SEVEN
THE INTENTION
Damon glanced back along the path even though he knew that he could not see her. He felt excitement, not the usual blood thirsty glee, but actual excitement like he used to feel before, before becoming a vampire, before Katherine.
It was heady, but with every step he took away from her he couldn't help but wonder if what he felt was merely driven by obsession, if his emotions were just imagined by his unexplainable need to be near her, his growing inability to feed without imagining her skin beneath his fangs. After all, it had been so long since he'd truly felt, since he'd allowed himself to experience emotions other than anger.
Could he really trust those emotions, the ones that told him he was excited about seeing her? He thought he could, but when the thought of taking her neck came into his mind, of the obsession the image seemed to conjure, he really didn't know.
He did know that there was only one way to find out.
Kaari was nervous, more nervous than she'd ever been as she checked her hair and straightened her skirt. It was little shorter than most of the skirts seen in the fifties from what she could tell from pictures, but with her crisp blouse and carefully curled hair she looked like she had stepped off the set of Pleasantville.
She took a steadying breath, heading to the door with her keys, phone and purse in hand – her Misfits purse, as always – which went perfectly with her outfit. Just because she'd gone fifties didn't mean she was wearing spots and floral patters. No, she was wearing black with red roses made of lace patterning the skirt. She wore a white shirt, a black belt wrapped tight around her waist to finish the outfit off. Her make up was minimal too, some light foundation and blush, as well as eyeliner and mascara to highlight her eyes. The only thing exciting about it was the red lipstick, worn to accent the red on her skirt.
Overall, she was very pleased. She just hoped Damon liked it too.
She checked her hair one more time, scolding herself for her vanity before she walked out the door. Her flats were quiet on the pavement as she followed the path in the fading light, heading for the street to walk. Still she was nervous though the night was supposed to be about the students of Mystic Falls High, not her, no matter how much Damon had captivated her.
No matter how much she wanted to dance with him again.
She stood at the doors for a moment and wondered what she was supposed to be doing as a chaperone except keeping the kids – oh god, how old are you? – from fights and any other unsatisfactory behaviour, as well as to keep an eye out for anyone who looked like they'd been drinking or taking drugs. She hoped that she wouldn't see anyone like that, but at every school dance she'd been to, there had always been at least one who thought they could get away with it.
She went into the hall, smiling at the decorations and the screens that had been put up. A mirrored disco ball sparkled above, lights illuminating the room with colour and flair.
God, she'd missed this.
Already there were people there, sipping punch or just mingling with their peers. She saw Alaric leaning against a wall, watching as more people filed in through the doors guarded by the principal. Kaari knew that he was not as relaxed as he appeared though. Elena had told her that the history teacher had been romancing her aunt, Jenna. So far, things were looking promising, and after Logan 'dickhead' Fell, Kaari hoped that things worked out.
She smoothed her skirt, tucking her phone and keys in her belt at the side where they wouldn't get in her way or fall out before she stepped further in, heading towards Alaric, glad that there was someone else there who she could talk to without feeling like she was a mum crashing some teen booze-fest.
He smiled as she neared him and she returned the gesture, stopping at his side to watch as people came in, the students nearly bouncing with excitement as they saw the decorations and heard the music, the adults looking as if they wanted to do the same.
'You volunteered?' she asked, glancing to him.
'It sounded fun, even if I am just acting as a chaperone,' he said, shrugging. 'It's nice to see the kids having fun without thinking they need to get drunk or show off beyond having a prettier skirt or a cooler jacket.'
'They certainly know how to do dress to go with the theme,' Kaari said, 'though I believe that Google would have a lot to do with that.'
Not that she could talk, considering she just re-watched Pleasantville to get ideas for her outfit.
'You should see Caroline,' Alaric said, 'she looks like she must have spent hours on hers.'
'Well, she planned this, so she's likely made sure she looks the part,' Kaari said, smiling as she thought of her younger friend. Although Alex – if only Kaari had thought to get Caroline or Bonnie to volunteer Alex for chaperoning! – had always been closer to Caroline, Kaari had enjoyed her company even if she could be overbearing at times. She was just motivated, and Kaari could understand that.
Alaric stood up suddenly, and Kaari smirked as she saw Jenna enter. She glanced to the history teacher, watching his throat work in a gulp as he reached to straighten his jacked and smooth his hair. She touched his shoulder, snapping him out of his nervous trance to say, 'you look good, now go get her.'
