Seven Sins of St. Berry


Sloth


Rachel heard the insistent trill of the alarm and clumsily slammed it off. She sensed him stir behind her, felt him kiss her shoulder and run his hand down her arm, a gentle encouragement which she ignored as he yawned and rose from their tangled sheets. She was vaguely aware of him moving around the room, the run of the shower and the rustle of clothes. Pulling up the duvet around her neck, she let out a soft groan and hunkered down against the onslaught of a new day. When she cracked a bleary eye open sometime later, she saw that a glass of orange juice and a couple of aspirin had appeared on her bedside table. She took them gratefully before immediately slumping down again just as he returned to the bedroom, collar unbuttoned and cup of coffee in hand.

"Rise and shine, baby."

"…ten more minutes."

"Okay, we're officially gonna be late if you don't get up right now."

"Nuh uh... plenty of time."

"Yes, but you take at least two hours to make yourself presentable. Come on."

"Uhh. My head hurts."

Jesse scoffed unsympathetically. "Well you should know better than to get into a shots contest with Abbey. You know that girl's got an iron stomach."

He yanked the curtains open and she groaned and turned away onto his side of the bed, curling her back up against the intrusive sunlight. Jesse rolled his eyes as he crossed the room, finishing his coffee and putting the final touches to his usual impeccable appearance.

"Oi, get your sweet ass out of bed," he ordered with a smirk, tossing a pillow at her. "Your audience awaits."

Rachel growled like a grumpy animal drawn from hibernation, burrowing deeper under the warm covers.

"She's your mentor."

"She's your mother."

"Technicality."

"I am not facing Shelby on my own. Get. Up. Now."

"Aw, is the big bad St. James afraid of a little mean mother-in-law?"

Jesse scowled and sat down on the bed, grabbing at her leg which she kicked at him.

"If you don't show, she'll assume I've done something to piss you off and I'll get the third degree all breakfast."

"You are pissing me off," she grumbled.

"I haven't even started yet."

With that, he stood up and whisked the sheets off her completely. Rachel swore and grabbed a pillow, jamming it over her head and rolling onto her stomach.

"Last chance," he warned.

When he received no response, he quirked a wicked smile and left for the kitchen. Rachel heard him return a minute later and tightened her grip on the pillow about her ears, curling up defensively from any further attempts to rouse her from her hangover.

The bed creaked softly as Jesse leaned over her and she tensed. After an agonizing pause of suspense, Rachel shivered in pleasant surprise when she felt him press a teasing kiss to the back of her knee. His breath was warm against her bare skin as his mouth worked its way up her leg at a leisurely pace, and against her will she felt her body starting to relax. She smiled to herself as the trail of kisses reached the top of her thigh, all thoughts happily abandoning her sleepy mind in favour of raw sensation. Now this was the kind of couple's argument she loved.

Of course, they loved winning the argument even more.

Rachel let out a muffled shriek as a freezing cascade of ice hit her back.

Jesse laughed and beat a hasty retreat off the bed as his lover thrashed and yelped and shook the quickly melting ice cubes off her skin. Glowering fiercely, she threw a baleful glare in his direction along with a damp pillow that he only just dodged.

"Good morning sweetheart."

"I hate you."

[o]


AN Thanks to all those lovely people who reviewed the last segment :) I'm glad you're enjoying this one, it makes such a difference to hear from you guys. Until next time!