What I Ached for

I woke faintly just before dawn. I’d somehow unraveled from my large white comforter dotted with pink roses. I grasped for it but couldn’t find it.

I was so cold. It must’ve slipped onto the floor.

It was too dark, and I was too tired to hunt it down.

Shivering with teeth chattering, I crawled under the blanket I laid over. Barely noting I couldn’t see it at all in the dark. Which meant it was Porter’s black comforter.

I was in such a hurry to slither beneath it that I accidentally kicked into a bare calf. Hissing through my teeth I moved further away from him. Noticing I could hear his even breathing on the far side of the bed. I scooted onto my side so I could keep him in view across the bed.

The problem with this position was that, being on my side, I caught a hearty whiff of musky cologne on the pillow. Smelling like forest wood and a hint of pine.

Smelling like he does everytime he gets too close.

Which is all the time…

It was wafting into my nose and having a potent effect on me