The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The golden rays highlighted the soft rise and fall of Samantha's breathing as she lay sprawled across Rowan, her head nestled on his chest. Her auburn hair fanned out like a silken curtain, a few strands tickling his skin.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Rowan's lips as he gazed down at her peaceful form, a stark contrast to the fiery energy she had exhibited the night before.
The soft rhythm of her breathing filled the quiet room, rising and falling in sync with the gentle hum of the ceiling fan. Her long hair lay in tousled waves against his bare chest, strands shifting slightly with every exhale. The warmth of her body pressed into him, her soft curves molded perfectly against his frame.
A small, delicate snore escaped Samantha's slightly parted lips—hnnngh…—followed by the faintest murmur as if she were lost in a dream. A moment later, a tiny pop came from her lips as she unconsciously smacked them, a sleepy habit that made Rowan chuckle under his breath. His amusement only deepened when he noticed a thin, glistening trail of drool slipping from the corner of her mouth, pooling onto his chest.
"Really now…?" He murmured to himself, fighting the urge to laugh.
The intimacy of the moment—the quiet after the storm. He didn't mind the damp spot on his skin or the weight of her pressing down on him. If anything, it grounded him, tethering him to the warmth and reality of her presence.
Minutes passed, the only sounds in the room being the rhythmic tick-tick-tick of the clock on the nightstand and the faint rustle of the bedsheets as Samantha shifted in her sleep. Then, she stirred.
Her long lashes fluttered in protest against the invading sunlight, her brows furrowing as if trying to ward off the brightness. A soft groan—mmmnnnh…—escaped her throat, muffled against Rowan's chest. Her slender fingers twitched slightly before she let out a slow, languid stretch, her body arching like a lazy cat as she flexed her arms and legs with a quiet nnnnghh…
Rowan watched with barely concealed amusement as she finally stirred awake. A tiny yawn—haaahhh…—escaped her lips, her delicate frame quivering slightly with the motion. The moment stretched as she blinked groggily, her half-lidded eyes adjusting to the morning light. She looked dazed at first, her gaze unfocused, before finally lifting her head and meeting Rowan's eyes.
A sleepy hum vibrated in her throat as recognition dawned. Her hazel eyes, still heavy with drowsiness, locked onto his, and for a moment, she simply stared.
Rowan's lips quirked into a smirk. "Morning, drool monster."
Samantha blinked again, confusion flickering across her face before she instinctively reached up and wiped the corner of her mouth. As soon as her fingers came away damp, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink.
"Oh my god…" She croaked, her voice still thick with sleep.
Rowan chuckled, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Don't worry," He teased, voice dripping with amusement. "It was cute."
Samantha groaned dramatically, dropping her face back onto his chest with a muffled thump.
"Kill me now," She whined.
"Nope. You're stuck with me, drool and all." Rowan only laughed, his arms wrapping around her, holding her a little closer. "And you were practically a starfish all night. My arms are numb."
Her muffled giggle vibrated against his skin, and just like that, the morning haze melted away, leaving only warmth and quiet joy in its wake.
Samantha laughed, the sound light and melodious.
"Well, excuse me for getting comfortable," She shot back, her eyes sparkling with playful defiance. "You didn't seem to mind last night."
Rowan smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Fair point."
They bantered back and forth for a few minutes, their words laced with teasing and playful jabs, their laughter filling the quiet morning air. Samantha, still nestled against Rowan's chest, lightly smacked his shoulder when he poked fun at her drooling.
"You're never gonna let that go, are you?" She grumbled, her voice still husky from sleep.
Rowan grinned lazily, his fingers tracing absentminded circles on her lower back. "Nope. I think I'll make it your new nickname. 'Drooly Samantha' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
She groaned, burying her face in his chest for a moment before tilting her head up, her lips curling into a devious smirk. "Fine. But if I'm 'Drooly Samantha,' then you're 'Snory Rowan.' You were snoring so loud last night, I thought the ceiling was going to cave in."
Rowan scoffed, feigning offense. "That's a lie. I don't snore."
