How Dare You? (GT Fluff)
In which Esmae seeks Daniel for warmth ;)
Characters belong to me and the lovely @marydublin5 / @little-miss-maggie <3
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It was his job to be alert—and that meant being a light sleeper. That made things much easier on Esmae when she snuck into his room at night.
He felt the barest tug on his sheet and heard the faintest sound of her call: "Daniel. Psst."
His eyes fluttered open. He stared at the ceiling, contemplating whether to play possum to tease her. She tugged more insistently. He could pretend all he wanted that she was the pushy one, but he was the one who purposely left his sheets within reach of the floor.
"I'm freezing, Daniel!" she said. "Come on, I know you're awake."
At the mention of her discomfort, he rolled over, turned on his bedside lamp, and looked at the floor. Esmae blinked hard in the flood of light. Daniel felt color warm his cheeks.
"There's a freeze warning tonight," he said, averting his eyes. "What are you doing sleeping in that?"
From the corner of his eye, he saw her look down at herself as if she barely noticed what she had put on. She wore a set of babydoll lingerie in lacey mauve that left very little to the imagination.
"Sorry, I forgot to pack my onesie," she snorted. "Now let me up before I catch my death down here?"
He hesitated, knowing she wasn't going anywhere. Trying not to look directly at her, he reached down, wrapped a hand around her, and swept her from the ground. The silky fabric of her nightwear was even softer than it looked.
Daniel lowered her onto his spare pillow and offered her a corner of the blanket. She tucked it around her shoulders and scooted closer to him, a playful smile on her lips.
"Can't I be on your pillow?" she asked, holding an arm out. "Look— goosebumps, I'm so cold."
He wasn't sure what came over him. Maybe it was her lacey little gown, or the way she shivered, or the sparkle of her eyes in the lamplight. "I'll do you one better," he said, reaching for her.
With her in hand, he laid back down and placed her on his bare chest, just above where the sheets covered him. She sat knelt over his heart and looked at him with wide eyes. The forwardness of his action suddenly became apparent.
"How dare you?" she said in a low, affronted voice. His heart stuttered.
"Sorry!" he blurted.
But she leaned away from the return of his hand, giggling. "Relax, I'm messing with you!"
He nearly moved her back to the pillow just to spite her, but she was on the move. The sensation sent flutters through every inch of his body. She crawled for the sheets below his ribs and ducked underneath. She vanished from sight momentarily, until she turned around and made herself comfortable, using him as a mattress.
She peeked up to see his reaction.
"How dare you?" he managed weakly.
"Like this." Esmae nestled herself against him, rubbing her cheek on his skin. She would have no trouble keeping warm; his internal combustion was ready to start a fire.
At some point between switching off the lamp and settling back down, he decided he didn't mind her position at all. He draped his hand over her, knowing she felt the flutter of his pulse when her little fingers brushed along his thumb in response.
Sighing happily, she did not tease.