He offered a nervous smile and a nod before weaving through the progressively growing crowd of students towards Jenna while Kaari took his leaning post, watching as people continued to file into the hall. Soon, it would be full of excited, dancing teens. Kaari had been there and done that, possibly to the extent to make an acronym – BTDTBTTAWIO.
Been There Done That Bought The T-shirt And Worn It Out.
Still, it was exciting. As the music caught her in its beat she couldn't help but tap her toes to the catchy tune and watch as punch and conversation was slowly forgotten and dancing broke out all over. She even spied a few teachers giving darting glances around the room before joining in.
'Kaari, you came!'
She drew her gaze away from the dance floor, a grin breaking across her lips as Elena pushed through the crowd. She opened her arms, nearly lifting Elena off her feet in the hug, though the teen was far taller. 'Of course I did,' she said, holding Elena's hand for a moment, 'I asked if you could get me a chaperone gig because I wanted to be here, to get involved in this community again.'
'Sure it wasn't just to perve on all the seniors?' Elena asked, winking as she glanced to her boyfriend. Stefan smiled, reaching for her, drawing her tight against his side.
'Well, some of us are rather dashing,' he said and Kaari watched as a blush darted over Elena's cheeks.
'I won't deny it, but I'm not into cradle snatching.'
'She prefers older men.'
Kaari nearly froze at the words but the richness of his voice – somehow managing to reach her over the music that was beginning to increase in volume as more began to dance – sent warmth rushing though her veins. She met his gaze, letting it captivate her for a moment before she took in his broad shoulders that were sheathed in leather, the shirt underneath a plain dark v-neck and his jeans a slightly faded black.
Still he managed to steal her breath, especially when he flashed her one of his real smiles.
'Well, I thought I saw a little grey in your fringe, but I didn't want to say anything.'
Damon gave Stefan a shove but the boy's smile never faltered. Kaari watched the light in their eyes, the playfulness that she usually saw in the gazes of siblings. It was shadowed, holding their troubled history, but she also saw healing within their mismatched gazes. It might be a long road to the friendship they once had, the brotherhood, but at least they were on it.
'Stefan, I'd like to dance,' Elena said, glancing between Kaari and Damon before she quirked an eyebrow at her boyfriend. 'It looks like they have a lot to talk about.'
Kaari went to call after them but Stefan seemed to have an amazing power: the crowds parted before him as he led Elena to the dance floor, leaving Kaari to fend for herself as Damon took a step closer. She gulped, taking a breath before she looked to him, trying to put a smile on her lips.
He smiled at her, the look sending her speeding heart soaring as he held out a hand. 'Would you like to dance?'
She glanced to his hand for a moment, knowing that even though his palms were smooth, there was strength in them. Her mind flashed back to the Annual Founders' Party, to the way he had managed to stop Richard's flying fist with frightening ease. Her intuition chilled her spine, but the icy marching feet seemed to slow as her thoughts filled her, confident and sure.
He will not hurt me.
She just hoped her heart was right.
She took his hand, feeling only the briefest chill of his ring before a thrill of energy rushed through her at the contact – probably caused by serotonin if she remembered her science correctly, though that area of memory was so-so considering her hatred of the subject – and she felt a smile blossom over her lips. This one was strong, confident as he led her onto the dance floor, gaze never leaving hers. The people around them just seemed to part, as if he had the same amazing power as his brother.
The ability to move crowds with a thought.
Soon they were in the thick of the dance floor, so close to the centre that as people danced, she was pushed closer and closer, chest to chest with him until he was all she could see. The lights around them were nearly blocked out, the blue-grey of his eyes seeming brighter than even the disco ball above their heads.
'I have to admit,' she said, glancing away for a moment in the hope of hiding her blush. 'I've been sort of looking forward to tonight.'
'As always, my unflinching ability to listen to Taylor Swift pays off again.'
'What?'
He threw her a wicked smirk that nearly sent her knees knocking. 'I was just commenting on how preposterously charming I am.'
'Modest too.'
'Oh please, there's no fun in modesty,' he said, rolling his eyes at the ceiling, 'I strive for honesty in a dishonest world, so I will not hide the fact that I believe myself to be dashing, charming and ridiculously good looking. However, I will also not hide the fact that I can be an absolute dick.'
'I'm sure that's a great line to catch a girl's interest.'
