Winter Hearts

Sleep Talking Triple T

Siana walked slowly down the stairs after her breakfast. She was hoping that a fresh start would take her mind off things, and looked forward to seeing N and finding out how he worked.

As she reached the bottom and started unlocking the small door that would lead to her studio from the lobby, she heard a door open to her left. She looked up to see Leo coming out of the studio, his wide frame filling the doorway as he looked around to switch off the lights. She stopped moving, not sure if he had seen her.

She realised that he was still wearing the same clothes as the night before, and that he had spent the night in there.

He noticed her, and turned immediately to look at her, his hand on the door knob. He leaned against the door jamb from inside the studio, and then let the door swing shut against his back.

His eyes were red-rimmed from a sleepless night, and his expression was something she could only describe as mellow. He looked down at her lazily, a soft smile on his lips. It was almost as if he was about to close his eyes and sleep leaning against the doorway. She had a sudden thought that in his semi-stupor, he looked incredibly seductive.

"Siana," he said, his voice dry and husky. He seemed goofy, a little insane from being up all night. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Good morning," she said, politely. He frowned.

"Mmm. You sound like a stranger," he said, his eyes still closed, still frowning, as if her greeting had hurt his head.

"Well, we just met yesterday," Siana said, still polite.

His eyes fluttered open, and though they were bloodshot from being so close to sleep, they had an intense hurt quality that took her aback. He looked at her, almost accusingly, with a gaze that made her catch her breath.

He looked... hungry.

He leaned forward, squeezing out from between the door and the doorway, letting it click shut behind him, and took a step towards her.

Involuntarily, Siana took a step back.

Her action seemed to wake him up a little. He stopped, suddenly aware that he may have seemed menacing. His face softened again, tiredness seeping back into his features.

"Yes, we just met yesterday," he said, resignedly. He looked despondently at her, his eyes full of regret.

He turned and pressed the call button for the lift, not realising it was already at the ground floor in his tiredness. Siana watched the interior light flash on and then off again as he let go of the button, and then realised he was waiting for it come down and hadn't noticed it was there already.

He leaned against the wall right next to the lift, letting his head fall against the wall and stared down the bridge of his nose at her with puppy eyes.

He was sleep-deprived and lovelorn. And he was leaning by the parked lift watching her, thinking it was not there yet.

She stifled a smile and walked forward to open the lift door. To do so, she had to reach almost around him, as he was partially obscuring the door handle.

He stood still, watching her come forward and not moving out of the way. His eyes followed hers as she neared him, until he was peering down at her face through his sleepiness, her mouth just a forward-bend away from kissing. He could smell her shampoo, he could feel the heat of her body, he knew she could feel his breath, he was so close.

As she pulled the door open, he put his hand on hers, forcing her to look into his eyes. He wanted to whisper his sorries and take her in his arms, and his breath quickened with longing.

"Please... let me explain," he said in a husky, fervent whisper.

Siana let him hold her there, his hand a welcome warmth on hers. She was torn. She wanted to let him speak, but she had felt so wrecked by the whole situation. And she had just resolved to move on from it no matter what.

She noticed that even in his exhausted state, his whole being seemed to thrum with intensity, and it was all focused on her.

She liked the feeling it gave her. The feeling that she had some effect on him.

She felt that, in his state of helplessness, she was something that he looked to for succour. For the first time since that dreadful parting, she had felt that he was waiting upon her pleasure, and that he would do whatever she wanted.

"Alright," she said simply.

He seemed surprised, unsure whether he had heard correctly. Then relief spread over his features. He opened his mouth to speak, but she interjected.

"But not now. Next week." She said.

He shut his mouth and drew in a patient breath, nodding.

"I might lose my mind in the meantime," he murmured, looking down at her mournfully.

Siana thought she might just lose her mind right at that moment. He was like a man-child, sleepily charming her with his petulance and sexiness.She had to make sure he understood that he couldn't play that game with her without consequences. Much as she would like to give in and let him follow through on what he seemed to promise, she was still smarting from his hurtful actions, and wanted him to take what he was giving too.

She put a hand onto his chest, which surprised him so that he looked down at it, and gently pushed him backwards into the lift.

As she let the door swing shut, she said, "And I will be dancing with N and Ravi in the meantime."

She turned, knowing that the light in the lift would turn off until he pressed for his floor. She didn't wait to see what he did, just walked down the little staircase til she reached the other door at the bottom.

She felt in control, without feeling controlling.

She unlocked the door and turned on the lights. She pulled her phone out and set up the bluetooth system. She put one of her more gentle playlists on shuffle and began some light warm ups incorporating stretching and yoga moves on the floor, as she was feeling a lack of energy.

She took some time to really lean into the stretches, focusing on her breathing. The process was relaxing her, unwinding that coiled spring of tension that she felt in her stomach.

When N and Ravi came in through the same door, she was planking. They walked to the mirrors without speaking, setting down their bags and phones and pulling off coats.

Wordlessly, they joined her in the centre, each going into his own warm ups.