One Night ✔️

Chapter Nineteen

'Twas the morning after the single most amazing moment of my eighteen years on earth. I lay snugly held in Joseph's arms. Careful not to wake him, I readjusted myself in his hold to get a better look at him. I studied his sleeping figure for a while, admiring his features.

From his thick eyebrows of which a beauty mark adorned the right one, to his long eyelashes that naturally folded toward the skies. All the way down to his nose and how it twitched ever so slightly as he slept. With my fingertips, I carefully moved a few loosely fallen curls from his forehead and awed.

"You are so beautiful..." I whispered.

"And you are adorable."

"Joseph!" I shrieked, nearly falling off the bed. "You were awake this whole time?!"

When he sat up, the blanket fell and revealed his bare chest.

"I didn't mean to scare you. You were being all romantic and I just wanted to listen."

He extended his arms for a hug, but I declined, scooting away from him.

"Uh-uh."

"Please?" he whined, tugging on my arm.

When I didn't budge, he came to me himself and peppered both of my cheeks with a million kisses.

"Ah! Let me go, crazy!"

"Never. Your skin is so soft, I could kiss you for hours," he mumbled against my shoulder.

"Haven't you had enough? I barely slept a wink last night because of your never-ending kisses."

It was hard for me to act disinterested when I was more than enjoying his affection.

"Oh, Lady, not nearly enough."

The deep rasp of his morning voice sent a wire of electricity down my spine. His lips glided across my neck and I sighed at the attention given to the most sensitive part below my jaw.

"Wait." He pulled away, fixing me in his arms so that I was facing him. Concern was etched on every line of his face.

"Last night, I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No, last night was perfect." I grabbed his hand in a reassuring squeeze, but he didn't seem convinced.

"But I remember your legs shaking. Like crazy."

If I wasn't embarrassed then, I was mortified now. "Joseph! Oh my god, please."

"You feelin' shy?" he asked, scrunching up his face as a teasing smile grew on his lips.

"Of course I am."

"I just want to make sure you're okay, that's all."

It was then that I allowed myself to lean into his embrace. "I am. I promise."

"Okay," he said, finally convinced.

"You can take a sh- shower if you'd like," I told him, in between a yawn.

"Go ahead before me, I can wait." 

"Okay. I won't be long." I said, grabbing a towel and heading off to the bathroom.

About twenty minutes later, we were both cleaned up and minty fresh. I was hunting for something Joseph could wear. It felt like only yesterday he was doing the same for me. Thankfully my dad had recently done laundry. I snagged a couple of things from the bin in the hall. Hopefully what I picked would pair well with black dress shoes...

"You really didn't have to go through the trouble. I could have worn what I came in."

"Nonsense. These should fit you perfectly. Besides, you'll have your dignity intact when you're doing the walk of shame, is it called?" I teased, handing him a pair of sweatpants and a red t-shirt.