Cale lay down beside her, pulling Niva's exhausted body closer to his own. His arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her into a comfortable spooning position where she fit against him.
"Do you even know how many days have passed?" he asked softly, his voice curious.
"D-days?" she responded with shock, her mind clearly still foggy from exhaustion and the lingering effects of the yang pill.
"Around five, if I'm not wrong," Cale replied, a slight smile in his voice. "Heh, you sure can maintain stable thoughts. Even I'm getting sleepy now."
He tightened his embrace, his other arm beginning to gently caress her body. His fingers slid over her smooth skin, tracing the curve of her hips, following the line down to her slim waist. Then, without warning, he firmly grasped one of her nipples, pinching it softly before grasping it lightly, drawing a small gasp from her.
She was already asleep moments later, her breathing evening out into the deep rhythms.
A few more hours passed.
