The Castillo's Caregiver

17. The Fire.

OLIVIA'S POV. (Song: 'Get You The Moon'. Kina, Snow).

I wake up in a sea of warmth and comfort, Leo's warms hands still wrapped around my body and my head nestled on his chest which seems to gently rise and fall as he breathes.

This is real... and it's happening.

We're cuddling.

The sun is already up and warm rays are peeking in through his thick drapes, but the room is still dim and it feels ethereal to be in this moment with him.

So, this is what it feels like to be held until dawn...

I've never felt so safe...

Unable to resist, I let my fingers span across his broad chest and he moans in his sleep, causing my fingers to pause as his hands hold me tighter.

"I see you're up." He groans in his morning voice, and I shrink my fingers back into a fist.

"I am, I didn't mean to wake you." I whisper, scared to look up at him and he chuckles, a deep, guttural sound.

"I don't mind being woken up like this." He says and softly caresses my shoulders and arms.

"Did you finally sleep well?" he asks and I nod, my gaze still on his rising and falling chest.

"I did."

"And what did you dream about this time?"

You.

It's the truth, but it might cross a line... and we've broken enough rules already.

"Nothing." I whisper, "It was blissful."

"I'm sorry for waking you up the way I did last night. I was just—"

"Liv." Leo says, and I stop short at how heavenly it sounds coming from him. "It was a nightmare, it wasn't your fault. You don't have to apologize." He says softly and I'm still awestruck how he always mentions that I don't have to apologize.

Once upon a time, I couldn't go through a dialogue without apologizing a million times... to Harry.

"Okay." I say and his hand caresses my arms again.

"Do you want me to let go?" he asks.

"No." The word slips out before I'm even aware and I try to take it back. "I mean—"

"It's okay. I understand." Leo says, just as his right-hand slips away to fetch his phone from the nightstand and I instantly miss the warmth that goes with it.

The time on his phone shoes a blaring 07:30 am and my eyes widen in shock.

"Oh my God, Raphael—" I say, already trying to sit up and he gently holds me back down.

"Relax, I already called Henry to cover up for you. As far as my father knows, you're feeling under the weather and left early to get some drugs." He says and this time, I finally look up at him, my gaze meeting his grey eyes.

"You did that... this morning?" I ask, surprised and he nods.

"Henry is waiting for you at my parking lot whenever you're ready to leave, okay?"

"Okay... thank you, Leo." I say and he smiles, his warm hand sweeping up and down my arms before directing his attention back to his phone.

We stay that way for minutes, breathing each other in and basking in the warmth when he mutters,

"Oh, fuck. Are you kidding me?" And instantly drops his phone.

"I have to go." Leo adds and plants a kiss on my cheek before scrambling out of bed.