It was a wonderfully warm summer evening and Harry was watching Ruth from the kitchen window while taking a sip of whisky. She looked so incredible and she didn't even realise it. She was lying on a garden chair, curled into a blanket while her eyes flicked down the page of her latest Chinese book. He marvelled at her ability to read Mandarin almost as fast as English. The setting sun was surrounding her face in a halo of light and glinting off of her hair as her other hand grasped tightly to her glass of white wine.
He kept watching her until her eyes started to flicker shut. He slowly walked outside so as not to disturb her. He leant down by her and took her book from her sleeping hand and slipped a bookmark into it, laying it on the grass. Her now empty glass rolled away and Harry smiled at her sleeping face. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"Ruth," he murmured quietly. She fidgeted slightly, her head moving closer to his chest but didn't wake. He bent down and kissed her forehead lightly. "Come on, you need to wake up."
"Why…?" she whispered.
"Because I can't carry you up to bed," he said feeling very special that he was the one he got to share these moments with her.
"That sounds terribly romantic though," she said with a smile.
"Come on," he said. He gave her a hand as she tried to get to her feet, disorientated as she was. Even half asleep he still thought she looked gorgeous. He kept an arm on her waist until they were both upstairs. She collapsed onto the bed and closed her eyes instantly. Harry sat next to her and traced his fingertips over her face and down her neck lightly. She clearly wasn't asleep as her hand reached out to grasp his tightly.
"I love you," she whispered. He didn't reply with words. Instead he pulled her body close to his, wrapping his arms tightly around her. He simply needed her presence near him.
T is for tender. I feel like this is a weak one but I'm running out of ideas! Any suggestons for U X Y oor Z will be gratefully received!