The Long Bloom

The remnants of our late-night chicken nugget feast were still scattered on the coffee table, a testament to the easy comfort that had settled between us. The air in the room was thick with the lingering scent of intimacy, a sweet perfume that clung to the sheets and to my skin. Keep stirred beside me, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she shifted, her body molding against mine. I held her closer, breathing in the scent of her hair, a mix of her favorite shampoo and something uniquely *her*.

"Mmm," she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Morning already?"

I chuckled, a low rumble in my chest. "Almost. Sunday morning, my love." I traced the curve of her cheekbone with my thumb, watching her eyes flutter open, those deep pools of hers slowly focusing on me. A slow smile spread across her face, the kind that always made my heart do a little flip. "Sleep well?"