[He settles in. It's a while before he gets to sleep, the weight of her in the bed with him novel, the sound of her breathing.
It's Blade settling in at his back that sends him down, the dog's familiar presence comforting and expected. Luckily, aside from stirring here and there, he doesn't awaken until early morning, his usual time, and doesn't immediately attempt to get out of bed, not wanting to awaken her.]
[She sleeps hard and peacefully beside him, falling under quickly and staying there.
In the morning, it's a good half hour or so after him that she shows any sign of stirring. She's not exactly a morning person, though the unfamiliar surroundings and the weight next to her work to keep her from sleeping in too late.
Her eyes open briefly, then she smiles and closes them again, as though pretending she's still sleeping. No doubt he sees it, though.]
[Even if he hadn't seen it, there's a certain quality to someone awake different from the heaviness of sleep. He'd felt the change in her, heard the switch in the rhythm of her breath. It amuses him beyond words to see her quickly shut her eyes again.
He rubs his hand gently down the side of her hip and squeezes her upper thigh with a soft press of fingertips and thumb.
A slight lean and curl forward has his breath spilling across her brow, lips coming to rest lightly against her forehead. He doesn't yet speak, not wanting to spoil the game.]
[Her eyes and smile both twitch when he kisses her forehead, giving her away for certain, but she still maintains the ruse.
She resists the urge to smile wider, to roll forward and curl into his arms, perhaps wanting to see what else he will do to play along with this silly little act.]
[He can't stop smiling. It's possible she might be able to feel it in the way his lips press to her forehead. Smiles and all, he kisses across her brow in a small trail, then gently over each eyelid, one and then the other.
When he makes his way down to her nose, he gives it a sudden wet little kiss, and that's when he can't hold back his laughter anymore.]
[It takes all she has not to laugh at as he kisses his way down her face. The last kiss is the break, and when he starts laughing she busts up too, bright and warm and very, very silly.
She opens her eyes, practically glowing with delight.]
[If anyone had told him he'd ever awaken laughing with a beautiful, vibrantly intelligent woman in his arms, he'd have scoffed. He almost feels the need to pinch himself. This sort of thing doesn't happen to him.]
Good morning.
[He nuzzles in against her throat, smelling warm skin and the remnant of perfume.]
[She giggles and tilts her face to give him more room to nose and cuddle. Her arms slide over his shoulders to keep him from getting any ideas about sliding away.]
[However, with her holding him that way, he has no intention of trying to escape, not yet. A hand settles against the small of her back to rub a slow circle. Touching just for the sake of it.
He has never had much of that in his life, not at home, not here.]
[Her fingertips slide back and forth over his shoulders, rubbing the muscles beneath as much as admiring them. Skin to skin like this, it feels so good. She's half-tempted to suggest they stay in bed all day, until necessity absolutely dictates they get up.]
[It feels naughty in a fun way to break routine. He couldn't do this every day, but with today not a work day and Blade still lounging in the bed at his back, the prospect is a pleasant one.
He brushes a kiss to her cheek and lets it linger. As much as he could go another round with her this morning, for now he's more interested in a subtler sort of intimacy.]
[She giggles under her breath again, and her immediate response to his statement is a cheeky one.] Staying in bed all morning?
[But that's just a reflex, to cover the warm, soft part of her that swells as he says it. She strokes his hair, reassurance that she was only teasing, and decides it is only fair to answer in kind.]
Nor I. [She knows exactly what "this" he's referring to, even if she can't bring herself to speak it.] This is all quite new to me.
[He feels heat rising in his cheeks, a pleasant warmth suffusing him that has nothing to do with the blush. He wonders if she knows the effect she has on him when she says such things. It's all he can do not to hide his face against her neck like a child.]
As am I. Happier than...than I've been in some time.
[He slips his hand around to cup her cheek. Happier than he has been since childhood, easily.]
[Despite her own urge to hide her face, she gazes adoringly into his eyes. Her chest swells with warmth, with words that she's been feeling for a while now, yet is too frightened to say. Her lips part, barely, then close again in favor of a smile. Her cheeks are burning so hot she wonders if he'll burn his palm.]
