Have So Much That I Want to Say / But Sometimes Words, They Get In the Way (Melanie Fiona)
Cecil sighed as he set down his book on his bedside table and rubbed his eyes underneath his eyeglasses. He turned to look at Carlos, who was sound asleep next to him. Cecil slowly shimmied down under the covers and laid on his side facing his boyfriend, who was turned away from him, his bare back all that Cecil could see.
Careful not to wake his boyfriend, Cecil lifted his hand and began to very gently trace up and down his spine. After a few minutes, the single straight line turned into different shapes, and then Cecil found himself tracing the words 'I love you' over and over again on Carlos's back.
It was a semi-conscious decision, but once Cecil had realized that he was doing it, he smiled widely. He hadn't said those words to Carlos before. It wasn't because he didn't love him—in fact, Cecil knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Carlos—but he wasn't sure if Carlos even felt the same way. So Cecil had decided to wait a little longer to see how everything panned out in their relationship.
But it was nothing short of agony to even think that there was a remote possibility that Carlos didn't love him. And it scared Cecil; so much so that he kept putting off him telling Carlos how he really felt, in fear of the love of his life rejecting him.
His thoughts eventually returned to that moment in bed and Cecil smiled again at his own ministrations on his boyfriend's back. He then made a promise to himself to tell Carlos how he really felt tomorrow.
After tracing his confession one last time onto Carlos's back, Cecil leaned in and kissed his shoulder blade. That's when Carlos shifted and rolled over so he was facing Cecil. And that's when Cecil realized that Carlos had been awake the entire time.
"I'm sorry," Cecil whispered. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Carlos simply leaned in to kiss Cecil. Then he said something that Cecil had been adamant yet apprehensive about hearing: "I love you, too."
Cecil's eyes went wide and he opened his mouth to say something, but the words caught in his throat. Finally, Cecil choked out a quiet, "Really?"
Quietly, Carlos let out a chuckle. "Of course. I love you, Cecil. I wanted to tell you, but I was worried that you didn't feel the same way."
At this, Cecil laughed loudly. Carlos visibly reeled back and Cecil collected himself enough to say, "Oh my dear Carlos. How could I ever not feel the same?"
Both of them smiled widely and Cecil leaned forward to place a kiss on Carlos's nose before rolling over to turn off his bedside lamp. Meanwhile, Carlos scooted forward to wrap his arm around Cecil's chest, holding him tight. Overcoming his moment of surprise, Cecil sank back into Carlos's chest and let his boyfriend's breathing lull him to sleep.
Imagine person A lightly tracing "I love you" over and over on person B's back, assuming that person B is asleep. When person A is lying on their back, getting ready to sleep, person B moves closer and wraps their arms around person A, whispering softly, "I love you too." Bonus if that's the first time person A has ever declared their love for person B.