RC.

Ch9 ....... G

As I open my eyes, I let out a little groan when I realise that Ryan is no longer under the sheets next to me.

I turn on my back, it's still dark. The stars are shining in the sky and reflecting on the dark and calm surface of the sea.

I reach for my phone clumsily on the night table. It's only 3 am.

I rub my eyes and sit up on the edge of the big bed. I quickly slip my little camisole on. My bare feet tread upon the wooden floor.

The bay window is ajar. I decided to go that way to the terrace.

The evening air is soft, it slides over my skin. There's not a bit of wind. You can hear the peaceful sound of the waves.

Ryan is standing bare-chested, leaning against one of the big wooden pillars of the terrace. The scene is beautiful.

He looks serious, concentrated on his phone screen.

What is he doing at this hour ...?

Maybe he just couldn't sleep ...

(There's a problem.)

Or, maybe there's a problem? Why else would he be up at this hour?

I tiptoe towards him so as not to surprise him.

T:"Ryan...?"

When he sees me his face softens almost immediately.

R:"What are you doing here? You're going to catch cold ..."

He puts his phone down on the coffee table and walks towards me to embrace me.

The contact of his arms is always so pleasant to me that I huddle up against him, sighing with pleasure.

T:"Why aren't you in bed?"

I almost grumble, my nose pressed against his chest, breathing in deeply his virile and reassuring smell.

R:"I woke up, I watched you sleep, and then I got up. I wasn't feeling sleepy."

I stare at him for a moment. I imagine him inspecting me while I was sleeping. I hope I wasn't drooling nor snoring! ... How glamorous otherwise!

T:"You watched me sleep?"

R:"Yes."

He looks at me tenderly making me melt.

T:"What were you doing? Is everything all right?"

I glance at his cell phone.

R:"Yes, everything's fine, sometimes I work a bit at night, I make the most of my insomnia."

Does he ever stop?

(He never stops ...)

T:"You maximise all your time, don't you?"

His lips stretch into an adorable embarrassed little smile.

R:"My brain never stops. I sometimes need to get up at night to think."

R:"Or sometimes I find the solution to a problem, and I have to note it right away."

I let out a little sneer at myself.

T:"When I get up at night, I struggle to coordinate my movements, so thinking or finding enlightenment would be impossible!"

He kisses my forehead gently.

R:"Maybe because you're a real little sleepyhead."

I look at him sideways, offended.

R:"An adorable little sleepyhead."

He touches my chin with his thumb and forefinger.

I chuckle at this comparison. It's true that it pretty well sums me up.

T:"A little sleepyhead ... it suits me pretty well."

He lays a gentle kiss at the tip of my nose.

T:"And that would make you a night bird."

(Or a shooting star: Magnificent, fleeting, elusive...)

T:"Are you coming back to bed?"

R:"No, I'm going to stay here a little longer, I don't need much sleep, three or four hours are enough."

I look at him with big bulging eyes. This time I must look like an owl!

T:"You're an alien in the body of an Adonis in fact, right?"

He bursts out laughing as he cradles me in his protective arms.

R:"Mmh ... I prefer you see me as an Adonis rather than a little green man ..."

T:"A little green man would be kinda cute ..."

T:"But seriously, Even aliens rest sometimes. Come back to bed ..."

He smirks at me after having moved away.

R:"Don't go away, I'll get a little water."

I smile at him but my heart isn't in it. Something tells me he isn't giving me the truth. At least, not the part about tonight.

Is it because of bringing me here? Is he having second thoughts?

I don't want any more lies between us. They hurt me too much.

R:"Hey, stop thinking too much! Everything's fine my beautiful."

T:"You know ... Sometimes ... it's disturbing."

R:"What?"

T:"That way you have of guessing my thoughts."

He kisses the back of my hand smiling. Then he walks away.