If Only...

SUGARCOATING IT

My consciousness responds to the sun rays before anything else, flowing in bright and balmy from the open window on my right.

My still-heavy eyelids flutter from the heat, and I move my head, desperate for a cool spot.

Immediately, I am aware of something restraining me around my waist, and I look down to meet with Danny's face, on par with mine.

Drat.

I've nestled onto him. Again.

What is wrong with me?! Can't I just sleep on the bed like normal people?

He must be suffocating. . .

I look down and see that his forehead is creased with a slight frown, and that his lips are parted just a bit.

Danny is still sleeping soundly, with not even a hitch in his breathing.

I smile cautiously, and keep my hands frozen around his neck and my body the way it was, even taking in shallower breaths.

But I realize that I am forced to do that last part.

Sleeping on someone else for God-knows-how-long with the underwires still intact will only allow so much air.

But it doesn't bother me.

What I can't wrap my head around is his face.

How can he look so beautiful so early in the morning?

I don't even have to check to know that my face is all swollen and sweaty and that there are already eggs laid in my hair.

And now that his eyes are closed and all of my focus is distributed on the other elements of his face, I make a discovery that is strange more than newfound; that Danny can almost pass for a woman--without the beard, of course. But I think more than the facial hair, his eyes brought the masculinity to his face.

But what really threw me toward the feminine comparison were his lips.

They are not supposed to be so darn pink!

Maybe I'd come edgily close to that color if I didn't constantly chew mine out.

A thrum travels up his chest and gets lodged in his throat, making me smile.

Just about everything is tickling me these days.

I shake my head at myself and gaze at him again, but this time, the insane idea drifts by my headspace, driving out the incoming thoughts from last night. And the bliss is a little hard to ignore.

I grin hesitantly, and then lean in with a breath held. I look for a comfortable angle; extra careful not to wake him up. Danny would only turn me down.

Feeling like a complete succubus, I roll my eyes and then ever so gently and presently in secret, press my lips to his.

Wow.

That makes me feel way too rushed for this early.

A rush that has nothing to do with the bathroom!

I grin and kiss him again, keeping my hair out of his face. I watch as his frown wears off, and then do it again.

That's when I am caught.

I think it is all in my head when I feel his lips tug softly at mine, but when his arms clasp tighter around me, I gasp and pull away, but his arms still won't let me move.

Busted.

I steal breathless and wordless glances as he stares at me relentlessly with those intimidating eyes, while the other features of his face remain frozen.