Winter Sound

Chapter 8: Caress

This is a link to where I got the lyrics to the Russian folk song "Oy, tumany moi, rastumany (O, Mists, My Mists)" in this chapter of my fanfiction as a reference to Anya's best friend and the famous Russian sniper, Roza Shanina.

https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?id=49056&lang=en
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Winter and Anya had been together in the woodland cottage during the duration of the man's mission as he had free time from pursuing his target. Every so often, though, Winter would go into the hometown of his target in civilian disguise to appease his master to keep the man off his back but to also keep Anya safe from harm. And every time, Anya would always see her loving boyfriend off and pray to God that he would be okay until he finally returned home to her. As soon as both partners were inside their house together, their normal routines of eating, hunting, and sleeping together would resume as if they hadn't been interrupted by the requirements of Winter's occupation.

One day, after breakfast, Anya and Winter decided to have a lazy day (aside from cooking their meals) together as they cuddled on the couch. Cradled in Anya's arms, Winter wrapped his arms around the young woman's petite waist and rested his head against the redhead's bosom so he could hear her heartbeat and smell her familiar, welcoming scent while the dame combed her gentle, slender fingers soothingly through his dark brown hair. As she rested her chin against Winter's head, Anya fingered through the raven waves that she loved so much as she occasionally pressed kisses against Winter's temple and forehead before resuming her therapeutic caressing. While Vixie rested on the armrest of the couch, Anya and Winter remained in their comfortable cuddling position until the young woman had a thought in her head.

All of a sudden, Anya began to giggle to herself as she held Winter in her embrace before the young man noticed his best gal's joy while he questioned her with arched eyebrows and pouted lips, "What's so funny, Red?" Gazing into Winter's azure eyes shyly with her own baby blues, Anya began to giggle again as she shooed her lover with her outstretched palm while she shook her head, "It...It's nothing. It's just me being silly, Sniper."

"No, what is it? It must be something really funny if it makes you laugh for no reason." Winter replied as he sat up and gazed at his devoted girlfriend before she bit her bottom lip with a cheeky grin. Then, Anya combed Winter's hair away from his face so she could stare at his magnificent eyes and facial features before she admitted, "May I try something with you?" As reluctant as he was to find out what Anya meant by that, Winter nodded nevertheless because he trusted the redhead before Anya asked, "You don't have to do it if you don't want to, but...Umm...May I braid your hair?" With arched eyebrows and widening eyes, Winter was downright confused at the question as his thoughts began to race like a hamster on a wheel while Anya looked embarrassed by even asking such a question before the man interrogated his girlfriend to understand the meaning behind her innermost thoughts, "Any reason why you would want to do that?"

"Well, I know how to braid rope, ribbons, yarn, and hair because of my time in and out of the military...And I just wondered what it would be like to braid your hair since...Well, since I've only ever done my own hair, I've always wondered what it would be like doing someone else's hair, especially yours..." Anya mused to herself as she stroked a strand of crimson behind her ear while she gave a sheepish smile and gazed down at the wooden floor below her feet as a warm blush dusted her cheeks before Winter shrugged nonchalantly as he nodded with raised eyebrows, "Okay...I'm willing to try it...Just don't hurt me please..."

"I won't, I promise." Anya nodded as she punched her fist up in the air to signify her victory while Winter chuckled at the childlike qualities of the young woman before the redhead asked of him, "Okay, now, could you please sit on the floor in front of the couch?" Scooting out of his lover's arms, Winter sat criss-cross apple sauce on the floor in front of Anya as he turned around to ask like a confused child, "Like this?"