Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1]

32

She blinked a few times to gain clarity, still sleepy. Once she was more awake, she was able to make out a figure dressed in dark clothing standing in front of the bed, just staring at her.

A shriek escaped her as she sat up, suddenly very glad that she had slipped on Thelonious' shirt last before dozing off to bed.

"Don't scream." The stranger held up his hands in surrender and backed away from the bed a little, speaking in hushed tones so as to not wake Thelonious who was still in a deep, blissful slumber behind her, his arm wrapped loosely around her waist, not at all aware of the scene that was unfolding around him. "Please don't scream again."

Her fingers rushed to do up the last two buttons in attempt of covering herself more. "I'm going to scream louder if you don't tell me who you are in the next 5 seconds!"

His eyes widened, rushing to get the words out of his mouth before he ran out of time and she started screaming at the top of the lungs. Thelonious might have managed to sleep through a surprised shriek, but he was certain that there was no way he would remain asleep through her frightened scream. "I'm Ryland."

"Am I supposed to know who that is?"

"Thelonious never mentioned me? I'm his best friend." His words were laced with mirth.

Understanding dawned on her face. She knew exactly who he was now, but that didn't mean it still wasn't creepy that he was watching them sleep. "I thought Mac was his best friend."

"Now that hurts. I'm his other best friend."

"The janitor that travelled to the other side of the country to chase after a girl?"

"That's me."

"But that doesn't explain why you're watching us sleep."

He shrugged. "I came to see Thelonious and when I saw a girl in his bed, just needed to make sure you were real."

Darcy rolled her eyes and sat up straighter. "That's still creepy."

He shrugged again. "I guess you could say I was shocked. When Thelonious wakes up, let him know I'm here?"

"Sure," she nodded and watched as he turned around to head out. "Wait!" She whisper-yelled at him before he could get out the door.

He turned around; the door slightly ajar now.

"Did you get the girl?"

"No." Ryland smiled a sad smile and shook his head, closing the door gently behind him.

Once he was gone, Darcy sighed and turned to look at the sleeping man beside her. She was surprised that he had managed to sleep through it all, especially the part where she had screamed in fright at having a stranger watch them sleep. Well, not a complete stranger it seemed.

"Thelonious." She attempted to wake him by shaking him gently but when that didn't work, she leant down and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. A quiet hum sounded from him and when his eyelids fluttered slightly, she proceeded to lay another kiss on him, this one lasting longer than the first.

She knew he was awake when he bit down on her bottom lip and tightened his arm wound around her waist, pulling her flush on top of him.

Darcy giggled against his mouth and braced her arms by his head on the pillow, propping herself up in attempt to put some distance between them.

His charcoal black eyes blinked up at her, a dangerous glint in them despite the innocence from having just woken up. "Good morning, vixen."

She smiled down at the man underneath her, his tousled black hair, sharp jaw and plump mouth an absolute sight for sore eyes. "Morning," she breathed out before leaning down and gently sucking along his jaw, her mouth moving downwards.