Dear Red

Seventy Nine

I didn't have the energy or will to fight him over it. I slid back into sleep within moments.

Monday morning dawned too soon for me. I had driven back from Northern Uganda on Sunday with Ken and stayed up with Alex and Freida. Thankfully, I did not have ward rounds early morning. When my internal alarm woke me at 6a.m, I stretched my sore muscles and settled into another sleeping position.

I woke up hours later to a knock at my bedroom door. I glanced around sleepily. The clock said 9a.m but I wouldn't guess it through the dark curtains drawn shut in my room.

I kicked off my beddings and rolled out of bed. I was yawning and stretching a hand over my head as I opened my bedroom door. I froze in place when I realized who stood on the other side.

It was Ken, wearing a Polo shirt and jeans. His sunglasses were tucked into the front of his shirt. I blinked twice. He reached out and closed his arms over both sides of my waist. I was startled into dropping my arms as I felt his hands on my skin.

I realized that my camisole had ridden up as I stretched and he took advantage of the show. He drew me up close to him as he kicked my bedroom door shut behind us. I clung to his forearms as he lifted me off my feet by my waist.

"Good morning gorgeous," he said as he kissed my cheek.

"That's too much excitement for my lazy mode," I protested.

"I can work with lazy," he said as he boosted me up. My legs naturally wrapped around his waist. He began to pepper kisses on my neck as he continued towards my bed.

"I have not yet fully recovered from all that driving," I said.

"I offered to take over for you, international surgeon," he teased, his hands moving over my lower back under my night camisole.

"I handled it," I said, proudly.

"That you did," he said as he dumped me on the soft mattress and followed me down. He toed off his shoes as he continued to rub my lower back and belly. I unhooked the sunglasses from the front of his shirt and tossed them towards my night stand.

"So, what has you invading my bed this morning?" I asked as he rolled us over so that I was straddling him. I folded my hands on his chest and rested my chin on top of them, gazing down at him.

"This is not an invasion. I'm exactly where I belong," he said. He tightened his grip on my waist as I tried to get up.

"This is a good time to warn you that I have a karate black belt," I said with a smile.

"Do you really want us to go down this road?" he asked, his grip on my waist impossibly tighter.

My response was a perched eyebrow. One moment I was straddling him and in what felt like a second, he had flipped me onto my back.

I gazed up at his laughing eyes.

"I see you've got a few moves," I said. Our hands were clasped on either side of my head with our fingers intertwined.

I used my knee as leverage to flip us back to the original position. He landed among my pillows with a whoosh of air.

"Nice one," he whispered. In the same breath, he tackled me back down and held me firmly.

"Ready to concede?" he asked with a smile.

"Only if you make me breakfast," I replied.

"Done," he said and leaned down to kiss my forehead and eyelids.

He eased back and we gazed at each other for what felt like an eternity. 

Eventually, I tugged my hands, which were still locked with Ken's. He climbed off me and slid from the bed.