Borrowed Time

Chapter Forty Nine

Not only did Juliette almost always sleep better in Esme's bed, but she preferred to wake up in it too... She liked how Esme would hold her to her chest and wake her gently with little compliments and kisses across her face. It made her feel so loved in a way that she wasn't entirely used to, but she was getting there... Falling in love with Esme was the same as falling in love with comfort.

She felt soft kisses across her cheek as she sighed, yawning... Morning... Morning in her lover's arms, morning by Esme's side... That was the best birthday present that she could've possibly asked for, how could she want anything else. She sighed and brought her hand up, resting it on the side of Esme's head as she heard a soft murmur of hello in Esme's morning voice. It was the perfect mix of soft and rough... Juliette could still remember the first time she'd heard it, how she'd convinced herself that the racing of her heart was because she was scared that her dad was worried about her... But she knew what it had been now.

It'd been love.

"Mmm... G'morning, princess..." Juliette murmured, feeling a smile spread across her face as she stretched. Esme slid her arm around her waist as she kissed down her neck and across her shoulder, causing a pleasant tingle to spread over her body... This was probably the best way to be woken up, there was just no beating it.

"Happy birthday." She responded, and Juliette's smile spread as she flipped around in Esme's arms, wrapping her arms around her shoulders loosely... Her pretty girl... God, she looked even better in the morning.

"Thank you." She pressed a quick, closed mouth kiss to Esme's lips before looking into her eyes... They were full of warmth and sleep and love, like a hypnotic message to rest her head again, to fall back asleep and let them lay there together until their corpses were found entangled... Maybe that was a bit much, but it was how Juliette felt when she looked at her. "Until I check my phone, you're the first person to wish me a happy birthday." Esme furrowed her brows at that, nodding slowly before she let out a yawn, sliding ankle between Juliette's, hooking her leg to pull them closer together.

"Well, I would hope so, you haven't left my side all night." Esme mumbled. She reached out, tracing down the side of her face with a content sigh... There was nothing short of a natural disaster that could have dragged her away from Esme's side, it was where she was meant to be, it was where she felt the most like herself.

"How could I? You're too beautiful for me to leave." "I'd be a fool if I did." There had never been truer words spoken by her, how anyone could leave Esme's side would never cease to confuse her. She'd do anything to stay with her, even if it was murder... God would have to forgive her if she was doing it because she loved someone, right? He was all about love.

Esme cracked a wide grin, her piercing glinting in the light... Shit, she made artwork look like it was nothing at all... Every museum in the world could replace their exhibits with photos of Esme and Juliette would single handedly end up paying for their operating costs just from paying to see it over and over and over again. Her smile was just so perfect, the way her lips curled up a bit, the way her eyes gleamed in the sun, like something precious and rare... Her girl.

"Oh yeah?" She asked, wrapping her hand around the back of Juliette's neck, tracing across the column of muscle. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed, feeling relief... God, she hadn't even noticed how tight her neck was... Had she really been that stressed recently? Stupid question, of course she had been.

"Yeah..." Esme leaned in for another kiss, but Juliette held her back. There was no way she was subjecting her to her morning breath... The closed mouth kiss had been fine, but she had a feeling this would turn into more. "Mmm... Hold on, I gotta brush my teeth." Juliette said, and Esme nodded, grimacing as she ran her tongue over her own teeth before she sat up, stretching... God, she looked really good bathed in a ray of sunshine... Like an angel. Her angel.