'You're still dancing with me, aren't you?'
She smiled. 'That's because I've seen how much of a non-dick you can be.'
'You're glad I'm not a complete non-dick though, because if this relationship progresses further, then you'd get a rather unfortunate surprise when we have our first naughty encounter.'
He winked and she barely stopped herself from laughing, forcing a smirk to dance over her lips as she hoped she could retain a perfect poker face for a least a moment longer. 'You seem to assume that I'm going to let you talk me out of my pants, or into yours.'
He flashed that wicked smirk. 'Did I mention that I'm charming?'
She glanced down for a moment, nibbling her bottom lip as she stared at the v of his shirt and again tried not to laugh.
Or to imagine…
'You also assume that what we have is a relationship.'
'Well,' he glanced around for a moment, pale gaze darting over the lights and the dancing bodies before it levelled with hers, a smile curving his lips that sent her heart fluttering, 'this could be our first date, if you like.'
Date?
Admittedly, he understood his mind's surprise at the word, but then he couldn't really deny it.
He'd been looking forward to the night too.
After convincing Stefan to let him come to the dance – he was on bagged blood, but he could deal with that, he would deal with that – as a chaperone. He'd even agreed, though rather reluctantly, to let him near Kaari. Yes, he could have made it easier by simply explaining that he liked her, but then Stefan might have caught onto the fact that he felt he may have been, well, a little obsessed with her. 145 years of anger and solitude would make anyone a little loopy in the mental department.
Stefan had actually seemed willing to listen though, as if going might make Damon feel a little more human, a little more emotional though Stefan believed that Damon was blocking emotions. It seemed that Stefan thought that if Damon had contact with people, especially a girl that he seemed interested in, he might feel less inclined to kill innocent people and merely block the emotions.
Truth be told, he hadn't been blocking any emotions at all. It felt like he couldn't, not when all he was feeling was related to Kaari.
There was also the fact that Stefan had found that dead vampire and Damon had revealed that he'd seen it stalking someone, leaving out the fact that it had actually attacked Kaari. It would be no fun making Stefan believe he was being a good boy after all…
He felt a flutter of warmth somewhere inside as he saw a smile light her lips, her eyes. As always, she seemed to glow, the disco ball merely highlighting her as she met his gaze, holding it.
Captivating him.
'I would like that,' she said and he smiled at the blush that lit her cheeks, hidden by her make-up but still visible to him. He reached up, unable to stop himself before he brushed the back of his knuckles along her soft skin, cupping her cheek to draw her into a kiss. He felt her smile as he claimed her lips, heard the strong beat of her heart increase as her breath hitched. He couldn't help but smile either. He was glad to know that he seemed to be having the same effect on her.
Even if his heart didn't beat, if his lungs didn't draw air, he felt as if at that moment he was more alive than he had been since before he'd been turned, before he'd known anything about vampires or Katherine.
He pulled away as a song caught his attention, and as soon as Kaari had caught her breath, he knew that she recognised it. Her eyes lit up and he became aware of the clutch purse she held, her grip tightening on it as she listened to the start of the song.
'This is 'Great Balls Of Fire' the–'
'Misfits version,' he finished, smiling at her before he pulled her close, holding her hand tight in his as he prepared himself, 'also known as the perfect song to dance to right now.'
She gasped as he sent her twirling away, drawing her back to dip her. He may have been lost in the fifties, buried in rage, but he'd still picked up a few moves. He pulled them all out, watching the light in her eyes and devouring every laugh as they danced, forcing a few couples to give them some space as they took hold of the moment and eventually the night.
Yes, they performed their chaperoning duties, making sure that no one caused any trouble. They just did it from the dance floor, between spins, dips and lifts as he allowed himself to feel happiness, possibly bliss, for the first time in so long, and it didn't even have anything to do with the thrill of a breaking neck or the complete control over the last beat of someone's heart.
And, as the night began to slow and the music began to take on a change of pace, she tucked herself against his chest and he rested his chin by her temple, talking in whispers as they slow danced.
But even as he enjoyed every second, enjoyed feeling her warm and safe in his arms, he still wondered if it really could be obsession, if he really could trust the feelings he had for her even after he had spent so long living with only the anger that had become a being inside him. He was beginning to think he could as he breathed in the intoxicating scent that was her, a mixture of rose shampoo and honey lotion that hit his senses in blissful waves.
