Forever and ever 2. The adventure starts now.

Part 84.

I woke up around 3am, extremely confused as to whose arms were around my waist. Holding me so tightly and exhaling their gentle breath into my neck.

It took an extended pause before the presence of Tom by my side registered in my consciousness. Only as realization dawned, I turned towards him, delicately placing my palm against his cheek, caressing the tender skin beneath his eye. I observed the faint twitch of his nose in the subdued glow of moonlight, and admired the ethereal dance of his enchanting eyelashes. He was so beautiful, being deep in sleep, and I hoped not to wake him as I placed a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth, not able to suppress the urge, but I should have known better as Tom's eyelids slowly fluttered open. Heavy, and wearily. Still half asleep inside, but smiling when he found me in the dark shadows. The curve on his lips just enough to call it a smile, and eyes shining even in the dark as if they needed no light to brighten up.

He let one hand wander up to my leg and pulled my thigh over his hip when he had found the right grip. Closing even the last gap between our bodies. With our breaths now touching, he stroked a strand of hair from my cheek behind my ear and rubbed the tip of his nose against mine. Took in the moment we were in as much as I did. Resting his forehead against mine, stroking my cheek, feeling the love igniting between us.
"I don't ever want to leave you." He whispered wearily in a raspy voice, eyes having fallen shut again.
But I didn't know what to answer. We had no other choice as it was, and even though Tom probably had no idea what he had said because he fell asleep again just a minute later, I lay awake for another half hour, worrying about when Tom would have to leave again.

~

The next morning, just as Tom stepped out of the shower and came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped low around his waist, I received another message from Clark. But my gaze was too focussed on staring at the screen instead of taking in Tom.

Clark:
Arrived safely in your hotel room?
Yesterday 11:34 pm.

Clark:
By the way, I think I left my scarf in the bar.
Yesterday 11:36 pm.

Clark:
Anyways, call me if you need anything. Good night little one.
Yesterday 11:37 pm.

Clark:
Morning. You up already? Fancy playing some more tennis later? Everyone's down in San Diego at the moment because there's a big tennis tournament, which means the court will be pretty empty.
08:49 am.

:Y/N
Oh I would love to! But Tom surprised me yesterday with a visit.
08:51 am.

:Y/N
Maybe next weekend?
08:51 am.

"Who are you texting?"
I glanced up from my screen, my lips crooked up to my ears. Tom had just pulled his boxershorts up his legs, the waistband snapping against his hip, when he turned his back to me to put on his trousers.
"Just Clark. He wanted to know if I was free to play tennis today."
Tom hummed. "And what did you answer?" He asked, pulling up the zip. Then he turned round, the trousers were tailored to his legs, low enough to see the adonis belt shaping his pelvis.
Veins crawling along his arms like snakes coiling around his biceps. It took my breath away and more and I had to pull myself together to answer him. But that was when I also saw the little bruises that formed tattoos on his ribcage. He had put on weight again, I noticed, even if it was only a little, it made me happy. His ribcage was no longer quite so bony and a sharp line ran along his stomach, emphasising his abdominal muscles. But, those bruises. Where did they come from now? Did he try to hide them from me? Was that the reason he didn't take off his shirt last night?