Soon after she came back into the bedroom, Izzy grabbed a blanket and a pillow, her movements deliberate as she prepared to sleep on the floor.
"What are you doing?" I asked, a laugh escaping my lips despite the fluttering in my chest. "You can sleep next to me. It's no big deal."
She paused, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of hesitation and something deeper. "Are you sure?" she asked softly, her voice almost a whisper.
"Absolutely," I replied, my heart racing. "It's really okay."
A slow smile spread across her face as she set the blanket and pillow aside, then climbed into bed beside me. The mattress lightly and slowly dipped under her weight, and the proximity made the air between us feel charged with electricity. As we settled in, I felt a warmth spread through me, a sense of contentment I hadn't known before.
"Goodnight, Eve," she murmured, her voice soft and tender.
"Goodnight, Izzy," I replied, my heart still pounding.
A few hours later, I woke up, the room bathed in the soft glow of the LED lights. My heart skipped a beat when I realized my hand was resting on Izzy's stomach, my arm wrapped around her waist. She was nestled against me, the little spoon, and it felt so right, so perfect. Her breathing was slow and steady, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest under my hand was mesmerizing.
I lay there, savoring the closeness, the feel of her warmth against me. My fingers tingled where they touched her, and I could feel the steady thrum of her heartbeat. It was a quiet, intimate moment, filled with a tension that was almost palpable. Every nerve in my body was acutely aware of her presence, the softness of her skin, the scent of her hair.
Izzy shifted slightly in her sleep, pressing back against me, and my heart swelled with an emotion I could hardly name. I closed my eyes again, hoping this moment would last forever, unwilling to let go of the perfect, fragile magic that had enveloped us.
As I drifted back to sleep, my arm still securely around her, I felt a deep sense of peace. This was where I was meant to be, and I knew that, no matter what, I would treasure this night, this feeling, forever.
To be continued...
