Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 50: Respite

Hope wakes up from her short nap, turning her head to look toward Josie, who hasn't noticed she's awake as she continues to draw patterns on the smooth skin of Hope's stomach with her fingertips.

Hope smiles in her direction before leaning down to place a kiss on the top of her head.

Josie quickly looks up, startled by the sudden movement. She smiles widely when she sees Hope gazing at her lovingly, speaking to her in a hushed tone, "You're awake."

"You're beautiful."

Josie's smile grows impossibly wider as she leans up to plant a kiss on Hope's lips, careful not to move too much as Lizzie is still asleep on the other side of Hope.

One peck turns into a few lingering kisses, and the two hear a scoff coming from Lizzie's direction, so they peel their lips apart and look over, seeing that Lizzie's eyes are still shut, "Are you two seriously making out with me laying right here?"

Josie rolls her eyes, "We weren't making out Lizzie."

"It's a slippery slope, Josette."

Josie ignores her sister as she continues to hover over Hope, running her fingers through her dark auburn hair, "Wanna go grab some lunch before we head out to the docks?"

"Sure, love." Josie gives Hope one more quick peck before removing herself from the bed, followed by Hope who turns around to look at a disappointed Lizzie , who now has nobody to curl into, "You coming, Lizzie?"

Lizzie lets out an audible groan, "Fine."

The three of them lazily make their way to the cafeteria to get food together.

—————

After eating, Lizzie ditches the two of them to go find MG, so Josie and Hope make their way out to the docks after grabbing a couple of sparring sticks.

Hope sets down both of their waters on the bench, "Don't worry, love, I'll take it easy on—"

Her sentence is cut off by Josie swinging her sparring stick, hitting her in the arm.
Hope turns to look back at her, seeing a large smirk planted on her lips, "No need, I'm actually quite good at this myself."

Hope quirks an eyebrow, stepping forward and slipping her hand onto Josie's waist, "Oh really?"

"Mhm," Hope shoots her a grin, leaning in to kiss her, only to be stopped in her tracks by a hand pressed against her chest, "Business before pleasure Ms. Mikaelson."

Hope lets out a chuckle before reluctantly removing her hand from Josie's waist, "As you wish."

———

About ten minutes into their little match at the docks, Josie groans at Hope, "You're letting me win."

"What makes you say that?" As if on cue, Josie lands another hit to Hope, which doesn't hurt her, but it's the principle of the matter.

"See? Stop going easy on me."

"You want me to seriously fight you?"

"Yes!" With that, Hope shrugs a shoulder, wrapping a hand around Josie's wrist, wrapping a leg around both of Josie's to throw her off balance, sending her to the ground with Hope falling on top of her, holding her wrist against the wooden boards of the dock, a knee firm between her thighs, bodies pressed together. The position effectively pins Josie to the ground.

Hope smirks down at her when she sees Josie's pupils blown and the suddenly flustered breath that leaves her lips. Hope leans closer, "Maybe we can switch gears for a minute.."