Sequel (Advent Calendar 2016)

THE 25TH OF DECEMBER

The 25th of December

...

Kristen looks at Rob from the doorway. He's still sleeping, his hair a complete mess and his lips slightly parted. The blanket has ridden down, leaving his chest exposed. She can't help but smile slightly at him. You don't look too bad, you know?

Tiptoeing over to his bed, she gently lifts the cover, crawling into his bed. Once she's lying next to him under the cover, she snuggles closer to him, seeking his warmth. He automatically wraps an arm around her, mumbling "morning, love" in his sleep. She feels something flutter in her chest.

She looks at his face, and she remembers all of it. The small scars, the arch of his eyebrows, his sharp cheekbones, the way his nose is slightly crooked, his soft lips.

She sighs. Those fucking lips.

She can still feel them on her own, the way they perfectly fit against her mouth when they kissed last night. It was different from when they had sex and when he kissed her under the mistletoe. She'd been keeping her emotions out of the other kisses, completely shielding herself from... feeling. After they'd kissed last night, she couldn't do anything but feel. She spent most of the night awake, thinking.

Rob's eyelids flutter as he slowly wakes up. When he opens his eyes, she can't help but smile as he realises she's lying next to him.

"Well this was a nice surprise," he mumbles in his hoarse morning voice, his accent extra British.

"Don't flatter yourself, Robert," she says. "I was freezing. Your bed is warmer than mine."

He smiles crookedly and a chuckle escapes his lips. "If you say so."

"Mmm hmm," she hums. "So if you could give me more of the co-"

Before she can finish, Rob has her cold feet trapped between his warm calves, her freezing hands against his chest and her body pulled impossibly close to his own.

"Better?" he mutters in her ear, his hot breath and husky voice making her shiver.

"Sure," she says, a little perplexed by the sudden cuddling. Rob pulls the cover closer around her, patting at her sides with one hand while holding her close with the other.

She's stiff as first, debating with herself if she should get out of his embrace or give in. The wise thing would be to get away and make sure they remain friends. But do I want to remain friends?

She loosens up, putting a hand at the back of his neck. He sighs as her fingers graze his skin, nuzzling his nose against her cheek to show his appreciation.

Kristen lets her hand glide up into Rob's hair, lightly tucking at the mess. He smiles and puts another arm around her, embracing her as he pulls her even closer. Rob strokes Kristen's back as she rubs his scalp with her thumb.

For awhile they just lie like that, cuddling, tangled within each other. Everything is quiet except from their deep breaths and their occasional chuckles.

They nuzzle their noses against each other, and Kristen tilts her head upwards, their lips almost touching. Rob looks at her, at her mouth, and then back at her, questioning. Whatever he sees in her eyes makes him lean down and brush his lips against hers.

They kiss. It's soft and gentle and slow. Taking pauses, they breathe before they kiss again. Kristen's palm is on Rob's chest, his heart racing against it. Their hands move, from hair, to face, to hips.

Rob brushes his lips against Kristen's one last time, taking her upper lip between his own lips. "Merry Christmas," he whispers, placing a peck on the corner of her mouth as she smiles.