The morning after

[noteasytobepink]

Clarice was a heavy sleeper, when she wasn't having nightmares. It came of never knowing when she'd get a good night's sleep again. Still, she was not a still sleeper. That meant she rolled and twisted some in the night; her frozen peas slipping down between herself and Bill some time around three in the morining.

And well, she shifted where her head was resting too. Next to his on the pillow, his shoulde,r his chest. It was probably past dawn when she settled with her head on his belly, still asleep.

Comments

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill cast his eyes sideways at her, and felt heat flush his features some.

Shaking his head at laughing, he moved to make room for her.

"It might be, is awful lonely. So, if you wanna join me I sure won't say no."

[noteasytobepink]

"Oh good, I like spicing up my relationships, especially in light of pillow-dates." She grinned and turned around on the bed so she could flop the pillow up by Bill's shoulder before curling against him again.

He made a better pillow after all.

And he didn't her wrapping her legs around one of his or her slipping a hand under his shirt to rest her palm on his belly did he? "Wouldn't want you lonely either."

[no_andy_taylor]

His abs jumped beneath her touch, but that wasn't him minding at all. In fact, her actions encouraged him to go ahead and put his arms around her, one palm resting on her lower back, and the other wrapped around her hip.

He even pressed a kiss to her crown, touched by her words even if it was just banter.

"I think I'm safe from that, now." Thanks to her.

[noteasytobepink]

The minute he jumped under her hands Clarice grinned and teased nails over his belly because, well, it was fun! "Safe. Ouch, he uses the word 'safe' when in bed with me. There go my lascivious designs on his virtue..." Big sigh!

Siiiiiiiigh.

She snuggled under his hands, pleased that he was willing to touch her despite not being drunk, and pressed a kiss to his chest. "I'll just have to plot against your virtue later, when you're not expecting honorable, safe conduct. Perhaps after our bath."

[no_andy_taylor]

The graze of her nails raised goosebumps on his skin, and a pleasant shiver.

Smiling, he smoothed his hand over her lower back, and lightly squeezed her hip.

"I actually meant safe from bein' lonely."

[noteasytobepink]

"Yeah, I know, but it was fun to tease," she admitted warmly. "And your virtue is not actually safe from me so I guess we're even?" Maybe kinda?

"I'll be kind and brush my teeth before kissing you though."

[no_andy_taylor]

"Oh, I don't mind," he replied with a small smirk.

"I guess I can return the teeth brushin' favor, though, but it'll mean waitin' 'til we get up again." And as comfortable and content as he was right now, he didn't plan on making that anytime soon.

[noteasytobepink]

"Yeah, that's the kicker isn't it? Waiting until we feel like moving again." Hmmph. Damn toothbrushes being out of reach. "I'll content myself with playing with your shirt." And chest. Totally playing fingers up over his whole chest since he was there and allowing it!

She liked the way his ribs felt, honestly, and the pectorals over those ribs...

[no_andy_taylor]

Allowing hell, he was quite enjoying what her hands were doing.

"You keep that up don't know if I'll ever feel like movin' again," he said in a lazy manner that was no where near a complaint.

His hand on her back took up a slow up and down motion along her spine, fingertips skimming the hem of her shirt when his hand was low, then smoothing back up between her shoulder blades.

[noteasytobepink]

"Well, it's part of my evil plan," she noted cheerfully. "Lull you into a false sense of security, and just when you think you're safe and want to maybe fall asleep again..." she switched from fingertips to gentle nails along his skin, teasing.

"The big decision being whether I want to get your shirt of you yet." She was, naturally, arching her back under his hand a bit, like a cat who wasn't quite they wanted to moved but couldn't help but enjoy the petting...

[no_andy_taylor]

His skin prickled beneath her nails, and a tingle raced along his spine. His chuckle was part appreciative murmur, and he smiled at her.

"That'll teach me t'let my guard down."

Noting her reaction, he kept up with his hands, letting his fingers curl slightly to add a bit more pressure from his fingertips.

"Hm, an' what's that big decision hinge on?"

Because he was perfectly willing to comply if that's what she wanted.

