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My own hand is tangled in her hair and for a few seconds I close my eyes, enjoying the luxury of this moment, of holding Kendall in my arms. I can imagine for a few minutes that nothing else matters, that everything has been resolved. I can touch this woman, and kiss her, without her pulling away from me.
However, like every dream, this moment passes too, as I open my eyes and watch her unguarded face in sleep. Suddenly overwhelmed by emotion, I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead, closing my eyes briefly.
And then, I’m untangling myself from her, not wanting her to wake up in this position. She wouldn’t react well.
I’ve showered and dressed and now I open my laptop to pretend like I’m working while I’m just watching her sleep. I’ve searched for her for so many years and now, here she is, in front of me, well within reach, and I still can’t claim her.
She’s a suspicious sort, watching me warily at times, and yet I’ve seen her excited, happy, fur
ious, but all of that with people she’s started to trust.
Never me.
And it hurts.
However, I’m prepared to take all the pain she unwittingly doles out on me to reach the end of this long game when she truly becomes mine.
A soft sigh makes me turn my eyes to the laptop, and I bring up a random contract on the screen as I can hear Kendall wake up.
I hear the sharp intake of breath as she realizes where she is and then I can feel her eyes boring holes in the side of my skull.
“Morning,” she says shyly.
I look over and drink in the sight of her, sitting up in bed, the blanket wrapped around her, only her face and the tip of the shirtsleeves of her giraffe dotted sleepwear. On anyone else, it would look hideous. On her, it made me want to tear it off of her and use my hands to drive her wild.
“Is it cold?” I glance at the thermostat. “I can turn it up.”
She shakes her head and then glances outside at the grey winter skies, her voice rough with sleep, “Do we have a meeting today?”
“No, but I—”
She flops back onto the bed, with a happy sigh. “Great. I’m going back to sleep.” She’s completely taken over the bed, wrapped in the blanket.
I wander over and sit down beside her, poking at the blanket. “You look like a burrito.”
“You hate burritos,” her muffled reply comes, smothered in layers of the blanket.
“I can make an exception. I’ve developed a particular taste for this one.”
When her head pops out, her ears red. “You’re absolutely shameless.”
I smirk and nudge at her again. “Get dressed or I might just feel inclined to join you in taking a nap.”
The threat has her eyes widening and she scrambles out of bed.
An hour later she exits the shower, her hair wet but combed, dressed in a casual blouse and jeans, she looks surprised to see the breakfast laid out.
“I ordered it up,” I explain. “They have a buffet as well, but we have a full day of activities planned.” I pick up my iPad where I’ve made a list of places we can visit. “I’ve also scheduled in breaks and…what?”
Kendall is staring at me with a pitying expression. “You made a schedule?”
Feeling defensive, I frown. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing.” She leans over and plucks the slim tablet from my hands, glancing through it. “You can’t have fun on a schedule. It has to be spontaneous.”
“We’ll miss out on things,” I protest. “There’s a lot to see here.” And suddenly, it occurs to me that I’m excited as well. Excited to explore this city with the woman I love by my side, to spend time with Kendall in a capacity that is not official.
“I thought we had four days to spare. One today, and then after the ball event.” She goes through my schedule and then closes the tablet. “Let’s just pick one place and see where it takes us.” Then she tosses me a careful look. “It’s just a suggestion. I mean, I’m ok with the schedule too, I guess.”
