Lizzy was in a most comfortable cocoon. She lay on her side, her head resting on her husband?s arm, his steady breath gently caressing the top of her head. His body fit hers perfectly, bend for bend and curve for curve, as if they were two spoons. His free hand cupped one of her breasts while his arm held her snugly close, her own arm hugging him even closer to herself.

And it would all be perfect if it were not for one annoying thing that would not cease and desist ? the growling of her stomach. She was sure its loud cries to be fed would wake him at any moment, and he would then jump out of bed, despite her protests, and hurry off to get something to quell it. That is exactly the kind of thing he always did. He took such care of her that it made her heart melt. Yet she wished to do something special for him this morning.

Or was it afternoon? She was never sure since time meant very little here. They spent their days and nights engrossed in only each other, and so it mattered not. They ate when they were hungry, slept when they grew tired, and did whatever their hearts desired and, much to her delight, there had been a lot of time spent on fulfilling desires.

Her stomach loudly complained again, taking her away from sensuous visions and back to the present. He mumbled something in his sleep and shifted one of his legs. Moving hers to match, wishing to follow the warmth of his body wherever it went, she worried again that her stomach would wake him, for it seemed so loud with the racket it made.

Suddenly an idea struck her. Pancakes! She would make pancakes and surprise him in bed with them. Yes! She would act immediately upon the impulse, thinking the sooner she moved from his vicinity the longer he would be able to rest without the sounds emanating from her middle disturbing his slumber. She gently put her hand on his and lifted it from her chest, intending to slide out from under his arm. Turning onto her back, she was just beginning to wiggle toward the edge of the bed, still awkwardly holding his arm in the air, when he suddenly reached over with it in his sleep, dismissing her hold as if she were a mere fly, and placed his arm firmly around her middle, tucking his hand around the edge of her waist. His leg then came down over the top of hers, his body now effectively holding her firmly in place.

It seemed he would not be making it easy. In a move that she hoped approximated one she might make in her sleep, she gently shifted her body onto its other side, thereby having the effect of removing his leg from its former position atop her own. Now facing him, she could not help but pause for a moment, staring at his sleeping face and revelling in his warm, close embrace. She toyed with the idea of waking him in some mischievous way, but then regained her determination to make pancakes when her stomach once again protested in a most unladylike manner. While she had been briefly contemplating the thought of some mischief or other, she had allowed too much time to transpire. His hold on her suddenly tightened just enough to make it impossible to slide out.

She stifled a giggle. Her body literally shook with laughter that she tried to subdue as swiftly as she could. What now, she thought? Speed was obviously the key here. Move quickly. Not so fast that she might wake him with the motions, but not so slowly that he had time to adjust his cuddling of her.

She made a plan and braced herself to execute it post-haste. Taking a breath, she held it and then repeated her previous move onto her back, grabbing hold of his arm and gently lifting while sliding out from under it. Finally having reached the edge of the bed, her body now free of his she turned to look back, wondering if all of her jostling had woken him. His face held a small smile that likely reflected the dream he was having, which made her smile in turn. Her man was truly lovely in all ways, and she counted her blessings each and every day. Reaching over, she pulled the covers over him and placed a kiss on his forehead.

Not knowing quite where her dressing gown was ? for it seemed that while he was excellent at helping her out of her things while playing the role of her lady?s maid, he was not quite as efficient at putting them where they might be easily found again later ? she picked up his discarded shirt from the floor and put it on before tiptoeing out of the room and down to the kitchen.