Coreopsis 11 -a

There was a knock on the inner door. “Come,” Sarah called.

   Josh opened the door. “Where’s the Prince?”

   “He’s taking a shower. Why?”

   “Here.” He handed her the blanket and her pajamas. “The Prince wants to pay me back. I don’t want him to.”

   “Thank you Josh.”

   “Anything.” He smiled.

   Sarah was putting her p.j.s up when Orion came out of the bathroom. “Who was that?”

   “Josh.”

   “The waiter?” He hissed.

   “Yes, he was returning my clothing he had cleaned.”

   “I told him I would pay him back for that.”

   “He doesn’t want you to.”

   “Someone I have come in contact with turned down money?” He was floored.

   “Not everyone is out for blood.”

   “That’s an interesting concept.” He slid onto his seat, lying down.

   “So tell me, why are we on a train? Why didn’t we fly?” 

   “I didn’t make the arrangements for this trip; father did.”

   “Oh, okay. I have to admit, this is fantastic.”

   “You didn’t sleep well last night.”

   “We have been over this,” she sighed, “I don’t sleep well.”

   “You hash out issues with me, am I not allowed the same fortitude?”

   “No.”

   “Wow, what a double standard.” He got up. There was a small button on the side of his seat. When he pushed it, the seat moved outward. He pulled the blinds down and locked all the doors. 

   “What are you doing?” 

   He took her pillow off her seat, “Orion?”

   “Do you trust me?”

   “You have given me no reason not to.”

   “Good,” he lay down. “Come.” 

   She was stunned, “no.”

   He got back up and guided her to his seat. He lay down, then steered her down beside of him before covering them both up.

   Sarah was so nervous, how on Earth did he expect her to fall asleep? 

   He wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling the nervousness escaping from her. “Relax.” He encouraged.

   “I can’t.” 

   He pulled her to him, putting her head under his chin. She could feel his heart beat. “Yes you can.”

   “Just like man can’t live without food, woman can’t live without sleep.” She chuckled. “See, you can relax.”

   “I can’t believe I’m allowing this.” 

   “Could it be because I want take no for an answer?”

   She rolled over to face him. “Yes, I can see you over powering me.” 

   He smiled.

   “You need to smile more often, it looks good on you.”

   She started feeling the effects of sleep overcome her. Lying here, she was warm, comfortable, and for the first time in a long time, she felt safe.

   “Wait before you fall asleep, this is wrong somehow.”

   “You are the one that invited me over.” She scolded.

   “No, I mean. You should be lying on my right shoulder, not my left.” 

   “Really?” She protested.

   “Humor me,” he pouted. “Please.”

   She moved so that she would be lying on his right shoulder. 

   Orion watched her eyelids become heavy. He wanted so much to kiss her. But he dared not. He knew that when the chips fell, he had one trump card. No matter how strong his physical urges became, he wouldn’t allow them. Couldn’t in fact. Everything about Sarah thrilled him. She unknowingly pushed him to the edge of nonexistence. He could only imagine what her mouth tasted like and what it could do to him? Having her lying here with him felt so right; her head on his right shoulder felt like it belonged there.