You woke up to a pair of warm lips pressed against your cool forehead. You groaned, snuggling even more into his embrace.
"Babe, I really need to go..."
Whining, you buried your face in his chest, your ear just above his heart. "No." He laughed, his chest rumbling with the vibration of his voice.
"I need to go see my Mom, remember?" You could hear the smile on his lips as he gently carded his fingers through your bedhead. "I'm sure she wants to see me as soon as possible."
"Fine." You pouted before removing yourself from his warmth. Taking a hold of a pillow, you turned away from him and snuggled into the pillow's comfort, muttering, "Can't argue with that. Good night."
You felt a hand snake around your waist. He chuckled. "I knew you liked your sleep, but I didn't know you're such a grump in the mornings." His thumb rubbed at the sliver of skin of your waist after your top rode up your torso in your sleep.
You turned back around to him. Opening one eye, you frowned, "Only when I'm losing my cuddle buddy."
His grin widened. Jesse's arms pulled you closer, pressing his body flush against yours. With a sigh, he settled his chin atop your head. "I'm sorry, babe. I really need to go and see Mom. I've been gone for a week. She must be worried sick about her only dazzlingly handsome son."
Even in the mornings he liked to joke. You playfully swatted his arm and giggled, all vestiges of sleep lost to this lovable cheeseball.
"Didn't you text her last night before we went to bed?"
"Mhm," he smiled wryly. "And she only scolded me for an entire hour on the phone."
You laughed. "Serves you right." Pinching his cheeks, you added, "You should never worry your Mom."
“I won’t,” he held a hand over his heart. “This is the last time. Promise.”
“Good.” You yawned.
Comfortable silence fell in the room, the only sound you could hear is the birds chirping outside your window and the rustling of the tree on your front porch.
"Actually..." He tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, smiling softly. "You want to come with?"
"Come with?"
"Yeah, to see Mom," Jesse said. "You already know she loves you. I'm sure she'd love to see you. You’ve been gone for so long, after all."
"I don't know, Jesse..." You bit your lip. "I don't want to interrupt your family time. It was only just last night that you were literally dead and we were trying to sus out your murderer who turned out to be one of our bestfriends—"
"Okay, okay! Enough of that–we’ve had enough of that last night! Anyway, you’re not interrupting anything," he pressed a small kiss on the tip of your nose. "Don't worry your pretty little head about that because you're already part of the family." He winked. "I’m sure Mom's prepared for it all these years."
Your cheeks flushed. "Jesse!"
"I mean, I've never really shut up about you since I was fourteen—"
"I can't believe you."
"My mom's probably resigned to the fact that you're going to end up marrying into our family—"
A smile played on your lips. "What makes you so sure of that?"
Jesse ignored your comment and continued, "You know what, she may have already put your name in the family register after she met you—"
"Jesse!" You hid your face in your palms.
Jesse laughed, prying your hands from your face. "Aw, is future Mrs. Rodriguez embarrassed?"
"I am literally going to ban kissing if you don't stop."
He zipped his lips shut. You peeked behind your hands and was pleasantly surprised to see him patiently waiting for you, lips pursed shut.
"Good boy," you giggled, reaching over to tousle his bedhead, his usual carefully put-together hairstyle ruined by sleep.
You swung your leg off the bed, about to head into the bathroom when an arm suddenly wrapped around your waist, pulling you back to bed. Trying to wriggle free, you glared weakly at Jesse. "Jesse, what the hell?"
Jesse shot you an innocent look, gesturing to his tightly shut lips. You rolled your eyes fondly and nodded reluctantly. "Okay, okay. You can talk now."
He pretended to be lacking breath and gasped hard. You scoffed playfully. “You’re such a dork.”
Then, you tried to leave again. “I’m going now, okay? You should get a move on if you don’t want to get scolded more.”
Jesse pulled you back again, pouting. “Wait, aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Hm? What?”
He clutched his chest and whimpered.
“Jesse, you’re ridiculous,” you giggled. “Just tell me!”
“You promised me a good morning kiss last night!” Jesse pouted. “I wanted another kiss last night, and you told me I could claim it in the morning!”
“I…” You paused, before laughing. “I cannot believe you!”
“Best believe it, baby,” he puckered his lips. “Now plant one on these here lips.”
