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It was ironic that the lawyer - who made the decision to call out of work in what Natalie imagined was likely a decade - tried to convince Natalie to still go in for her own job. A humored hum pressed against the curve of Teddy's neck, letting a short exhale dance across her skin. "We'll see." It would be hard, if not impossible, to leave her home if she knew that her counterpart was opting not to go into the firm. Her students would likely be happy for an unexpected day off.
Slowly, she eased herself on top of Teddy, pressing another kiss to her neck. Slow. Thoughtful. Her fingertips dared to draw along the length of Teddy's stomach. "When did you decide you weren't going in?"
Every reaction Natalie was offered encouraged her to keep going. Teddy moved so easily, and so when the opportunity was given, she pressed another thoughtful kiss to the curve of the lawyer's neck. There, she lingered for a few moments before finally drawing herslef away enough to properly speak.
"I'll have to make a phone call as well." She explained with a shrug of her shoulders. Though she loved her job, taking a personal day wasn't nearly as hard of a decision.
Once her hand was on the lawyer, it wasn't prepared to leave. Instead, fingertips tracked down the length of her form with ease, ducking under the covers to keep the connection alive as it traversed down to her hip. A humored huff of air escaped her lips. "You're absolutely right. It's starting to feel a little inflated," she joked easily. Though, in part, it was true. Knowing that she was the force that kept Teddy from going into work did well to make her feel special, even if a little guilty.
The tip of her nose drew a trail along the length of her jaw, lips reaching her ear as she pressed another kiss to her ear when she reached it. If anythings he was only more intoxicating now that she was staying, were that even possible.
It was pleasant to find meet someone so enthusiastic about books. The woman seemed eager to be actively participating in a weekly book club, and it was that cool enthusiasm that made it so easy to make the decision to join. Friday evenings. She was sure she could make that work. "I don't see why I wouldn't be able to make it," Natalie answered after a moment of thought. There was only one thing that was likely to keep her from going, but thus far she hadn't any plans with her lawyer friend.
When Natalie's hand was taken, she her own grip was light. Gentle, much like her personality. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Josie." Natalie smiled genuinely, letting her hand fall to the wayside.
"Oh, nothing in particular. I was thinking of just a fun novel - but maybe I'll grab that Crooked House and see what I can get out of it by Friday." She humored the thought aloud.
Although she kissed Teddy at the first real opportunity to do so, it felt long overdue. The hand in her hair was the perfect sort of encouragement to keep her to stay close, not that she had any desire to shift away in the first place. Her palm pressed against the lawyer's side, drawing her in through any space that could have possibly remained between them in their entanglement.
A small hum passed Natalie's lips in agreement, and she had to wonder how those at the firm would react to Teddy's lack of presence today. That within itself was enough to paint a humorous image in her head. "What will they do without you?" She asked, though given the way she held her, Natalie let her selfishness take over. She had no plans to let her go now that she knew she was staying.
Finally, she caught sight of those bright eyes. Even so early in the morning, she was beautiful, and forced the curve of her lip to grow higher. Even though Teddy was quick to point out that she shouldn't consider herself lucky, she absolutely did. "I'll take what I can get." Of course, she'd still let the lawyer do her work, but at the very least, she could be close to her, even if it meant they were both doing independent things while being so.
Her balance shifted to one arm, and with her free hand she was already reaching for Teddy again. Fingertips ran the length of her arm before she kissed her lightly.
The talk of a book club certainly peaked Natalie's interest, so much that her gaze fell completely away from the lines of titles she had been previously staring at. She turned to properly face the woman, eyebrows rising upwards at the title offered. She hadn't read the book, but she did enjoy the other Agatha Christie novels that she had read before. And the idea of watching the movie sounded fun enough too. Were it not for the invite, she would have asked to join herself.
"That sounds lovely," Natalie nodded. "What nights do you meet? I think it's something I'd really enjoy. Not to mention, it would bring me in here more." And that seemed to be of interest to the blonde. She extended her hand outwards. "I'm Natalie, by the way."
There was no secret in the way Teddy took her work; it was a fact placed up front, and one that Natalie did her best to keep in mind. Now this was different. Unexpected. And she listened intently to the lawyer in case she misheard, but quickly realized she hadn't. An ego could have easily built up from the fact, but instead the trainer felt humbled for the opportunity. She doubted there were many people that could drag Teddy James away from her desk for a day, even if it was to work remotely.
