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"Did you prepare everything?"
"Of course! Now just lie down and be quiet," Caleb hisses softly as he sits down on the bed, legs crossed so you can rest your head in his lap.
Next to him, there are a bunch of tools. A comb, a brush, one of your head massager things and more.
You've been into ASMR lately, feeling like the tingles are calming you down every time you listen to one of the videos. So of course, Caleb noticed when you started wearing headphones more often and demanded a bit more time for yourself.
And he didn't like it. So he went down the rabbit hole and even sneaked a glance at your phone when you were showering to find out exactly what you like. He took notes and experimented on Gideon a few days ago (he absolutely hated how Caleb was whispering in his ears).
And honestly? Even now, he feels a bit nervous. You lie down then, your eyes open for a moment, watching the way your big brother's jaw is set. Caleb carefully lowers his hand to make you close your eyes. He peeks at the tools next to him, trying to remember his plan.
He grabs the wide tooth comb and carefully starts brushing through your hair from the crown of your head down to your ends. He doesn't speak for the first few minutes, just watches how your eyelashes flutter when the ends of the comb scrape over your scalp. A soft smile curves your lips upward and you feel the tension drain from your shoulders that have been hard as rocks since you came home. Caleb watches your face more than what he does with the comb.
He leans down, next to your ear. "Relax," he whispers.
The corner of your mouth ticks up just a bit. His voice is soothing, a low purr almost. He really did his research. He switches to a crochet hook he found in your apartment and gently traces over your part—from your forehead over the apex of your head and down to your nape. A warm shiver runs down your spine and a sigh leaves your lips. Your whole softens a little. He repeats that a few times along different lines of your head before he puts the tool to the side.
His hands find their place on your scalp. Caleb starts massaging, trying to remember the way those people did in the videos. Then he starts scratching your scalp which makes your toes curl in your fuzzy socks.
"...'s good," you murmur while your brain already powers off. Caleb smiles and glances next to him.
He scratches behind your ears again, then takes one of those head massagers that looks more like a spider with long legs than something that should be used on a head. He places it on the crown of your head, sliding it down. Immediately, a whine escapes your throat. Not because you don't like it, but because this thing gives you the tingles more than anything else. The sound was not what Caleb expected and his movements falter for just a moment. His cheeks are warm now, realizing how incredibly intimate the whole setting is.
You—in his lap, eyes closed, completely vulnerable—and him—looming over you, caring for you. He leans down again, then starts doing those mouth sounds, clicking his tongue softly, his lips moving just enough to let the sound become deeper or higher. He moves from your right to your left ear and then back to the middle while still massaging your scalp.
After another few minutes, he grabs a small bottle of lavender oil. He warms it up in his fingers, then wafts the smell in front of your nose with his hands. He tangles his fingers back in your hair and starts massaging again, the oil warm on your scalp. Another sweet sound leaves you and Caleb has to bite his lip to not completely scrap his plan right then and there.
"You're doing so good," he praises you.
Your mind is already halfway to dreamland. You're only aware of his warm body, his voice and the calming scent of the lavender. After Caleb finishes the massage, he takes the brush. He starts at your ends, brushing out any knots that might have formed. He moves up slowly, reverently. He doesn't want to stir you or worse, hurt you. When he arrives at your hairline, he brushes through your strands in long, cautious strokes. He takes one of the hair ties he has prepared and then starts parting your hair.
Caleb starts braiding like he has done hundreds, thousands of times before. He takes his time, because he knows you're already asleep. Your chest is moving slower now as your body takes longer and deeper intakes of air. You're completely at rest, completely safe. He finishes the first braid, making sure it's not too tight, then ties it off with a hair tie before he moves onto the second one. Another three minutes later, he's done with the second one as well. He places his warm, large hands on either side of your head.
His thumbs brush tenderly over your temples as he watches your sleeping form. He leans down to press a delicate kiss on your forehead.
"Goodnight, my love," he whispers, his breath warm on your skin.
And then he leans back against the headboard, dims the lamp on the nightstand and continues to caress you until he has committed every single bit of you to memory. Only then does he allow himself to drift off, to join you in your dreams