I woke up nestled against Jude's chest, the soft rise and fall of his breathing grounding me as the morning light crept into the room. My eyes, still heavy with sleep, blinked into focus only to find him already awake, watching me with a quiet tenderness. He set his phone aside and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, a gesture so simple yet so intimate. I couldn't help but think how I wouldn't mind waking up like this every day—well, apart from the fact that our bodies were practically glued together from the heat.
"Morning, Panda," he murmured, his voice thick with the remnants of sleep. The raspiness hinted that he hadn't been awake for long.
I smiled, slowly sitting up and stretching. "Morning, Pookie," I replied, my voice soft, playful. "I need a shower, immediately."
I slid out of bed, conscious of the fact that I wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing. As I padded towards the bathroom, I felt Jude's gaze trailing after me. It was a sensation that both flattered and unnerved me. Though I had come to love my body, there was still a flicker of discomfort whenever I felt scrutinized—perhaps a lingering echo from years of body shaming that had etched insecurities deep into my bones.
"We need a bath," Jude's voice broke through my thoughts as I heard his footsteps following me. "Want to go first, or should we shower together?" he asked, his tone gentle as he picked up his toothbrush.
