Though the Monsters

Chapter 24

Opening with Inventory

            When Hadlee's alarm went off she was far from ready to emerge from the warmth of the arms that held her. She had been awake for a little while before her alarm had gone off but still, she didn't want to get up. Quickly, her arm darted out from under the covers and turned off her phone and again the morning fell into silence. She laid her head on Jethro's chest snuggled deeper into his hold. Instinctively Jethro tightened his grip around Hadlee's stomach slightly.

"Good morning, beautiful." Jethro's voice was deeper, and slightly raspy from only just waking up and Hadlee loved it.

"Good morning." Hadlee replied and propped her chin up on Jethro's bare chest.

Jethro ran his fingers down the side of Hadlee's face gently and then ran through her hair. Hadlee's eyes fell closed as his touch sent tingles over her skin. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

"We should probably get up." Jethro said stopping his ministrations.

Hadlee opened her eyes and pouted.

"Do we have to?" She asked.

Jethro chuckled.

"Yeah, we're opening with Nicola and Reidy in an hour. And, if I know you at all, you're going to need at least half of that to start to function." He said.

"I hate it when you're right." Hadlee said.

"No you don't." Jethro whispered, pulling Hadlee in close and grazing his lips against hers.

Hadlee pulled back and smiled, pushing herself up and straddling Jethro's waist. She had slipped on her underwear and Jethro's t-shirt before they had fallen asleep last night but she still felt the chill in the air as the comforter fell away from her skin. Jethro trailed his hands up Hadlee's bare legs and under her shirt before resting them against her waist.

"You're right," Hadlee admitted, leaning over and brushing her lips over Jethro's lightly. "I don't. But you know what that means?"

Jethro shook his head slightly, his lips barely brushing hers.

"It means," She said planting her hands on either side of Jethro's head. "That we," She leaned down so that she was right next to his ear. "Need to," She kissed his ear lightly. "Get up." And she pushed herself up and off the bed.

Jethro lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Hadlee." He whined.

Hadlee pulled some clothes out of her dresser and headed for the bathroom, laughing quietly.

"Love ya babe." She called over her shoulder shutting the door behind her.

~~~~~~~

"I'm gonna head down to my post babe, you good up here?" Jethro said.

Hadlee looked up from her clipboard. She was perched on the corner of the desk bent over some recent supply order receipts that had all come up missing something. It was Hadlee's job to find out what was missing from the shipments but had still been charged.

"Sorry what?" Hadlee asked.

Jethro laughed.

"I'll take that as a yes," He said, pressing a kiss to Hadlee's lips softly. "I'll see you later, yeah?"

Hadlee nodded as Jethro walked out of the tower. Nicola watched as Jethro left and then quickly spun her chair so that she was facing Hadlee.