A cold, wet nose nudged against the hand that dangled over the side of the bed, followed quickly by the press of a furry head into the palm. Fingers twitched in the fur, an unconscious movement that egged the dog on, and with a soft whine it nudged the hand again. A grunt of response sounded from the tangled sheets, and slowly the owner began to wake.
Blue eyes blinked and adjusted to the slowly lessening darkness around them. The woman sighed and stretched, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and grabbed her robe from the dresser to cover her nakedness. Quietly she padded downstairs, the click of the dog's nails echoed behind her. The door opened with a groan, and the dog scurried outside.
The woman smiled as she sun poked up over the hill, and she leaned against the doorjamb as she waited for her furry companion. She watched the birds flit and flutter from one branch to another. Her eyes roamed the pasture land before her, taking in the sight of the new born calves and their mothers. She did this same routine every morning, for twenty-five years, and every morning, Korra Southern couldn't believe how lucky she was.
Korra whistled softly, drawing Naga's attention, and urging her to come back inside. After closing the door, she checked Naga's bowls, filling one with fresh water, and another with kibble. Then she started the coffee pot, measuring out the grounds of her wife's favorite blend, and setting them to brew.
While the scent of coffee spread throughout the house Korra made her way back upstairs, and let her robe drop to the floor before climbing back under the sheets. She scooted towards the still slumbering form of her wife and wrapped her arms around her tightly. She pressed tiny kisses to the curve of a pale shoulder and smiled as her wife sighed in response.
"What time is it?" Asami rasped sleepily, pressing closer to the warmth behind her.
Korra pressed a kiss to her ear. "Sun's just peeking out, so time to get up."
Asami shivered at the fingers that skimmed over her ribs. "I'll never get used to this."
Korra chuckled and cupped a breast, her thumb flicking over the nipple. "Waking up at dawn, or waking up like this?" She nipped gently as Asami's neck.
Asami groaned and twisted to face her wife. "Mmm, both." She smiled and leaned in to meet Korra's lips in a kiss. She jumped slightly at the press of Korra's hand to her ass and rolled to settle on top of her. "Honestly? I don't ever want to get used to this."
Korra smirked, a lopsided upturn of her lips that then broke into a full grin. "I blame you for my insatiable nature."
Asami chuckled then broke into a soft moan as her hips jerk against the frim thigh between her legs. "Are you saying I'm the bad influence? You're the one that woke me up by being handsy."
Korra shook her head and nibbled along her wife's jaw to her ear. "Have I told you, you talk too much?"
Asami smirked and bit gently at Korra's collarbone. "Maybe you should shut me up." She caught the flash of darkening blue eyes just before she was deposited onto her back. Talking was the furthest thing from her mind after that. She was lost in the press and feel of her wife's body. In the kisses and teeth that were planted and scraped along her skin.
Her hands tangled in Korra's hair, her hips bucking up into Korra's searing mouth. She scraped at Korra's scalp, a shudder running through her body from Korra's exploring tongue. Then her body convulsed and clenched around the fingers that slipped inside her. Asami, under no circumstances, ever, wanted to get used to waking up like this.
It was long after the morning alarm went off before they ever climbed from bed. Through stolen glances, and kisses that grew a little too heated, they managed to get dressed and head down to start their day. Korra went to the barn to help her ranch hands, while Asami disappeared into the office space they'd set up in the small bedroom.
Since their wedding day five years ago Asami had taken over keeping the books for the ranch. Those first few months of going through poorly kept paper documents and files had been horrendous. She almost feared that would end their marriage before it ever really started. But, after many late nights she had finally managed to get The Southern Oasis Ranch into the computer age.
Asami still couldn't believe this was her life now, she knew she'd changed a lot in her time on the ranch. Yet, when she took stock of those changes, it still seemed like it was another person she was thinking about and not herself. She had callouses on her once smooth hands, and couldn't remember the last time she'd had a manicure. More often than not she went inside at the end of the day covered in a layer of dust and grime. Her closet, once full of designer clothes, was now filled with denim jeans, work shirts, and flannel. She'd traded her heels for boots, and her fast-paced city life for one of physical labor, and far less stress.
She smiled at herself as she stepped out on the porch to stretch her legs. She liked the country life, liked working at her own pace, never worrying about a deadline, or a business meeting. She enjoyed working with her hands, escaping into the mountains on horseback, and most of all, she loved the view it came with.
Her eyes sparkled as she took in the sight of Korra, her wife, clad in faded jeans, and a white tank top. She watched the muscles of her back and shoulders flex as she hauled a square bale from the nearby stack and tossed it up into the back of the truck.
"Need a hand?" Asami called from the entryway.
Korra smiled and tossed another bale into the back. "I don't know City Slicker, think you can handle it?" She teased, as she always did, knowing full well that by now, Asami could handle any of the work on the ranch.
Asami narrowed her eyes in a challenging look and stepped forward, wrapping her hands around the baling twine and heaving the bale into the truck. "I think I'll manage."
They worked beside each other in companionable silence. Dust and bits of hay sticking to their sweaty skin. Finally, with the bed of the truck loaded they both climbed into the cab.
"Where are we going?" Asami scooted to the middle of the seat and pointed the AC vents at her.
Korra handed her the bottle of water she'd been drinking from. "Kai and Jinora's, they didn't have enough square bales for the barn raising tomorrow. Told them I'd bring some down."
Asami graciously accepted the water and took a large drink, a little stream escaping from the corner of her mouth and spilling down her neck and chest. She shook her head as she watched Korra follow that stream. "Watch the road there cowgirl."
Korra smirked and obediently turned her attention back to the road. "You're no fun."
"Not what you said this morning." Asami gave her a sidelong look, before snuggling into her side.
The drive to Jinora and Kai's was a familiar one for Asami. They had purchased and moved into Hiroshi's old house a couple years ago. Asami couldn't think of a better couple to live there. They had converted one of the bedrooms into a nursery and were expecting their first child in a few months, and were working tirelessly to get their own ranch up and running.
"Tomorrow, everyone is going to show up and build this barn?" Asami asked as they bumped along the gravel road.
Korra nodded as she made the turn into the drive. "Not everyone will be building on it. Pema, Jinora, Ikki, and Opal will be in the house fixing lunch and dinner. The rest of us will be building the barn. If everything goes right, we'll get it finished and have a dance in it later that night." Korra caught the face Asami made. "What?"
"I don't know how much I trust Bolin with a hammer."
Korra threw her head back and laughed. "Don't worry, Mako keeps an eye on him."
"Speaking of Mako." Asami smiled as she slid out of the truck behind Korra. "He's bringing his new fella, right?"
Korra nodded and waved to Jinora on the porch. "Yeah, but honestly, I'm not sure how much help Wu will be with a hammer and a nail."
Kai smiled as he came around the house, catching the tail end of their conversation. "Think we'd offend him if we put him in the house with the ladies for his own safety?" He laughed and Korra joined him.
Asami scowled at them both. "You two once said the same thing about me." She crossed her arms and cocked her hip in an annoyed stance. "Give Wu a chance at least, he might surprise you."
Korra kicked at a rock with the toe of her boot. "You're right. Wu hasn't proven himself inept with a hammer." She smiled and looked at Kai. "He can't be any worse than Bo."
"It takes real talent to hit the overhead light, shatter the bulb, then throw the hammer through the far wall, short out the circuit box, and start a small electrical fire." Kai suppressed his laughter at the memory of the last time Bolin had used a hammer.
Korra hefted a bale from the truck. "See, gotta be better than that." She smiled and carried the bale to stack near the others.