Sark rolled over and buried his face into the soft pillow, squeezing his eyes closed against the sunlight that streamed in through the windows. Sydney had parted the curtains at sunrise, and ever since then Sark had been fighting the daylight as it marched across the room.
Rolling over yet again, Sark heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. Sydney had been in the tub for a while now, and he had resisted the allure of it for just as long. Grinning, he kicked back the covers, extricating himself from the bed sheets.
At the sound of bare feet on the marble tile, Sydney opened her eyes, her head tilted back against the rim of the tub.
"Good morning," she smiled, turning off the spigot after warming the water. "Did you finally get tired of sleeping?"
"No," Sark smiled, running a hand through his hair. "But the thought of you in the bath was keeping me awake," he moved closer to the tub. "Mind if I join you?"
Sydney grinned and sat up, scooting toward the center of the tub. Sark carefully slipped in behind her, and once he was settled, the water lapping at their shoulders, Sydney rested against him.
They were silent for a time before Sydney slipped her fingers into Sark's hand.
"Did I ever thank you?" She asked quietly. "For saving my life?"
Sark lifted her hand out of the water and entwined his fingers with hers. "When? A month ago, or now?"
Sydney didn't answer, smiling against the moisture that sprang to her eyes. Sark leaned in and placed his lips against her neck, kissing her softly.
His breath was warm on her ear. "How much time do we have?"
Sydney turned to look into his eyes. "As much as we need."
THE END