𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 4

A New Kind Of Contentment

Leon's POV:

I blink awake, feeling my muscles begin to subtly ache as I stretch my legs out and arch my back. Getting older means being less able to sleep in weird positions, it also means feeling the burn of the extra 'workout' I did with Y/N last night. I lift a hand, rubbing my eyes as I look to my side to find the goddess of a woman curled up in my sheets, her face one of pure peace as she continues to sleep beside me.

A faint smile tilts my lips as I look down to find her arm draped across my middle, hand wrapped around my ribs as if clutching me close and making sure I don't escape. I'm still not used to sleeping next to another body, it's only a recent thing that Y/N and I have taken naps together, but last night we decided to barge through all of the barriers, we stormed past gentleness and taking things slow, and after I practically pinned her to the sofa and devoured her whole, it wasn't long until she pleaded for me to take her to bed, and I couldn't find a single reason why I should've said no.

I don't regret it. I do regret not doing it sooner though, because as the shock hits me, so does the realisation that I slept through the entire night. I stiffen, feeling...weird. I've become so familiar with the constant panic. The sudden nightmares and insomnia. I've been in a state of fight or flight for the last six years and now for the first time I don't find any of that usual anxiety within me. I feel rested, and...calm.

I blink up at the ceiling, brows furrowing as I try to think if I took any sleeping pills after cleaning Y/N up and making sure she was comfortable for the night after making her come a ridiculous amount of times. Nothing registers, and I know that my memory's perfectly fine, meaning the full night's sleep was truly a miracle. My girl stirs beside me, making a small noise before shifting a little, moving closer to me as if seeking more of my heat. I notice the covers have slipped off of her a bit, so with a gentleness I've only reserved for her I pull then back up- only after taking a few seconds to admire the marks and signs of how much of a good time we had together last night.

She sighs, going back to sleeping deeply as I stare at her. I try not to be creepy, but how could I just ignore the beautiful woman who's somehow found herself in my fucked up life? From the first time we met she's been nothing but considerate, she's proved the world isn't all shitstorms and chaos. I've laughed until my stomach hurts with her- because of her- and I know that one day she's going to be my wife. I'd be a lunatic to lose her. She's everything I didn't know I needed until now.

I don't think as I reach out a hand, cup her cheek and then press a delicate kiss to her forehead. She's got no idea how much she means to me, she's completely oblivious to the peace she's helped me find, blind to the way she's changed everything. I'd have it no other way.

My girl shifts again, her face scrunches up in a small wince as he lips part in a yawn. I should've knew she'd be sore today, and whilst a major part of me feels like an asshole for causing her pain, another more primal part of me is glad that I've begun to mould my place inside of her. I push away the thoughts of more of last night's events, knowing there's going to be so much more time for it later. Right now though, I just want to savour the feeling of being wanted. I don't feel like a broken man right now, not when my past and my mistakes feel like a distant memory and not a hand yanking me back to the pits of despair.

I'm caught in my own thoughts when
Y/n cracks open an eye, the colour already reminding me of home. She watches me, already her lips form a smile as I swallow deeply, cheeks heating like a fucking schoolboy who's got a crush and has been caught staring. Her breathy, sleepy laugh has me groaning and rubbing a hand over my face as she buries her face into my arm, hiding away for my benefit. I chuckle, the sound foreign still but I'm hearing it more and more these days.

"I promise I wasn't looking for that long." I mumble, voice deep with sleep.

"Sure." She teases, poking my chest as I gently grab her wrist and let my thumb trace over her beating pulse. She relaxes once more, melting into the covers as if sleep isn't quite done with her. I know she's a professional napper and avoid cosy queen, so I'm more than happy to let her rest some more, God knows I'm just going to keep her up again tonight. I'm a natural early rider, especially when it comes to waking up at stupid times because of my nightmares, so I begin to slip out of bed, untangling myself from her clutches, but she makes a noise, small hand grabbing my own as she tries to tug me back.

"Just stay a little longer, please?" She murmurs, nuzzling into the pillows I bought just for her last month, when I decided my home would soon become her refuge if she wanted it. I debate it, knowing I've got nowhere to be and nothing to do. I'd usually just grab breakfast and workout, but today...

"Just a few more minutes then." I say, because it's better than admitting I never want to leave, or how I'd let the world keep turning and fucking up all over again just for some overdue tranquility with the woman who's rapidly worked her way into my heart. I lie back down, letting a groan slip free as I tuck one arm behind my head and the other slip under Y/N's middle, I pull her to me, resting my chin on the top of her head as she hooks a leg over mine, keeping me safely planted right where I want to be.

Her fingers trace my bare skin, leaving me feeling cherished rather than exposed. My scars glimmer in the faint sunlight beginning to peek through the cheap curtains, but my angel doesn't comment, she just skims over them, not even asking as if she knows I'd rather not admit my failures or pains. I close my eyes, thumb brushing against her own skin in some kind of return as we just breathe and bask in the feeling of being alive, together.

"I think today's going to be a good day." Y/N mumbles, another adorable yawn escaping her as I look down at her, eyes crinkling as I smike and arch a playful brow to hide the way she's stripping me bare and making me feel safe.

"Yeah? I think so too. Get some more sleep, sweetheart, we've got all the time in the world." I reply, letting the feeling of contentment flow through me. The words might not be true or even realistic, but right now I believe that everything good is right by my side, and that's enough to coax me back to sleep.