This is just a very short continuation of the relationship of Owen and Annabel. I hope you enjoy it, and like always, don't expect another. Although, who knows?
We lay on our backs, watching the stars. My head was nestled under his arm, and he held me close. The waves slowly lapped against the shore, and the salty sea air stirred our hair from where it lay. We watched the sky. The moon was bright, and the stars iridescent. They scintillated, dying out just briefly enough to be recognized, and then they were back, full flare.
Owen began to gently play with my hair. "Annabel," he said, pushing a strand away from my forehead, "what do you think about when you look at the stars?"
It was Owen, so I had to answer him honestly. "Mostly I think about you…" I trailed off a little, embarrassed at this confession.
"Why would that be?" Owen prompted, twirling a strand of my hair around his finger.
"Looking up there at infinity makes life seem minuscule, but living it with you makes it worth the effort." I blushed, and I could tell that Owen was smiling. "So what do you think about?" I asked Owen, hoping to give him a taste of his own medicine. It had no effect. He replied immediately.
"I think about how immeasurably large the universe is. How we can never reach the end of the universe, and even if we could, what would we possibly find there? And then my head hurts, and I have to go get some ibuprofen."
I stifled a giggle. Typical Owen.
He laughed a bit with me, but then grew silent. He moved so that he was on his side, gazing into my face. "And then I think of you. And I don't need the ibuprofen anymore." I smiled at this, and he smiled his deliciously sweet smile back at me. "I think of how incredibly lucky I am to have you, and how the dimensions of the universe pale in comparison to what I feel for you."
I couldn't help it. I let out a giggle. Then two and then three, and soon Owen joined in, both of us lying on our sides, cracking up. When the laughter began to die down, Owen leaned over me and kissed me deeply. "I meant every word," he murmured into my neck.
"I did too," I whispered into his ear, as he kissed his way up my neck until his lips reached mine. Then there was no talking.