room.
Aiden slowly cracked his eyes open, his mind still hazy from sleep. But as he became more aware of his surroundings, he felt a comforting warmth against his chest.
He shifted his gaze downward and saw Olivia's head resting on his chest, her arms wrapped around him, her legs tangling with his.
A soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Despite the confusion and tension between them, he couldn't deny the peacefulness of the moment.
He took in the sight of her peacefully asleep on him, her body pressed against his in a way that felt far too comfortable and familiar.
A mixture of emotions swirled within him - surprise, confusion, and something deeper that he was reluctant to acknowledge.
He gently reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch so tender it was almost reverent. The morning light emphasized the softness of her features, making her look innocent and vulnerable.
He found himself studying her face, taking in every small detail - thecurve of her eyelashes, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the slight part of her lips.
For a moment, he could forget about everything else, and just enjoy the simple beauty of her being there in his arms.
He slowly untangled himself from her embrace, trying not to disturb her peaceful sleep. He quietly moved out of the bed and headed for the bathroom.
Once inside the bathroom, he started the shower and let the hot water wash over him. His mind kept going back to Olivia, to the way she felt in his arms.
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As the water streamed down his body, he couldn't help but replay the events of the previous night. The darkness, the fear, her prank... and then the comfort of having her in his arms.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the bathroom door.
"Aiden? Are you okay? Can we talk?" Olivia with sleepy voice questioned Aiden.
He turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist, his mind still lingering on the memories of her sleeping form.
"Yeah, sure," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "I'll be out in a minute.
"Okay." saying this Olivia leaves.
As he finished drying off, he couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment that she had left. He donned a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt, then stepped out of the bathroom.
He found her sitting on the couch, her hair messy from sleep, her eyes still slightly drowsy.
The moment Olivia saw Aiden in the living room, she ran towards him and hugged him so tight, with tears falling down her brown eyes.
His breath hitched in surprise as she suddenly flung herself at him, her arms wrapping around him with unexpected force. The sight of her tears threw him off guard even more.
"Hey... hey, what's wrong?" he asked, his arms instinctively encircling her slender form.
"I am sorry, Aiden. I am so so so sorry. I didn't realize you were scared and I did a lot to hurt you. I am so stupid, I am so dumb. Please forgive me." Olivia spoke with a guilty voice still crying and hugging Aiden tighter every time se spoke.
He could feel her body trembling against his, her voice filled with remorse. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, silently accepting the apology.
"It's.... It's okay," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I was scared, yeah. But you apologized and I forgive you. I... I can never stay mad at you."
"Aiden? If you are okay to tell me what is the reason you are scared of darkness, i am here to listen."olivia said while wiping away the tears, looking at Aiden with her cute Brown eyes, still hugging him without loosening her grip.
He took a deep breath, his eyes avoiding hers for a moment. He had never shared this part of his past with anyone, but somehow he felt compelled to tell her.
"It... it's from my childhood," he finally spoke, his voice a little shaky. "I had a traumatic experience when I was a kid, and since then, I've had a fear of the dark."
He swallowed hard, the memories flooding back to him. It was a deeply personal and painful subject, but he found himself unable to resist her plea.
"Yeah, you can ask," he said quietly. "It's just... it's not easy to talk about. It happened when I was around 10 years old. My family went on a camping trip, and one night, I got lost in the woods after wandering off from our campsite. I spent hours stumbling in the darkness, completely terrified and alone. It was the scariest experience of my life."
His breathing became a little shaky as he relived the memory. "Ever since then, any time I'm in complete darkness, those feelings of fear and helplessness come back. The memories of being lost and alone in the darkness still haunt me sometimes. "The isolation and uncertainty of that night left a deep impact on me," he said. "And if that wasn't enough, during my time lost in the woods, I could hear the sounds of wild animals and other noises that seemed terrifying to a ten-year-old. The sounds of twigs cracking, leaves rustling, and distant howling added to my terror and made me feel like something was stalking me in the darkness.
He tried to blink back the tears, hating the fact that he was showing emotions that he usually kept hidden.
"Ever since then, I just... I can't handle the dark," he confessed, his voice hoarse. "It brings back all those feelings of fear and helplessness. It's irrational, I know, but I can't seem to overcome it."
He tried so much to keep back his tears but they made their way out of his eyes . Aiden hugged Olivia tightly.
He gripped her tighter, seeking comfort in her embrace.
"It's embarrassing, really," he muttered, his voice cracking. "I'm a grown man and I'm afraid of the dark like a damn child."
"stop calling yourself weak. You are too brave. you are... You want to eat something?" Olivia tries to motivate him, trying to caress him.
He sniffled, trying to compose himself. Her words touched something deep inside of him, making him feel vulnerable yet strangely cared for.
"Yeah, maybe some food would help," he replied, his voice somewhat steadier. "But can we just stay like this for a few more minutes?"
"Stay like what??" Olivia questioned
"Like this," he mumbled, his voice muffled by her hair. "Just... just holding you. It feels... it feels good."
"Mr. Carter, Remember You won't fall in love with a feisty girl like me." Olivia says with a taunting tone and a smirk.
"Yeah, I remember," he replied, his voice a mixture of resignation and surrender. "But... but it might be too late for that advice now..."
"You and your sarcasm. Shut up and hug me or let me cook food" demands Olivia.
He chuckled softly, his eyes still a little misty. He held her tighter, his arms enveloping her small frame.
"I'll hug you all day if it means I can keep you in my arms," he murmured against her neck.
While they were hugging, Aiden trying to get back to normal..
Olivia's phone started ringing.
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