Mornings together
Ingrid woke slowly, the hazy remnants of sleep lingering as her body adjusted to the world around her. Her eyes fluttered open, only to be greeted by the soft sight of Mapi still pressed tightly against her chest. Mapi’s cheek was squished against her skin, her breathing deep and even, completely lost in whatever dream was playing out in her mind. One hand had made its way beneath Ingrid’s loose shirt during the night, her fingers resting lightly on the bare skin of Ingrid’s side. Occasionally, her fingertips would twitch, the motion so subtle and subconscious that it tugged a smile onto Ingrid’s lips.
Ingrid stretched slowly, careful not to disturb the woman curled up against her. Her arm, draped around Mapi’s shoulders, instinctively tightened as she rolled onto her side, shifting their positions. The movement prompted a grumble from Mapi, who adjusted without complaint, burying her face deeper into Ingrid’s chest as her arms tightened their hold around her waist. The corners of Ingrid’s mouth lifted further.
“Good morning,” she whispered, her voice low and scratchy from sleep.
She cupped the back of Mapi’s head, her palm pressing lightly against the soft, messy strands of hair that stuck out in every direction. Tilting her head slightly, she pressed her lips to the top of Mapi’s head, letting the kiss linger as her eyes drifted closed once again. The warmth of Mapi’s body, the rhythm of her breathing, and the quiet comfort of the moment lulled Ingrid back into a light doze.
When she woke the second time, it was to the familiar weight of Mapi still clinging to her. If anything, the Spaniard had somehow burrowed even closer, her body practically fused to Ingrid’s. Her face was tucked against Ingrid’s collarbone, and her leg had been thrown over Ingrid’s hip, locking them together.
Ingrid blinked down at her, amusement flickering in her tired eyes. She reached out, slipping her hands under the fabric of Mapi’s shirt, her fingertips brushing against the warm, tattooed skin of her back. Her touch was gentle, her fingers tracing the outlines of inked designs with feather-light precision.
The contact made Mapi stir, a soft noise escaping her lips as her leg twitched against Ingrid’s hip. She mumbled something incoherent, her voice still heavy with sleep. Her face tilted upwards slightly, and after a moment, her eyes cracked open, heavy-lidded and dazed.
Ingrid couldn’t help the soft smile that spread across her face at the sight. Mapi looked utterly adorable, her hair a tangled mess and her eyes threatening to close again even as she stared up at her. Ingrid leaned down, pressing her lips to Mapi’s forehead in a lingering kiss.
“Buenos días,” Ingrid murmured, her accent curling warmly around the Spanish phrase.
Mapi let out a low hum of contentment, her eyes fluttering shut as she grinned faintly. Her hand, still tucked beneath Ingrid’s shirt, shifted upwards, her fingertips brushing against Ingrid’s jawline in a lazy, uncoordinated motion. She tilted Ingrid’s face down slightly, a silent request that Ingrid understood instantly.
Bending her head, Ingrid captured Mapi’s lips in a soft, unhurried kiss. Their lips moved together as though time didn’t exist, the world outside their little cocoon forgotten entirely. When Ingrid finally pulled away, she rested her forehead against Mapi’s, their breaths mingling in the quiet space between them.
“How did you sleep?” Ingrid asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mapi groaned dramatically in response, her arms wrapping tighter around Ingrid’s waist as she buried her face back into her chest. “Like a baby,” she muttered, her English slow and heavily accented but undeniably endearing.
Ingrid chuckled, the sound vibrating through her chest where Mapi’s cheek was pressed. “I don’t doubt it,” she said, her voice tinged with fondness. She shifted slightly, tucking one of her hands into the waistband of Mapi’s pyjama shorts. Her fingers rested on the swell of Mapi’s behind with no further intent.
Mapi let out a breathy laugh, her lips curving into a lazy grin against Ingrid’s skin. A few moments later, her voice fills the room “Princesa?”
“Hmm?” Ingrid responded, her free hand sliding into Mapi’s hair. She began combing her fingers through the tangled strands, smoothing them out as best as she could.
“No te muevas,” Mapi mumbled. She shifted slightly, pulling Ingrid closer even though it seemed physically impossible. “Stay here. Forever.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Ingrid promised.
They stayed tangled together for what felt like hours, the morning slipping by unnoticed. The clock on the nightstand ticked closer to eleven, and the faint sounds of the world outside grew louder, but neither of them made any move to leave the bed. Mapi dozed on and off, her grip on Ingrid never loosening, while Ingrid lay contentedly, her fingers tracing patterns on Mapi’s back.
Eventually, Ingrid decided it was time to coax Mapi out of their little cocoon. “Mapi,” she said softly, her voice laced with affection.
“No,” Mapi mumbled in response, tightening her hold on Ingrid as though that would stop her from speaking.
Ingrid chuckled, her free hand reaching up to stroke Mapi’s cheek. “It’s almost eleven,” she pointed out gently.
“Don’t care,” Mapi said stubbornly, her words muffled against Ingrid’s chest.
“We should eat something,” Ingrid tried again. “Breakfast. Or lunch, at this rate.”
“Later,” Mapi insisted, her fingers twitching against Ingrid’s side.
“María,” Ingrid said, her voice firmer now as she used Mapi’s actual name.
That caught Mapi’s attention. She pulled back just enough to look up at Ingrid, her brown eyes narrowing slightly. “Don’t call me that,” she muttered, though her pout was more playful than annoyed.
“You weren’t listening,” Ingrid pointed out with a small smirk.
Mapi sighed dramatically, her head falling back onto Ingrid’s chest. “Tan mandón”.
Ingrid laughed, her fingers brushing through Mapi’s hair one last time before she sat up, gently urging Mapi to do the same. “Come on, cariño,” she said, her Norwegian accent wrapping around the Spanish word in a way that always made Mapi smile. “Let’s get some food.”
Mapi groaned but allowed Ingrid to pull her up, their morning of warmth and closeness finally giving way to the rest of the day.