Chapter 13
“Good morning.”
Lexa is more or less still asleep when she smells the coffee. And it smells like heaven. She wants it, but she knows she has to open her eyes for that and she is still so sleepy. She grumbles something unintelligible and hears a small laugh in return.
“You really aren’t much of a morning person, are you?”
Clarke. Now Lexa remembers and her eyes are open in no time. Clarke is standing next to the bed, a coffee mug in hand. She is wearing one of those oversized ice hockey jerseys. Her hair is in a ponytail, but a few strands have escaped and are framing her face. She looks adorable.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
“Hey”, Lexa croaks and instantly clears her throat, making Clarke laugh even more.
She sits down on the edge of the mattress and hands Lexa the mug.
“Milk and one sugar, right?”
Lexa sits up. The bright daylight makes her blink a few times.
“How did you know?”
She takes a sip of the coffee and sighs. It tastes as good as it smells.
“You had coffee at Bellamy’s party.”
“And you memorized how I drink it?”
Lexa raises one of her eyebrows in question which makes Clarke laugh.
“I wasn’t stalking you or anything. I work as a doctor in a hospital. Patients have a tendency to not tell you everything, so you have to be observant.”
She takes in Lexa with her messy hair and the lines the pillow left on the left side of her face. So far Lexa has made no move to bolt and Clarke feels content.
“Did you sleep alright?”
Lexa smiles.
“Yes. In fact, I did.”
She sets down the mug on the nightstand and takes hold of Clarke’s hand, intertwining their fingers.
“How about you?”
“I slept fine. I think I might have kicked you at some point though …”
Lexa grins.
“You did, but you mumbled an apology in your sleep, so we’re fine.”
She laughs when Clarke blushes.
“Don’t be embarrassed. It was cute.”
“I am still sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Lexa’s smile does something to Clarke. It is genuine and caring and just so cute. She leans in to kiss her.
“I am really glad that I met you.”
“I am really glad you met me myself.”
Lexa kisses the corner of Clarke’s mouth and hears her stomach growl at the same time.
“I do get the impression that you might be hungry.”
Clarke sits up.
“Are you more of a pancakes or more of a bacon and eggs kind of girl?”
“That depends on the time of day and the extent of a possible hangover.”
Lexa grins.
“Today I am open for whatever you would like to have.”
“Well, pancakes it is.”
“Can I help?”
“No, but you can keep me company.”
Clarke gets up and pulls a pair of sweatpants and a shirt from her wardrobe and hands them to Lexa.
“As much as I appreciate you being naked …
She smirks
“… and I really do … I think you might get cold.”
Lexa looks at her and smirks herself.
“You can just tell me if I am too much of a distraction, you know?”
She pushes away the bedsheets and gets up, standing naked in the middle of the room. Clarke swallows hard and Lexa just cocks her eyebrow, reaches for her panties and her bra that ended up on the chair next to the bed and takes the clothes from Clarke.
“I’ll make a quick stop in the bathroom and then I am all yours.”
She walks out of the room, knowing exactly that Clarke is staring at the tattoo on her back.
–
“The first few are almost ready. Do you want them now or wait for the rest?”
Clarke looks over her shoulder when Lexa enters the kitchen and smiles when Lexa places a kiss on the back of her neck.
“Let’s wait.”
Clarke nods and patiently flips the next few pancakes.
“There is more coffee if you want? Milk and orange juice are in the fridge.”
Lexa looks around the small kitchen. There is an open shelf with glasses and she takes two of them and fills them with juice.
“Where are the plates?”
Clarke points to a cupboard to her right. Knifes, forks and spoons are in a jar on the countertop and so Lexa sets the table. She also gets more coffee for the two of them and by the time she is done, Clarke is finished with the pancakes.
There is a ray of sunlight that falls through the kitchen window and Lexa closes her eyes for a second and enjoys the feeling of being completely at peace with the world. Clarke’s arms embrace her from behind and she feels her breath on her neck. If this is what love feels like, she has been missing out. But then again, maybe love doesn’t always feel this way.
“Let’s eat before the pancakes get cold.”
Clarke’s breath tickles and Lexa opens her eyes again.
She nods and sits down at the table with Clarke across from her.
The pancakes are delicious. Lexa likes them drowned in maple syrup and Clarke wonders just how often Lexa goes to the gym to be able to eat like she does and still look like … this. She smiles.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Clarke grins and Lexa doesn’t believe her.
“You’re grinning at something …”
“No.”
She bites her lip to keep herself from laughing. Lexa puts down her fork.
“Clarke, lying is not the best start for a relationship.”
Clarke looks at her.
“Is this what this is then? A relationship?”
“Well, you called me your girlfriend last night so … But if you have reconsidered …”
Lexa realizes that she has lost her cool within seconds and Clarke sees it, too. She instantly reaches for Lexa’s hand.
“No. I haven’t reconsidered. Not one bit.”
She smiles.
“I just … I thought we should at least talk about it … say it out loud. I am at a point in my life where I am not looking for anything casual. And I want to make sure that this doesn’t scare you.”
“It doesn’t.”
Lexa feels relieved. The thought of someone dumping her has never been as scary as in this very moment. So love also means the fear of losing someone?
She squeezes Clarke’s hand. “It really doesn’t.”
“Good. Then, Lexa Woods, I would be honored to call you my girlfriend. And now eat your pancakes.”