Chapter 70 - Sleeping

She was putting on a light gown and with the cold wind and AC on in the parlor; she sure must have caught a cold.

He traced her gaze and realized that she was staring at the bed; and that moment, it occurred to him;

THERE WAS JUST ONE BED IN THE ROOM!!!

Wait, how did he not think about it all the while! Throughout the trip, even till that evening, it was now he was just realizing that they would share a bed!

What was he thinking? He had never slept in the same room with anyone before; talk more of the same bed! Why didn't he remember all these when grandma asked them to come over? He was just thinking of how he would get closer to her and he forgot the most important details.

What would he do now?

Nicklaus ransacked his brain and for a moment, his eyes shifted to her;

She must have thought of all that, that was why she had been uncomfortable all the while; she must see him as a big jerk!

Why wasn't he thinking straight all these while! Niklaus mentally slapped himself, but just when he opened his lips to speak, Tiana beat him to it.

''I'll… I'll sleep on the couch, its large and very comfy. ''

She spoke, her voice trembling, as though she was afraid that he would refuse her. She sauntered to the side of the bed and grabbed a pillow, hugging it to her chest. Her eyes glanced at the couch and at the bed;

She was cold but there was just one quilt on the bed, she could not take it and leave Nicklaus with none. This was his room to begin with. She would have to change to sweater and trousers, and cover her legs with large socks. That would do.

Dragging her feet to the couch, she kept her pillow on it. Her eyes glanced briefly at Nicklaus, who was still standing by the door, staring at her intently and her gaze fell to her hands;

Was he going to tell her to join him on the bed?

Tiana wondered as she played with her fingers, biting on her lower lip. She wasn't sure she could do that, she might as well, cut her wrist and die.

Nicklaus lips thinned; he knew she was scared of him now, and although he didn't want to let her sleep on the couch, he knew she wouldn't let him sleep on the couch and it would be awkward if he tries to insist and telling her to join him on the bed would be way too forward and would scare her more, so Nicklaus didn't oppose to her.

After staring at her for a while, he walked to the wardrobe and took out his pajamas. Tiana watched him walk to the wardrobe and when she saw him lift his shirt above his head, she pulled her eyes away.

She stood still until she felt his footsteps walk towards the fridge near the floor to ceiling mirror. She raised her eyes and watched him take out a bottle of pills and pour some onto his hand and swallowed, and then he drank some water.

She remained still until he walked to the bed and lay on it.

She waited a moment and when she didn't hear any movements, she turned to the bed; an uncontrollable joy coursing through her heart.

He will not tell her to join him?

Tiana heaved a sigh of relief.

At least, that was another good thing he had done. Maybe he wasn't so dark after all_ or maybe not, he might just be too tired to argue with her.

Tiana pouted her lips and quickly waved the thoughts aside. She should sleep soon if she wanted to wake early for work the next day.

Hurrying over to the wardrobe, she took out her night clothes and entered the bathroom, after changing into them, she opened the door slowly, sticking out her head; she peeked at Nicklaus.

His eyes were closed, and he looked as though he was sleeping peacefully. Her brows creased.

Didn't Bella say that he had troubled nights, wasn't he sleeping so peacefully now?

She shook her head as she hung the clothes she had taken off in the wardrobe;

People really spread a lot of rumors; she thought in her mind.

After that, she went to the couch and lay down, when she found a comfortable spot; she closed her eyes to sleep.

After a few minutes, a pair of eyes fluttered open, and they gazed at the figure on the couch.

Her eyes were closed; it had been a very busy day she must have slept off.

Although she was wearing huge clothes, she still coiled herself up like a ball. Nicklaus brows creased, and he stood up from the bed; pulling the quilt from it, he walked to her and gently covered her body with it. He watched her body relax and her brows ease as she quickly clung to the quilt. A small smile slanted his lips as he gazed at her.

She looked very cute when she slept; if he would always see her face every night, his sleep would always be peaceful, no doubt.

His eyes glanced at her cheeks, clear but a little portion was flushed red;

He felt the urge to touch her, but he restrained himself. If she woke up to him in front of her, she would really faint from shock.

Swallowing his urge, Nicklaus forced himself from the ground and back to the bed.

…

Tiana's eyes fluttered open, she stared at the high vaulted ceiling of the bedroom for a moment, then as though a thought flickered into her memories, she flung from the couch.

Her eyes glanced at the wall clock and she saw that it was past 8! She had over slept!

She immediately glanced towards the bed but there was no-one on it.

Did Nicklaus leave?

Her heart pounded against her chest as she thought of the next punishment she would receive for oversleeping. Quickly, she grabbed a pair of clothes from the wardrobe and raced towards the bathroom;

Pushing it open without knocking, her eyes met the shock of her life.

''Aaaaaaarrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!'