modern
Thandi wakes slowly. She’s warm and comfortable, a relief after last night’s cry. She presses her face to her pillow—
Not pillow. Soft, yet firm, warm, a heartbeat— oh. She’s curled up in Charlie’s arms, head on his chest and body between his legs. It seems they fell asleep on the couch, her from tears and him from the probable desire not to disturb her.
He smells nice. The peppermint has faded and has been overtaken by that smell that seems to hide behind everything else. A faint scent, masculine, exciting in some odd way she can’t name.
And his hair. It’s fallen into his face again, just the right length to get into his eyes. Thandi wonders for a moment if he keeps it this long on purpose, just to give him an excuse to do that head tilt that always begs her to reach up and tuck it behind his ear. It’s nearly automatic now, and she’s already doing it. Soft.
A low rumble in his chest, a small hum of enjoyment. He remains asleep, but he felt that. Thandi settles in again, enjoying the closeness of him. Being wrapped up protectively.
It’s amusing, the impulse he seems to have to try to protect her. She’s the strong one, after all, and he’s a coward at heart. But she finds herself in this position time and again, playing at vulnerability. Thandi lets out a breath and presses her face to his chest again.
She feels his embrace tighten just a bit. He hugs her to him, mumbling her name. She smiles and closes her eyes, letting his breathing lull her back to sleep.