It made me feel wanted. Seen. Appreciated.
Loved.
* * * *
Warm lips against my neck and a whispered, “Did you miss me, Sleeping Beauty?” wake me up from my slumber.
Blinking awake, I hum. “Not really,” I mumble into the pillow. “Only the croissants.”
Instead of the laughter I expect, he hides his face against my shoulder and tightly wraps his arm around me. When he inhales, his breath is shuddery.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” I throw back my arm in an awkward hug.
He shakes his head.
I turn around until we’re facing each other, then embrace him. He hides his face against my shoulder, his breathing still quivery and uneven. Resting my hand on his neck, I stroke my thumb along the edge of his skull. I press soft kisses against his temple, on his cheek, at the corner of his eye squeezed tight
