Because Purple EXTRAS - more Ed & Kate!

Trouble Sleeping

It's not a gradual easing back into consciousness, no. You just find yourself awake in the middle of the night for no obvious reason. One minute you are deeply asleep, and the next, inexplicably, you aren't. You open your eyes to shadows cast onto your bed from the moonlight slipping through the window.

Everything looks different in the dark.

Ugh, your thoughts aren't making much sense. You're not fully awake, yet.

You are fully aware of him, though. Both of you are on your sides, your bottom resting perfectly right where his thighs and his hips meet, his arm draped over you, his hand resting on your hip. You hear his gentle puffs of breath, soft and rhythmic.

Your lives are a great whirlwind, and will be for a while. He's in the midst of his first worldwide stadium tour, but is currently home for a short time in between legs. The holidays are almost upon you, and life is busy. There is always so much to do, even during his time off. But you wouldn't have it any differently. The two of you have somehow found a way to balance everything - your relationship, your jobs, family, friends - and you make it work. You're both very happy and very much in love.

Quiet moments like this one have always lent you to introspection. And if it happens to be the middle of the night? So be it. You take a moment to silently shout out your gratitude to the universe, thankful for the life you have, and for everyone in it.

He's at the forefront of your thoughts. Maybe it's because you're extremely aware of how his body has molded itself to yours, even as he sleeps. Or maybe it's just random, and he happens to be on your mind in the middle of the night. In any case, instead of closing your eyes and willing yourself back to sleep, your mind, your heart, and your body remain finely-tuned in to him. He's your comfort, always, and his presence gives you a sense of contentedness that you'd never known before. Even when he's away you still feel him with you. But he's definitely right there with you, now.

He subtly shifts in his sleep, and makes the loveliest sigh of contentment as he pulls you in just a little bit tighter. You become even more aware of - almost hyper-focused on - his body touching yours - his solid, muscular thighs against the back of your legs, his long torso almost protectively blanketing you from behind, the weight of his arm sprawled over your hip, his whiskered chin tucked just behind your shoulder... So much of your bodies are touching, connected.

You know how sometimes when you are holding hands with someone, and after a while it's almost as if you can't even feel their hand in yours anymore? Well, this isn't like that. You feel everything. All of him. Palpably. And it's stirring more than just your consciousness. Your entire body is buzzing.

You reach your hand back to his waist, tentatively running your fingertips down over the fabric of his boxer briefs. You arch your back, subtly nudging your bottom a bit more firmly against him. He stirs and you wonder if maybe you hadn't been as furtive as you thought.

His hips ever so slightly start to move in measure with yours, his fingers delicately brushing the curve of your hip. You hear a whisper of a groan from inside his throat, and it emboldens you. You slide your fingers inside the waistband of his briefs, dragging them down his thigh. A quick intake of air, followed by sleepy mumbles under his breath punctuate the silence as he laces his fingers in your hair, sloppily brushing it away from your face, and gently pulls you back even more tightly into his body.

You can't reach him very well, nor can you see him, because of the way you are positioned. His fingers still fumble through your hair and his hips still seek you out as you quickly turn yourself around to face him. His eyes are closed, but a small line of concentration marks that spot between his brows. You find yourself grinning, because the whole thing is slightly awkward, yet endearing and even sexy, too - so very typical of the two of you.