Billie didn’t move. She didn’t dare. Because if she moved, there was a chance she would wake Debra, and the spell could break. If that happened, reality may come rushing back in with all the usual cruelty of the morning that Billie was accustomed to.
So she just lay there. There was no panic or dread, just contentment. A contentment that settled deep inside of her like she’d been deprived of it without even realising.
Debra’s nose nudged her shoulder faintly. A cute, sleepy shift, followed by a soft exhale.
Billie’s throat constricted. She wanted to stay right there, in that version of herself which felt…new. Or maybe not new. Maybe it was the Billie from many years ago, long before the rules and control around her life.
And then Debra murmured something incoherent against her skin. Billie smiled, her eyes stinging as she carefully pressed a hand to her bare chest. She turned her head and glanced over her shoulder.
Debra’s eyes were still closed, her lashes resting against her cheeks, those full lips parted slightly. Her hair was the most beautiful mess, and her face…oh, what a face that was to wake up to. Billie hadn’t seen many people unguarded, she hadn’tallowedherself to, yet here Debra was, curled around her, trusting Billie completely.
She swallowed back the emotion in her throat and watched on as Debra woke slowly. For a moment, she seemed confused. Her eyes were unfocused, her brow was knitted, and then she caught Billie watching her, and her entire face relaxed.
“Morning,” Debra whispered. “You officially have the world’s comfiest bed.”
Afraid that her voice would break if she dared to speak, Billie hummed and closed her eyes.
“Mm.” Debra’s arm tightened around her stomach. “I’m still here.”
Billie let out a laugh, a sound so strange coming from her that she almost startled herself. “Where else would you be?”
Debra smiled against her shoulder. “Honestly? Anywhere. You’re Billie Brown.”
She turned in Debra’s arms and faced her. Debra’s hand slid up, brushing Billie’s hair from her forehead in a gesture so tender that it made Billie’s skin prickle. “I don’t want to get up.”
Debra regarded her with a lazy smile. “Good.”
“Good?”
“Yes,” Debra said. “Stay a while. I like you like this.”
Billie stared at her. She didn’t know how to take compliments like that. Not when they weren’t about her work, or her ability to manage the world. This was a compliment abouther. The real her.
Billie swallowed and lowered her forehead to Debra’s collarbone as Debra tugged her a little closer. All of this care and attention was going to take a minute to get used to.
They stayed like that for a while, the room quiet except for their breathing and the sound of London waking outside. Billie could have sworn time was moving differently this morning.
Debra shifted down the bed and met Billie at eye level. “So…”
“So?”
“Last night was…” Debra smiled as she sighed. “I may need a while to think up an appropriate response.”
Billie’s cheeks heated instantly. “Debra.”
Debra leaned forward and kissed Billie’s shoulder. “You know exactly what you do to me. It’s no use being shy now.”
Billie couldn’t stop the grin spreading on her face.God, you’re done for here. It just kept happening—those random little bursts of joy that seemed to slip through the cracks of her control.
“Okay,” Debra said. “Back in the room.”
“I hadn’t left the room…”
Debra brushed her thumb across Billie’s cheek. “Tell me about your family.”
Billie froze. Not because she didn’t want to answer, but because she wasn’t used to anyone asking her questions thatweren’t about her schedule, her work, her success, or her products.
Family.
