140 Plans and Surprises

It wasn't late in the day yet, but I was so exhausted that I fell asleep in his arms all the same. I appreciated the opportunity—sleeping next to him was something that I didn't have the luxury of ever since we arrived at Jade Temple, and it made me so comfortable that when I woke up, the room was already under a blanket of darkness. My head was still resting snuggly on his shoulder, and the sheets had all been cleansed afresh.

"What time is it?" I asked. My voice was a little hoarse from all the squealing, and I cleared my throat somewhat embarrassedly. The effect from the cream was long gone now, but the wild memory was still there, threatening to burn me all over again. I willed those little tickles into silence.

"Just past midnight." He dropped a kiss on my forehead like he always did in the morning when we woke up together. There was an unusual tiredness to his voice though.