Her hand relaxed a second later, her grip loosening as she shifted slightly against the pillow. Then her eyes slowly blinked open. She turned her head just enough to look at me.
And for a second, neither of us said anything.
We just looked at each other.
Like we were both trying to figure out what this was now.
“Morning,” she said, her voice thick with sleep.
“Morning,” I replied, my voice coming out rough as well.
She glanced down briefly, like she was just noticing how close we were. And when she looked back at me, her eyes widened slightly.
Like she was also remembering everything that had happened the night before.
“So,” I said, clearing my throat and pushing myself up onto an elbow. “How did you sleep?”
How are you feeling?
Are you okay?
Do you have any regrets?
My mind raced through all the questions I wanted answers to. Needing to know where we stood and if she was okay with everything we’d done.
“I slept really well,” Nora said, rolling over so she was facing me straight on. “You know, once I actually fell asleep.”
The corners of her mouth were tipped up like she was amused at herself. Like she was fine. More than fine.
Andthe tightness I’d been carrying in my chest for the past few minutes eased.
“That’s good,” I said, meaning it. Because a small, irrational part of me had been waiting to open my eyes and find her already dressed, regretting everything, and halfway out the door with a polite smile and an excuse.
Instead, she looked relaxed. Warm. Like waking up in my arms hadn’t scared her one bit.
“What about you?” she asked, tucking her hands under her head like she had nowhere else to be. “Did you sleep okay?”
“I did,” I said. And I could’ve left it at that. But since I wanted her to know that I didn’t have any regrets about anything we’d done, I added, “You’re pretty great to wake up next to.”
Her smile widened instantly, brown eyes bright and a little shy. Then, reaching forward with one hand, she took my hand in hers and wove our fingers together. “I’m glad you seem okay with everything that happened.”
Her eyes searched mine, slow and careful, like she was looking for any sign I wanted to take anything back.
I tightened my fingers around hers, then lifted her hand and pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles.
“I’m very happy with how things went,” I said.
“Good,” she breathed.
For a few seconds, we just lay there, staring at each other in the soft morning light, the air between us quiet but charged. Her auburn hair was a mess. Mine probably was, too. The sheets were twisted around our legs. Her scent was still all over me.
And even though this was all new, it somehow just felt so right.
I cleared my throat, mostly because if I stared at her for toolong, we might get sidetracked again and find ourselves too wrapped up in this newfound closeness to make it to breakfast.
“So,” I said, brushing my thumb over her fingers, “do you know what the plan is for today? Does everyone just kind of do their own thing while they’re here? Or are there group activities?” I paused, thinking of Lia and Romeo’s garden party. “Any surprise competitions we need to emotionally prepare for?”
“Definitely no competitions.” Nora laughed, the sound light and happy. “Ky is way nicer than that.”