The breath of a contented sigh pressed against his lips from Lottie did nothing but cause him to chuckle in response. This felt nice– right. Something that Stevie had been missing for so long. And here Lottie was, being exactly what the doctor ordered. “Says me, maybe?” This continuing back and forth between their polite upbringings was something else. Something that was amusing to him. But if there was something that seemed to be just as strong as their well-mannered personas, perhaps it was how stubborn it seemed like they both could be.
“You want to?” Damn it, those words were like a vice grip on his feelings. She really was this sweet, wasn’t she? His free arm moved when she set up, his hand moving to rub against her arm. “…I mean…” He trailed off for a moment, an internal battle in his head. What would be ruder? Imposing? Or telling Lottie no? The decision seemed simple in Stevie’s mind. “Okay.” The words fell from his lips with a certain certainty, hazel eyes meeting her own. “How about this?” he asked, “I can help ‘ya make breakfast… And that gives me even more of a reason to stick around?” She didn’t want him to leave. He didn’t want to leave yet either. So, why lie about those intentions? Not with her.
“…I really can’t say no to you, after all. Those eyes of yours’ve got me stuck in agreein’.”
“ why wouldn’t i want to? ” she counters, lips pursed together for a brief moment of consideration. it’d not been a question for her, no hesitation of thought - even if it really was just an excuse to get him to stick around for a little longer. a way to ask him not to leave without having to say as much. she doesn’t know why it makes her feel so nervous, waiting in anticipation for his answer, a little too prepared to convince him if need be when the word she wants to hear falls from his lips instead. “ i was hopin’ you’d say that. ” more than she’d wanted to admit, there’s a deft nod of her head, sending blonde hair tumbling over her shoulders, all too willing to accept whatever terms he felt he needed to set. “ i think that sounds more than fair. ” it wasn’t like lottie could really say no to him either, whatever stubborn nature she boasted always bordering on falling flat whenever it came to stevie.
because he meant well. because the kind curvature of his smile had taken hold of her heart and refused to let it rest. because no matter how many times she’d tried to shake him from her thoughts, there he’d remained. a constant presence she couldn’t forget, one she refused to forget now. lottie doesn’t exactly know what they’re doing here, other than that whatever it is isn’t something she can count on her parents’ approval for - not that she could ever count on that before, either. but it feels good, like a warm summer day on cool skin. and now she knows that she doesn’t want it to stop. doesn’t want stevie to ever stop trailing his fingers along her skin. doesn’t want to stop pressing gentle kisses along the stubble of his face, inhaling the smell of his cologne, being curled into the warmth of his larger frame - any of it.
“ if you’re really stuck agreein’ with me ... ” a coy grin as lottie leans down to press another kiss to his mouth, lingers there for a few passing moments before she exhales a deep breath and swings her legs over the side of the bed. her fingers curl around his wrist, gives him a gentle tug as her feet settle onto the floor. “ i reckon we ought to get you out of this bed before i decide you aren’t allowed to leave it for the rest of the day. ”