Ipê Branco

Predator and Prey.

When the first rays of sunlight emerged on the horizon and the birds started to rise for another day, Rick was confused with the sight before him. He leaned on the roots with Prim in between his legs. Some time during the night, she had come to nest between his legs, or was it him who pulled her in? Her body fitted his completely. Her curves filled his arms with perfection, and her warmth his soul with happiness. Still confused, he watched without being able to stop, not wanting to stop, as his fingers tucked her curls behind her left ear so he could observe her features.

Her eyes remained closed, resting in quiet sleep. Her hair, full of wild silver curls, poked here and there, and he had to contain a chuckle and the urge to wrap them around his fingers. Her mouth, slightly opened, teased him to feel the softness of her lips. His memory reminding him of her genuine smiles.

Rick ran his fingers on his hair and let a soft sigh out of his curved lips. His mind taking him back to one of the many nights he spent with June in his arms. His hand caressing along the curve of her waist down to her pale hip hidden underneath the blanket. He blinked the memory away, cursing for letting his thoughts take him to a place he wanted to escape. His mind was forever destined to drag him back to June's memories, his Alcatraz.

One of Prim's legs rested on top of his. On his forearm, her delicate hand rested with her fingers curled around his skin. Close to her, he could see her white dress was decorated with tiny flowers. He couldn't hold it. His chuckle made Prim stir in his arms, and she got closer to him.

Her head found the crook of his neck, and her deep breathing on his pulse point made him relax. He wondered how it would feel to cross his arms around her small frame and bury his nose on her hair. Place her on his lap and watch as the sun rose in the sky. Listen to all her little friends sing them a lullaby and go back to sleep with her warming him into peacefulness.

Sighing, Rick made sure to commit the image in his memory before he came to the conclusion that line of thought was a dangerous one. One he did not wish to explore. Especially with someone working under him. He gently stroked her cheek to wake her up after he admired her lovely lips for longer than he should.

"Hey, Sunshine." The back of his hand slowly brushing her skin. His thumb ghosting her lower lip. "It's time to go."

Prim's eyes opened, and they gradually focused on him. The incredible green color of them getting darker with each second. The bewitching smile on her lips greeting him with the gentlest "Good morning!"

"Good morning to you too." His lips grew into a smile to match hers.

For some time, they remained there, entwined in each other's warmth until the call of a bird made her avert her gaze and stand up in a swift motion. Confused by the sudden movement, Rick's eyes looked at her for an answer. Her hands caressed her arms, and she turned her back to him and soon greeted Boomer, who came from amidst the trees. "There you are. We've been looking for you two."

Harley showed up from behind him. Her eyebrow shot up as soon as she saw the scene in front of her. "Are we interrupting something?"

Chuckling, Prim answered the woman, "Nope, and since most of us are here, I wanted to let you know I'm going to find something for breakfast." She walked away and got into the forest, without a single glance back in their direction.

Cursing, she cleaned the sleep off of her eyes. She tried and failed to get rid of the view of Rick's lips so close to hers. His hair shining against the morning sun, and his eyes lit with kindness. Running her fingers over her untamed curls and around the back of her neck, she mumbled a weak, "Shit." What could she do to make him feel whole and deserving again? She would have to work harder with him than the others. Why didn't they understand they could be more?