August Skye

Part 10

In the early hours of the morning, while the sun had yet to make its grand appearance, I found myself wide awake. Cuddled next to me was August. I watched her in the soft light of the room and listened to the sound of her heart beating. She was in my bed and in my arms. A wave of gratitude washed over me, and I couldn't help but pull her even closer and press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Her response was a soft hum as she shifted until her head was resting on my chest. Her hair tickled my skin ever so slightly, making my skin tingle. But it was the sight of her, so peaceful and trusting, that broadened my smile. My fingertip traced the contours of her face, lingering on the curve of her lip before I leaned in and kissed her there too.

I could feel the curve of her smile against my lips, a clear signal that she was awake. As I pulled away, her eyes fluttered open, revealing the mesmerising depths of her blue gaze. It was as if I was being pulled into an ocean, drowning in the depths of her eyes.

"Good morning," I murmured barely above a whisper.

Her response was a playful pout, her eyes closing once more as she snuggled against me. "It's not even morning yet," she grumbled.

"Hmm. It's almost 5 a.m." I countered, my words punctuated with a soft kiss.

"See, not morning."

"I have a surprise for you."

She opened one eye to peek at me and I could sense her intrigue as much as her reluctance. "Right now?"

"Hmm," was my simple response. As I kissed her again, I shifted my position, hovering over her. My lips traced a path down the side of her face, trailing kisses down the length of her throat. Her satisfaction was evident in the soft hum that escaped her lips and the migration of her hands to my hips.

"Fine, I'm up," she finally conceded. Her voice was still heavy with sleep but, her usual playfulness was unmistakable. "What's there to do before the sun even rises?"

"You'll see. I have something to show you."

"Can I at least have coffee first? Otherwise, I'm going to fall back asleep whether I'm standing or not..." her voice trailed off into a series of mumbles as she rolled onto her side, her eyes closing once more.

"I'll get the coffee started—"

"I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes," she assured her words a promise.

Leaving August in the warmth of my bed, I slipped out of the room and made my way downstairs to start the coffee brewing. Once I had the machine humming with life, I returned upstairs to freshen up and get ready for the day. By the time I returned to our room, August was already up and halfway through dressing. The sight was a pleasant one, and I couldn't help but smile at her efficiency. As I finished brushing my teeth, she launched herself at me, capturing my lips in a deep, passionate kiss that left me reeling. Then, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, she bounced out of the room, leaving me dazed.

With our coffees securely in our hands, we began a leisurely stroll through a trail that ran behind the house. This path led to a spot that held a special place in my heart. It was a location that Luke and I had discovered years ago during our childhood adventures. Since then, it has become my favourite spot to watch the sunrise.

August had her guitar slung across her back, hoping to finish the lyrics to a song she was writing. A small satchel hung at her side filled with her notepad and pens for when inspiration struck. I had thrown in some paints and brushes too, but my main focus was the blank 12" X 12" canvas tucked under my arm. For comfort, we each carried small pillows to sit on, and a thick, warm blanket to ward off the early morning chill.