Lila lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The guest room was undeniably comfortable — plush pillows, a soft blanket, and just the right amount of warmth — but it felt... empty.

    She turned onto her side, hugging the blanket to her chest.

    She had expected something different when she decided to stay the night.

    As Ethan''s girlfriend, she figured she''d be sleeping in the same room as him, maybe even falling asleep in his arms like in those romance movies.

    But instead, Ethan had casually shown her to the guest room, bid her goodnight, and left.

    She huffed, puffing up her cheeks in frustration.

    It wasn''t that she was mad — Ethan had done nothing wrong. If anything, it was gentlemanly of him. But still... didn''t he want to be close to her?

    Lila kicked off the blanket and sat up, running her fingers through her chestnut-brown hair. She glanced at the door, biting her lip.

    Maybe she was overthinking.

    Maybe she was being silly.

    But... she didn''t want to sleep alone tonight.

    Heart pounding slightly, she slipped out of bed, her bare feet padding softly against the wooden floor. The house was quiet except for the distant hum of electronics.

    The glow from the hallway light guided her as she crept across the upper floor toward Ethan''s room.

    When she reached his door, she hesitated for a second before pushing it open.

    Ethan was at his desk, illuminated by the soft glow of his PC screen.

    His fingers moved quickly across the keyboard, his eyes focused — at least until he noticed her standing in the doorway.

    He glanced at her, then at the clock on his monitor. "Can''t sleep alone?"

    Lila''s cheeks immediately puffed up in embarrassment.

    "...No," she mumbled, stepping into the room.

    Ethan smirked but didn''t tease further. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. "Alright. You can sleep here if you want. But I''m warning you — I might be up for a while."

    Lila glanced at the screen. Lines of code, open files, and various tabs filled it. She wasn''t sure what he was working on, but it looked complicated.

    "What are you doing?" she asked, stepping closer.

    "Just some work," he replied vaguely. "Something I need to finish before tomorrow."

    Lila made a small noise of understanding before turning her attention to his bed.

    It was bigger than the one in the guest room, the blankets slightly messy from where he had likely been sitting before moving to his desk.

    She didn''t hesitate to climb in.

    Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Comfortable?"

    Lila only smiled, her breath evening out as she drifted back into sleep.

    And this time, Ethan followed soon after.

    #####

    A soft golden light filtered through the curtains as morning arrived, casting a warm glow over the room.

    Lila stirred first, blinking sleepily as she adjusted to the brightness. Her head was still nestled against Ethan''s shoulder, their bodies comfortably tangled beneath the blanket.

    For a moment, she simply watched him — his steady breathing, the relaxed expression on his usually sharp features.

    He looked peaceful, far removed from the confident and sometimes teasing demeanor he wore while awake.

    A small, playful thought entered her mind.

    She had never kissed him properly.

    Sure, there had been that one moment on the Ferris wheel, but this was different.

    There was no rush, no distractions — just the two of them in the quiet intimacy of morning.

    Her heart pounded as she lifted herself slightly, supporting her weight on one elbow. Slowly, carefully, she leaned in, her lips barely brushing against his.

    But before she could pull away, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

    Lila barely had time to squeak in surprise before Ethan''s other hand secured her, pulling her fully against his chest.

    Her breath hitched as he opened his eyes, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

    "Stealing kisses while I''m asleep?" His voice was thick with grogginess, deeper than usual.

    Lila''s face burned, but she pouted, refusing to back down. "I wasn''t stealing! I was just... testing something."

    Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what were you testing?"

    She hesitated, suddenly feeling too self-conscious to answer. He chuckled at her silence, his grip on her waist tightening slightly.

    "If you wanted a kiss," he murmured, his lips barely an inch from hers, "all you had to do was ask."

    Lila''s breath hitched as Ethan closed the distance, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that was slow, deliberate.

    Unlike last time, there was no hesitation — only warmth and the quiet understanding that neither of them wanted to rush this moment.

    Her fingers curled against his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt as he deepened the kiss ever so slightly, his hand tracing slow, lazy circles against her waist.

    By the time they pulled away, Lila was breathless, her cheeks flushed.

    Ethan smirked. "So, did your little test give you the results you wanted?"

    She buried her face in his chest, groaning in embarrassment. "You''re so annoying."

    His chuckle vibrated against her skin, and she felt the gentle press of his lips against the top of her head.

    "Yeah, yeah," he said, still amused. "But you love it."