Paint Me Claimed - Book 2

The longevity of bliss

Zemira

My birthday had come and gone and it felt like I remember it in blips. The major part of it though; of Leo's proposal, however, stayed so fresh in my memory like it was only yesterday when it all happened.

I turned to Leo's side on the bed, watching him sleep while hogging all the covers. Leo was a messy sleeper. At times, I'd woken up cold because of the way he pulled everything to his side, creating a bunker-like surrounding while sleeping.

My fingers, without any control, roamed over his soft, stubble jawline and into his hair. A soft, dreamy smile appeared on his face. Watching Leo sleep in was a gift. He was always an early riser so these moments, knowing he was dreaming was blissful.

The funny thing about bliss for any person was its longevity. Since Leo's proposal a week ago, I'd been expecting something bad to happen. After so many years of experience, I'd come to understand that happy days wouldn't last long.

For a whole week, nothing bad had happened. Leo kept assuring me, it was my negativity about being truly happy that made me ponder and worry about situations that may not even occur.

"Good morning," in a raspy, smile induced tone, Leo said. His eyes fluttered open, arms outstretched over to my side, drawing me into the warmth of his covers, his body. "How are you up early?"

"I woke up because of this." I pointed towards the cloud of covers that rested on his side and nothing for me. "You keep hogging everything."

"Oh darling," Leo curled his hand underneath my head, his fingers massaging the back of my neck. It was soothing, calming. Sleep inducing. "You should learn how to share. After all, you don't want to be the fiancé who doesn't share covers."

I nuzzled my way into the crook of his neck, nestling in his warmth. "I'll make sure to write that in my vow. In sickness and in cover-hogging health."

"Perfect," he said peppering my head with soft kisses, gently nudging my face away from his chest to look at him. His dancing vision scanned me, running across my face, my hair and down the valley of my nighty. "How did I get so lucky?"

I shrugged, trailing my finger over his jawline. "I don't know. Maybe in the past life, you did something good."

"Or maybe, God wants to punish me for something so he wrapped you up and sent you my way."

"Really," I kicked the lower part of the bed, escaping his hold. The pillow I rested on, now in my hand was flung on his face. "Then you better be punished very well." I smacked his face one more time.

"It's SPARTAAAA...." Leo hollered, grabbing his pillow and maneuvering it to hit my head. "Let the feather bath begin."

Leo ducked from my attempts but I wasn't as fast as I considered myself to be. He grabbed my elbow, pushing me face down on the bed and aligning over my body. His bodyweight crushed me into the pillow, fingers ticked my sides.

I screamed, tried kicking him but he continued. "Stop it. Please."

I was laughing, crying. Bliss.

"Say it. You forfeit," Leo breathed near my neck. Goosebumps trailed. The warmth of his breath, his body taunted me to submit.

"Never," I roared into the mattress.

More tickling.

More screaming.

Woof woof

Romeo's pawn tried penetrating through the gap between the floor and the closed bedroom door.