Leila rose to her feet slowly. Her husband had not moved an inch, he was staring at her like he couldn't understand why she hadn't joined him on the bed yet. They might be getting along now but she wasn't ready to be intimate with him.
He was still a stranger to her, a familiar stranger. Besides, they didn't specify the date for sex. Yes, they discussed kids and all, but it wasn't immediately, right? They had to know each other for a little while before introducing kids.
Her heart beat faster, she found it difficult to breathe as she dragged one foot in front of the other. Kelvin's phone rang before she reached the bed, they stared at each other and she sent him a soft, pleading smile to leave the room.
Furrowing his brows, her husband shot out of the bed. "I have to take this," he said. "One second."
The words to reply to him failed her, he gave her a curt nod and her chest deflated with relief once he stepped out of the room. After one last look at the door to be sure he wouldn't be back soon, she hurried to the wardrobe to get her pyjamas.
A polka dot long-sleeved pyjamas. Scowling at her nightwear, Leila questioned her fashion choices. The pyjamas made her look like a child, a teenager. If she knew he would be sleeping here, she might have gotten another set.
Something more flattering. Then again, did she even want him here? No. But would she chase him? No. It was his house and if he wanted to stay in any room of his choice, she would let him. As that thought settled in her mind, more questions filtered in.
What if he wanted to touch her? Leila shivered. She snuck into bed and rolled to the other side, putting the remaining pillows between them to form a mini barrier. Her husband stepped into the room before she could pull the cover over her head and pretend to be asleep. He glanced at her with a smile. Her palms became moist and she wiped them over her legs.
Kelvin occupied the other end of the bed, Leila swallowed as he returned the pillows to their original position. One or two second passed but he didn't ask how they got there and she didn't volunteer an answer. Her nose scrunched when she picked up on the faint smell of cigarettes.
"You smoke?" she heard herself asking him.
He pushed himself up so his back connected to the headboard and they were facing each other. Leila teeth dug into her lip the longer he stared, she fisted the bedsheet and cleared her throat. His eyes strayed to her lips, and back up to her eyes.
"Occasionally," he said. Her shoulders moved in a half-shrug since she didn't know how to reply. This was new to her. She had been with a drunk, that was if she could call Him that, but not a smoker. Hopefully, they didn't share similar traits. After a toxic ex, she wanted a responsible husband. "Do you have a problem with smokers?" She shook her head and her hair fell over her face. Kelvin watched her put her hair in a small bun with a small smile. He reached for the bedside lamp and darkness fell over their room. "Go to sleep."
"Yes, Sir." Kelvin chuckled and she facepalmed, glad the lights were off to save him from viewing her embarrassment. He made her so nervous. What if he tried something at night? He wouldn't. He was a gentleman. "I meant, yes. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Leila."
Seconds, maybe minutes passed, she couldn't sleep. The bed squeaked as Kelvin tossed and turned. She clenched the bedsheet, eyes wide open and set on the ceiling. They were married, it was only expected for him to want more from her. It was part of her 'wifely' duties to him.
"I'm not ready," she blurted out.
Kelvin's voice came after a few seconds. "Ready for what?" Her silence gave it away, he barked out a short laugh. "Yes, we are married but I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do." She released the bedsheet as his words flowed over her. She believed him. "I am ready whenever you are, Leila."
"What if I'm never ready?" she whispered.
The silence carried her words, she pictured Kelvin with his hands folded behind his head and gaze on the ceiling. "Then I guess nothing will ever happen."
Her nerves eased completely at his reply. They would consummate their marriage but it wasn't today. Sighing contently at her luck to be married to a man like Kelvin, she closed her eyes. When she woke, the room was too bright and the bed was empty.
Sleep clouded her brain as she pulled out her phone. "Shit." She jumped out of the bed on sighting the time on her screen. How did she miss her alarm? It had never failed to wake her.
Where was her husband?
Speaking of husband, Kelvin walked into the room with a mug. He took a small sip out of it and set it on the dresser. "You are awake."
Was that disappointment she heard in his voice? She couldn't blame him for being disappointed in her. Here he was, the boss of her company, already suited up and ready for work while she was just waking with drools at the corner of her lips.
Leila bit her lips and her head lowered. "I missed my alarm."
"You didn't." She lifted her eyes to his handsome face. His morning voice was just as sexy as the rest of him. "You looked like you needed more rest so I turned off the alarm." Leila was torn between appreciating his thoughtfulness or blaming him. She would be late for work. It had never happened before. "Are you okay?"