He tipped himself up on one elbow. She rested against him in the bed, her warm back pressing against his stomach and chest. He watched her - - - her rhythmic breathing filling the room. She was curled against her pillow, sleeping soundly, with him spooned around her. He listened to her breathe, and marveled at how good it felt to have her next to him in the morning. As he rested on his arm and watched her sleep, he thought about how far they had come and wondered how far they had yet to go.
His reverie was broken by her stirring. He took his hand and placed it against her hip, steadying her against him. He didn't want to lose this contact, this connection, with her. Not yet. Their time together was so fleeting and so precious that every moment he could spend next to her - - - touching her - - - - was magical. He draped his arm in the hollow of her waist and looked at her again. Her short hair was aflurry over her head. She was not an easy sleeper, as evidenced by the way her hair looked so disheveled every morning. This was the first time that they had spent together that he can remember her actually being still and quiet next to him. Yet she still gripped her pillow in stubborn defiance.
He eased down in the bed and carefully slipped his arm under her, pulling her even closer. He put his face into her hair and breathed. It was warm, soft, and smelled so sweet. Her hands found his and her fingers laced between, pulling his arms tighter around her. He smiled to himself that she felt safe enough to sleep even with him holding her - - - realizing that she had finally released the pillow from her clutches. He couldn't resist her shoulder that was peeking from under the covers, so he removed his face from her hair long enough to give it a long, lingering kiss. He wondered how she could sleep through his ministration .... or was she??