Cuddling
Somewhere in Greece, The Known World - S3
Xena rolled over and felt for the space beside her. Her fingers found Gabrielle's soft sleeping body and she cuddled in close. Her nose nestled into the crook of her neck, she peppered her skin in small kisses. Her eyes closed the whole time, Xena reckoned she could map Gabrielle's entire body just by feeling it. They clicked together as the blonde shuffled in her sleep, rounding into each other like spoons.
Xena's breath tickled her neck, but she was too settled to move. She mumbled something like Xena's name and went back to sleep, Xena's arms were around her middle and clutching her close like she was something precious to be protected. In her blissful unconscious mind that was a wonderful feeling, being so close to someone you can feel all of them. That Xena would pull her that close spoke thousands of things words couldn't.
It had been a mild night when they were crouched round the fire, eating the catch of the day, but now it was dipping. Xena shifted once more, her knee coming upwards so that it rested between Gabrielle's thighs, and they rolled over together. Xena lay on her back, stirring slightly. Gabrielle lay on top of her, head on her shoulder, limbs flailing a little under the skins. She lifted her head, the moving had woken her and now she was turning over, finding herself facing her partner - nose to nose. "Xena..." She mumbled in her faux-sleep, drawing out the vowels.
Xena grumbled back, air blowing out of her mouth. Gabrielle opened one eye, peeking out at the warrior's unburdened face. Even in the dark she could see a faint scar running down the side of her face and the lines beneath her eyes. She traced a finger down the side of Xena's cheek and closed her eyes again, lowering herself so she could rest on Xena's chest. Warmth returning to her.
The night wore on, there was many a tossing and turning and moving and shifting as the temperature bounced around like a yo-yo. In the morning they were woken by the birds, and the sunrise. Xena stirred first and stretched her arms. She remembered very little from the night but found Gabrielle snuggled into her side, her hair splayed out over her. "Gabrielle?" She whispered into the top of her head, kissing it gently. "Gabrielle?"
"Yes?" The blonde replied, tilting her head up and catching Xena's lips with her own. It was a soft, early morning kiss, the kind that makes your head spin because every part of you is too warm and too cosy to move.
"We should probably get up," Xena suggested, though she sounded enthusiastic, in reality she was reluctant to move.
"Do we have to? You know I'm not a morning person," Gabrielle replied, rubbing her eyes. They sat up together and Gabrielle rested her head on Xena's shoulder. "Another day huh? Do you think one of these days Xena, we could just get a room at an inn for the night?"