His Destructive, Toxic Love

"Eliza..." Eliza choked on her words, deciding to ignore him and head to the bathroom. "Fine, stay if you want. I can't be bothered."

She walked off to the bathroom.

Casper collapsed on the couch, falling asleep with his clothes still on.

When Eliza came out of the shower, she couldn't quite describe the mix of emotions she felt seeing him sprawled there.

"Casper, you should go home to sleep. You're not feeling well, and you're just making it worse by staying here. If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to the Welton family? Please, just go home." Half-asleep, Casper managed to sit up on the couch for a moment before stumbling towards Eliza's bedroom.

He sank into the softness of her bed, surrounded by her unique scent. It was more intoxicating than any drink.

He basked in it, clinging to the comfort, not wanting to move an inch.

"Hey, Casper, what are you doing in my room?" Eliza, drying her hair, frowned. "If you need a bed that badly, go sleep with my dad."

"No way." He wanted to sleep holding his wife, smiling sleepily. "I want to sleep... with you."

"You must be really drunk."

He patted the spot next to him, earnestly promising, "I swear I won't touch you; you can relax."

Eliza frowned, crossing her arms. "Do you even believe yourself? If you swear that if you touch me, you'll never, ever get it up again, maybe then I'll consider it." Casper: ...This woman is brutal.

"Alright." Not believing in the power of such oaths, he feigned a yawn. "Come on, get to sleep. I'm not waiting for you. I'm going to sleep now."

He turned over, leaving half the bed for Eliza.

Eliza: ...

It was getting cold, and indeed, sleeping on the couch was unbearable at night.

But sharing the bed with Casper? She couldn't get over that mental hurdle.

In the end...

Eliza curled up on the couch and fell asleep.

Casper walked out of the bedroom, gently bending down and, with as little disturbance as possible, carried her back to the bed. Her body was cold.

He gently held her chilled hand, pulling her into his embrace.

The warmth enveloped her in her sleep, and she unconsciously snuggled closer into his arms.

He felt a stir in his heart and lightly kissed her forehead.

If he could just hold her like this forever, doing nothing else, he'd even be okay with being poor and destitute.

But would she?

In the darkness, his eyes gradually lost their sparkle...

In the middle of the night.

Eliza turned over, reaching out for a drink of water.

But what was this beside her hand?

She felt it again, unsure, soft yet hard.

"Touch it again, and you'll regret it," a deep, husky voice sounded from above her.

Startled, she pulled her hand back, realizing what she had just touched.

Her face flushed hot.

Blushing deeply, her voice stuttered, "Casper? You... me... why am I in bed?"

She clearly remembered falling asleep on the couch.

Sleepwalking?

Could she have actually sleepwalked to the bed?

Is that even possible?

Casper gently turned on the bedside lamp, its soft light outlining his features more gently. The lingering smell of alcohol was gone, and he now seemed lazy and casual.

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He smiled gently, his voice filled with tenderness, "Maybe you felt coldin the night, so you climbed into bed on your own. Don't worry, it's okay."

It's... okay?

It might be okay for him, but not for her.

"I'll go back to the couch," she said trying to get out of bed, but he grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. "The couch is too cold; do you want to catch a cold?"

"Then you go sleep outside," she countered calmly.

Casper: ...He wasn't going anywhere.

"Let's sleep together; we can keep each other warm. What could I

possib

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do to you? Aren't we just

'friends'? Or is it you who's

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overthinking?"