r.e.m

little things.

Date: January 1st
Time: 9:02 AM
Location: Intercontinental Hotel, Miami

"More than I can say
And you keep giving me more and more each day
Oh, baby
And I never thought I'd end up with the man of my dreams, you really him
I don't mind takin' time
Baby, I'm down to do the little things."

I woke up still wrapped in him. His arm draped heavily across my waist, anchoring me in place while his chest rested against my back, solid and warm. His breath was slow and steady at the nape of my neck, falling in perfect rhythm with mine like it had been that way all night. The sheets were tangled between our legs, holding the warmth we'd created, and the room was thick with the scent of melted candle wax, his cologne, and something sacred. It smelled like comfort, home... us.

Sunlight slipped through the thick curtains in quiet streaks, painting golden lines across the bed and casting a glow on our skin. My body ached, but not in a way I wanted to fix. I was sore in the best way. My thighs still trembled if I moved too fast. My lips were tender from too many kisses. And my heart? My heart felt full as if it had finally been stitched back together.

Everything about last night still echoed through me. The way he touched me, talked to me, and looked at me. It wasn't just sex. It felt like healing. Every stroke, every whisper, every kiss on my shoulder had quieted something loud inside me. Something I hadn't even realized was still screaming.

I shifted a little, just enough to look over my shoulder. He was still asleep. Mouth slightly parted, lashes dark against his skin, hand still curled around my waist like he wasn't ready to let me go.

I laid there a little longer, letting myself soak in the stillness. For once, I wasn't thinking about what came next. I wasn't running from the past or bracing for the future. I was just... here. Wrapped in this moment. Wrapped in him.

It felt like peace.

I shifted just enough to press a soft kiss to his jaw, slow and easy, not wanting to wake him. His skin was warm beneath my lips, and I let them linger there for a moment, just breathing him in. Before I could pull away, I felt his grip on my waist tightened ever so slightly, and his lips curved against my temple in a sleepy smile.

"You awake," I whispered, already smiling to myself.

He let out a low, lazy hum that vibrated against my back, content and unbothered. I could tell he was still drifting between sleep and waking, the kind of peaceful daze you never want to leave because everything feels exactly right.

"I been awake," He murmured, voice thick and raspy with sleep, "I just didn't wanna let you go."

We stayed like that for a while longer, bodies tangled together, our breathing in sync, hearts beating in an unspoken rhythm.

Eventually, I stretched with a soft sigh, muscles still tender in the best way. "C'mon, sleepyhead. Let's get cleaned up."

We moved slow, like neither of us wanted to break the spell still lingering in the air. The hotel shower was big, with full glass and steam already rising before the water even turned hot. We stepped in together, skin meeting steam, no rush.