Rise and Shine

   

 "Take off your pants," he whispered to me as I shuffled back to bed from the bathroom with my eyes barely open.
     "No," I responded curtly.
     "Why?"
     "Because I'm tired." He promised last night he'd let me sleep in today. I crawled back into bed and curled back up to my pillow, knowing any effort to get more sleep was likely futile at this point. But I committed. Eyes shut and quilt pulled over me up to my waist, I hoped there was another thirty minutes or so left before I was forced to get up. He believes a daily schedule should be just that, even on the weekends. Why disrupt your routine just for two days? He insisted it was an opportunity to get things done. I agree. And for me those things are catch up on much needed sleep, enjoy an extra cup of coffee, and remain in my pajamas until I had to take a shower and go somewhere. Sleeping late on the weekends is a working mom's luxury.
     I turned my back to him as a last ditch strategy of defense, as if it had ever worked before. He crept over, firmly pressed against my back, and spooned me. His legs, so much longer than mine, completely cradled my butt all the way down to my toes. Not a word is exchanged between us. There is no eye contact. My eyes remain closed. Gently he touches my earlobe between his thumb and forefinger, dragging his fingers away in a light caress. After repeating the gesture a couple of times he continues by dragging his finger all the way down to the nape of my neck and into the hairs pulled loose from a knot while I slept. He kissed my neck and pressed against me hard. The neck. He always gets me with a soft, warm ticklish kiss on the neck. And he knows it. With the second one, I can't help but awaken, and the third... Well the third melts me away and once again he wins.
     Rise and shine.