You Reach For Me Even Half Asleep
Sunday mornings became dangerous after moving in together.
Not because of arguments.
Or tension.
Because they became soft in ways Lia never expected to crave this much.
And Adrian—
Adrian treated lazy mornings beside her like something sacred.
—
Sunlight spilled slowly across the bedroom through half-open curtains.
The rain from the night before had disappeared completely, leaving the city glowing gold beneath clear skies.
Lia woke gradually to warmth.
Warm sheets.
Warm sunlight.
Warm arms wrapped securely around her waist beneath the blankets.
She smiled faintly before even opening her eyes fully.
Because honestly?
At this point waking up tangled with Adrian had become the safest part of her life.
The realization still overwhelmed her sometimes.
She shifted slightly against the mattress.
Immediate reaction.
Adrian tightened his hold instinctively, pulling her closer against his chest without fully waking up.
A sleepy sound escaped him somewhere near her hair.
Lia blinked upward slowly.
Dark hair messy from sleep.
Face buried partly against her shoulder.
One strong arm locked around her like letting her drift too far away even unconsciously felt unacceptable.
God.
He was impossible.
Lia carefully reached for her phone on the nightstand.
The movement alone caused Adrian to stir again.
"No."
The rough sleep-heavy complaint nearly ruined her emotionally before nine in the morning.
Lia laughed softly.
"I'm checking the time."
"You don't need time."
"That sentence makes no sense."
Adrian only pulled her closer.
His face buried deeper against the side of her neck while his fingers flexed lightly against her waist beneath the oversized shirt she slept in.
"You're cold," he murmured sleepily.
"You stole the blankets."
"I protect you emotionally."
"That is not the same thing."
A quiet laugh vibrated softly against her skin.
Warmth spread painfully through her chest.
Because this—
this version of Adrian—
still felt unreal sometimes.
No cold billionaire composure.
No sharp edges.
Just sleepy affection and quiet need.
Lia turned slightly in his arms until she could properly see his face.
Big mistake.
Because he looked devastating.
Eyes barely open.
Expression soft in ways no one else probably ever witnessed.
Completely defenseless with her.
The realization made her chest ache instantly.
"You look at me like you're surprised I'm still here," she whispered softly.
A faint flicker crossed his face.
Even half-asleep.
There and gone again.
Then quietly—
"I think part of me always will be."
The honesty shattered straight through her heart.
Because Adrian sounded sincere.
Not insecure.
Just genuinely amazed that mornings like this existed for him now.
Lia brushed her fingers gently through his hair.
Immediate reaction.
Always immediate.
His eyes closed briefly while a quiet breath escaped him.
"You do that strategically."
"You say that every time."
"Because you keep doing it."
A smile tugged faintly at her mouth.
Adrian slowly opened his eyes afterward, gaze settling completely on her face.
Focused.
Soft.
Like waking up beside her still emotionally affected him every single day.
The sunlight spilling across the bed made everything feel warmer somehow.
Safer.
Like the world outside the apartment no longer mattered for a little while.
"You know what I noticed?" Lia whispered softly.
His thumb brushed lazily beneath the hem of her shirt.
"What?"
"You reach for me even half asleep."
Silence.
Then Adrian's expression softened impossibly more.
Not embarrassed.
Almost thoughtful.
"I know."
The answer came quietly.
Honest as always.
Lia's chest tightened.
"You do it automatically."
A faint smile touched his mouth.
"You disappear if I don't."
God.
The words hit harder than they should have.
Because Adrian didn't mean physically.
He meant emotionally too.
Like some part of him still feared waking up alone again.
The realization hurt.
Lia slid closer against him instinctively.
Immediate reaction.
His arms tightened around her again while his forehead rested lightly against hers.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Home.
"You know I'm not going anywhere, right?" she whispered softly.
A long silence followed.
Sunlight stretched across tangled sheets while the city moved quietly far below them.
Then Adrian finally spoke.
"I know that when I'm awake."
The confession wrapped painfully around her heart.
Because suddenly—
she understood.
His fear wasn't logical anymore.
It was old.
Buried deep enough that even happiness hadn't erased it completely.
Lia cupped his face gently between her hands.
"You don't have to keep waiting for loneliness to come back."
The words visibly affected him.
A sharp breath escaped softly through his nose while his gaze dropped briefly toward her mouth.
Then back to her eyes again.
"You make that sound easy."
"It should be easy."
A faint smile appeared.
Small.
Sad around the edges.
"You're teaching me."
The honesty nearly ruined her emotionally.
Because Adrian genuinely meant it.
Love still felt unfamiliar to him sometimes.
Not giving it.
Receiving it.
Trusting it.
Believing it would stay.
Lia brushed her thumb softly beneath his eye.
Warm sunlight caught against the silver ring resting on her finger between them.
Tiny evidence of permanence.
Of choosing each other every day.
Adrian's gaze followed it too.
Then slowly—
his hand lifted, fingers intertwining carefully with hers against the sheets.
Protective.
Reverent almost.
"You know what scares me?" he murmured softly.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"What?"
His thumb brushed lightly against her ring finger.
"That this feels more natural than anything else in my life ever has."
The confession settled heavily between them.
Because Adrian sounded overwhelmed by it.
Not afraid of her.
Afraid of how essential she'd become.
Lia looked at him carefully.
Then quietly—
"Maybe love is supposed to feel natural."
Silence again.
Heavy.
Tender.
Then Adrian leaned forward slowly and kissed her like he was trying to memorize peace itself.