The Artist [h.s.]

nine

Carter awoke to bright sunlight streaming in through the window and cold feet. Literally, her feet felt like they were freezing. Apparently, she'd kicked the blanket off sometime during the night, although she couldn't fathom why because it was cold and they hadn't bothered to turn the heat up.

Familiar green eyes welcomed her, their expression warm, soft, and loving.

Harry wore a gentle smile, he was looking at her like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, although she doubted that she was.

"Good afternoon, love. Sleep well?"

Carter smiled and awkwardly inched closer to him, she missed the heat of his skin against hers and the room was still cold.

Harry got the hint and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her gently into his chest. Carter hummed and nuzzled her face in his neck. Her nose was cold against his skin and he sighed happily knowing that she wanted him to hold her both to keep her warm and because she wanted to be close to him.

"Good afternoon. I slept very well, although, next time we should turn on the heat. I'm practically freezing."

Harry chuckled softly and pulled her even closer. He could feel her smile against his skin as he kissed the top of her head.

"Sorry, got a bit carried away. You're warm now, right?"

Carter hummed in contentment. She was definitely warm now, the thick and fluffy blanket wrapped around them and Harry's body pressed against hers. She was so warm and comfortable that she never wanted to leave.

"Mmmhhhmm. Very. I don't suppose we can stay like this for the rest of the day, can we?"

Harry smiled softly, "We can if you want to."

The truth was that he wanted to stay in bed, cuddled under the blankets and with Carter in his arms, but he knew that she planned on ending things with Jacob today and that she probably wouldn't stay like that, even if they both really wanted to.

Carter sighed, breathing in the familiar and fading scent of his cologne, "I want to, but I've got to end it with him today. If I don't, things will only get more complicated and I just want to get it over with and be with you."

His lips were warm as he placed a sweet kiss to her temple, "That's okay, we can cuddle and stay in bed all day any time that you want, I promise."

Her breath warmed his skin as she exhaled through her nose, she loved it when he made cute little promises like that.

"Just give me an hour or two, I'll never get tired of getting lost in you."

. . .

Carter paced anxiously around the empty apartment. Jacob was still at work, but he would be back in only a matter of minutes and she still struggled over what to say to him.

The ring twirled between her fingers and her heart was beating at a thousand miles an hour because she had no idea what to expect from him after she told him the truth and that they were over.

Before she ran out of time, she called Harry.

He answered on the second ring, "Hey, how'd it go?"

Carter sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "It didn't, at least, not yet anyway. I just needed to hear your voice. I don't know how he's gonna react and I'm a little worried."

"You don't think that he would-"

She cut him off, even though she was a little hesitant herself, "No...No, I don't think so, but I don't know him as well as I know you, Harry."