Pretending

Once Laila was done brushing her teeth, she called Noah to come get here. Though she was perfectly able to walk back herself, she knew that Noah wanted to do this and she didn't want to take this away from him. Especially knowing that she was about to feign being asleep to get out from under his attempted love making.

No sooner had she said the words, "I'm done", or Noah was standing in the bathroom with a big smile on his face. He swooped her off the counter and without any effort at all, he carried her back to the room. He placed her down on the bed gently and as his was face was lowered to allow his eyes to match hers, he placed a quick kiss on her lips. Not wanting her plan to fail because Noah decided take his shot before brushing his teeth, she pushed him away when he came in for a second kiss. "Stop fooling around and go brush your teeth. I'll still be here when you get back."

With a reluctant sigh Noah straightened his legs and headed towards the bathroom as he kept looking back in Laila's direction after every few steps. Before he disappeared into the bathroom he glanced back one more time and said, "You had better still be waiting when I get back. Otherwise there will be hell to pay missy." Laila laughed awkwardly and smiled as she waved him goodbye. She quickly got under the covers and laid herself down. In her head she repeated to herself, 'You didn't lie Laila. You said that YOU would be waiting here and you will still be here. You never claimed that you would be awake as you wait.'

With that reasoning she continued her plan as she closed her eyes waiting for her restless Noah to be done in the bathroom. After a few minutes of pretending, she heard a humming Noah turn off the tap, dry off his hands and face, and walk back into the room. He stopped in the middle of his steps when he saw her lying on her side. He stepped closer with small steps and got onto the bed as he tried to get a glance of Laila's face.

When he saw that her eyes were closed, his 'threats' from earlier had turned to nothing as he whispered softly, "Honey,...are you asleep?" Laila kept her face and body still as she pretended to not hear his question. After getting no response, Noah gently rubbed her shoulder as he repeated the word, "Honey...?" This time the word was said in a softer and a bit more disappointed voice. It was followed up by, "Didn't you say you were going to wait for me?"

Laila kept herself completely still during all of this and finally Noah gave up with a disappointed sigh. He turned off the lights, got under the covers, pressed a kiss on the top of Laila's head before he snuggled up closely against her and closed his eyes as well. When Laila felt Noah's soft, warm, breath against her skin, she felt relieved as she knew he had believed her and had gone to sleep himself as well. She let out a single deep breath before the comfortable feeling of being in Noah's arms took her off to dreamland as well. This time for real.

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The next morning Laila woke up as a small ray of light crept in through the gap of the curtains. She turned to her back as she stretched her arms. Only now did she notice the arms wrapped around her waist and realized they weren't the ones she had been used to for years. Suddenly all events from yesterday came to her. With a single glance at her surroundings, Laila was reminded again of what had happened and that it wasn't just a dream. She glanced down at the still sleeping Noah and smiled gently as she softly brushed her fingers through his hair.

Laila turned to her other side and propped her head on her elbow as she continued to stare at Noah's sleeping face and ran her fingers over the temples of his head and through his soft, curly hair. After a few seconds of staring and tracing some of Noah's most outstanding features as she said to herself, "He sure grew into a handsome guy", Laila decided to go downstairs for breakfast ahead of him. Laila was about to get out of bed in order to continue to let Noah sleep, as she imagined that he must be tired from working so hard yesterday and all week for that matter, when an arm suddenly pulled her back down onto the bed.

With a surprised look on her face Laila turned towards the 'sleeping' Noah as she placed her hand on the strong and tanned arm that was holding her by her waist. Seeing Noah with closed eyes and holding onto her tightly she let out a chuckle. In an amused voice Laila said, "Weren't you supposed to be asleep mister? What is with this pretending?". Noah shrugged his shoulders and finally opened them halfway through as he replied with a still sleepy voice, "Well you were pretending as well yesterday, weren't you?"

Laila's eyes instantly grew to, what she imagined was, twice their original size when she heard these words. She was in complete shock. How could he have caught her so easily?! What had given her away? Regardless of the answer, she was in awe of the brains on that man and his way of thinking as she waited to see how this would play out.