Jake stirred. It was still dark.

Despite the heating, he felt the cold seep through the cracks in the windows, biting at his cheeks. A content little hum vibrated on his chest. He froze. Lily was cuddled up to him fast asleep. Her head rested on his chest, arm wrapped around his waist.

She must have rolled over in her sleep to keep warm. Looking down, he found his arm wrapped around her back. Sleepily, she nestled up into the crook of his neck, looking up at him, when her eyes fluttered open. Her eyes widened and she bolted upright.

‘Oh God! I’m so sorry, I -‘

‘No, no, it’s ok…’ He sat up, placing a hand on her shoulder. Lily rubbed at her eyes, wiping her dishevelled hair from her face.

‘I’m sorry. I must have just -‘

‘Lily, seriously it’s ok.’ Jake chuckled, looping his arm around her shoulder lowering them back down on to the pillows.

‘Come on.’ He pulled the covers up to their necks. He heard her shiver from the winter night chill. ‘You don’t want to catch a cold.’

‘I thought you said the heating was on.’

‘It is.’

Lily huddled up under the sheets, sparks somersaulting in her belly at the feel of Jake’s arms around her, cuddling her into his warm chest. Her head fit perfectly under his in the crook of his neck and she caught a whiff of his pine scent.

‘Thank you…’ she shivered. Jake tightened his embrace. The man was like a radiator, no wonder she’d gravitated towards him in her sleep. She caught a glimpse of the snow through the crack in the curtains. It rested a few inches off the windowsill. They’d probably be snowed in by morning.

‘It’s ok.’ he murmured.

She felt his head tilt down, and she looked up at him. The air around them changed. It was thick and sparked, their faces only inches apart. Jake’s eyes flitted between Lily’s and her lips. Lily’s hand rested against his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her palm. It was racing.

Slowly, the gap closed between them, their lips softly meeting the other’s.

*

*Picture – Pinterest.