Still, he had to be sure. He had to know if he was entranced by her or the sweet blood that coursed through her veins.
The hall was nearly empty when they left, knowing that most of the students were either getting picked up or driving themselves. The clean up was taken care of, so they were told that they could go.
They walked into the cool night air and she wrapped her arms around herself, glad that her skirt was longer as the breeze picked up. She missed summer, missed the warm nights, but Damon draped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close, and she felt warmer as she wrapped her arm around his waist, seeing a smile curve his lips.
'It would appear Stefan has left,' he said as he looked around the car park. He looked to her. 'Would you do me the honour of allowing me to walk you home?'
'You won't run off again?'
'Promise.'
Admittedly, it wasn't all that far to her house, but they walked slowly, both seeming to want to draw out their time as they strolled the streets. After the attack, she didn't think that she'd feel so comfortable walking home at this time of night, but with Damon she felt…safe.
But all too soon they were on her block, the house loomed closer as if taunting her, laughing that the night was coming to an end far too soon.
'You know,' he said, slowing them to a stand still, 'I don't think I've danced so much in my entire life.'
She smiled, sending a silent prayer to the sky, thanking whoever was responsible for Damon's miracle decision to stop them, drawing out the moment. 'I don't think I've ever enjoyed dancing so much in my entire life,' she said, a shiver rolling down her spine as he wrapped his arms around her, a smirk on his lips.
'I am a man of many talents.'
Oh, I bet you a–
She forced her hormonal thoughts into a little box even as her body felt a rush of warmth at the sentence, completed or not. She knew that he was going to kiss her, knew by the way he reached to tuck her hair behind her ear before his touch lingered on her cheek, but still she held her breath as he neared.
But instead he dipped his head to her neck, trailing his lips over her skin until shivers rolled down her spine. She clutched his shoulders at the unexpected caress and the thrills it sent through her as she felt teeth graze her skin.
But suddenly, he drew back, turning his head away to stare across the street.
'You're about to run off on me, aren't you?' she said, trying to ignore the breathlessness in her voice.
'No,' he said and she felt a chill sprint down her spine. His whole demeanour had changed, his strong jaw set as he looked around, head tilted as if he were listening for something. There was no smile on his face now, even as he drew her tight against him, still listening. 'There's no time.'
'What's–'
'Just stay close and be quiet for a second,' he said. She wanted to argue, but didn't dare, not when she saw the Damon she had first met rear its head, that danger and anger rolling off him in waves as he continued to listen.
But for what?
He pushed her behind him as he turned, grabbing a man that seemed to appear out of no where from across the street. He tightened his grip on the attacker's neck, grappling with him for a moment before tossing him like he weighed no more than a basketball.
'Stay back,' he said, running towards the man in a near blur of movement to pick up the attacker, but he was knocked back by a fist to the gut. Kaari thought she heard a growl but shook it from her mind. These were men fighting, not animals…
Then she saw the man's face. Her eyes widened as she stared, watching as they grappled and the black veins around the attacker's eyes seemed to thicken. She couldn't look away even as her legs shook with fear at the blood red that had replaced the white, her body nearly frozen.
Damon was thrown back and Kaari moved to run to him, only stopping when he growled, 'don't, Kaari' and shot to his feet, tackling the attacker, his fingers wrapping tight around the man's neck before he shook something from the sleeve of his jacket.
Kaari watched as Damon stabbed the attacker in the heart with what she thought was a wooden stake, those blood red eyes bulging before the colour faded just as his skin turned to grey.
'Damon, what the hell–'
'It's not what you think, Kaari. I had to.'
She forced her feet forward. 'Damon, it was self defence.' She reached for him.
'Don't.' He shot up, darting away from her before she could place a hand on his shoulder.
'It's okay. He attacked us. He just–'
'Stay away from me.'
'Damon, I–'
'Kaari, stay away!'
She gasped when he turned, his eyes just like the attacker's, blood red, near black veins running from them as if they were tears. She stumbled back when he growled, bearing fangs that sent chills sprinting down her spine until she believed she would never move again.
Her intuition had been right, and she'd ignored it.
She turned, reaching into her belt as she jumped over the front gate and sprinted down the path at the side of the house, fumbling with her keys as she made it to the top of the stairs. She gasped as they flew from her hand and his palms landed hard on the door, shaking it as her back was forced against it. He cornered her, surrounding her with his body and it felt as if she shut down. She closed her eyes, trying to force the memories from her mind, but they broke through the walls she had tried so hard to build. She remembered every threat, every time Jared had come so close to hitting her and to the time he had only missed because her mother had all but tackled him to the ground.
