Bracken was still asleep, his back toward her and only his bare shoulders visible above the blankets. She wondered briefly, blushing, what else lay under the white covers. She wasn't sure why she felt this embarassment, given their current position, as if she were wondering this of Bracken when he had been a near-stranger.
In the space of her wondering, Bracken had stirred, as if he had been waiting for her to wake up. He turned over, with warm eyes only for her, and a love in his face so intense and so whole that she was in thrall. He reached gentle fingers to tuck an errant hair behind her temple, stroking her face in a shameless admission that the hair had only been an excuse to touch. His hand came to rest on her shoulder, which she became aware only by his touch was without a thread. Bracken's eyes never left hers. "You are radiant," he murmured, a wistful awe colored by a near imperceptible huskiness that made her blush ever further. Then, as if his voice had conjured it into being, she noticed the subtle touch of dawn's tender rose fingers across his features; effusing with warmth and the gold of a thousand colors. The sun must be rising beyond the window.
Bracken removed his hand to sit upright, for a flash illuminated as a bronzen man- Helios garbed in inhuman splendor- his every muscle carved out of contrast and lit with blooming gold. Then out of climax the golden glow flickered and waned, withered and died. Kendra's eyes widened and she sat up to whip her head toward the window, certain to see the apocalypse of an imploding star. The unnatural sunset left the room in predawn grey. Beyond the window it was a time untouched by the rose fire of the sun.
Bracken resettled, catching her attention away from the window with the return of his hand, twining gently around hers in chaste affection. And the room was once again gilded.
As her eyes cast about in concerned wonder, Bracken craned down, nuzzling across her cheek before reaching her ear, whispering only "Beautiful." She felt his lips smile.
She felt an answering smile creep across her face, pleased without her knowing and shy without her consent. The luminescence strengthened and intensified. Bracken chuckled, drawing away to share the excited kindness of his familiar grin.
"Good morning, sunshine." He murmured, in the way that only Bracken could make a tease feel like the greatest endearment.
He had eyes for her and only for her, never once wavering from the curve of her lips and the light of her eyes. Sitting without a stitch, she would not have known it but for the feel of the sheets. She was a little bit ashamed that her eyes were not so stalwart, as her gaze flicked to trace across every inch of him exposed, and to ponder at that which was not. She noticed that he sat up a little straighter, a subconscious shift under her scrutiny.
She felt a squeeze on her hand as subtle reminder that her gaze had strayed too long, and she looked back up into his gaze, watching his pupils contract under the sudden blaze of unfiltered light.
Bracken chuckled again, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand, an edge of nervousness in the sound now that made it all the more endearing. "Not to discourage you, but... I really want your attention when I do this." And he kissed her.
