Page 33 of Digit's Deflection
“Good morning.” I smile at him.
“Morning, princess. You sleep okay?”
“Like a log. You?” Is this rather mundane exchange what couples have every morning they wake next to each other? Because, if it is, I can do mundane. Every day. For the rest of my life. Especially if it means I get to wake up next to Treven for the rest of my life.
“Much as I would love to stay here and make love to you again, I have PT this morning.”
The girlie girl in me squees internally at the first part of his sentence. The part of me that would rather still be sleeping asks, “What time is it anyway?”
“Three forty-seven,” he replies, checking his watch. “I’ve gotta get moving, but why don’t you get a little more shut-eye. When I get back, we can grab some breakfast together, and I can drop you off at your place on my way to base, if you’d like?”
“Hmm, that sounds heavenly. I’d like.” He grins, drops a kiss on my forehead, and hops out of bed. Who the hell hops out of bed at I-should-be-sleeping-o’-clock?
I drift as I listen to Treven getting ready to go out.
“All right, princess, I’m out of here. I’ll see you in a little while.” Another gentle kiss and he’s gone. Grabbing his pillow, I snuggle it to me, and the smell of the aftershave he wears settles over me like a familiar blanket. With a happy sigh, I let myself doze off again.
When next I wake up, it’s to the sound of the shower running. Stretching, I can feel muscles twinge that haven’t had a workout in a while. I sit up in the bed and spot a cup of coffee on the nightstand, and my heart melts.
It’s amazing to me how so many years have passed, all the experiences we’ve had over all that time, and yet he’s still very much like the boy I knew twelve years ago. Loving, considerate, sweet, but very much an alpha personality. I just didn’t know what that was back then.
He always took the time to listen, could be relied upon in times of need, and was always good at seeing the bigger picture, then finding solutions to the problem, But he was always, always gentle, paid attention to a person’s needs, and did his best to make things easier for his loved ones.
A cloud of steam follows him out of the bathroom as he comes into the bedroom with nothing more than a towel around his waist. My mouth waters just looking at him – all that golden skin and those yummy muscles.
“Stop looking at me like that. If I come back to bed now, we’ll never leave my place today, and then I’ll be in shit with my commander. Totally worth it, but won’t look so great on my file.” His grin is mischievous.
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“Besides, after the torture Knight just put us through, I’m starving. Any idea where you’d like to go for a quick breakfast?”
“Nope, not one. I’m still finding my way around town. Any suggestions.”
“I’ve got a couple. What are you in the mood for?”
“Pancakes.”
“Well then, I have just the place. Come on, up and at ‘em, princess. Time’s a-wasting, and I’m a hungry man. I think we’ve got roughly seven minutes before it turns from hungry to hangry.”
“Then best we don’t poke the bear. Let’s get him fed instead.” His laugh rolls over me, warming me all the way through.
Despite this being the first time we’ve woken up together, we’re like a well-oiled machine as we work around each othergetting ready to go out. I love the easy rapport we have and how light the atmosphere is. I worried things would be awkward the morning after, but it’s a lot like old times.
Treven takes me to a little coffee shop across the street from the beach. A quaint little place that feels more like grandma’s kitchen than a business. The incredible smells that greet us at the door make my mouth water and Treven’s stomach grumble. Which, for some weird reason, has me giggling like a teenager.
“Hey Treven, it’s been a while. How’re you doing?” a woman around our age, maybe a little older, greets, a coffee pot in her hand. Not going to lie, a spurt of jealousy has me losing a little of my sense of humor.
“Hey Daphne. Doing great, thanks. You guys?”
“Yeah, okay. Some days are a little harder than others. But, for the most part, we’re hanging in there. Table for two?”
“Yeah. Just me and my girl today.” Hearing Treven refer to me as his girl has the jealousy subsiding, and a ridiculous grin curves my lips.
“Well, the two of you have pick of the house since it’s still so quiet. Grab a seat anywhere and I’ll be there in a second. Just need to refill a cup quickly,” she replies, indicating the only other occupied table.
“Thanks, Daph.” With a hand to the small of my back, he leads me over to a table by the window with a gorgeous view of the ocean.
“Beautiful view, especially with the sun coming up – all those rich, vibrant colors. Spectacular.”
