oh how malcolm loved you.

sure he'd loved before but this was different. it was stronger, he felt it deep in his bones whenever he saw you. it was something that he couldn't deny and really, why in the world would he deny it?

waking up in the mornings like this was his favorite thing nowadays.

your frame curled into his own, the feeling of your breaths puffing out against his neck as you tucked yourself closer to the crook of his neck - gods, he couldn't get enough of these peaceful moments.

shifting against the pillows, the arm around your waist tightened as he pulled you closer, his other hand slipping into your soft hair as he gently ran his fingers through the strands without really thinking about it.

he'd had boyfriends before you, but he was pretty sure that you were it for him.

as the sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains it bathed the two of you in a soft, warm light. it lit up your skin, making you shine like some treasure that he had managed to steal.

you were his treasure, that was for sure.

the moment that you stirred he could feel it. the way your breathing changed slightly, how you shifted closer - if that was even possible in the current moment. gods he loved you so much.

"morning darlin'," malcolm murmured quietly, his voice gravelly and low with the last remnants of sleep. "sleep well?"

his hand in your hair drifted down, tracing a path down your spine only to slip beneath your shirt, resting upon the soft skin of your back. the skin to skin contact was something he craved almost constantly.