But no attack came, no hit or even the bite she predicted, because she knew that it wasn't an animal that had been attacking the people of Mystic Falls, knew that it wasn't an animal that had attacked her. It had been a vampire.
And Damon was one.
'Please,' she said, 'please, Damon.'
He said nothing but she heard the scrape of nails on painted wood as he curled his fingers into fists beside her head. She forced her eyes open, her head light as her heart thudded hard against her chest, threatening to break through. His head was down, his hair hanging as he leant on the door, blocking her in with his arms. He was still, too still, and everything became clear. His lethal grace and the way he seemed to move like a man from a different time? Well, for all she knew, he was a thousand years old.
'I'm not going to hurt you,' he said, but she was not reassured by his words, not when there as so much venom in them. 'Just talk or something. I need to get control of myself.'
'Oh, because that gives me so much confidence that you won't hurt me.'
He looked up at her, moving closer until there was barely a breath between their bodies. The blood red of his eyes held her gaze and she felt a bead of sweat track down her temple as he bared his fangs. A growl rumbled through him and she held her breath, expecting pain at any moment, but still he merely stared.
She held that gaze, the veins in his eyes darker in the shadows. 'I'm sorry,' he said, and she knew that this had to be the moment he would bite her, but instead of pulling her head aside to bear her neck he closed his eyes, exhaling a breath, and she watched as the veins disappeared and his fangs receded.
'I'm sorry I scared you,' he said and when he opened his eyes the blood was gone from the white, 'I can't help the change, not when I'm angry. And I shouldn't have told you to run, not when I know it just makes me want to chase.'
He stepped back, bending to pick up her keys and hand them to her.
She took them carefully, forcing in a few steadying breaths even as her hand shook. 'You're a vampire.'
He nodded. 'Yes.'
'And that man, he was one too?'
'Yes,' he said, reaching for her, his hand dropping to his side when she dodged his touch.
'Why didn't you tell me?'
'Because I knew that you would fear me.'
'Funny that.'
He reached to run his fingers through his hair. 'Listen, I won't hurt you. If I'd wanted to, I would have done it already, but if it will make you feel safer just open your door and cross the threshold. I can't reach you there, not without an invite, but please just let me explain,' he said, stepping as far away as the small porch would allow. He leant on the railing, head hanging for a moment before he turned to her again once she'd gone through the door. He had expected her to close it on him, but she stood a foot back from the opening, watching him, and suddenly he wondered just how he could explain.
'If…If you don't want to see me again I understand, but you need to know that everything I've said, everything we've done together and everything I've felt…It was real. It was important to me. It made me…It made me feel more human than I've felt since I was turned.'
She took an unsteady breath, but some of the tension eased from her shoulders. 'When were you turned?'
'1864.'
Well, she had to admit that was better than some of the numbers that had been popping into her head.
'What are you going to do to me?'
He looked shocked. 'Nothing.'
'But I know your secret.'
He stepped forward, leaning his hands on either side of the doorway. She didn't step back though, which meant that a part of her trusted him, trusted that he'd been telling the truth about his needing an invitation to enter. 'I would never hurt you, Kaari, not when you make me feel more than anger, more than hate and betrayal. You make me want to stand in the sun, not just because I can, but because the warmth feels good. You make me want to dance, and to enjoy the world when I lost interest in it so many years ago,' he said. 'I will do anything to earn your trust, to show you that I won't hurt you, to prove that I won't bite you, even if it means spending the next century chasing–' shudder '–bunnies to eat like Stefan.'
Her eyes widened. 'Of course,' she said, 'why didn't I– Oh god, Elena–'
'Is safe, believe me,' he said, 'Stefan loves her. He would never hurt her, just like I would never hurt you.' He slumped a little, stepping away from the door. 'I'm sorry, Kaari.'
She watched him go down the stairs, watched him tuck his hands into his pockets as he headed back along the path. She worried her bottom lip as her emotions raged inside – fear, anger. Her intuition said let him go, let him walk away because he was dangerous just like Jared, let him walk away because he had kept secrets from her just like Richard.
But her heart would have none of it.
'Damon, wait.'
