Kingdom Come Undone

Pretty To Think - Part 1

I knew we were in trouble the moment I woke up beside her the next morning. Not because any part of me wanted to run. Not because I second guessed staying the night. But because I didn't know how I could ever wake up anywhere else. I woke up blissfully with Alison delicately kissing different parts of my face until my eyes slowly opened. She waited until I smiled up at her to kiss my lips, pulling away to trace them gently with her thumb before speaking.

"Good morning." she brought me in again, kissing me softly. Her hand fell into the crook of my hip as she settled closer into my body. "How are you feeling this morning?"

She immediately wanted to know how I was after yesterday. As if her life hadn't also been turned upside when she introduced me to even just the idea of her having a son. Her life was a balancing act, juggling between being a mother and a co-parent. And now, trying to juggle our relationship in between the two? She was nothing short of amazing. I looked into her eyes and knew that my luck had run out the moment I met her. That all of it had been used for us to end up in this moment. Having the chance to be with her was all the luck I would ever need.

"I'm waking up next to you... what do you think?" I kissed her forehead as she tucked her head into my chest. She casually threw her leg over my calves trying to manifest our inseparability. "What time is it?"

"A little before 7. I wanted us to have time together before you leave me."

"Don't make it sound like I'm trying to abandon you." I wrapped my right arm over her waist, scratching her back as I closed my eyes, allowing silence to fill the space.

"What are you doing?" Her lips moving against my collarbone.

"Remembering what this feels like. I want to bottle how this feels so that I have some form of company until I see you next."

I heard her faintly whisper 'okay' before settling further into my chest. I relished the strands of her hair that fell against my shoulder and followed that feeling down to my hip where her left hand still sat. Her fingers tucked under the hem of my t-shirt while her thumb straddled the line between gentle caring and promiscuity. I cherished the faint feeling of her lips resting next to my neck against her right hand in a fist. The way her breath barely escaped to make its way down the curve of my chest toward my stomach. I paused to smell her hair... tea tree with a hint of vanilla from either a body wash or perfume.

As soon as my hand moved from Alison's back to her hip, she leaned backward so that we were face to face once more, "I think I might make it now." I knew it was cheesy and probably entirely too over the top, but she looked as happy as I was. She looked just as content. As if she had been noting details about me too. "When is next time, Alison?"

"Are we doing ice cream on Sunday, or is that too soon?"

I kissed her nose in reassurance, "I think it's too soon; I want us to be secure before adding in the relationship I need to build with Jacob."

"Whatever you want, Emily. I'm doing this at your speed. Next week, I will have him and will be relatively out of commission though."

I nodded, "I'll see you this week then. I know that we have the donation luncheon for the gala on Wednesday. I think your dad is speaking?"

"Is that this Wednesday?" She reached for her phone, immediately typing, "I'll ask to see if I can get an invite. But a private luncheon isn't really a date..."

"Then Friday night for a date. I'll cook you dinner, and you can stay with me?" The suggestion made her smile. More than her smile though, I saw the tenderness in her eyes. The way they held the light of my words to reflect back to me. The way they were captivated in my desire.