Charming In Handcuffs

Extra - One of a Kind (Pt. 2.5)

The clock on my bedside table read 2:37 A.M. when I woke up. Jack was quietly sleeping next to me still.

For the past week, I haven't been sleeping. It was either homework or just jitters. Sometimes it'd be from thinking about home and missing it too much. But Jack is home to me too.

I slowly climbed out of bed and walked in the kitchen. The small light above the stove was all I needed to collect the teakettle and fill it with water. As quietly as possible, I sat it on the stove to boil. I braced myself against the counter beside the stove and took in a deep, calming breath. As I exhaled slowly, I let my eyes close.

When the kettle whistled, I quickly took it off the heat so I didn't make too much noise. I stood on my toes and opened the cabinet above the stove and reached for the box of tea. My fingers just grazed the box and I huffed in frustration.

"Here," Jack's smooth voice made me jump. He reached above me and grabbed the box, sitting it down on the counter next to my cup.

I murmured a thank you and made my cup of tea.

Jack wrapped his arms around my shoulders and held me against his chest. I lifted the cup to my lips and took the smallest sip because it was too hot. "Still can't sleep?"

"Not really." I said softly.

Jack leaned forward and buried his face in the side of my neck. "I wish there was something I could do for you."

As he kissed my skin, I leaned my head back against his shoulder. "You're doing perfect right now."

He moved his head slightly to rest his chin on my shoulder.

I took another sip of my tea, enjoying the feeling of the warmness of Jack's arms tight around me. It was easy to melt into him without thinking. His cheek pressed against mine, my back flush against his chest, and the feather light touch of his breath.

We stood in the kitchen, silence overtaking us until I finished my tea. Jack slipped his fingers through mine and led me back to bed. He leaned back against his pillows and pulled me into his lap so that my back was pressed against his chest. Jack's arms swallowed me again and I leaned back.

He bent his neck forward to leave a kiss on the small space between my brows and I felt my face relax. I sank further against him and let out a long breath.

"Would it help if I read to you?"

I tilted my head back, but it was too dark to see his eyes. "You'd do that for me?"

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

My heart tugged and my lips curved into a small smile.

Jack kept an arm around my shoulders and freed a hand to turn on the lamp sitting on his bedside table. "What are we reading?"

"It's a surprise."

He opened up his drawer and pulled out what looked like a manuscript.

"I got it today and I was going to wait to tell you about it."

"You finished your book?"

"I did. I sent it to my mom for her to read and she sent back a manuscript."

I smiled up at him. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you." He smiled back, "I'm glad I can finally share it with you. And I'm not going to tell you what it's about, so you're going in completely blind."