Just a little snippet from my new Caryl fic ~
She shifted next to him, wrapping the shawl tighter around herself and dipping her chin to her chest, a delicate shiver rippling through her. “You cold?” he asked.
Her eyes flashed up to meet his, her bony hands running up and down her arms. “A bit.”
He raised his arm before he could think, a silent invitation that he immediately tried to revoke once his brain caught up with his body. But it was too late—she’d seen it, and her face was slowly unfurling into a teasing grin.
“Are you offering to cuddle with me?”
“No,” he growled, refusing to look at her. “Just don’t want you being cold, s’all.”
“Yeah?” Her tone was light, airy. Like a blue sky full of clouds. “Well, aren’t you a gentleman.” She scooted across the metal. “Budge up, then. Make some room.”
He held his arm aloft as she tucked her tiny body beneath his arm, resting her head against his collarbone. When he remembered to lower his arm, he rested his hand lightly against her shoulder, giving her an out if she wanted.
But god, he hoped she’d never move again. He could fucking feel her shoulders rising and falling with each breath, could feel her ear pressed against his neck. Every place she touched him set his skin aflame, and it took everything in him not to pull her in closer, closer, until he could hear the steady beat of her heart, could feel the breath leaving and entering her lungs.
He kept waiting for her to speak, to say something, but it never came. Soon, her breaths were even and deep and her head was lolling in the space between his shoulder and neck. Her body curled inward, like he was an open flame and she was huddling for warmth.
His hand trailed up her arm, fingers ghosting across her soft flesh. He listened to her breathe, to the soft inhales and exhales that kept her alive. He matched his own breaths with hers, holding himself back from pressing his face into her silver hair and filling his lungs with her.
It was something new, this need for her. This bone-deep primal ache, like his soul itself craved her. It would have scared him if it wasn’t the best damn thing he’d ever felt in his life.
