Say you'll stay - Channing Tatum

P.32

[ Channing ]

Her soft breathing has been my only focus since I woke up twenty minutes ago. The way her chest rise and fall slowly and calm me down with every breath she takes. She stayed. I was afraid she had woken up and escaped my arms while I was asleep, but she hasn't moved, not even an inch.

She's still laying in my arms, warm and peaceful, her back pressed against me comfortably and our legs tangled together. Would it be okay to wish we could stay like this the entire day? Just her and I; under the covers, skin against skin. I want to feel her, touch her, listen to her talk about poems that makes her eyes sparkle and heart beat faster. I want to hear every single thing she has to say and know each and every one of her thoughts.

I create tiny circles on her arm, my calloused fingertips feeling harsh against her soft skin even though I'm trying my hardest to be as gentle as I can. I let my hand wander up her arm and shoulder, lightly feeling her neck before finding her mess of blonde locks spread out on the pillow between us. I didn't think I liked the smell of lavender, now I wouldn't mind if I drowned in it.

I want to get to know her. I want to know every insignificant detail about her. Her favorite color and how she likes her coffee in the morning and then again in the afternoon. I want to know what her mother's like and what her father's like and which parts she believes she got from who. I want to know what she's thinking about at 4 in morning when she should be asleep but isn't, because she's stuck with me and all my wonders.

I watch how the sun travels over her the same way my eyes are, taking in every inch of her flawless skin and messy hair. Just as my eyes comes to rest on the nape of her neck, she untangles our legs and moves out of my arms. What did I do wrong? My inner voice begins to panic and my heart picks up in speed before I realize she's just turning around.

Her head hits the pillow softly, her face only a few inches from mine. I watch her carefully - unsure if she's awake or not.

"Morning," she mumbles and a small smile shapes her pink lips. I wasn't expecting her voice to be so hoarse, but I find myself liking the sound of it; probably more than I should.

She squints her eyes from the brightness of the room and I watch how her pupils dilate once they settle on me. "Morning," I say back, my voice equally as hoarse.

I have so many questions for her, but right now I can't seem to remember a single one. I simply just watch her, completely in awe by the raw and natural state she's in; her unruly hair that's falling over her forehead in the most perfect way and her deep blue eyes watching me through the haze of sleep she's still in. She looks so beautiful.

"Did you sleep okay?" she asks me and rubs her eye. I've never slept better, I want to say.

"Yes, your bed is amazing. " I grin, well aware that she hates when I address her mattress-on-the-floor situation.

She whines and covers her face with her hands but I grab her wrists to pull them down. "Would you let me buy you a proper one?" I study her face carefully, hoping she'll let me. Not because I don't like sleeping on the floor with her, hell, I'd rather sleep with her on the floor than anywhere else, but I know she's trying to save money.

"A bed?" she looks at me with wide eyes. "You really are crazy. Buying me the apartment wasn't enough for you?" Her eyes are sparkling with amusement as she looks up at me.

I won't argue with her on that one.

Pinching my lip between two of my fingers, I try to come up with an explanation that won't make me sound like an absolute lunatic. Buying her the apartment wasn't something I planned to do, I more or less decided the moment Martin called and told me about a couple who was interested and more than willing to sign.