Between The Lines

Chapter 95: Morning Momentos

Third Person:

Rebecca had barely noticed when she had drifted off to sleep, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with her. But even in her half-awake state, the warmth of Lane's presence beside her was undeniable. They had settled on the bed together, her head resting against his chest, his arms wrapped around her in a protective embrace. It was comforting, though there was still a lingering awkwardness between them from the time they had spent apart.

She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, but when she woke up in the middle of the night, the room was dark except for the faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains. She blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the low light, and then she realized that Lane was still there beside her.

But something was different. His shirt was off, tossed carelessly to the side, and his chest was bare, rising and falling with each steady breath. She couldn't help but admire how relaxed he looked, his features softened by sleep. He looked so peaceful, so at ease, and it made her heart ache with a strange mix of emotions.

She bit her lip, trying to push down the yearning that was building inside her. It would be so easy to reach out and touch him, to run her fingers along the lines of his muscles, to feel the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips. But she knew she should let him rest; he had been there for her when she needed him, and the least she could do was let him have this moment of peace.

Still, her mind wandered as she watched him sleep. It had been so long since they had been this close, and the time they had spent apart had only made her realize how much she missed him. She missed his touch, his voice, the way he would tease her just to see her blush. And now, with him lying there beside her, it was almost too much to bear.

She sighed softly, trying to quiet her thoughts. She knew that waking him up just to satisfy her own longing wouldn't be fair, but it didn't stop her from feeling that pull toward him. She shifted slightly, careful not to disturb him, and rested her head on the pillow beside him, her hand gently brushing against his arm.

Just as she was about to close her eyes and try to go back to sleep, Lane stirred beside her. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer in his sleep, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. He mumbled something incoherent, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help but smile at how cute he looked, even now.

But then he shifted again, his eyes fluttering open. He looked a little disoriented, his gaze searching the room before it landed on her. For a moment, they just stared at each other, neither of them saying a word. Then, Lane gave her a sleepy smile, his hand coming up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Can't sleep?" he asked, his voice husky with sleep.

Rebecca shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. "I didn't mean to wake you," she whispered, feeling a little guilty.

Lane chuckled softly, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "It's alright," he murmured. "I wasn't sleeping all that well anyway."

She smiled at that, though her cheeks flushed at the way his thumb lingered on her skin. "You looked pretty peaceful to me," she teased lightly, trying to keep the mood light.

He grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, maybe it's because I had someone to keep me company," he replied, his voice still tinged with sleep.

Rebecca rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. "You're impossible," she said, though there was no real bite to her words.

Lane's smile softened, and he leaned in a little closer, his breath warm against her skin. "I missed you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.