Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Forever

Y/N POV

"Good morning, sunshine!"

Smiling, I bend down to give Benji some pets before turning my attention to my mother who's sitting at the kitchen table. "Morning, Mom. How did you sleep?"

My mother gives me a warm smile as I slide into the seat at the table across from her before flipping to a new page in the book in her hands, her eyes never leaving the page. "Good. What about you and Lizzie?"

My mind starts to wander back to last night's activities, causing my face to heat up in embarrassment. The last thing my mother needs to know is that Lizzie and I managed to stay up well past midnight engaging in...adult stuff. "We, uh, slept great. I was actually coming up to ask you if there's anything you need me to pick up while we're out today?"

"No, but if you're offering I do need some more wood chopped up for the fireplace before you leave to go back home."

"Okay. I'll do that tomorrow if you remind me."

This time my mother does look up from her book, a serious look on her face as her eyes travel over me. "I actually need to talk to you about tomorrow."

Raising an eyebrow, I move from the table to get myself my morning cup of joe, knowing that I'm going to need it based on her tone alone. "Okay?"

I feel my mother's eyes following my movements before hearing her sigh. "I just...I have something I need to tell you and I was hoping that we could discuss it tomorrow as a family before we go and see your father."

With a full cup of coffee, I turn my attention back towards my mother, wondering exactly what this very important thing warranted this type of reaction and an official family discussion. "Sure. Is everything okay?"'

Mom gives me a small smile, standing from her seat and tucking her book under her arm before making her way towards me and cupping one of my cheeks. "Everything is perfect, sweetheart. Now go and enjoy your day in town with Lizzie. I'll see you both tomorrow morning."

With that, my mother disappears up the stairs, leaving me slightly confused by what all that was about. As far as I knew, nothing major had happened recently. I made sure that all of the farm's bills were paid on-time, even earlier sometimes. And if it was something serious family-wise she would have just told me, as it's not like my mother to beat around the bush. She's a rather tell-it-as-it-is type of woman, which makes me wonder what made this particular thing so different.

Shrugging my shoulders, because I very seriously doubt that mother would hide something of great importance from me, I make my way back down the stairs into my old bedroom and smile at the sight of the woman still sleeping soundly in the bed.

While I'd managed to make myself somewhat presentable this morning to go upstairs and get coffee, knowing that there was a very good chance I'd run into my mother (and I was right), Lizzie was much less clothed than I was and I was genuinely enjoying the sight of a beautifully naked woman in my bed. The sun's light didn't reach down here, so I'd just left my desk lamp on when I got up, and it was casting a light warmth across everything in the room. Lizzie was no exception to that, and I let my eyes travel from her peaceful, sleeping face to where the bedsheets pooled around her waist, giving me a full and unobstructed view of her pleasantly pale skin.

Suddenly realizing that if I didn't wake her up I'd gladly spend the rest of my day observing her sleeping form, and therefore keep us from our plans, I force my feet to step further into the room while quietly closing the door behind me. After placing my mug on the bedside table, I let my hand trail down the middle of the brunette's back, feeling the smooth skin under my fingertips, smiling a little at the deep intake of breath that earns me.