Samantha gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "Oh, you absolutely do! You were like—"
She inhaled deeply before imitating an exaggerated, cartoonish snore. "HHRRKKHHH… PUUHHHH!"
Rowan stared at her, unimpressed but amused. "That's slander."
"That's facts," She shot back, grinning.
He reached down, grabbing the edge of the blanket and yanking it over both their heads, plunging them into darkness.
"Take it back," He demanded, his voice low and mock-threatening.
"Never!" Samantha shrieked, laughing as she tried to wriggle away, but Rowan's arms tightened around her waist, keeping her pinned.
"Take. It. Back."
"Or what? You gonna snore me to death?" she taunted breathlessly, giggling.
Rowan smirked in the dim light under the blanket.
"No," He murmured. "I'll just keep you here until you admit defeat."
Samantha huffed, trying to push him off, but the warmth of his body and the steady rise and fall of his chest made it difficult to put up a proper fight.
After a few moments of struggling, she sighed in defeat. "Ugh, fine. I take it back."
"Good girl," He teased, finally lowering the blanket.
She smacked his arm. "Don't 'good girl' me, you insufferable dork of a coach."
"Aw, but you love this insufferable dork," Rowan teased.
Samantha rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small, affectionate smile tugging at her lips.
"Yeah, yeah," She muttered, pretending to be annoyed.
With a final playful shove, she stretched again, her arms lifting above her head, her bare shoulders catching the golden morning light.
Rowan's eyes flickered downward, taking in the smooth expanse of her skin before she finally let out a small, contented sigh and swung her legs off the bed.
"Alright, I need to get dressed before I lose all motivation and decide to stay in bed forever," She announced, ruffling her already messy hair.
"Would that be so bad?" Rowan quipped, leaning back against the pillows with a lazy smirk. "I'd personally love to keep you here all day."
Samantha laughed as she bent down, grabbing her dress from the floor. "Yeah, I'm sure you would, but some of us have parents who will lose their minds if we don't show up at home."
She then bent again, this time picking up her underwear, which had somehow ended up by the foot of the bed. As she turned to put it on, she caught Rowan's gaze shamelessly lingering on her.
She raised an eyebrow. "Eyes up here, mister."
Rowan didn't even look guilty. "Can you blame me?"
Samantha rolled her eyes but felt warmth bloom in her chest. "Flattery won't get you anywhere."
"That's a lie, and we both know it," Rowan countered smoothly.
Samantha shook her head with a chuckle, finally managing to put herself together, albeit haphazardly. Her dress was slightly askew, and her hair was still a mess, but she didn't seem to care.
Rowan, still lounging on the bed, finally moved. He reached for his pants, pulling them on before rising to his feet.
"Coffee?" He asked, already heading toward the kitchen.
"Please," Samantha replied, smoothing out her dress. "I'll freshen up while you work your magic."
She disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Rowan to his task. The scent of freshly brewed coffee soon filled the air, mingling with the warmth of the morning. By the time Samantha emerged, her face radiant and her hair tamed, Rowan had set two steaming mugs on the small table near the window.
They sat together, sipping their drinks and chatting about the school and other stuff. The conversation was easy, punctuated by the occasional laugh or thoughtful pause. The connection between them felt stronger than ever, a quiet understanding woven into every word and glance.
Both of them, with meticulous precision and almost conspiratorial subtlety, skillfully maneuvered their conversation to avoid even the faintest mention of Samantha's elder sister—a figure whose tangled history with Rowan.
As the clock ticked on, Samantha glanced at her phone and winced.
"I should head home," She said reluctantly, placing her empty mug on the table. "If I stay any longer, my parents will think I've disappeared."
Rowan stood, nodding. "I'll walk you out."
They moved to the door, the moment tinged with bittersweetness. Samantha turned to face Rowan, her eyes soft yet filled with mischief. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss that was both tender and passionate. Her lips lingered on his, conveying everything words could not.
When they finally pulled apart, she smiled up at him, her face glowing with happiness. "See you later, Sir~"
"See you," He murmured, watching as she climbed down the stairs, her figure bathed in the morning sunlight.
Rowan stood at the door for a while, the faint taste of her kiss still lingering on his lips.