He turned and she stepped over the threshold, forcing her knees to keep from shaking even though her intuition growled at her. She went down the steps, walking to him slowly, watching the emotions play in his gaze and knowing that she was the cause of the wide range. She took a steadying breath before she held out her hand, seeing the shock in his gaze. But within the pale depths she saw more.
Happiness.
He went to her, taking her hand gently, as if he were afraid she would change her mind, but even as he wrapped his arms around her she didn't flinch or turn away. She held his gaze, worrying her lip in that adorable habit that begged him to kiss her, urged him to. He bent his head, still waiting for her to cringe away, but she didn't, not even as he claimed her lips, forcing himself to be gentle, to let her set the pace until her arms wrapped around his neck and she drew him closer, her tongue darting to trace his lower lip until he thought he'd lose all sanity.
'I should…' he said, barely managing to pull himself away from her. 'I should take care of the body.'
She tensed a little at that, but showed no other signs that she was bothered. 'Will you bury it?'
'I'll take it to my house. Stefan and I will bury it in the morning and I'll tell him about the attack.'
'Do you think I'll be safe?'
'A vampire can't enter unless you invite them, so just don't invite anyone in who comes knocking,' he said, voice soft as he trailed a soothing hand up and down her back.
'Will you come back, once you've dealt with the, ah, body?'
'Do you want me to?'
She nodded, worrying her lip again. 'I've been attacked twice by what I believed to by a myth,' she said, 'I don't really want to be alone right now.'
He glanced away. 'How is being with me any better?'
'I trust you.'
His eyes widened a little, but he said nothing, as if afraid she would suddenly revoke the words. He claimed her lips again then placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, holding her for a moment longer before he pulled away. 'Don't let anyone in,' he said, holding her hand, reluctant to let go. 'I'll be back as soon as I can be.'
She nodded, watching as he sprinted down the path, disappearing in a blur, no longer hiding his true speed. She went back inside, closing the door behind her and stripping her skirt and blouse after kicking off her shoes. She put on one of her collection of far too large band t-shirt – her dad's t-shirts – and crawled into bed even though she wouldn't sleep, not when she saw the man who had attacked whenever she closed her eyes.
Not when Jared seemed to take his place.
She hated that she was letting him haunt her like this, letting him get the better of her fears because of her new knowledge. She'd fought so hard to be strong, had believed that she was even after the pain that had been finding out about Richard and his ways, but now she wasn't so sure. She couldn't deny that she was scared, that even Damon frightened her, but he had never hurt her.
After everything that had happened, she still had feelings for him, and she still trusted him.
It was nearly two am by the time that Damon walked back up the path to the flat. He'd abandoned his jacket at home after walking out on Stefan, ignoring what had been another string of constant questions that he didn't feel like answering, not when he could easily do it in the morning. All he'd been able to think about was getting back to Kaari, though he knew that he'd probably just end up sitting outside the door, listening through the wood to her heartbeat.
As long as he knew that she was safe…
He startled when the door swung open beside him, his eyes easily seeing her even in the darkness. 'I thought you'd–'
'I couldn't sleep,' she said, leaning on the door.
'Try to get some. I'll be right here.'
'I don't want you to stand outside.'
He nodded, knowing he should have expected that, after all, she'd had time to think about it, about how much she hated him and–
'Please come in.'
For a second, he nearly turned into Scooby-Doo, but managed to snap his jaw closed before he said 'huh-ruh?'
She stepped away from the door, heading back to her bed as if she expected him to follow. He glanced at the doorframe, stepping forward tentatively, but he felt no resistance as his foot passed over. He closed the door behind him, leaning on it for a moment as he looked around the small flat for a chair, but she surprised him even further when she tossed the quilt aside.
He walked over to the bed, waiting for her to send him away, but she just sat there, patting the mattress when he hesitated. He toed off his shoes before he climbed beneath the heavy quilt, knowing that if his heart could beat it would have stuttered as she curled up against his side. He wrapped his arms around her, praying that he wasn't dreaming as she snuggled against him, her head resting on his shoulder as she wrapped an arm tight around his waist, her fingers gently clenching his t-shirt. He settled lower, stroking her hair as he turned his head to place a kiss on her forehead, the heat of her body warming him as the gentle exhalations of her breath fell against the skin exposed by the v of his shirt.
'Thank you,' she whispered, and he knew that it wasn't a dream.
It was heaven.
Next update: Tuesday the 2nd of November.
