Chapter 21: Morning Quiet

  The rain had passed by morning, leaving the campus wrapped in a hush of grey light and glistening windows. Lena stirred first, the soft weight of Mira curled against her chest, one leg tossed zily over her hip. Her cheek was pressed into Lena’s colrbone, warm breath rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

  They had no csses today. No obligations. No ticking clock.

  Lena didn’t move—not yet. She watched the slow rise of Mira’s back under the sheets, the little furrow between her brows even in sleep, and the way her fingers curled unconsciously around the edge of Lena’s shirt. Like she didn’t want to drift too far, even in her dreams.

  It wasn’t until Mira stirred with a soft hum and blinked up at her that Lena finally spoke.

  “Good morning,” she said softly, brushing a thumb beneath Mira’s eye.

  Mira blinked sleepily, lips parting in a yawn she tried to smother against Lena’s shoulder. “Mmm. Morning.” Her voice was croaky and small. “What time is it?”

  “Still early,” Lena murmured. “You can stay here as long as you want.”

  That earned her a sleepy smile. Mira nestled closer, shifting just enough to press a zy kiss to Lena’s colrbone. “I was already pnning to.”

  Lena’s hand drifted slowly down Mira’s back, tracing a line over her spine, then settling at the curve of her waist. Mira made a small sound, nearly a purr, and tilted her face up to look at her.

  “You’re staring,” she whispered.

  “I like looking at you,” Lena said, voice low and honest. “Especially when you’re like this.”

  Mira’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t pull away. Her fingers pyed with the edge of Lena’s sleeve. “Like what?”

  “Soft. Sleepy. All mine.”

  That st part hit different. Mira’s breath caught just a little.

  She looked up at Lena again, eyes wide and still heavy with sleep—and something warmer, needier underneath. “Can I kiss you?”

  “You never have to ask,” Lena said. But the fact that Mira still did—it made something in her chest ache.

  Their lips met, slow and warm and unhurried. Mira shifted closer, legs tangling beneath the sheets, mouth opening under Lena’s with a quiet sigh. There was no rush. Just the soft glide of lips, the heat building slowly between them like sunlight filtering through mist.

  When Lena pulled back, she didn’t go far.

  “You want something,” she said, brushing a strand of hair behind Mira’s ear.

  Mira’s face went hot. “I… maybe.”

  Lena leaned in, kissed the corner of her mouth. “Tell me.”

  “I don’t know. Just… you. More of you.”

  A pause.

  Then Lena smiled—slow and fond and wicked at the edges. “Stay here,” she said, and slipped out of bed.

  Mira sat up on her elbows, the sheet falling from her chest. She watched Lena cross the room—barefoot, calm, absolutely in control. She opened the drawer by her desk and pulled out a bck silk blindfold.

  Mira’s breath hitched. “Wait, we’re…?”

  Lena looked over her shoulder. “Only if you want to.”

  Mira swallowed. “I—I do.”

  Lena returned to the bed, her weight dipping the mattress. She straddled Mira gently, the blindfold dangling from her fingers.

  Lena bent down and kissed her again—soothing, grounding—before sliding the blindfold over her eyes. The world went dark.

  Mira felt Lena shift, felt her weight redistribute, felt the air stir as Lena moved above her. Every sound, every brush of fabric, every subtle motion became amplified in the dark.

  She shivered.

  “Lie back,” Lena murmured. “Let me take care of you.”

  Mira obeyed without hesitation.

  Lena leaned down, lips tracing the edge of her jaw, then down her neck, slow and careful. Mira arched into her without meaning to, heat curling low in her stomach.

  “I want to make you feel good,” Lena whispered. “Let me.”

  Mira’s voice trembled. “Please.”

  Lena’s hands moved with deliberate ease—unbuttoning, peeling away fabric, exploring with soft but ciming fingers. Mira couldn’t see anything, couldn’t anticipate—just feel. The ache of it made her gasp, hips twitching.

  “You’re so responsive,” Lena said against her skin. “You always give me everything.”

  A shaky breath. “Because I trust you.”

  That made Lena pause. Something about the way Mira said it, all cracked open and vulnerable. Then she kissed her—deep and possessive this time, like a promise.

  The rest of the morning dissolved into touch and sound and breath. Lena coaxed Mira into whimpering submission with nothing more than kisses and voice and command. And Mira gave herself over completely—blindfolded, bare, wrapped in Lena’s hands and words.

  By the end, Mira was limp and glowing, her body humming, chest rising and falling against Lena’s.

  The blindfold came off. The world returned in soft gold and morning light.

  Lena kissed her forehead and pulled her into her arms again.

  “Still with me?” she murmured.

  Mira nodded, dazed and warm and utterly wrecked. “Mhm.”

  Lena smiled against her hair. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go.”