"Chris?" she whispered.
He moaned lazily in reply, his chest moving in a slow rhythm beneath her, and she realized that he'd fallen asleep.
She smiled, her own eyes droopy. Snuggling closer, she shut them, and before she knew it, she fell asleep, too, dreaming of rain and ocean and green fields. Dreaming of smiles and laughter and bliss.
Giselle watched the dark clouds bleeding the day into darkness from their rented beach house. She wrapped her fur coat tighter around her body and watched the ocean, hypnotized by the beauty of nature.
"Hey, Pigtails," said Chris from behind her, placing their coffee mugs on the patio table on the side.
"Thank you," she said, smiling at him.
She felt his hands snake around her from behind, his leather jacket a contrast to her woolen sweater. She exhaled, melting into his embrace. He placed his chin on top of her head, and they fell into a comfortable silence, softly swaying to the music of the winds.
She didn't want to think about anything except the moment she was in. Closing her eyes for a moment, she let go of half of her weight and leaned against him. He held her tighter, his large arms the perfect cocoon.
They'd spent the entire morning driving to Aquaville, then soaked in the sun for a few hours on the beach before the clouds interrupted their plans. It was getting colder by the minute. She'd craved coffee, and Chris had gladly obliged.
The rain started with a soft drizzle. The waves of the sea looked calmer as the rain splattered over its surface, making small bubbles where the raindrops landed. Though it was dark, the light from their house illuminated the water near them. Each wave caressed the sand before returning to the ocean.
She was mesmerized.
She moved forward, away from Chris's warmth, grabbed his mug, and handed it to him. She left hers where it was for she liked it warm, unlike him who preferred burning his tongue.
"Thank you," he whispered in her ear as she got back in his arms, her back pressed against him.
Heat radiated from his body, warming her in the cold weather. Feeling blessed and safe, she watched the rain slowly get heavier. Many moments passed, and she let herself melt into him, the only music they listened to was that of the heavy raindrops and crashing waves.
Chris unwrapped his arms, put his empty mug on the table, and handed her hers. He jogged inside the room and came out with a thick white blanket. He sat on the top stair on the porch, rain pouring out front, then tapped the step in front of him.
She smiled, walked over, and sat between his knees, her back to him again, the downpour only a few inches from her feet. She rested her head on his chest, and he wrapped her up tight in his arms, the blanket covering them both. She snuggled closer and drank her coffee.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
She hummed in reply, a smile on her face.
He kissed her on the top of her head.
"How doyoufeel?" she asked.
His chest vibrated as he chuckled. "In a nutshell?"
"No, I want the full version."
"That you'll get in bits and pieces throughout our life together."
She grinned. "That long?"
He kissed the same spot again. "That long."
"Give me the nutshell version, then."
He exhaled. "I feel...invincible. I feel happy. I feel fulfilled." She melted into his arms. "It's like I'm whole, and nothing in this world has the power to tear me apart," he said, leaning down till his lips were above her ear, "except you."
She tingled where his breath touched her skin. "I won't."
"I know, but you have the power, my queen."
She grinned. "I like it when you call me that."