[Perspective: Aryan Spencer]
The morning sun announced itself, spilling gold across the duvet of the S&M Suite.
I drifted up from the depths of sleep to find myself encased in a human embrace.
Wanda was wrapped around me, her head resting heavily on my chest, her leg thrown over my thigh, her arm locking me in place.
I kept my eyes closed for a moment, just breathing. She smelled of sleep and that expensive botanical shampoo we'd used yesterday. It was a scent that was quickly becoming my favorite thing in the world.
I shifted slightly, testing the waters.
She made a small sound and tightened her grip, snuggling her face closer to my neck.
I opened my eyes.
She was right there. Her eyes were closed, her lashes fanning against her cheeks. But the corner of her mouth was twitching.
She's awake, I thought, a grin spreading across my face. She's playing possum.
I decided to play along.
I moved my hand, which was resting on her back and began to trace slow circles on her spine. I felt her shiver slightly against me.
"Mmm," I murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
I moved down. I kissed her forehead. Then her temple.
I kissed her left eyelid. Then her right.
I moved to her nose. I kissed the tip of it, lingering for a second.
Wanda's breathing hitched, but she didn't open her eyes. She was committed to the bit.
"You're very quiet this morning, Lemon Queen," I whispered against her cheek.
She didn't answer, but her smile grew, giving her away completely.
"Maybe she's still asleep," I mused aloud to the empty room. "Maybe I should check for reflexes."
I slid my hand down from her back to her side. I found the spot right under her ribs.
I wiggled my fingers.
Tickle.
Wanda gasped, her eyes flying open. They were mischievous and full of light.
"Aryan!" she squeaked, trying to clamp her arms down to protect her sides.
"Good morning," I grinned, not stopping.
"You..." she laughed, squirming against me. "You are... attacking... a sleeping person!"
"I am checking vital signs!" I defended, moving my attack to her other side. "It's a medical procedure!"
"It is... war!" she declared.
She moved fast. She used her leverage, hooking her leg around mine and twisting.
The world spun. The duvet tangled around us.
Suddenly, my back was pressed into the mattress and Wanda was straddling my waist, pinning my wrists to the pillow above my head.
Her hair fell around us like a curtain, shielding us from the rest of the room. She was breathless, flushed and looking down at me with a triumphant grin.
"You dare to tickle me?" she teased, her voice low and husky.
I looked up at her.
"I dare," I whispered. "I live on the edge."
"Then you must pay the price," she said.
She leaned down. Her fingers found my ribs.
"No!" I shouted, thrashing as she launched her counter offensive. "Mercy! I yield!"
"No mercy," she laughed, her fingers dancing over my stomach. "You started this rebellion."
We wrestled on the bed, a tangle of limbs and laughter.
I managed to free one hand and caught her waist, pulling her down until she collapsed on top of me.
We lay there for a moment, panting, our hearts beating against each other.
She lifted her head, resting her chin on my chest. She looked at me. The laughter faded from her eyes, replaced by something softer.
"Good morning, Baker," she whispered.
"Good morning," I said, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "You win."
"I know," she smiled.
She leaned down and kissed me. It was slow and lazy, tasting of morning and happiness.
She pulled back, but she didn't get off. She rested her cheek against mine.
"We should get up," she murmured. "The sun is high. And I have... an urgent task."
"Urgent?" I asked, stroking her back. "Is the world ending? Because if it is, I'm hitting the snooze button."
"No," she said, pulling away and sitting up. "But I have errands. Important errands."
She had that secretive 'I am planning something' look in her eyes.
"Bathroom," she announced, sliding off the bed. "Come."
"As you command," I said, following her.
I handed her the pink toothbrush.
"Paste," she requested.
I squeezed the tube. "Say when."
"When."
We brushed.
She spit and rinsed. She looked at me, wiping her mouth.
"Shower?" she asked.
"Together?" I asked, hopeful.
"It saves water," she reminded me, a playful glint in her eye.
"I love the environment," I said solemnly.
I reached into the shower and turned the handle. The water hissed to life, steam rising instantly.
We stepped in.
The water was hot. I stood with my back to the spray, letting it soak my skin. Wanda stepped into my space, wrapping her arms around my waist, resting her forehead against my wet chest.
I reached for the sponge.
She turned. I washed her back. I moved the sponge in slow circles, soaping her shoulders, her spine.
"That feels good," she sighed, leaning back against me.
"I have magic hands," I joked. "And good soap."
I handed her the sponge. She turned around.
"Your turn," she said.
She washed my chest. She was meticulous. She traced the muscles, her touch lingering.
The steam curled around us, shutting out the rest of the world.
We stepped out. I grabbed the towels.
I wrapped one around her and one around myself.
"Sit," I said, pointing to the closed toilet lid.
She sat. I towel dried her hair. I was gentle, blotting the water rather than rubbing.
"You treat me like a doll," she murmured, eyes closed.
"You're precious," I said simply. "Fragile things break. You don't break."
She opened her eyes, looking up at me. "I did break, Aryan. You put me back together."
I stopped. I looked at her.
"No," I said softly. "You put yourself back together. I just held the glue."
She smiled. She took the towel from me.
"Sit," she commanded.
I sat.
She dried my hair. She was rougher, messing it up on purpose.
"There," she said, fluffing it up.
We went back to the bedroom.
I pulled on jeans and a white t-shirt. She put on a floral sundress and a cardigan.
"You look like spring," I told her.
"You look like... a doctor on his day off," she countered.
"Accurate."
We went downstairs.
"What are we making?" Wanda asked, tying on the daisy apron.
"French Toast," I decided.
"Yes," she agreed.
I whisked the eggs and milk.
Wanda sliced the strawberries.
"Dip," I instructed, handing her a slice of thick bread.
She dipped it in the egg mixture.
She dropped it into the hot pan.
Sizzle.
The smell of butter and cinnamon filled the kitchen.
Flip.
Plate.
Powdered sugar.
We sat at the island.
She took a bite. "Mmm. Sweet."
"We need sweet," I said. "To balance out the... whatever your urgent task is."
She froze mid chew. She looked at me guiltily.
"It is just... shopping," she said vaguely.
"Shopping?" I raised an eyebrow. "We bought the whole mall a few days ago."
"Specific shopping," she said
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