I awoke to a kiss.
It was a lovely way to wake up, having already been floating in bliss and warmth from the body heat of my entangled lover under our shared bed covers. A perfect way to rouse from a slumber so undisturbed and refreshing. A night so calm and tranquil.
I had slept like a log for hours straight, not a nightmare in sight. A feat only dozing next to Lloyd could achieve. Or, rather, as close to him as humanly possible; given by our threaded legs and his hands gently caressing my sleepily limp body while he brought me to consciousness in the most wonderful way possible.
I smiled into the sweet kiss, humming in bliss while his soft hold sent tingling shivers through my nerves. My hand reached up to thread through Lloyd's hair to selfishly indulge myself in his soft blond tresses. His resulting purr was an added bonus, curling from his throat like a melody in the quiet of the morning.
"Happy birthday," Lloyd whispered from behind a smile, breath hitting my lips. I pushed myself up to bring him back in for another kiss. He readily obliged, hand cupping my jaw while the morning spring sun flooded through the crack of my curtains. It coated us in warm yellow, like heated butter or molten gold.
"G'morning," I murmured with a lethargic smile, finally peeking at Lloyd as my universe hovered above me with his own soft, loving grin. Lloyd shifted back to give me room to sit up, lifting me forward with his hands in mine. The sun hit him just right and a feeling of ultimate peace upon this ethereally pretty view had my smile turning sloppy and drunk on infatuation. "I loved my wake up call."
"Me too," Lloyd grinned, twirling a strand of hair that had fallen over my face before pushing it back. "How'd you sleep, birthday girl?"
I gave a stretch, reaching my arms over my head, before slumping with a satisfied yawn. The duvet strangled our legs.
"Good," I mumbled, sliding my heavy eyes shut when his fingertips looped patterns on my cheek. "You?"
"Good," Lloyd echoed charmingly. "Excited?"
"Spending a day with you?" I said with a giddy grin, peeking my eyes open. "Always am."
"Cute, but that's not what I meant."
"Yeah," I crooned with a not-yet-awake giggle. "I know. I think I'm falling asleep again, can I have another wake up call?"
Lloyd didn't bother to reply, already scooping me up into another kiss. I hummed in delicious delight, falling into his chest while our lips danced a dance we'd done a million times and would do a million more. Lloyd gave a little laugh at my immediate relaxation as he kissed me, and the sound vibrated through my very bones in a way that made my toes curl.
"Eighteen now," I said with a closed-eyed smile. "Now I'm only a year behind you. Technically."
Lloyd was a little preoccupied with nuzzling my neck, but I swore I could hear him roll his eyes at my teasing remark.
"Can you kiss my neck?" I hummed as I stretched my head away from his to give him more room. "Y'know - the way I like it?"
"I would love to," Lloyd said with a sigh and his breath crashed against my throat. "But I think that your family would probably chop my head off if they catch you with a hickey today."
"What if I give you a hickey?" I suggested with a raised brow. Lloyd snickered, clamping his hands on my cheeks and guiding me into yet another kiss - and while this one was shorter, it held the temptation of a vow that he'd fulfil at a later date.
"Tonight," Lloyd said in compromise with another quick peck to my nose and the promise ignited a needy fire in my belly. I scrunched my face at his cheesy affection, heart thrumming. "And then I'll give you so many, you won't be able to count them."
The thrumming turned into a full-on stumbling crash.
"Happy birthday to me," I chimed in shaky glee, excited for a million different reasons. Lloyd grinned and captured me for another kiss once again. How many was that this morning? I'd lost count.
"Happy birthday to you," he sang against my lips before pulling away with a bright smile. "Get ready. Your mother's almost finished cooking breakfast."
My brow puckered.
"How did you..?" Then Lloyd raised his brows amusedly and I remembered. I clicked my fingers. "Right. Superior hearing. I will get used to it one day, mark my words."
A chuckle. A handsome, boyish chuckle that had my cheeks heating simply because of how pretty it sounded.
