Page 317 of Every Almost

Then Reyna pulled her hand away from Charlie again, but this time reached up her own neck to what Charlie assumed was her Voxlink. She saw the muscles in her wrist move before Reyna brought her hand back and placed it against Charlie's heart. She looked up at Charlie expectantly.

Charlie knew immediately what Reyna wanted to hear.

"Charlie."

Reyna gasped softly before a small laugh escaped her lips. Charlie saw tears begin to pool in her eyes. Reyna closed her eyes before pressing her forehead gently against Charlie's shoulder.

Charlie closed her eyes as she leaned against Reyna, and felt her chest explode in an emotion so fierce.

But then a tapping, in the same spot against her heart.

Charlie opened her eyes and saw Reyna looking at her, and tapped against Charlie's chest again.

She wants to hear it again.

Charlie pulled one of her hands from Reyna's waist and brought it up to cover Reyna's own against her.

"Charlie."

THIRTY-NINE

SAYING IT OUT LOUD

CHARLIE

Charlie wokeup somewhere that wasn't her quarters, and it took her a second to work out why.

The light was softer than hers, coming in low through a viewport set at a different angle, so the stars crossed the ceiling on a slant she didn't know. The room smelled clean and warm, and underneath that, like Reyna.

And there was an arm across her waist, heavy with sleep, not moving.

Charlie held still. Moving would end this perfect moment, and she wasn't ready for that.

The markings along Reyna's forearm had gone the soft steady rose now. She still didn't fully understand what she was looking at, only that it was hers, and it wasn't going anywhere.

She shifted, carefully, to see Reyna's face.

Reyna's hand caught her wrist, but she still wasn't awake. It was a reflex, fingers closing, tugging her back, and a low sound in her throat that meantno.

Charlie let herself be pulled back.

She couldn't help smiling as she settled against Reyna's chest, the arm tightening around her. She stopped trying to go anywhere at all.

She didn't fall back to sleep. Instead, she just lay there. Soon, she felt Reyna wake up in stages. First, Charlie watched Reyna's arm flex, then noticed her breathing change with a slow inhale against the back of Charlie's neck.

"You're awake," Reyna said, thick with sleep.

"I've been awake." Charlie turned and looked up at Reyna. "You wouldn't let me leave."

"I wouldn't?" Reyna asked, only slightly amused.

Charlie raised her wrist, still held in the clutches of Reyna's fingers.

"Hmmm," Reyna mused, her arm tightening, unrepentant. "No, I wouldn't."

Charlie turned over fully so they were facing each other, close. The rose was warm and steady against Reyna, reflecting between them.

She'd expected it to feel strange. The morning after.