The Taste of Seduction

"The natural periodic state of rest during which an individual becomes physically inactive and unaware of his surroundings and many body functions such as breathing slows down. Which is essential for your physical and mental health-"

"Meredith? Atlas whined. "I get it, you\'re a smartass."

"Why? You told me to define sleep and I\'m just doing that. Or what do you-"

"Meredith?"

"Yes?" She blinked at him.

"Shut up." Atlas said rubbing his forehead with his thumb and index finger. Now that she had woken up, he was feeling the toil of not sleeping for days. He felt a dull headache starting to form behind his brows

Meredith laughed, "So when was the last time you slept? Not just dozed off but properly slept?"

"Ermm." Atlas paused, looking at his fingers.

I don\'t remember? Maybe when we were at the Maldives?" He muttered slowly. He hadn\'t slept these past few days because he was afraid, when he close his eyes, nightmares would assault him and when he finally wakes up she would be gone, leaving him all alone in this cold and lonely world.

Meredith sighed, "Seriously Atlas, what were you talking? Don\'t you know it\'s important to sleep because your body needs the rest? You could have dropped dead and I-"

"Meredith" Atlas interrupted her.

"I\'m not going to drop dead because I didn\'t sleep for a few days. I know my body\'s limit and how long I can push it." Atlas explained.

"Hmm.okay but you\'re going to sleep while I watch over you. I want to make sure you have slept properly."

Atlas raised his brows, "Where do you want me to sleep? The couch? I\'m too tall to sleep on that couch." Atlas squinted his eyes as if he didn\'t like that idea.

"Also, you\'re the one who is supposed to be sleeping for your medication to work."

"Come on Atlas, don\'t make me force you to sleep. I will let the nurses sedate you, if I have to. Also, there is enough space here for you to sleep beside me. This isn\'t your regular hospital bed. The bed is quite spacious, it will fit the both of us just fine."

"But I\'m afraid I will hit you." Atlas furrowed his brows; he was afraid he would accidently knock her wounds.

"I don\'t care if you knock my wounds, seeing you torturing your body and not sleeping pains me even more. You look so pale, weak and seems to have lost so much weight. It hurts seeing you like this right now."

Meredith croaked out, tears polling in her eyes.

"Shit, I\'m sorry Angel. Don\'t cry. I will sleep right by your side and I will take care of myself from now onwards." Atlas felt his heart tightened in his chest when he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Please don\'t cry okay?"

Meredith bit her lips and nodded.

Atlas pressed a kiss on her forehead and laid beside her.

They laid face to face while gazing into each other\'s eyes. Silence ensued between them. Her cheeks tainted pint due to their close proximity. Atlas couldn\'t help but admire her.

In the eyes of others, she might be plain and not a stunner but to him, she was everything. He loved everything about her and he could stare at her the whole day without getting tired.

Atlas couldn\'t help but brushed his hands across her cheeks. She closed her eyes as she leaned into his touch.

"Sleep Atlas. When you wake up, I will be right here." She opened her eyes and said to him.

"Yes, Ma\'am. I\'m sleeping now." He muttered to her.

Meredith lips curled up into a smile.

"Good. Be a good boy." She said pressing a kiss on his nose.

Atlas\'s heart skipped a beat and then he blushed, his whole body felt warm.

"You\'re blushing!" Meredith exclaimed with a giggle.

"No, I\'m not." Atlas grunted. Fuck, what the hell was wrong with him? Why was he behaving like a teenage boy in love?

"Oh, don\'t be shy, you look cute when you blush!" Meredith cupped his cheeks. "So cute. Cutie Atyy"

"Stop calling me cute, Angel." Meredith pouted her lips at him and squished his cheeks together in response.

"My cutie Atty.so cute" Meredith smiled.

"You\'re lucky, I\'m feeling sleepy Angel but I will get back at you. Don\'t forget." Atlas yawned.

Meredith snuck her tongue at him with a smile on her lips but Atlas turned his head away from her, staring at the ceiling.

He closed his eyes and tried to sleep because now that his Angel was right beside him, he felt at peace.

*****

"I love you, Atlas" Meredith had cupped his cheeks while he caressed them with her thumb, a soft smile on her face.

Atlas grabbed her wrist causing her to squeak mixed with a small giggle. He flipped them over, hovering on top of her.

"A-atlas"Meredith squealed, wriggling and thrashing as Atlas began to tickle her.

"Atty stop!" Her loud laugh sounding in the quiet room.

Atlas ignored her, increasing the tickling which caused her to giggle.

"Atlas!"

"Yes baby, scream my name." Meredith rolled her eyes at him.

"Brute."

"Call me dirty names, love. I don\'t mind."

Atlas tickled her more and she giggled.

"Mercy, sirplease" She batted her eyes at him.

Atlas stopped and just hoovered over her, a huge smile on his lips.

"Good girl." He rasped.

"I love you too, Angel." He pressed a kiss on her forehead,

Meredith giggled while taking small intakes of breath to calm herself down with a smile on her face.

"I know."

Atlas laid beside her, both of them smiling at each other, their love reflecting in their eyes.

"Goodnight."

"Night, dream about me." Meredith replied, closing her eyes.

"I will." He said and closed his eyes, letting sleep consume him.

When Atlas woke up in the morning, he realized his bed was cold. He got down and checked the whole house but his Angel was no where to be found. She had left him all alone

Atlas suddenly woke evidently with sweat soaking his shirt. Quickly he looked over and sighed in relief to see Meredith snoring lightly beside him.

She was still there beside him, not leaving him.