Chapter 18
The soft morning light filtered through the window, casting gentle rays across the room. The quiet hum of the city outside was muffled, as though the world itself was still waking up. But inside the room, everything was still, save for the rhythmic rise and fall of breathing.
You blinked slowly, the remnants of sleep tugging at your senses. The warmth surrounding you was comforting, too comforting. Your mind was still foggy with the remnants of your dreams, but something felt... off. There was a pressure on your chest, something heavy yet soft. You shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable, but all you felt was the weight increasing. That's when you realized—oh no.
You lifted your head ever so slightly, just enough to see the situation you were in.
Vi.
You were lying practically on top of her, your head tucked into the curve of her chest. She was so close you could hear the steady beat of her heart, the gentle rumble of her snores vibrating through her chest. Her arms were wrapped around you, one draped casually over your back, the other curled under your waist, holding you in place like some kind of gentle, but incredibly firm, bear trap.
Shit.
You could feel the heat of her body, the musky, comforting scent of her skin and the faint traces of her shampoo lingering in your senses. You took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself, but instead, it only seemed to amplify the situation.
You had woken up... essentially trapped in Vi's arms, with no way out.
Gay panic, you thought, as a wave of realization hit you like a freight train. You were lying on top of her—on her chest, no less—and she was snoring away like she hadn't a care in the world.
You froze for a second, your heart racing a mile a minute. Your thoughts spun in circles, rapidly trying to find a way out of this predicament. You needed to get out. You didn't want to disturb her, but you needed to get out before your brain completely combusted.
For the first time in your life, you understood the term panicking.
You shifted slightly, testing the waters. The moment you moved, her grip around you tightened. Vi didn't stir, didn't even seem to notice, but her arms locked around you like a steel trap.
You gulped. There was no way you were going to be able to slip away without her noticing.
A strange feeling rose in your chest—part of you wanted to stay right where you were. You didn't mind the warmth, the feeling of her body so close, so protective. It felt... comforting. Safe. It was a little too safe. A little too intimate.
You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to will your panic away. Focus, you told yourself. Focus.
It was too early to be thinking like this. You had just woken up, and yet your thoughts were in overdrive. It wasn't just the physical closeness—it was Vi herself. There was something about her. The way she made you feel safe, the way she just was, with that quiet strength and gentle demeanor. You didn't know how to handle it all.
But you couldn't stay like this forever. As much as you wanted to, you had to get up. Slowly, you shifted your body again, inching towards the edge of her embrace, determined to free yourself without waking her up.
It was like trying to escape from a sleeping giant. No matter how gently you moved, Vi seemed to sense your discomfort. With a soft snort, she pulled you even closer.
"Where do you think you're going?" she murmured groggily, her voice thick with sleep.
You froze, a rush of heat flooding your face.
Oh my God.
Her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, but sharp enough to make contact with yours. The intense, sleepy stare she gave you made your heart skip a beat. She blinked slowly, not entirely aware of the situation yet, but she definitely sensed something was wrong. Her eyes trailed over you, confusion morphing into a lazy, satisfied grin as she tightened her grip even further.
"Relax, sweetheart," she grumbled, her voice muffled by sleep. "You're not going anywhere."
You could do nothing but chuckle nervously, your heartbeat hammering in your chest.
"I—uh—I didn't want to disturb you," you stammered, the awkwardness of the situation starting to settle in. Your thoughts were racing faster than you could keep up with. "I was just... uh, trying to get up."
Vi let out a low hum of satisfaction, clearly enjoying your flustered state. She shifted, pulling you even closer, her chest pressing harder against yours as she sighed happily, seemingly oblivious to your mental chaos.
"Well, now you're not going anywhere," she teased, her voice still thick with sleep. She closed her eyes, a lazy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're stuck with me now."
You were so not prepared for this.
You couldn't help but feel your stomach flip-flop as she held you tighter, the playful tone in her voice not helping your increasingly panicked state. There was something about her presence—her strength, her warmth—that made you feel incredibly safe and yet absolutely terrified all at once. How was it possible to be caught in such an innocent situation and yet feel like your entire life was flipping upside down?
You shifted uncomfortably, trying to escape her grasp without disturbing her too much. You had to get out of this cuddle. You had to! But as soon as you moved again, Vi's arms tightened like a vice, holding you in place.
She opened one eye, her fierce gaze meeting yours, a mischievous glint dancing in her pupils.
"Are you sure you want to get up?" she asked in that husky morning voice, her tone so suggestive it sent a jolt through you. She was awake now, all playful smugness, and you were completely at her mercy.
Your heart did a somersault in your chest.
"Vi, I—" you started, your words caught somewhere between a laugh and a squeak. The panic still hadn't subsided, but now there was something else too. It was that sudden awareness of her proximity—of how close you were, how safe you felt in her embrace. "I think... I think I need to get up. This is too much."
Vi grinned, the teasing glint in her eyes only getting stronger. "Too much?" she repeated. "You sure about that?"
You swore you could feel your heart beat louder as the seconds ticked by, her hold around you firm yet gentle, as though she was letting you choose your next move. But with each passing moment, you only felt more lost in her presence, more unable to make a decision.
What had started as a simple morning had somehow become a battle of wills, with you unable to escape her clutches no matter how hard you tried. And Vi? She was enjoying every second of it.
Finally, after what felt like hours of gentle wrestling, you sighed in defeat. There was no point in trying to escape.
"Fine," you muttered, burying your face in her chest. You could feel the warmth of her body and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat beneath your cheek, making everything feel too good. "You win. I'm stuck."
Vi let out a satisfied laugh, the sound vibrating through her chest. "That's more like it," she murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "Just relax. You're with me now."
And for the first time, as you lay there, fully ensnared in her arms, you realized that maybe being stuck with her wasn't such a bad thing after all.