siobhan iii

Without opening her eyes, she knew it was morning. Soft light glowed behind her eyelids and the usual chorus of birds outside her window was in full concert. She nestled deeper into the pillow, enjoying the languid caress on her hair and the brush of lips on her throat.

She jerked, wide awake.

“Morning sunshine,” came the lazy voice behind her. “Aren’t you the cuddly one?”

Her senses returned in full, and she realised she was stretched out full length next to a warm body that had one leg over hers and a bare chest pressed against her back. Her hand was intimately placed on a hip, her body curved to fit snugly into his. Simon’s. She remembered the previous night, how they’d come to be like this, his entreaty for her to remain with him.

His hand continued to stroke her hair, passing lightly over the mussed curls and tangles. Although his face was resting against her neck, it didn’t seem presumptuous. She never wanted to move.

“How do you feel?” Her voice was barely audible, even to her ears. He stretched against her for long moments before replying.

“A lot better, actually. ‘S amazing what a little loving can do.”

She grinned, knowing nothing had happened the night before aside from good conversation over a filling meal. Sitting up, she pulled her hair into a messy bun and asked, “Breakfast?”

*

They were out of the kitchen shortly after 10, Simon to find his way home and Siobhan to shower and head to the library. They hadn’t said anything about plans to meet up, nor had there even been a goodbye kiss. She knew, however, that she might as well stamp her forehead with “deliriously happy” as she glided about her morning. All she could think of was the way they’d talked for hours, how he’d asked her to sleep next to him and how he’d touched her that morning. Intimately, easily, unabashedly, and yet nothing overly sexual. Well, perhaps not textbook, but she kept drifting off into remembering his lips on her neck.

That afternoon, she took her lunch at the student union as usual, feeling slightly silly for packing a sandwich every day. The money she saved was how she justified her daily coffee. She was nervous about heading there today, excited about seeing Simon again but unsure how the encounter would play out.

After the last of her classes, she walked slowly to the café. She was relieved when she didn’t see him anywhere as she looked for a table, unsure if she’d have the guts to sit with him. Had they really spent the night together?? Head down, she decided to focus on her maths assignment instead of dwelling on Simon and his fingers around her wrist.

A hand on the small of her back made her jump. “Mind if I join you?”
“Simon! Not at all. Heya. How’s you?”
“Glad to see you.”
He kissed her cheek. “Hahaha, is that a blush?”
“Yes. No. Argh, is it?” She covered her cheeks. “Ahem. So, how was class?”
“Oh, you know. Actually I haven’t a clue, I wasn’t paying attention at all. I kept thinking of this great girl I had dinner with last night.”
“You mean you’re still doped up on cough medicine.”
“Nah, would you believe a home cooked meal and a full night’s rest have me fit as a fiddle?”

The conversation flowed along, sometimes with extended pauses as both of them turned to their respective work, only to be genially interrupted again for more chatter. After her latte ran dry, she was touched to see him eye the mug for a moment before getting up and returning with a new steaming drink in each hand.


When her phone beeped, she jumped.
“Wow, is it already 5?”
“Apparently it is. Why?”
“I go to a pub quiz on Tuesday nights, I don’t want to be late getting home or I won’t have time for dinner.”
“Oh, plans for the evening. Cool.” He looked down.
“Um… you seem… less than thrilled.”
“Well, it means you’re leaving, and I can’t ask you out.”
“Were you going to ask me out?”
“I was trying to work up to it, yeah.”
“Humm. Well…do you like pub quizzes?”

They met up outside her building half an hour before the quiz, having decided to dine separately. As they walked, she suddenly remembered something.

“Uhhhh, I forgot to mention… tonight’s quiz is the one like all my friends go to. You’ll kinda be meeting everyone. I should have said something before. You’re not intimidated, right?”
He looked over. “A little bit, honestly.” After a brief pause, he turned and beamed at her. “But whatever, that’s cool. I’m sure your friends are nice. What do I get introduced as, then?”
“Whatcha mean?”
“My friend Simon? Random coffee-shop guy I sorta didn’t sleep with? The guy who wants to date me?”
“Back up, buster. What was that last one?”
“Yeeaaaahhhh….”
“That is the worst ‘will you go out with me’ I’ve ever heard!”
“Well I figured we’ve already been on a first date, I’ve already seen your bed-head, what need is there for romance?”
She punched his arm. “Oi!”
“Kidding! In the romance area, at least. I wasn’t kidding about wanting to, uh, well, see you some more.”
“Define dating.”
“You’re blunt.”
“So are you. Define it.” She linked her arm through his
“I suppose… being able to do stuff with you. Getting to know you. Dinner, movies, pub quizzes, you know. Maybe learning your last name. Potentially staying over on occasion. Seeing how things go.”
“Exclusive?”
“That goes without saying.”
“Good to hear.”
“So what do you say?”
She pursed her lips. “What’s your last name?”
“MacLeod. Yours?”
“You’re supposed to be Welsh!”
“On my mother’s side. And that’s not your last name.”
“No. It’s …. Well, it’s Ethelbert.”
“Nice.”
“You’re laughing!”
“No I’m not. Ok, yes, I am. But only because that’s the best name ever. What’s your middle name?”
“I’m so not telling.”
“Awww.”
“That’s a third date kind of detail.”
“Are we dating, then?”
“Seems so, huh?”
“Sweet!” He pulled her to a stop. “One quick thing…”

Putting his hands on either side of her face, he kissed her softly. Her arms went up around his back, bringing him closer. She opened her eyes to find him staring at her.

“Whoa. That… was nice.” She didn’t relinquish her hold. “Try that again.”

He did, this time working his fingers up into her hair, gently massaging her scalp as he pressed his lips to hers. No tongue, no probing or possessing. Just kissing her. She melted.

“I don’t even know you,” he murmured a moment later. “So how do I find myself wanting to cherish you?”