“Stop talking like that.”
“I will, if you give me what you owe me.”
Rolling your eyes, you returned and crawled back into bed where Jesse stared at you with eager anticipation. Cupping his cheek, you coaxed his face closer to yours, his breath brushing your lips.
“Mm, good morning,” you said before pulling him into a soft, tender kiss. Jesse’s arms immediately went to wrap around your waist, guiding you onto his lap. The kiss gradually shifted from soft and tender to hot and heavy, your gasps and little moans swallowed by Jesse’s lips.
You pulled away before it could get any further and glared weakly at your boyfriend. “Jesse Rodriguez! That was not our agreement!”
“You liked it,” he shrugged with a boyish grin.
You didn’t want to admit it, but yes. Yes, you did like it. Very much.
Thankfully, Jesse was never the type to push for verbal confirmation. He reluctantly let you go and ushered you to the bathroom. “I’m going to brew us some coffee, you get ready, okay?”
“Mhm.”
----------------------------------------------
“Hey, Jesse?”
His voice was distant, but clear enough to comprehend. “Yeah, babe?”
“Can you come here and help me?”
He entered the room and found you inside the bathroom, struggling to zip up your dress from behind, your hair draped over your shoulder, exposing your nape.
Jesse leaned against the doorframe and watched you from behind. You noticed him watching through the mirror and shot him a pleading look. “Please help?”
He could never deny you anything.
Jesse came up behind you and held the zipper in between his fingers. He pulled it up slowly, as if he was savoring the moment. Before he fully zipped it up, he leaned over to press a soft kiss on your nape. You flushed red at the shiver that shot through your body. And without much struggle, your zipper closed, the dress fitting your form like a glove.
“Mhm, this looks like a new dress,” he observed as you did a little twirl.
You winked. “I got it last week! Isn’t it nice?”
“It’s more than that,” he pulled you by the waist. “It’s absolutely perfect on you, babe.”
You cupped his cheek. “Good answer.” Holding his chin, you pull him down to meet your lips. Jesse obliged immediately, his arms wrapping around you and forcing you even closer to his body.
You stayed there, in your little bubble of warmth and intimacy when your phone suddenly beeped. Pulling away from his lips, you reached out for your phone, only to see a message from your mother.
“They’re coming home early,” you mused. “That’s new.”
Jesse blinked, still dazed from the kiss. “Who?”
“My parents. Remember, they were out of town for that “conference”…Though I’m pretty sure it was a date of sorts for them. Not sure why they would hide it from me, though. They deserve it.”
He rubbed his chin. “Oh, then shouldn’t we invite them to dinner tonight at my place?”
“Jesse!” You squawked, smacking his arm lightly.
“What?” He pouted. “It’s not like they don’t already know me! And what’s two more people?”
“Meeting the parents already? Really?”
“I’ve met your parents and you’ve met my Mom! So what?”
“You’re really not bothered by how fast this is going, huh?” You asked, amused, with your arms crossed over your chest.
Jesse only grinned. “Why would I be? I know we’re forever, baby.”
“God, you’re such a cheese ball.”
“And how is this going fast?” Jesse sighed. “Have you forgotten the ‘I pined for you since I was fourteen’ part?”
“Oh. Right.”
“We’re just picking up from where we left off.” He took hold of your hands and squeezed. “So..?” He wiggled his eyebrows at you. “Are you asking them to come?”
You stared at him blankly for a few moments before heaving out a sigh. “You sure your Mom won’t mind two more people coming?”
“Oh, you know she’s always so excited to have people to feed,” he waved her off. “She’s used to feeding a village, babe.”
“True,” you giggled. “I think I still feel full from that one lunch I had over at yours.” You took your phone and typed in a message to your parents before shoving it in your bag. “Alright. I messaged them.”
“Yes!”
“Are you really fine with not showering?” You asked, looking Jesse from head to toe. “I can lend you one of my Dad’s shirts.”
“Nah, it’s fine,” he shook his head. “I can just freshen up when I get home. Besides…” Jesse shot you a cheeky grin. “I like smelling you on me.”
After getting the good ending on Ghosted I now understand how Asra felt (bringing your lover back from the dead and then telling them their heart beat is your favorite sound)
