Livre: One Shots

[34] Now I wake up in the night and watch you breathe

Hi guys. I am finally back! This is from a prompt of my tumblr asks//requests. I am getting to them. Sorry for being gone for the last two weeks but I took a very needed vacation! (Working in the biomedical field during this pandemic has been a little interesting to say the least.) Thank you for your patience despite my lack of communication these last few weeks, but I am back! :) Working through prompts and my own ideas for the next little while. I also while on vacation started writing the beginning of a multi-chapter fanfiction story. The first chapter will be released on Sunday! Enough of my ramblings enjoy!

(Also a few people asked that I put the request here as well. So I will start doing that!)

PROMPT: Could you do a cuddling prompt? It doesn't have to be smutty! Just fluff is fine

-/-

Karlie was a burrower. Blankets, pillows, bedfellows - you name it, she'd manage to burrow herself under it at some point in the night. The first time she and Taylor shared a bed, the singer had woken in the morning to find her best friend curled up against the headboard beneath their pillows, arms shoved under Taylor's head. She'd asked the model about it one day and Karlie got so self conscious about it she didn't stay over again for a week.

When Taylor finally convinced her to stay over next, she'd woken with a giant lump under the blankets pressed against her hip. She thought it was endlessly endearing but made sure not to say anything, rolling over and pretending to go back to sleep. She'd purposefully jostled the bed enough that Karlie woke and untangled herself, returning to a more normal position next to her to save her pride.

The third time a few weeks later, Karlie had managed to burrow herself under Taylor. The shorter girl woke bent at an odd angle with a kink in her back, Karlie's limbs shoved under her spine and face nestled in against her neck. She'd carefully rolled herself away, afraid she was squashing her, but the blonde just snuffled and whined in her sleep, reaching blindly for Taylor until she was at least nestled against her side again. Baffled, Taylor had slung an arm and a leg over Karlie to pull her closer. The blonde instantly relaxed and fell back into a deep sleep.

"I'm sorry if I disturb you when we're sleeping," Karlie had said one day once they officially started dating, when she'd noticed Taylor stretching her back with a wince. The blonde looked genuinely sheepish, rubbing at the back of her neck and standing uncertain by the kitchen island while Taylor made coffee.

"I don't mind, Karlie."

"But your back is stiff." She ducked her head, looking upset with herself. Taylor sighed and opened her arms, gesturing until Karlie shuffled over and snuggled into her embrace.

"Why do you do it?"

"Why do I do what?" She pulled back just enough to look at her with baffled green eyes.

"Sleeping positions coincide with how we feel. I used to sleep on my side with my arms and legs curled close to myself; it felt safe. Defensive." Taylor shrugged a shoulder and ran a hand through the model's blonde hair until Karlie leaned into her touch. "Now I sleep on my back. I'm more comfortable that way. More... open, I suppose you would say."

"Open?" Karlie smiled shyly.

"Entirely your fault I'm sure," Taylor teased, pressing a kiss to the tip of Karlie's nose. "So what do you think? How do you feel, when you're curled up underneath something?"

The blonde shifted uncomfortably almost uncharacteristically timid, automatically nestling herself a little more into Taylor's arms. "It... It feels safe. I don't like not being covered when I sleep. Blankets are usually good enough. I can't sleep without a blanket covering all of me."

Taylor stroked a hand down Karlie's back, feeling the hunched curve of her spine as she cuddled closer, and thought she might understand why. The blonde was always tough and fearless outside, spine straight and head held high, yet she would relax and curl herself into Taylor's arms when they were in the privacy of either of their apartments, allowing herself to be small and delicate. It was touching, that she felt safe enough around her to do that.

"I have an idea for tonight," she murmured against blonde hair, grudgingly letting go when Karlie stepped back out of her arms to tilt her head in curiosity.

"Yeah?"

"Mmhmm. I'll tell you when we go to bed tonight."

"You want me to stay over?" Green eyes crinkled with a shy, heartfelt smile. She always seemed just a little bit surprised whenever Taylor asked her to stay the night, as if she always felt she might be overstaying her welcome.

"Of course I do, dear. I like waking up with you." A cute blush rose to the blonde's pale cheeks and she ducked her head, grinning.

"I like waking up with you too."

-/-

When they went to bed that night, Taylor in her pajamas and Karlie in boxers and a t-shirt, the brunette sat on the edge and motioned for Karlie to lie down in the center of the mattress.

"You sure?" she'd questioned, doing as told and stretching out on her back.

"Of course." Taylor then rolled over and draped herself over the blonde, snuggling in comfortably with her head tucked into that comfortable spot between Karlie's neck and shoulder. She pressed a kiss to her throat and tugged the blankets up over them before settling in with a breathy sigh. "How's this?"

"I like it." Karlie's arms encircled her waist in a loose embrace, hands resting flat on her lower back, fingers brushing the exposed strip of olive skin where her satin shirt had risen.

"Good. I like it too." Taylor kissed her neck again, nibbling softly at the skin and relishing in the shiver that ran through Karlie's body from head to toe.

"You're sure? Because if you're not comfortable--"

"Karlie," she laughed, rising up on her elbows to smile down at the blonde. "I'm comfortable, I promise. This feels good for you, right?" Karlie nodded. "Good.... okay?"

"Okay." Karlie blushed, green eyes gleaming up at her even in the darkness. She lifted a hand to stroke Taylor's cheek, thumb brushing reverently across soft skin. "Thank you."

"Anything for you." She turned her face to press a kiss to her palm. "Goodnight, darling."

"Night Taylor."

Taylor kissed Karlie sweetly, tucked her head in under her chin, and fell into blissful slumber.

When she woke the next morning, Karlie hadn't moved, still lying beneath her with her arms around her waist and a soft smile gracing her lips.

Fin.

-/-

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