[noteasytobepink]

"Yes, you should know better than to let wily people like me into your bed. You'll never get rid of me now." Smirrrrrk.

Hmmm, what did her decision hinge on? What indeed?

She'd...have to try to think through the fact of being petted! Cursed man using her own tricks against her!

"...being willing to sit up enough to let it come off easily?"

[no_andy_taylor]

"How sad for me," he drawled, smirking right back at her.

"Y'know it would only take a second," he said about the shirt. "Of course, you'd have t'convince me the half situp I'd have to do would be worth it."

Such a lazy pair were they.

[noteasytobepink]

Such a lazy, hungover pair they were! "Hmmm, what to offer, what to offer..." real shame he didn't want to do it just because she liked his chest huh?

"How about...show me yours I'll show you mine?"

[no_andy_taylor]

She had a knack for surprising him, and she did it again, causing him to give a quick laugh.

Yeah, he totally wasn't expecting that offer.

"How 'bout, I'll go ahead an' do mine, without leavin' you obligated to do anything, 'less you wanted to?"

Not that he'd mind seeing hers, of course, but he wasn't going to rush anything she wasn't really ready for.

If she wanted to, though...

[noteasytobepink]

Him rushing her? She was the one who kissed him and ended up in his bed within one night!

Granted, the alcohol helped...

"Tell you what. I'll get up and go brush my teeth properly so you can take your shirt off then we'll see where we go from there? Unless you wnat help with the shirt..."

[no_andy_taylor]

He was starting to realize there probably wasn't much he could do that would be rushing her, this was just her speed, and he was okay with that. It beat the hell out of twenty years of pining that ended in rejection.

Trying to be more bold, he nodded.

"I'll come with you, get my own brushed. Then you can help me out." And him her, if that's what happened.

[noteasytobepink]

"Well, if we're both migrating to the bathroom we may as well get the bath in early huh?" Soak the bruises, so on and so forth.

Yep. Totally harmless intentions there!

[no_andy_taylor]

"Wu-- "

He jawed a moment without finishing any words, trying to make a reply.

A part of him wished he was still drunk, so he wouldn't be over-thinking this thing so much.

At least this way, though, they were both of sound mind making these decisions.

"We could do that." He nodded, and even managed to keep the nervous tremor out of his voice.

[noteasytobepink]

She chuckled warmly when he cut himself off like that, after all, she ha dwondered how much of his courage was drink. "You did agree last night but if you're uncomfortable now..." she offered easily.

It wouldn't hurt her feelings any really.

And maybe she was rushing things.

"But if you're up for it I am."

[no_andy_taylor]

Yeah, that liquid courage went a long way until it was all gone.

His hand settled on her lower back, fingers toying with the hem of her shirt, as he thought it over.

He wanted to, of course, because, well, yeah, but was it too fast?

'20 years' popped into his mind again, and he made his decision. If she was ready he wasn't going to screw around and miss his chance.

Putting on his own warm and easy smile, he nodded.

"Let's go, then."

[noteasytobepink]

She was very much a 'You know, have fun while you can' kind of girl. Tomorrow she might slide out of this reality, or there might come a giant space monster to eat the earth again.

Have fun now. Not twenty years from now.

"Yep, moving." Totally moving.

Slwoly.

In that achey, groany kind of way!

[no_andy_taylor]

He was starting to take it for granted that she would be there, so here was hoping reality and space monsters behaved awhile longer.

He unwound his arms from around her, and helped her as best he could to get up without hurting her.

Getting up in the same groany manner, his back popped and he grunted.

"So... I only remember some bits an' pieces of that fight, but did I really get pitched through the air?"

[noteasytobepink]

"I think so? I may have seen that," she admitted after she stretched up onto her toes until her back popped as well. It made her yip too, a short, sharp sound.

"I was on the bar until I saw you, so..." Yeah. It had been a little wild.

"Caught a chair in the ribs after that I think."

[no_andy_taylor]

"Ouch. Next time we'll have t'plan for a quieter date, like bull ridin' or somethin'."

It would probably be safer.