Through The Ashes

22

Jorn slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the tent. The first thing Jorn noticed when she woke was the warmth. Not just the heat of the sun pressing against the canvas of Mara's tent, but the warmth of Mara's body, still tucked against her side.

The night before flooded back to her in fragments—Mara's breasts in her mouth, gentle kisses, the feeling of Mara trembling underneath her body. It was surreal, like a dream she didn't quite believe had actually happened.

Mara stirred beside her, her head shifting slightly against Jorn's shoulder. Jorn looked down at her, taking in the way her dark hair spilled over the sleeping bag, the relaxed expression on her face, and the soft rise and fall of her chest.

She looked so peaceful, so unguarded in the soft glimmer of the morning light, and Jorn felt something tug at her chest.

Mara's eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the light. She blinked a few times before her gaze focused on Jorn, a sleepy smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

"Morning," Mara murmured, her voice still thick with sleep, her eyes soft and full of affection.

Jorn's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, and a rare, small smile ghosted her lips. "Morning."

They just lay there for a moment, submerged together in the quiet. Jorn didn't want to get up yet. Mara shifted, her hand sliding up from Jorn's chest to trace lazy patterns along her collarbone. The touch was so gentle, so familiar that it made Jorn's skin tingle. "How do you feel?" Mara asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jorn considered the question for a moment, her gaze drifting to the roof of the tent as she let herself feel—really feel—the warmth in her chest, the softness in her limbs, the calm that had settled over her. "I feel... good," she admitted quietly, almost as if the words surprised her. "Better than I have in a very long time."

Mara smiled, her fingers still tracing light patterns on Jorn's skin. "Me too."

There was a long silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that came with knowing, with understanding.

After a while, Mara propped herself up on one elbow, her face hovering just above Jorn's as she looked down at her. "Last night..." she began, her voice hesitant, "Was that something you wanted?"

Jorn met her gaze, her heart beating a little faster as the memory of their night together flashed in her mind. "Yeah," she answered quietly. "It was."

Mara leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Jorn's lips, and Jorn's hand instinctively moved to the small of her back, pulling her just a little closer. The kiss was slow, languid, a reminder of what they had shared, of what still lingered between them.

When they finally pulled away, Mara rested her forehead against Jorn's, her eyes closed, a small, contented sigh escaping her lips. "I could get used to waking up like this," she whispered, her voice full of affection.

Jorn's hand gently traced the curve of Mara's spine, her fingers brushing against the smooth skin. She had never let herself imagine something like this before—never let herself want it.

"I think I could too," Jorn murmured softly.

Mara smiled against her, pressing one more kiss to the corner of Jorn's mouth before resting her head back on her chest, settling into the comfortable silence once more. They didn't need to say anything else. For now, they could just be—together, safe, and content in the quiet peace of the morning.

Mara's fingers trailed up and down Jorn's naked chest, lightly scratching here and there. Jorn took a deep breath, her eyes falling shut, getting carried away in the soothing sensation of Mara's peaceful touch.