One day I'll have it all. // Williamson

Morning serenity

I wondered if Leah knew how much I loved her face.

As I watched Leah sleep beside me, her features softened by the gentle light filtering through the blinds of my bedroom, I couldn't help but marvel at the delicate beauty of her face.

First, her freckles. I adored her freckles. I could spend hours counting them all. Wondering why on earth would she hide them with makeup.

Then, her lips. They were the perfect shade of pink, and tasted like fruit every time I kissed them. They were soft and full, and they held that wonderful smile that could brighten even my darkest days.

And her dimples. Her dimples when she smiled. How I loved to trace the contours of those with my fingertips, marveling at the way they deepened when she laughed, like tiny wells of joy nestled within her cheeks.

Then, her eyes. Her blue eyes that I missed looking at every time she closed her eyes. Her eyes that reminded me of the beaches I could spend hours on back in California. Sat on the shore, staring at the infinity of water in front of me.

Then, her hair. Her hair that I oh so loved when she kept it wavy. Her fringe that I absolutely adored, no matter if she tried to make it disappear. I enjoyed her hair in a ponytail as much as I enjoyed her hair loose and cascading around her shoulders. Each strand seemed to shimmer with its own inner light, framing her face in a halo of golden warmth that never failed to captivate me.

Sometimes, I wondered if I had fallen in love with the face that laughed at my stupid, stupid jokes, or the face that would absolutely scream at me during a football game.

Yes, her freckles were endearing, her lips enticing, her dimples adorable, her eyes captivating, and her hair enchanting. But it was the soul behind those features that truly captured my heart.

It was the way her eyes sparkled when she teased me, the way her lips curled into a tender smile when she held me close, the way her dimples deepened when she laughed with abandon, the way the freckles on her skin looked like constellations in the night sky, and the way her hair seemed to unveil in the sunlight.

It was the way she could make me feel seen and understood with just a glance, the way she could light up a room with her infectious laughter, the way she could hold me close and make me feel safe and cherished, even in the darkest of moments.

"You're staring, Villanueva." Leah suddenly mumbled, her eyes still closed, but that charismatic smile graced her lips. Her voice was rauque. So rauque it ignited my entire body.

"Yeah? How do you know?"

Leah cracked one eye open, a mischievous twinkle enlightening it as she met my gaze. "Because I can feel it," she replied, her voice husky with sleep, sending a shiver down my spine.

I chuckled softly, unable to tear my gaze away from her captivating features. "Is that so?" I murmured, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair away from her face.

Leah leaned into my touch, her lips curving into a soft smile as she nestled closer to me. "Mhmm," she hummed contentedly, her eyes fluttering closed once more. "It's not every day I wake up to someone staring at me like I'm a masterpiece."

A blush crept across my cheeks at her words, a mixture of embarrassment and adoration flooding my senses. "Well, you are a masterpiece," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper as I traced the curve of her cheek with my fingertip. "The most beautiful masterpiece I've ever seen."

Leah's smile widened at my heartfelt declaration, "Lies will only get you everywhere, Valentina Villanueva."

I chuckled softly at Leah's teasing remark. "Who said anything about lying?" I replied, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. "I'm just stating the facts."

Leah rolled her eyes playfully, her laughter filling the air as she snuggled closer to me, her warmth seeping into my bones. "You're too much," she murmured, her voice laced with amusement.

"And you love it," I teased, gently pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Leah didn't answer, she simply sighed contentedly, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest as she nestled against me. "I don't wanna get up," she admitted.

I raised an eyebrow at her words. "Leah Williamson doesn't want to go play football?"

Leah let out a soft chuckle at my incredulous tone, her fingers still tracing gentle circles on my chest. "Believe it or not, even I need a day off every now and then," she replied with a playful smirk. "Don't you?"

"No. Not really. I hate days off. I hate not playing football." I told her honestly. "But I guess I wouldn't mind spending the day right here with you if I could,"

Leah's smile softened at my words, her gaze meeting mine with a warmth that sent my heart aflutter. She very slowly and steadily straddled my hips, her hands gently cupping my face, her thumbs affectionately stroking my cheeks. "I wouldn't mind that either," she murmured, her breath warm against my skin as she leaned in closer, her lips hovering just inches from mine.

I felt my heart race at the proximity, my pulse quickening with anticipation as Leah's eyes searched mine, her gaze filled with a depth of emotion that left me breathless.

Without another word, Leah closed the distance between us, her lips meeting mine in a tender, lingering kiss that sent a jolt of electricity coursing through my entire being.

She kissed me more passionately than she had ever done. Almost desperately. It felt wonderful. Wonderful but overwhelming.

And I had no idea how to respond to that. I tried my best to match the intense rhythm of her lips, my hands hesitantly laying on her shoulders, before she grabbed them and placed them on her own hips. I had no idea what I was doing. Or what I was supposed to do.

As Leah deepened the kiss, her hands gently guiding mine to her hips, I felt a surge of nervous energy coursing through my veins. My mind raced with uncertainty, my body responding instinctively to her touch as I struggled to keep pace with the intensity of her passion.

At that moment, I realized that despite my feelings for Leah, I was still navigating the uncharted waters of intimacy and desire. The weight of her emotions pressed against mine, the intensity of her kiss stirring something deep within me that I had never dared to explore.

But as Leah's lips continued to move against mine, her touch igniting a firestorm of longing and desire, I felt a sense of exhilaration mingled with trepidation. For while I longed to lose myself in the intoxicating embrace of her kiss, a part of me hesitated, unsure of how to navigate the unspoken boundaries that lay between us.

With a shaky breath, I gently pulled away from Leah, my heart pounding in my chest as I met her gaze with a mixture of uncertainty and vulnerability. "Leah," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper as I searched for the right words to express the turmoil raging within me.

Leah's eyes softened with understanding as she gazed into mine, her fingers gently tracing the contours of my face. "Valentina," she murmured, her voice filled with tenderness and compassion. "It's okay." She whispered, offering me a reassuring smile. She knew I had absolutely no experience whatsoever. So she probably understood why could it be hard for me to match her pace.

She gently kissed my cheek. Then my forehead. Then, the tip of my nose, while she giggled softly. She had no expectations towards me. No pressure to go any further than I was comfortable with.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice filled with emotion as I leaned into Leah's touch, savoring the warmth of her embrace. "For being patient with me."

Leah smiled softly, her eyes shimmering with affection as she brushed a stray strand of hair away from my face. "Don't thank me. Never thank me for being a decent girlfriend. For doing things I'd be horrible of me not to do." she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank me when I'm being a good girlfriend."

I smiled at Leah's heartfelt words, a warmth spreading through my chest at the depth of her understanding and compassion. "Well, in that case," I murmured, reaching out to gently cup her face in my hands, "thank you for being the best damn girlfriend a girl could ask for."

Leah's eyes sparkled with affection as she leaned into my touch, her lips curving into a tender smile. "Anytime, baby," she replied, her voice filled with sincerity and love.