16
WARMTH SURROUNDED MANNY. IT PULLED him from a peaceful sleep and into wakefulness. His hands met warm flesh that left his fingertips tingling and sped up his heartbeat. He opened his eyes.
Pumpkin.
His gaze was hazy as he looked down at her bare shoulder. The slope of her neck beckoned to be kissed, tasted. He blinked, clearing the haze of sleep, and he saw it. The faint glow coming off her brown skin. The sight knocked the breath out of him.
All these years he'd waited to see this sight. He wanted to take in a lungful of air and shout from the rooftops. Instead, he whispered.
"Good morning." Manny pulled Pumpkin's warm, glowing body to him.
Her eyes blinked open instantly. She inhaled sharply, "Hey."
Was that intake of breath surprise? Regret? Desire? Satisfaction? Manny decided