Me too. It's been so long, but... it feels good. All of it.
[He could drown in her gaze, being looked at that way. It sends a pleasant shiver to his toes. His heart feels as though it will beat from his chest when she starts to speak, settling only a little when nothing difficult comes out.
There are too many words vying, on his part, so he simply leans in and kisses her, long and slow, tender. He'll impress on her mouth what he can't bring to voice.]
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[He settles in. It's a while before he gets to sleep, the weight of her in the bed with him novel, the sound of her breathing.
It's Blade settling in at his back that sends him down, the dog's familiar presence comforting and expected. Luckily, aside from stirring here and there, he doesn't awaken until early morning, his usual time, and doesn't immediately attempt to get out of bed, not wanting to awaken her.]
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In the morning, it's a good half hour or so after him that she shows any sign of stirring. She's not exactly a morning person, though the unfamiliar surroundings and the weight next to her work to keep her from sleeping in too late.
Her eyes open briefly, then she smiles and closes them again, as though pretending she's still sleeping. No doubt he sees it, though.]
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He rubs his hand gently down the side of her hip and squeezes her upper thigh with a soft press of fingertips and thumb.
A slight lean and curl forward has his breath spilling across her brow, lips coming to rest lightly against her forehead. He doesn't yet speak, not wanting to spoil the game.]
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She resists the urge to smile wider, to roll forward and curl into his arms, perhaps wanting to see what else he will do to play along with this silly little act.]
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When he makes his way down to her nose, he gives it a sudden wet little kiss, and that's when he can't hold back his laughter anymore.]
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She opens her eyes, practically glowing with delight.]
Good morning, handsome.
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Good morning.
[He nuzzles in against her throat, smelling warm skin and the remnant of perfume.]
How'd you sleep?
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Wonderfully. Warm and wonderfully.
[Her hand finds his head, fingertips curling through his hair.]
What about you?
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[Thank the Maker.]
Now I have a conundrum, though.
[He leans up into the touch, very catlike, and in turn noses in against her hair, feeling it tickle his face.]
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Torn between a warm bed and a hot breakfast?
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[However, with her holding him that way, he has no intention of trying to escape, not yet. A hand settles against the small of her back to rub a slow circle. Touching just for the sake of it.
He has never had much of that in his life, not at home, not here.]
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[Her fingertips slide back and forth over his shoulders, rubbing the muscles beneath as much as admiring them. Skin to skin like this, it feels so good. She's half-tempted to suggest they stay in bed all day, until necessity absolutely dictates they get up.]
Surely, we have time for both.
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[It feels naughty in a fun way to break routine. He couldn't do this every day, but with today not a work day and Blade still lounging in the bed at his back, the prospect is a pleasant one.
He brushes a kiss to her cheek and lets it linger. As much as he could go another round with her this morning, for now he's more interested in a subtler sort of intimacy.]
I'm not...I haven't done this, you know?
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[But that's just a reflex, to cover the warm, soft part of her that swells as he says it. She strokes his hair, reassurance that she was only teasing, and decides it is only fair to answer in kind.]
Nor I. [She knows exactly what "this" he's referring to, even if she can't bring herself to speak it.] This is all quite new to me.
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[Lightly humorous. He is perfectly willing to walk down that path rather than stating certain things with too much emphasis for comfort.]
We seem to be navigating it well.
[He scratches his nails over her back, assuming she likely awakens with morning itches much the same as him.]
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[She shivers pleasantly. Those little scratches feel amazing.]
I don't know if we're doing it right, but... I'm terribly happy with it, regardless. With you.
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As am I. Happier than...than I've been in some time.
[He slips his hand around to cup her cheek. Happier than he has been since childhood, easily.]
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Me too. It's been so long, but... it feels good. All of it.
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There are too many words vying, on his part, so he simply leans in and kisses her, long and slow, tender. He'll impress on her mouth what he can't bring to voice.]