The sound of thunder echoed through the apartment, followed by the steady patter of rain against the windows. Andrea lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. The night felt endless, the darkness pressing down on her.
Another clap of thunder boomed, and she shot upright, her heart racing. “That’s it,” she muttered to herself, throwing the blanket off.
She tiptoed toward Mathew’s bedroom, her bare feet making no sound against the hardwood floor.
Reaching the door, she hesitated for a moment before gripping the handle. To her relief, it wasn’t locked. Slowly, she pushed the door open and peered inside.
Mathew was lying on his bed, his back to the door. Andrea took a deep breath, quietly sneaking in. She inched closer, careful not to make a sound, and was about to climb into the bed when his voice startled her.
“I see you, Andrea,” he said, his tone amused.
She froze mid-step, her eyes wide. “No, you don’t,” she whispered, hoping he’d think he was dreaming.
He turned his head to glance at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Yes, I do.”
Ignoring him, Andrea darted forward and jumped into the bed before he could stop her.
Mathew sat up, shaking his head. “Are you serious right now? Go back to the couch.”
Andrea crossed her arms, refusing to budge. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Andrea, it’s the middle of the night, and you’re invading my bed. Get out.”
She huffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “What kind of man lets a woman sleep on a couch during a storm? Do you have no chivalry?”
Mathew leaned back against the headboard, a dry laugh escaping him. “Chivalry? You mean the kind that rewards women with a sharp tongue and zero gratitude?”
Andrea glared at him but bit back the retort sitting on the tip of her tongue. She knew he had a point—he’d already let her stay in his apartment. But her pride wouldn’t let her admit that she was in the wrong.
Finally, she muttered, “Fine. Can’t you just let me stay here at least? I’ll be quiet.”
Mathew raised an eyebrow. “Stay here? Sure. Sleep on the floor.”
Andrea’s jaw dropped. “What? Why the floor?”
“Because my bed is sacred,” he said simply. “And like I said, you can’t sleep on my bed unless...” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “...you want me to have a taste of you.”
Andrea’s face turned scarlet. “You’re disgusting!”
Mathew smirked, leaning back. “Your choice.”
She stared at him in disbelief, her pride battling her desperation. “I’ve never slept on the floor before,” she muttered.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” he said with a shrug.
Muttering curses under her breath, Andrea grabbed a spare pillow from the bed and dropped it onto the floor. “You’re a pervert,” she grumbled as she lay down, glaring up at the ceiling.
Mathew chuckled. “And you’re impossible. Sweet dreams.”
Andrea tossed and turned, the hard floor doing nothing to help her relax. Minutes felt like hours, and every time she tried to find a comfortable position, she failed miserably.
Finally, Mathew’s voice broke the silence. “You’re driving me insane with all that tossing and turning.”
“Maybe if you let me stay on the bed, I wouldn’t have to toss and turn,” Andrea snapped.
Mathew sighed. “Fine. Come up here. But if you kick me, I’m kicking you out.”
Andrea didn’t need to be told twice. She scrambled to her feet and climbed into the bed, a triumphant smile on her face.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Mathew warned, pulling the blanket over himself.
Andrea rolled her eyes and flopped onto her side, her legs sprawled out in every direction. One leg draped across Mathew’s, while the other dangled off the edge of the bed.
Mathew stared at her in disbelief. “What are you doing?”
“Sleeping,” she mumbled, already closing her eyes.
“That’s not sleeping; that’s invading,” he muttered, shaking his head.
Andrea ignored him, letting out a contented sigh. Within moments, her breathing evened out, and she was fast asleep.
Mathew tried to ignore her strange sleeping position, but it was impossible. Her leg pressed against his, and every time he shifted, she seemed to shift closer.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered, staring at the ceiling.
Hours passed, and sleep continued to evade him. Andrea, on the other hand, seemed to be in the middle of the most peaceful slumber of her life.
Mathew glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. “You’re a nightmare,” he whispered, shaking his head.
And yet, as he watched her sleep, he couldn’t deny the warmth spreading through his chest. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as impossible as he thought.