Guarding Her Heart | t.swift

Chapter 67: Braids of Tears and Trust

Quincy stirred early in the morning, feeling the warmth of Taylor tucked into her side. The blonde's leg draped over her torso, and her soft breaths tickled the crook of her neck. She instinctively wrapped her arm tighter around the smaller woman, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest. For a moment, the weight of her usual routine, the early rise and structured start to her day, faded into the background. All that mattered was Taylor—here, safe, and sound in her arms.

Her eyes traced over the singer's face, starting with the soft arch of her brows, trailing down the slope of her nose, and then brushing over the curve of her jaw. She moved her fingers gently, memorising the delicate contours, the small details that made Taylor look so utterly ethereal, even in the quiet vulnerability of sleep. Quincy was in awe, a quiet disbelief filling her chest at how effortlessly beautiful Taylor was. And not just beautiful—ethereal. Like she could only be real in moments like this, where the world had stilled, and it was just them, entangled in each other's presence.

The blonde stirred, her eyelids fluttering open, as if she could sense those intense green eyes on her. Her lips curled into a lazy smile as she mumbled sleepily, "Hm—you staring at me?"

Quincy smirked, amused. "Guilty."

Taylor grumbled, half-buried in Quincy's chest, "You're such a creep. Staring at me while I sleep…" But she trailed off when she saw the lighthearted expression on her favourite freckled face. What she didn't expect was Quincy laughing—out loud. The sound filled the room, rich and carefree, a sound that was so real, so unburdened, that her own sleepiness dissolved in an instant.

"Oh my god," the singer gasped, propping herself up slightly. "Did you just laugh?" Her eyes widened with mock shock. "Like, an actual laugh?"

The brunette chuckled again, shaking her head slightly. "I'm capable of laughing, you know." She paused, her smile softening. "I was just admiring how beautiful you are."

Fair skin flushed, a flustered look crossing her face. "Wow, I didn't peg you for such a romantic," she teased, but her tone was gentle, touched by the brunette's sincerity.

Quincy leaned in, kissing her nose softly, an old-school, almost timeless gesture that made Taylor's heart soar. "Rest assured, it's reserved," she murmured, "just for you."

Something about that promise, the quiet intimacy of it, sent a ripple of excitement through Taylor. Her heart raced, and she found herself grinning, a pure, giddy smile. She felt like a teenager again, caught up in the thrill of a new crush, where everything felt heightened, every touch, every glance. She placed her hand over Quincy's chest, feeling the steady thrum of her heartbeat. Then she leaned up, pressing her lips to Quincy's in a slow, lingering kiss.

The brunette responded instantly, her hands sliding to the older woman's waist, pulling her closer. The world outside the bed ceased to exist; all that mattered was the warmth between them, the way their bodies fit perfectly together. The brunette shifted, rolling slightly so that half of her body covered Taylor's, her weight grounding them in the moment.

Taylor wrapped her arms around Quincy's neck, one hand threading through her hair, the other resting at the base of her neck, pulling her closer as she deepened the kiss. Quincy's lips moved with purpose, steady but unhurried, letting the older woman set the pace. And yet, there was an undeniable intensity in the way Quincy kissed her—a need that she kept carefully in check, even as her heart pounded against Taylor's chest.

But Quincy couldn't resist the pull for long. Her lips trailed from plump lips down to a sharp jawline, then lower to her neck, where she pressed tender kisses that sent shivers down Taylor's spine. The blonde sighed, leaning her head back to give Quincy more access, her skin tingling at the sensation of being so deeply wanted. She had never felt so adored, so cherished in such simple, intimate gestures.