Afterglow ❃ l.m.j

• chapter forty nine •

I picked my head up with squinty eyes and a start, Normani's warm skin underneath mine. Her eyes were still closed peacefully as her chest rose and fall. My arms were wrapped around her body. I laid in between her legs.

I guess we both fell asleep on the couch.

Last night was a lot between the hour long conversations, finally making our pizzas, and then sitting down to eat and watch a movie. How it ended up in cuddling and falling asleep on the couch I'll never know, but I'm not complaining.

I went to sit up, causing the black woman to stir. She inhaled, her body swaying as she brought a hand to massage her eye.

"I don't even know what time it is and I already want to lay back down." Her voice was husky fresh off of the wake. I smiled.

"I don't know. Has to be morning."

She grunted. She reached a hand down to rub my back softly. There was a yawn.

"Let's go sleep in the room."

"What time is it?" I asked, trying to peek my head up at a clock anywhere.

"I don't know. But we work in the dead of night, so I'm sure more sleep won't hurt us." She looked at me again, one eye squinted. I felt her body shift underneath me. "Come on, this couch is only good for so long."

Begrudgingly, I sat up so she could get up too. The brunette took her hand in mine and led us to her room.

My body crashed into hers with a happy sigh as we nestled into the covers. Her arm was thrown around me and my legs were tangled in hers. The covers were practically up to our chins. I fell asleep on the spot, my eyes drawing closed.

Before I knew it, I was stirring awake again. This time, Normani was up before me. She reached a hand over to caress my cheek with a soft smile.

We moved in silence throughout the house, crawling out of bed and into our own little routine to get dressed for the night. I didn't make an effort to speak to her until she was pulling her black button up onto her torso.

"Let me." I offered. I lowered myself to her height, first fixing her collar. She watched my fingers as they moved to the first button.

"How are you feeling?" Her voice was soft like the first snowflake of the season on skin. I looped the second button on her shirt.

"I feel good. Happy." The third button. "How are you?"

Her chest rose and fell underneath my fingertips. My fingers skimmed her skin.

"I want to stay here with you."

Tenderness eased into my chest. "Well, neither of us are staying here. And we'll be at work together."

I sunk lower onto my knees to get the last few buttons.

"I know."

I felt her hand reach out to cup my jaw. "I just really liked this - really liked getting to know you better. I can't wait for the next date. And the chance to sleep next to you again."

I was seconds away from coiling into myself from sweetness. She tapped my chin before moving so I could finish.

"Did you know that you snore?"