She squeezed the hand that had taken her own before easing it away to press against the mattress. With the aid of her elbow to prop her up on the other side, she leaned over the lawyer, eyebrows raised. "You spoil me." She whispered.
Oblivious that she was speaking to the owner, Natalie just assumed that the blonde haired woman was some dedicated book reader. That, or she seemed to enjoy the company of those that worked there. Either way, she smiled at her. She thought to say something about getting an appropriate amount of sleep being good for your health, but given the erratic nature of her sleeping pattern over the last few weeks, the trainer fell silent.
Instead, her attention was caught on what sounded to be a weekly book club. Her eyebrows shot up with curiosity. "Oh, I hadn't realized there was a book club here. That's so wonderful." She said genuinely. It was great to have something to bring people together like that. "What are you currently reading, if you don't mind my asking?"
If any sort of disagreement came up, Natalie expected it over the idea that she didn't have to get up out of bed, even if the lawyer did. Though that wasn't something to stop her after the first morning she had woken up in the trainer's bed. The least she could do to make the mornings easier on Teddy was to at least get some sort of caffeine in her system before walking out the door.
Surprise colored her features, and Natalie was a little glad that her face couldn't be seen, though that did little to hide it from her tone. "You're not?"
A quiet greeting was better than any sound an alarm could make, even if it didn't serve the purpose of waking them. By the way Teddy had moved, it was obvious she was already pulled from her slumber. Natalie pressed another thoughtful kiss against her skin, wondering if she could feel the way she smiled against her.
"Not yet, but I'm guessing you'll have to." By no means did she want Teddy to actually pull herself out from under the covers, but the trainer new it was inevitable. "I can make you coffee, though." She was already awake, so it couldn't hurt.
There was distinct comfort in laying there without disturbance. From the other side of the door, she knew several animals wanted to come inside, having heard the alarm just as loudly as Natalie did. Though her plans to move when the lawyer got up didn't seem to matter. She wasn't shifting, and although Natalie found herself slowly waking up, she didn't make an effort to get up, either.
When her hand was taken, the trainer was sure it was because it was going to be moved. Instead, she found herself surprised to feel it pulled towards Teddy's lips, making her own curve up into a lazy smile.
"Morning," she spoke against her skin, voice low to match the quietness of the early hour.
Without the aid of her own eyes, Natalie could only assume that the alarm was set to snooze. She was thankful for the extra minutes it entailed, because although Teddy didn't have to wake up painfully early in order to return home and get ready, Natalie still selfishly wanted to keep her in bed. It was only encouraged by the hand that pressed on top of her arm, drawing a little squeeze out of her like she really could get closer.
Briefly, she tried to open her eyes, but exhaustion put up a battle as they immediately fell shut again. Instead, she pressed another kiss to the lawyer's shoulder.
A few more minutes wouldn't hurt, especially when it was all too easy to fall back asleep.
Another late night fell quickly into another morning that came all too quickly. Her own alarm wasn't even the one to go off, and thus her hand never had to leave the form she was so close to. Arms completely enveloped the lawyer as her eyes squeezed shut, not ready to face any sign of day yet. Instead, Natalie found herself pulling closer to her counterpart, nose pressing against the curve of her neck.
She knew that she would eventually have to shift. It was already determined that staying the night was a dangerous idea, but there lived no regrets in the decision. At least from the trainer's point.
Eyes still closed, she tilted her head up a fraction, lips pressing to Teddy's neck lightly.
As they stepped into the student lounge, Natalie already knew it was empty thanks to her animal companions. They alerted her that there wasn't the smell of another person in the air, and when she turned to look at Olivia to see if she possibly was given the wrong info, the paralegal was already checking her phone. Her hands pressed together to wait to see if she had some sort of plan. She didn't want to abandon her if she had to go somewhere else instead.
"Yeah, that's fine." She nodded, rocking back on her heels. She supposed Olivia just wanted to wait for her. Natalie even took a couple steps back before pausing. "There's a courtyard right outside that's quite nice. If you want, you can join me while you wait. Your niece will likely have to pass it on her way in here."
