Running Bases With You

Chapter 29

*Annabeth's POV*

I wake up to the sound of soft snoring and the one I love beside me. My head lays comfortably on his chest, his heartbeat relaxing me in an unusual way. My arm lays across his torso, where the band of his boxers slightly peaks out of his tight, black skinny jeans. His chest rises and falls at a steady pace with each breath he takes.

I pick my head up off of his chest, careful not to wake Louis up. I turn my head to check the time and see that it's only five in the evening, my nap actually lasted almost four hours. Gosh, I was so tired. I don't think I've ever napped that long in my life.

The rustling of the body next to me breaks me from my thoughts. I look over towards Louis as his eyelids flutter open, those beautiful blue eyes showing themselves. He smiles sleepily at me and reaches a hand up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my right ear.

"Hello beautiful." He mutters, his voice raspy from sleeping for so long.

"Hi." I smile and sit up against the pillows behind me.

Louis slowly but surely lifts himself up and leans his back against the headboard of my bed. He turns his head towards me and takes my hand in his uninjured one. "Did you get a good nap?"

I nod in reply. "Probably one of the best, and longest, naps I've ever had. Did you?"

He quickly nods. "Oh yeah. Definitely. One of the greatest naps I've taken in my life. Especially since I got to take it beside you."

I feel my cheeks get hot, causing me to look away. I can't hide the growing smile on my face from his unexpected comment, and he realizes that when he uses his index finger to turn my head back towards him. He smirks mischievously at me.

I raise an eyebrow in questioning. "What's going on in that brain of yours, Lou?"

He inches closer to me, his grin increasing in size rapidly as he leans in towards my ear. His lips brush against it and I can feel his hot breath tickling the sensitive skin.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

I roll my eyes. "Oh, really? Is that so?"

He pulls away and nods. "Sure is." He pauses, his eyes flashing with an emotion that I'm not sure of. "But... I can show you."

My breath hitches in my throat. Does he mean what I think he does?

I feel my heartbeat speed up rapidly, loud enough that I wouldn't be surprised if he could hear it. I try to control my breathing, pushing the crazy scenarios out of my head.

Louis puts his hands around my waste, his fingers sliding underneath the bottom of my shirt. The scratchy fabric of his cast brushes against my side, an uncomfortable, yet calming feeling. His fingers cause a tingling feeling to erupt underneath my skin, my nerves increasing at an alarming rate. He moves in towards my face and rests his forehead against mine.

"I was just thinking about the things I adore most about you, and your lovely laugh came through my mind."

His words take me by surprise and I feel my nervousness start to fade. "Um...what?"

He pinches his lips together to keep from smiling. "I really love your laugh. It's just, so loud and child-like. It makes me smile brighter than the stars at midnight during the new moon."

I smile slightly, highly confused at his sudden interest of my smile. "Louis. What are you saying?"

He grins mischievously and I don't have time to react before his fingers started wiggling around my sides. I scream out as he begins to tickle me relentlessly. I squirm around in an attempt to avoid his fingers, but my attempt is unsuccessful as he climbs on top of me and straddles my waste to keep me still. My obnoxiously loud giggles cut through the air, making Louis grin like a mad man.