Chapter 19:Sing me a lullaby

"Ahem," I cleared my throat as I forced my eyes from his body to look at his face. "Well I can't sleep. I've tried,"

"How is that to be my problem?"

"Can I sleep in your room?"

"Fuck no," he answered immediately.

"You didn't even think about it!" I argued.

"There's nothing to think about. Now, move along," he tried to push me but I stayed firm.

"You've forgotten this is my husband's house right?" I tried a different approach. "Every room in this house belongs to me. So if I wanna stay here with you, you've got to let me."

"Oh is that how we wanna play it?" He folded his arms over his chest. "Why don't I just surrender the room to you tonight and I'd go sleep on one of the couches in the living room then? You happy about that?"

"No no no," I touched his arm without even realizing it. "Okay, please just let me stay with you.Just for tonight and I won't bother you afterwards, I promise."

His eyes fell to my hands on his for a brief moment. I withdrew my hand quickly after I took notice.

"Only on one condition.You admit that you're scared out of your mind."

I sighed. "I accept and agree that I am scared out of my mind. Can I come in now?"

Before he could answer, I pushed past him and walked freely into the bedroom letting out a triumphant sigh.

"You're gonna have to take the floor or couch cause there's no way I'm giving up my precious bed for you. I'm no gentleman," he said as he shut the door behind him.

I gasped a little. "You do not mean that, do you?"

"Every single fucking word, Mi lady"

"There's no way I can choose any of that. I'm gonna be uncomfortable,"

"Then go to your room where you have an enormous bed you can be comfortable in okay?" He answered as he smoothed the pillows and jumped right into the bed.

He had to be kidding. I stood there, motionless.

"You better make your choice because I'm about to turn off the lights."

"You're kidding right?" I finally found my voice.

"Its either the couch, floor or on the bed with me,"

"You're not suggesting I sleep on the same bed with you, are you?"

"Its your choice to make," he replied me non chalantly.

I groaned and hesitantly climbed into the bed. I was at the very edge.

"You better not touch me. I'm someone's wife," I reminded him.

"And who said I had any interest whatsoever in touching you?" He responded dryly.

Ouch. That hurt a little.

"Well goodnight," I said under my breath.

"Goodnight," he mumbled back and proceeded to turn the lights off.

I instantly became scared and my eyes widened. In the darkness, I could see a figure sitting on the chair opposite the bed.

"Julian," I called, my voice a bit shaky. "Turn on the lights now,"

"Hell no," he replied immediately. "I don't sleep with the lights on Missy"

"But you gotta turn it on. Someone's in here with us,"

I was met with silence. I shut my eyes tight and tried to force what I had just seen away from my mind but it was not working. My eyes opened again and I could still make out the figure on the chair.

I was already almost falling off the bed so I adjusted, moved closer and grabbed Julian's arm rather too fiercely.

"Julian you gotta wake up now. Someone is in here with us!" I said with a panicked voice.

"Oh my God, Kara" Julian let out an exasperated sigh. "Can you just shut your eyes and sleep and also let me sleep? There is nobody in here with us. We are the only ones here for fucks sakes."

"No no no.. I can see something right now," I tapped him on the shoulder.

He groaned loudly and flicked the lights on. And then I saw that the supposed person earlier was no person at all. Instead, it was pile of Julian's stupid clothes scattered on the chair.

"So where is the someone?" Julian asked as he turned his head to me, giving me an irritated look.

"It was just your clothes alright. In the darkness, it looked like someone," I replied quietly.

He rolled his eyes to the back of his head.

"I thought you said you weren't scared a while earlier, now you are shaking like a cat,"

"Hey! You forced me to watch the movie," I defended.

"Who knew you were such a scared baby pretending to be tough? Now, go to sleep and leave me the fuck alone, I beg you."

He hastily moved to switch off the light again but I grabbed his hand just in time.

"Stop. I can't sleep with the lights turned off."

"Then this room wouldn't contain both of us, cause there is no way in hell I would sleep with the lights turned on in my face."

"Julian please,"

He looked at me hard in a way that made me think he could see through my night wear.

"What?" I asked him, getting a bit uncomfortable with his intense stares.

"I'm wondering what to do with you," he said and sighed. After thinking in silence for a while, he said to me,"I've decided that I wouldn't please you because I'm already tired. So go to sleep or stay awake the entire night. Goodnight, Kara."

And then he turned the lights off!

How rude. I wanted to punch his face so hard wondering how he could just leave me alone like that and be so damn selfish.

I lay back in the bed again and curled up. I had to force myself to sleep. It was better than going back to my room and being alone. I consoled myself with the thought that anything coming into the room wouldn't murder just me but Julian as well.

That was satisfying.

And then I suddenly felt Julian's arm around me, pulling me close to him. Very close to chest. I was too surprised to even react at first. He wanted us to.. Cuddle?

"Julian what on earth are you doing?" I asked after finding my voice finally.

"Holding you so you are no longer so afraid. That's what," he replied back.

"Its wrong for you to hold me like this you know. Considering the fact that I am married to your brother and this position is quite.."

"Can you just shut up?" He interrupted, his voice laced with slight irritation. "If you don't want this, I might as well kick you out and I'm not even playing."

I twisted my lips to a corner and then said, "Okay fine, you win."

It was oddly satisfying having to be sandwiched in his arms like that. It felt so safe and so comforting. It was officially the second time we were cuddled up against each other like that. And there I was, inhaling his sweet scent.

"I can't sleep, Julian. Talk to me," I said again cause I really couldn't even after I tried to do so three minutes later.

"Kara, do you know what I feel like doing right now?"

"No. And I don't want to know,"

"I'll tell you anyway. Throw you out the fucking window.Just go to bed if you don't want that. Got it?"

"You can't throw me out," I said in a low voice. "I'm too heavy,"

"Oh yeah? I highly doubt that."

"Julian, what's your favorite place to be?"

"A place free from your constant talks, a place with total silence where I can get some fucking peaceful sleep!"

I giggled a little. "You do not have to get so aggressive. Its just a harmless question"

"Yeah. At past twelve in the morning? Kara, go to sleep. This is your last chance otherwise I'll really leave you alone and go sleep in the living room."

"I'd come with you,"

"That wouldn't happen cause I'll be locking you in here. So please, for the love of God, go to bed now."

"Do you know how to sing? Sing me a lullaby." I said, not backing down. I was stubborn, yes I know.

"Sing you a lulla what?"