where only the sweetest words remain

chapter nineteen

A/N: happy first anniversary to carla and samuel, and because i doubt i'll have the next chapter out on time, happy (early) first anniversary to this fic too. seriously can't believe it's almost been a year. thank you all for still sticking around <3

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May 2034

A pair of lips brushes along the back of Samuel's neck. He's dozing in that gray area between sleep and consciousness when he feels it, and his mouth stretches in a lazy smile as a slight shiver trembles throughout his body. Even though that has surely given him away, he doesn't open his eyes to greet the morning just yet.

Carla kisses his nape again, then places another soft one on his bare shoulder. Meanwhile, her hand slowly slides over his arm; across his chest; following the valley of hair trailing down his abdomen before skimming along the waistband of his pajama pants. He expects her to go lower, but she doesn't, instead dragging her nails back up through his happy trail. It tickles more than scratches, though all of his blood rushes south anyway.

She continues with the teasing touches. She pets his stomach, or runs her fingers over the V-shape muscle disappearing past his pajamas, or uses the tip of one to trace circles on his thigh. But she avoids his obvious need, waiting for him to give in and speak first.

Which, naturally, he does.

"I'm sleeping, you know."

He says it with a smirk, one that Carla is matching against his back.

"You seem pretty awake to me," she hums, at the same time that she finally palms his dick through the thin fabric separating them. Samuel groans softly, then again in disappointment when she pulls away. Not even just her hand, but completely; he immediately misses her warmth, and rolls over to chase it.

"Cruel, absolutely cruel," he says without heat as he wraps his arm around her waist.

"I have no idea what you mean. I think I woke you up pretty nicely."

Her dimples appear alongside the innocent smile she's giving him. A warm wave of affection washes through Samuel at the sight. Instead of devouring her like he'd been planning to just a few seconds ago, he unhurriedly leans forward and captures her lips in a tender kiss. Carla's eyes are soft when he releases her and brushes his thumb over her cheek.

It doesn't take long for her expression to go flat as she lets out an annoyed groan, however. "Ugh, that is not fair."

Samuel chuckles. "What?"

"I just spent two minutes getting you ready to go, but all it took was a tiny little kiss to make me wet," she replies with a pout, as if it's the biggest inconvenience in the world. He laughs again.

"If it makes you feel better, I was turned on pretty much the instant I woke up. So I guess I'm just as easy for you as you are for me."

She smacks his shoulder, biting her lip to conceal her smile. "Hey!"

"It's the truth. Don't pretend like you aren't." He noses his way into her neck, tongue flicking over her sensitive skin, and grins when a layer of goosebumps sprouts across it. "See?"

"If I knew you were going to be so cocky about it, I would've just let you sleep."

"You like it when I'm cocky."

"Perhaps." Her casual tone is belied by the way the word comes out breathily, on account of Samuel flexing his thigh between her legs.

"There's also a really terrible joke in there."

"Hmm?" She sounds distracted now. He's started sucking the spot below her ear.

"Cocky, and, well, you know..."