Chris' POV
"Yes you may go," I said to her right after we were done with the photo shoot. I turned to ask her of she wanted the maids to make anything for her to eat before she went to bed but she had already climbed halfway up the stairs. Was she actually that tired?
When I was done checking the photos and making sure everything was okay. I headed to our room and found her sleeping...with her dress still on?! Was this woman actually serious? How could she fall asleep with this dress on her? Wasn't she uncomfortable? My eyes lingered on her dress, noticing the crumpled, disheveled state of her dress, the fabric wrinkled from a night of tossing and turning.
"Women," I subconsciously said outloud as I went through her wardrobe looking for one of her night dresses, luckily I found one. I couldn't lie to myself...this was a sign of her distress, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Had I been a better, a more attentive person, maybe I would have noticed how tired she was and let her go to bed much earlier. Well, I could at least make her more comfortable.
Silently, I moved towards the bed, watching her as she slept, her face serene and unblemished by the worries that haunted her waking hours. Gently, I opened the zipper of her dress, slowly and carefully removing the garment from her body.
As I looked upon her, lying there in nothing but her undergarments, I couldn't help but marvel at her beauty...she was annoying most of the time but she was incredibly beautiful. Even in the dim light of the bedroom, she radiated a kind of delicate, fragile loveliness that had first drawn me to her.
As I tried to maneuver the dress from her body, her limbs began to shift and move, her body seemingly reacting to the touch of the fabric against her skin.
"Shh," I whispered, not wanting to wake her.
But despite my best efforts, her body continued to twist and turn, her breathing growing heavier as the dreamworld within her mind grew more tumultuous.
"Please," I pleaded, "just lie still for a moment would you?"
As her body shifted once more, her hand brushed against my thigh, sending a wave of warmth through my body. I froze, my hands still grasping at the fabric of her dress.
Despite the fact that we weren't in love with each other, the simple touch of her skin against mine sent a spark of longing through me, a reminder of the passion and intimacy that we're supposed to share as husband and wife...but to her this is all a contract...she'd never take this as a real marriage.
I swallowed, trying to contain my emotions as I pulled the dress free from her body, her hand falling limply back to the bed.
As I reached for the night dress, her hand suddenly moved from the bed, landing with a sudden, unexpected weight on my crotch. The warmth of her touch was like a lightning bolt, searing through my nerves and sending a jolt of desire racing through me.
My breathing grew shallow, my heart racing in my chest as I fought to regain control. With shaking hands, I pulled her hand away, placing it delicately at her side.
My body was trembling, every fiber of my being yearning for more of her touch, but I knew that it was wrong, and that it was dangerous.
I stepped away from the bed, my heart pounding and my thoughts racing. I knew that staying any longer would only lead to more confusion.
Moving as quietly as possible, I made my way to the door, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the silence of the room. I paused for a moment, looking back at her, sleeping peacefully on the bed, oblivious to my presence and the turmoil that raged within me, If only she knew.
Then, with a deep breath, I exited the room, closing the door softly behind me. I leaned against the wall for a moment, my mind whirling with conflicting emotions.
With my thoughts still jumbled, I made my way down the hall, stopping at the first door I came to.
"Vivian," I called out, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "I need your help."
A moment later, a young woman appeared at the door, her face a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Yes, sir?" she asked, her voice quiet and deferential.
"My wife… she needs your help," I said, my voice faltering slightly.
"Of course, sir," Vivian replied, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her.
"What can I do for her?" she asked, her voice gentle and reassuring.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. "She's… she's still in the dress she wore for the photoshoot," I explained, my voice low. "I don't want to wake her. Change her into something more comfortable. I've already picked out the night dress...its on the bed,"
Vivian nodded, her expression understanding.
"I'll take care of it, sir," she replied, her voice full of empathy. "You go take care of yourself." I nodded watching her make her way to our room.
With a final glance back at the door to my bedroom, I turned and walked away, my heart still heavy with the weight of my emotions.
Vivian, meanwhile, made her way down the hall, her footsteps soft and purposeful. When she was done changing Lily, she informed me and I returned back to our room.
As I entered the bedroom, my eyes immediately fell on my wife, Lily in the white dress. She was still sleeping, her face turned towards the window, the moonlight filtering through the curtains and bathing her features in a soft, luminous glow.
I paused, taking a moment to simply observe her, the rise and fall of her chest, the tousled locks of hair that framed her face. The room smelled faintly of lilacs, a scent I knew to be Vivian's doing.
The day had been long and wearying, the weight of my responsibilities feeling as heavy as a lead weight on my shoulders.
I stripped off my clothes, the fabric feeling tight and uncomfortable against my skin. The house was silent, the stillness of the night broken only by the sound of my footsteps as I made my way to the bathroom.
The steam rose from the shower, its warmth beckoning me as I stepped inside, letting the water flow through my body. I closed my eyes, letting the heat soothe the ache in my muscles.
I stepped out of the shower, my skin tingling from the hot water. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I moved quickly, eager to feel the softness of the joggers against my skin.
The fabric slid easily over my legs, the loose fit comforting and inviting. I pulled the drawstring tight, securing the joggers in place. I didn't really like sleeping with a shirt on... everyone knew that.
I felt a sense of relief, as though shedding the suit I had worn earlier today had also shed some of the weight that had been burdening me for so long.
I moved towards the bed, my heart quickening at the thought of lying next to Lily again. I pulled back the covers, their coolness offering a sharp contrast to the heat of the shower, and slipped in beside her.
The bed shifted slightly as I settled in, and I held my breath, afraid of waking her. But Lily slept on, her body warm and inviting against my own. I closed my eyes, feeling the exhaustion of the day begin to wash over me.
I let sleep take me, my consciousness fading into the hazy realm of dreams. In that moment, I felt at peace, surrounded by the warmth of my lily, even though she was clueless, the comfort of our bed, the stillness of the night...now I could forget about all of my worries.