Page 108 of Insidious

He checked the baby monitor automatically, then seemed to be at loss for a second.

“Let me grab my shorts,” he murmured.

“No.”

The word surprised me more than him.

Slowly, I sat up and pulled my nightgown up and over my head. I imagined myself as a Bond lady, slowly taking off her sparkly dress, though the truth was slightly different.

Isaac’s eyes darkened instantly as his eyes homing in on my bare breasts, but he still didn’t move towards me until I held out my hand.

“Come here.”

The relief that crossed his face nearly undid me. I guess we have some work to do before we get back to where we were pre-Amelie. He slid back into bed and pulled me against him immediately, warm, bare skin against bare skin.

His hands moved slowly over my back, my waist, the soft, newer curves of my body, then curved along the side of my breast, up to the nape of my neck.

It was like he was learning me again.

“Don’t you want to …” he started quietly.

“Not now. Maybe later?”

“Okay.”

I didn’t sense any disappointment or frustration.

“We will get there when you are ready,” he said, kissing me again. Then, he tucked me closer against his chest, kissed my forehead, and held me until sleep took us both.

***

Waking up today only brings peace. There is no panic clawing at my chest, no heaviness pinning me down.

The door creaks open, and Isaac walks in carrying my herbal tea in a mug that says Hot Girls wear overalls.

He catches me looking at it.

“If the cup fits …” he drawled, his blue eyes twinkling.

“Gimme my tea,” I grumble, holding my hand out.

He snorts softly and sits beside me, his hip settling warmly against my waist. The mattress dips beneath his weight.

I slowly push myself upright and take the tea from him.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he says, kissing the tip of my nose.

His voice still sounds rough from sleep.

Last night drifts back into my head in fragments. I deliberately drop the sheet, letting him get an eyeful of my chest. He doesn’t resist the invitation, reaching out to cup my breast with his big hand and running a rough finger over the nipple, making it pucker.

“I have some plans for you,” he says, still distracted.

“Hey. Eyes are up here, mate,” I tease, taking a sip of the hot tea.

“Well, we can cancel and stay in bed,” he says, still distracted. “Or we can go shopping.”