In Her Sleep

Pure Raw Appreciation

The taste of freshly brewed coffee jolts her from her sleepy self and she smiles at the person who just offered it.

She was feeling cranky and was just lazing around in her bed unable to get up after sleeping late last night. But the perks of having a housemate has got her smiling and bright already.

"Good morning to you." She greets Caleb who seems like he has been up for hours already, looking all fresh and energetic. She doesn't know how he does that each morning, no matter how late in the night he slept.

"Good morning." 

He chirps before leaning in and giving her a chaste kiss on her cheek. She however still blushes profusely, while he himself moves away like nothing happened.

"How are you doing?" He asks after sitting across from her on the bed.

"Am okay." She replies honestly. 

She does really feel okay. After her crying session yesterday, Caleb had decided to bring them back. The ride was quiet but he made sure to let her know he was there for her. His hand never left hers and kept on rubbing some soothing circular patterns on it until they reached the house. After she took a long warm bath and a hearty meal, they spent the rest of their afternoon just watching movies which was a good distraction for her. He seemed to know she didn't want to talk so he just held her throughout and she was grateful.

"How's your morning?" She asks before getting a little distracted with him sitting on her bed looking all perfect. 

"It's perfect." 

His eyes are on her as he answers and she is sure all her blood just rushed to her face.

"That's uh...Good." She smiles nervously. 

"Tell me about these dreams."  Caleb asks after a moment of silence.

She looks up to him and finds him with his usual thoughtful look.

"Is that my doctor asking?" She knew that as much as he let her be yesterday, he was going to ask about it eventually.

"Who would you rather be asking?" He replies yet again looking thoughtful.

"I don't know, maybe my….." She trails off when she realizes what he just did. And it just dawns on her that aside from being his doctor, there is no clear definition of what they are. She looks up at him and finds him smiling before sipping on his coffee. And instead of answering him, she finds herself distracted with a million thoughts of what she would want them to be. Even though they all come down to just one thing in the end.

"I guess the doctor is fine for now." She finally says.

"For now? That's promising." He sounds amused making her quirk an eyebrow at him.

"What would you rather be then?" She regrets it the moment she asks that, because this time he looks at her seriously. She bites her lips and also regrets that too, because now there is not only that serious look in his eyes but something else too. And for some reason, again, she doesn't want to find out what it is. 

"Please don't answer that." She adds quickly and a smirk appears on his face.

"Are you sure? Because I kind of have a perfect answer for you." He grins.

"Let's uh...just stick to the doctor, shall we?" She smiles behind her cup when he looks displeased.

"So about my dreams." She starts.

"Am listening." He replies and Layla gets a hint of frustration in his voice and she wonders why. 

"They are just dreams I guess." She answers not knowing how to answer his question. 

"What are they about?" He asks as he sips on his coffee.

She looks at him thoughtfully before answering. Even though he appears so casual about it, she can tell this is one of those serious conversations. She is glad though, because it would be too weird to have him as her shrink.

"Hello?" 

A snap of a finger brings her out of her thoughts and finds Caleb frowning.

"Sorry about that." She apologises before finally answering him. 

"It's always about my mother. She always surprises me by coming to me but when I reach out, she just...leaves." Her eyes drop to her coffee mug in trying to avoid Caleb's gaze.

"How long has it been?"

"What?" She asks when she doesn't understand his question.

"I mean your dreams. How long have you been having them?" He answers her looking like he is in his full doctor mode.

"Not long. Well they come and go but after my accident, they have kind of been more frequent. I guess they are just dreams." She shrugs.

"Not if they make you cry." He retorts.

"Maybe I just miss her." She replies as she takes a deep breath to keep herself from getting emotional again.

"Maybe…" Caleb retorts, still looking thoughtful.

"How about you?" She asks trying to take her mind off the sad thoughts she can feel coming on.

"How about me?" He raises his eyebrow at her. 

"I don't know, don't you have dreams?" She asks awkwardly when she realizes that she doesn't really have anything to ask.

"Ooh I don't think you want to hear about my dreams." He wiggles his eyebrows at her and she bursts out laughing.

"And why not?"

"Well because they are mostly about this girl that's got me dreaming about her."

"You are right, I don't think I want to hear about that." She covers her face playfully unsure of who he means exactly. 

"What if that girl is you?"

She stiffens when she hears his voice closer than it was a second ago and she fails to uncover her face afraid to see him this close. But even with her face covered, her body is very aware of his close proximity. With her heart skipping beats she curses herself for trying to escape her emotions only to end up in this position that has all her emotions going haywire. 

"What if...I can't stop dreaming about this beautiful girl…" 

She feels his hands on hers as he drops them revealing her obviously flushed face. He takes each of her hands in his and she feels vulnerable with no way of escaping him. She tries to look away but he is quick to make her look at him.

"Why are you so afraid Layla?" He asks while he holds her gaze. He looks almost pained but the way he says her name leaves goose bumps and his piercing gaze has her insides flipping. It's like all the butterflies in her stomach were flapping to a glorious harmony.

"I..I"

She tries to form words but she is too tongue tied with all his closeness. 

"Caleb…" she ends up moaning his name and his eyes drop to her lips. She bites them nervously and her action seems to make everything worse. She has no idea how a question about her dreams got them to this point, not that she is complaining. Because what's not to like about having him this close.

"Let me." He brushes her bottom lip lightly and she feels every part of her being come alive.

"Caleb…" she whispers as her own thirst makes her draw closer to him. They stay facing each other for a moment with either waiting for the other to make the first move. 

"Forgive me." He whispers before letting go of her hands and taking hold of her cheeks. His warm hands have her closing her eyes and waiting to feel his warm lips on hers.

"God you are beautiful Layla."

She opens her eyes and finds him looking at her with immense appreciation in his eyes. This is the first time any guy has looked at her like this. Not as an object of their desires but pure raw appreciation of her as a person.

"Caleb…" she finds herself whispering his name as a familiar lump forms in her throat. It's a sight she never thought she would ever see and having him here looking at her like that makes her want to be his in every way. All that emotion in his eyes makes her own eyes get teary. He keeps surprising her at every turn. 

She grabs on to his shirt, determined to meet him halfway this time. It's a little too forward for her, but at the moment she doesn't care if only she can let him know just how much he means to her too. 

She leans in awkwardly, suddenly unsure of herself as her heart thunders in her chest. This is not exactly were she pictured herself when she woke up this morning, but her awkwardness lasts just for a moment when he gently tilts her head and pulls her towards himself. He stops just inches before her lips that are dying with anticipation. His warm breath caressing them and making her whole body tingle with goodness. 

"Still afraid?"

She opens her eyes and finds him looking at her with so much yearning.

"Not anymore.."