Mr. and Mrs. Frost [completed]

XIII: Bed

The warmth surrounded him, cocooning him in a comfort so deep that Jack sighed contentedly, his body sinking further into the softness beneath him. He lazily tried to hold onto sleep's embrace—after all, it was his rare day off. The winter chill of the Frozen Mountain should have made him shiver, but instead, he was warm, too warm. His foggy mind stirred as realization began to dawn; something didn't add up.

Jack shifted slightly, a sleepy groan escaping him as he became aware of an unexpected weight. His arm was wrapped around something—something soft, warm, and distinctly not a pillow. A sudden, jarring awareness made him freeze. His heart pounded in his chest, disbelief and confusion battling for dominance. It couldn't be—he had to be mistaken. His rational mind dismissed the possibility, clinging to denial. 't's just a pillow.' His breathing pillow, he thought sarcastically, a wry laugh almost escaping his lips. 'Wait. Breathing?'

His pulse thundered. Slowly, almost agonizingly, he opened his eyes. Pale, platinum-blonde strands splayed across the pillow beside him. 'No. No, no, no.' This couldn't be. Jack dared to glance down, feeling his heart drop into a pit of dread and bewilderment. Elsa was nestled against him, her head resting against his arm, one arm around her waist, their legs intertwined like vines. The sight was intimate, breathtakingly so. Every inch of him screamed to pull back, but he couldn't seem to move. They were clothed, but still, the closeness rattled him.

His thoughts raced. 'How? Why?' The idea of untangling himself and slipping away flitted through his mind, but Elsa stirred, snuggling closer into the warmth of his chest. Jack's breath caught, his body tensed. She tilted her head slightly, her face inches from his, eyes closed and serene, lips softly parted. Temptation—raw, visceral—welled within him. He raised a trembling hand and let his fingers brush against her cheek, absorbing the feel of her soft skin. The urge to lean down, to taste her lips, grew unbearable.

"Control yourself!" his inner voice barked. But it was a battle he was losing. He hovered dangerously close to giving in when her eyelids fluttered. She awoke, sleepy blue eyes meeting his. She smiled—a small, sleepy gesture that threatened to unravel him completely. "Good morning, Jack," she murmured, oblivious to the storm inside him.

"Morning," he managed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Surely she hadn't noticed how intimately they'd been sleeping. But he wasn't that lucky. In a split second, realization dawned on her. A scream erupted from her lips, shattering the fragile peace. Jack winced, clapping his hand over her mouth, leaning over her as he tried to stifle the noise. "What the hell?" he hissed. "Don't scream in my ear!" He barely controlled his voice as he felt the echoes of her scream ricochet in his skull.

As soon as Jack removed his hand from her mouth, he realized it was a mistake—his eyes fell upon her pink, inviting lips. Every rational thought in his mind vanished.

He gave in, pressing his lips to hers with raw, unrestrained need. For a moment, her body tensed beneath him, rigid as stone, but then she melted. She surrendered to the pull, and together they moved in perfect synchrony, their mouths exploring one another as if the world would end at any moment. Jack tilted his head, deepening the kiss and tasting every breath, every heartbeat she offered. Her lips were soft, warm, and dangerously addictive.

Finally, their lungs screamed for air, forcing them apart. They broke the kiss with a gasp, their foreheads resting against each other as they struggled to catch their breath. Nose to nose, their eyes met—his stormy blue locked with hers, wide and electric with unspoken emotion. Something intense swirled in the depths of her gaze, a feeling he couldn't quite decipher but knew he wanted more of.

Desire blazed through him, urging him to close the gap again, to chase the fire that had ignited between them. But before he could act, Elsa's hands pressed firmly against his chest, and with surprising force, she shoved him away. Unprepared, Jack stumbled back, the edge of the bed offering no support. Gravity claimed him, and he landed hard on the carpeted floor with a heavy thud.

Pain shot through his back, momentarily replacing the heat that had consumed him. He let out a low groan, his muscles screaming in protest.

Jack pushed himself upright with a groan, his back protesting from the harsh landing. Bending his knees and resting his arm atop them, he rubbed his forehead with a weary hand. "Damn it," he muttered, brushing his hair back as he tried to gather his thoughts. His gaze lifted to find Elsa clutching the blanket to her chest as if it were a shield, her eyes wide and unblinking.

For a moment, confusion clouded Jack's thoughts. 'I kissed her, and she kissed me back. Why does she look like I'm a criminal?' Irritation mixed with bewilderment flared within him.

"Th-thing!" Elsa stammered, her voice strangled. Jack frowned, struggling to follow. She looked down and back up, panic and mortification flashing in her eyes. Before he could process, a pillow came hurtling toward him. "Pervert!" she shouted.

"What?" Jack caught the pillow mid-air, reflexes saving him from an unwelcome smack to the face. He stared at her, incredulous. 'Did she really just call me that?'

Her face was scarlet, flushed with embarrassment as she pointed accusingly. "Your... thi... thing!" she managed, voice stumbling over the words. Her cheeks flared even brighter, a deep red that spread to her neck.

Amusement sparkled in Jack's eyes. 'This is gold.' He'd never seen Elsa stammer, let alone blush like this. It was... oddly captivating. "What thing?" he asked, his tone deceptively innocent, relishing her discomfort.

She dropped her gaze again, a flicker of mortification crossing her features. Jack followed her line of sight, realization dawning. He groaned inwardly, a mix of exasperation and embarrassment washing over him. 'Right. That.'

"Elsa," he said, trying to keep a straight face, "men wake up with morning wood. It's a thing. Always has been." He shrugged, hoping to downplay it, but the sight of her renewed blush betrayed her discomfort. She mumbled something inaudible, her eyes darting away. Jack's lips curved into a grin. "And besides," he continued, taking a step closer, "we're supposed to be a married couple. You shouldn't be so shocked by... this." Her face turned even redder, if that was possible, and he couldn't help but admire the transformation.

Jack stood, stretching lazily as if nothing had happened. He started toward the bathroom, pausing just as he reached the door. Glancing back, he caught her still sitting on the bed, visibly flustered and desperately trying to compose herself. "Care to join me?" he asked with a teasing lilt, his smirk widening as her head snapped up, eyes blazing.

"No, thank you!" she retorted, her voice betraying more nerves than she intended. The flush in her cheeks lingered.

"Suit yourself," he said with a playful shrug, stepping inside. "But if you change your mind, you know where to find me." He chuckled as she reached for another pillow, shutting the door just in time to hear it hit the wood with a muffled thud. Alone in the bathroom, Jack leaned against the door, a broad smile stretching across his face. He'd just uncovered a side of Elsa he never expected, and for some reason, it made him happier than it should have.

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PUBLISHED: 2015

EDITED: 12/08/2020