74: A Night of Closeness

The day had been long and exhausting. After their intense training session, the group returned to their small apartment, the weight of the day's events hanging in the air. They were all tired, but the excitement of learning how to control their energy still lingered in their minds. For Elara, Serena, and Nia, the feeling of energy flowing through their bodies had been strange but thrilling, something they would need to practice but were eager to master.

They gathered around the small table in the apartment for a simple meal. Compared to the feast Alex had treated them to a few days ago, tonight's dinner was modest, but it was enough to replenish their strength. The conversation was light, though Serena's eyes flickered toward Alex more often than usual, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

After they finished eating, the exhaustion of the day began to settle over them. Nia stretched her arms and yawned, her youthful energy finally giving way to fatigue. "I think I'm going to sleep early tonight," she said, rubbing her eyes.

Serena glanced at Alex, her expression shifting to something more mischievous. "Sleep sounds like a good idea," she agreed, her tone hinting at something more. Her gaze lingered on Alex for a moment before she stood up and made her way to their room.

Alex, sensing Serena's playful mood, followed her, knowing full well what was to come. This had become a nightly routine for them. Ever since they had grown closer, Serena and Nia had taken to sharing Alex's bed. Serena was always the bold one, her teasing nature evident every night, while Nia found comfort in being close to Alex, her bond with him growing deeper each day.

Once inside the room, Serena quickly changed into her nightclothes, her eyes never leaving Alex. The playful glint in her gaze had only grown stronger. "Ready for bed?" she asked, her voice low and sultry.

Alex smirked, watching her with equal anticipation. "As always."

Nia, still sleepy but smiling, quickly changed into her own nightclothes and climbed into bed, taking her usual place on Alex's left side. She snuggled close to him, her small frame curling up comfortably against his body.

Serena, however, was feeling more playful than usual. Instead of simply getting into bed, she slid in on the right side, closer to Alex than before, her hands trailing lightly over his chest. "You don't mind if I get a little closer tonight, do you?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Alex chuckled softly, already used to her antics. "I think I can handle it."

Just as they were settling in, the door creaked open, and Elara appeared in the doorway, her expression uncertain. She stood there for a moment, peeking into the room to see if they were already asleep. Seeing them all awake and somewhat cozy, she seemed unsure of whether to disturb them or quietly retreat.

Serena, ever bold, noticed Elara's hesitation and smirked. "Elara," she called out, her voice soft but inviting, "why don't you join us?"

Elara's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the invitation. "I—uh, no, I'm just checking if you were all asleep. I didn't mean to intrude," she stammered, clearly flustered by the idea.

Before Elara could make a hasty retreat, Serena reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her a little closer. "Don't be shy," Serena coaxed with a mischievous grin. "There's plenty of room. We're all family here, aren't we?"

Elara hesitated, her face flushing slightly at the thought. She glanced at Alex, who was watching the interaction with a calm but curious expression. She wasn't used to this kind of closeness, and though they had all grown closer in recent months, sharing a bed with them felt... intimate.

Before she could respond, Nia, still cuddled up on Alex's left side, looked up at Elara with wide, pleading eyes. "Please, Elara," Nia said softly, tugging at her hand. "It would be nice if you stayed with us tonight."

The combination of Serena's teasing and Nia's heartfelt request left Elara with little choice. She sighed, still clearly unsure, but allowed herself to be pulled closer to the bed. "I don't know," she muttered, her cheeks flushing even more.

As Elara stood at the edge of the bed, trying to decide where to lie down, Nia giggled mischievously. Without warning, she grabbed Elara's hand and pulled her forward with surprising strength, causing Elara to lose her balance and fall right onto the bed—landing directly on top of Alex.

Elara let out a small yelp of surprise as she landed on his chest, her face inches from his. Nia, unable to contain her laughter, giggled at her own cleverness, clearly proud of the chaos she had caused.

"Well," Alex said, smirking up at Elara, "I wasn't expecting that."

Elara, mortified, quickly tried to scramble off of him, but before she could, Serena grabbed her arm gently. "Relax," Serena said, her tone soft but playful. "There's no need to rush. You can stay right here with us."

Elara hesitated, clearly still flustered, but the warmth of the bed and the closeness of the others made it harder to resist. Slowly, she allowed herself to relax, though her heart was still racing from the unexpected tumble.

Serena smiled, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Let's figure this out then. I'll take the right side," she said, sliding a little closer to Alex, her arm draping over his chest.

Nia, still giggling, snuggled up on Alex's left side as usual, wrapping her arms around him. "I've got this side!" she declared with enthusiasm.

That left Elara, still lying partially on top of Alex, unsure where to go. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks again, and the weight of the moment made her hesitate.

Serena, sensing her discomfort, grinned. "Well, Elara, looks like there's only one spot left."

Elara shot her a look of mild exasperation, but before she could respond, Nia, still full of playful energy, grabbed her hand once again. "Come on, Elara! You can sleep here with us. There's plenty of room!"

With a sigh and a resigned smile, Elara finally gave in. She shifted her position, moving to Alex's left side where Nia had already claimed her spot, but Nia happily made room for her. Tentatively, Elara lay down beside Alex, feeling a little out of place but strangely comforted by the warmth of the others.

Once they were all settled, Serena shifted closer to Alex, her body pressing gently against his. Her arm remained draped over his chest, and she smiled up at him, her expression playful and teasing. "I think we've found the perfect arrangement," she said softly.

Alex chuckled, amused by the situation. "It does seem that way."

Elara, lying on Alex's other side, felt awkward at first, unsure of where to put her hands or how close she should get. But then, Nia reached over, grabbing Elara's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay," Nia whispered, her voice full of warmth. "We're all here together."

Elara smiled softly, her tension easing as she allowed herself to relax. Slowly, shyly, she draped her arm over Alex, mirroring Serena's actions on the other side. It was a tentative gesture, but it was enough to make her feel more connected, more at ease.

Alex lay there, feeling the warmth of both Serena and Elara on either side of him, with Nia snuggled up close. It was an odd but comforting arrangement, one that made him feel more grounded and at peace than he had in a long time.

As the night wore on, the room grew quieter, the sounds of breathing slowing as sleep began to take over. Serena, her playful mood having finally settled, rested her head on Alex's shoulder, her body relaxed against his. Elara, though still a little shy, followed suit, letting herself rest against him as she, too, drifted into sleep.

Nia, the first to fall asleep, curled up beside Elara, her soft breathing filling the room.

And so, with Serena on his right and Elara and Nia on his left, Alex closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of their presence around him. In this strange but comforting moment, they all drifted into a peaceful, dreamless sleep, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.