She put away her book and wiggled her way under the covers when she heard the front door open and close. She knew she had only seconds until he opened the bedroom door and looked in. She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing, willing her body into relaxation.

Not two full seconds later, she heard the bedroom door open. “Hi,” she heard him say. She waited with baited breath for him to come into the room. But to her consternation, she heard the door shut and noise coming from the other room.

She huffed out a sigh and pouted in disappointment. Why doesn’t he ever wake me with a kiss, she thought wryly. He knows I love all that fairy tale stuff.

She was about to open her eyes when she heard a noise against the door. She quickly relaxed her body back into mock-sleep. She felt excitement flood her veins as the door reopened. Is he coming to me? She heard his footsteps moving across the floor until he stood right beside her. She nearly held her breath, but didn’t want him to know she wasn’t really asleep.

Then she heard some papers rustling on the floor next to her. Disappointment filled her again. Of course, she thought, a bit hopelessly, he’s just looking for something.

She heard him stand, and then nothing else. She was tempted to open her eyes to see what he was doing, but she didn’t want to ruin her ruse. She hadn’t given up all hope yet.

Barely daring to breathe, she waited. Then, after what had seemed an unbearably long time, she felt the whisper of movement next to her cheek just a millisecond before his hand cupped her face gently. Yes, she thought. She sighed contentedly and turned her face into his palm, eyes still closed. She didn’t want this fantasy to end- it was just beginning. She hoped.

She felt him lean down and press his lips to her forehead. She loved it when he did that, and she had to struggle to stay still because her arms wanted to reach out and draw him near.

And so she continued to wait. All I want is his love, she reasoned. His unconditional, no-strings-attached, I don’t expect anything in return, love. She ached for it deep inside her chest. But she was too proud to ask. And she wanted him to just know.

He had stopped touching her, but hadn’t moved. She had just about given up hope when a feather-light, barely there, tender kiss touched her lips. She couldn’t help herself- she made a low sound of contentment deep in her throat. Please don’t stop, she begged silently.

And he didn’t. He sat gently next to her on the bed, and brushed her hair back from her face. Then he pressed his lips to hers again, still softly, but with just a bit more pressure. He didn’t force, didn’t slant his mouth this way or that. He just pressed his lips against hers. Like a gesture of the depth of his love for her. She allowed herself to arch her neck slightly to raise her lips to his. He slipped his hand soothingly under her chin, and raised her mouth even higher as he moved his lips against hers very hesitantly. It was the most endearing and heart-breakingly tender kiss of her life. Tears gathered in her eyes behind her closed lids, but she didn’t let them escape.

As he kissed her, he slid his hand carefully under her shoulders and slowly began to raise her into a sitting position, being careful to support her neck because she wasn’t fully awake. Or, so he thought. He pulled back from her lips and laid his forehead against hers, waiting.

When she was in an upright position, she blinked open her eyes. She didn’t have to fake the dreamy quality in them- his kisses had sent her to the moon and back. He smiled slightly into her eyes, and she lifted one corner of her lips in response.

Neither of them said a word. Words weren’t needed. They were communicating through looks, touches, and their love. She leaned against him, feeling lassitude overtake her.

He held her, resting her head on his shoulder and slowly rubbing her back. When he felt sure that she was completely content in his arms, he removed one arm from around her and lifted her chin up. He kissed her with gentle pressure this time, just barely opening his mouth over hers, waiting for her response. He didn’t have to wait long.

She raised her hands to his shoulders and held on. She didn’t know what would happen to her if she didn’t, she only knew that she needed to hold on to him to keep her tied down.

As the pressure of his lips increased, slowly and by degrees, he also became more demanding in his kisses. He slid his hand back into her hair and held her head at the back of her skull to better position her for the sensual assault he was laying on her lips.

As if on cue, she began to recline, and he followed her. He was careful to keep his weight off to one side of her, and only slid his knee between hers as he supported himself on his hip and elbow.

When she lay flat, he kissed her forehead again, then her cheeks, then her nose. He kissed just behind her ears, both of them, lingering so that she could feel his breath on her neck. He kissed and lightly, lightly, nipped with his lips along her jaw line. Then he followed her neck down to where her pulse beat erratically at its base. He raised his head and looked into her eyes, showing his love through the light that shined from them. He placed his hand on her hip, gently massaging it in circles. She smiled dreamily and closed her eyes.

Leisurely, he trailed kisses down the center of her chest to her belly button, where her shirt- his shirt- had bunched up. He playfully nudged the shirt up to her rib cage and kissed that place where her ribs met in the middle. He put his teeth tenderly against her sensitive flesh there and play-bit her. She let out a half-laugh, half-sigh, and ran her fingers through his hair. He luxuriated in the feel of her hands on him- anywhere on him.

She arched her back for him as he slowly used his hands to trace her curves, sliding the shirt up along the way. He pulled it off her carefully, and set it aside. She watched as he looked down at her breasts and let out a quiet breath. He slid his hands down over her shoulders, to the sides of her chest where her breasts met her body. He didn’t cup them, or kiss them, just lightly, like a summer breeze, skimmed his thumbs across the tops of her nipples. She shivered as they puckered for him, and felt her breasts grow heavy and full.

He seemed mesmerized by the globes as he slowly lowered his mouth and kissed each nipple. Then he turned his head and laid it against her chest above her heart. The whole of her body melted in the warmth of his love. When he raised his head, she saw the love in his eyes. And something more. The spark of his desire for her. She felt her breath catch in anticipation.

This time when he lowered his head, she felt his tongue skim around one of her nipples and she shivered. Next he began to gently nip around the fullness of her breast with his lips. Deep within her, she felt her core begin to tighten. The torment continued until her breast felt hyper-sensitive, and then he turned his attentions to her other breast. She moaned softly as his ministrations continued.

Finally, finally, he moved away from her breasts. He pressed a swift and demanding kiss to her lips, then placed his hands on her hips and slid down toward her lower body. He kissed and drank from the skin of her belly, all the while massaging her hips and thighs. She writhed as he inched further down.

He lifted himself from her, and she cried out for him. He returned to her quickly, bereft of his clothing. She was ready to beg for him to end this sensual torment, to make them one. But she didn’t have to. He didn’t make her wait. She marveled at how attuned he was to her. But the thought drifted away and they moved together as waves on a beach, in an ancient, innate rhythm.

Moments, minutes, eons, passed as they rocked and ground and slid against each other. She could tell by his breath in her ear that he was getting close. He could tell by the little catches in her breaths that she was nearly there. And suddenly, it burst upon them both, like a glorious sun breaking the horizon to bathe them both in its warmth.

Spent, he rolled off of her, and pulled her over so that she was laying atop his chest. They lay unmoving, except for their rapid breathing and the thunderous beating of their hearts. Slowly, as the capacity for thought and speech returned to them both, she tipped her face up to look at him. He smiled down at her.

“I love you,” were the first words they spoke to each other that day.