Page 92 of Everlasting Vows

He freezes momentarily, then his mouth crashes down on mine. His tongue strokes inside, and I press my hips up into his, ensuring he stays inside me even though he’s softening. He gets my message and presses his full weight back down onto me, ensuring our skin touches everywhere. Fingers tighten in my hair, and he moans into my mouth. I swallow it down and match it with one of my own.

I lose all track of time and place, floating in this euphoric space where all that matters is kissing Nix.

Tasting him.

Feeling him.

Enjoying him.

Giving and taking.

Reconnecting.

After what could be hours, he pulls away, and I release my legs from around his hips. We both wince as he slips from my body. I loosen my hold around his shoulders and cup his bristly cheeks. We both grin, our eyes sparkling with happiness.

He kisses the tip of my nose, then presses his forehead to mine as he watches me. His eyes devour every millimeter of my face. “You’re so damn beautiful,” he whispers harshly, his voice full of emotion.

“So are you.”

He chuckles, his body vibrating against mine. “You mean handsome, right?”

I tilt my head to the side. “Sure.”

Satisfied with my answer, he presses a chaste kiss to my lips, then climbs out of the bed. A shiver racks my body, so he quickly covers me with the blankets, then disappears into the bathroom. I hear the water running, and I smile to myself. My eyes drift closed, and I let myself sink into the mattress, my muscles heavy.

“Here, let me clean you up, then you can sleep,” he whispers, lifting the blankets and opening my legs.

I watch him on the brink of sleep as he tends to me, cleaning both of our orgasms from me. Once he’s finished, he tosses the washcloth across the room, and I hear a splat as it lands on the tiled floor of the bathroom.

He taps my hip. “Roll to the other side, I’ll take the wet spot.”

A sleepy smile touches my lips as I roll across the bed and lie on my side, facing the wall with the adjoining door to the other room. Nix’s warm body wraps around me from behind, and he pulls the covers over both of us. I relax as his arms come around my body, cocooning me in his embrace, his legs cradling mine from behind, the hairs tickling my thighs.

“Sleep well, beautiful,” he whispers, then kisses the back of my head.

I hum with contentment. Tangling my fingers with his, I whisper, “Stay with me.”

He kisses me again, and I press back into him, completely relaxed and sated. Happy he’s going to stay the night with me.

31

NIX

Abbi’s breaths steady out and her body goes completely lax. She’s wiped. It’s been a huge day with the aftermath of last night and Murphy finally waking. I kiss her shoulder, my mind wandering over the last hour or so. We haven’t made love like that in years. The connection between us too broken. I honestly believed we would never have it again.

But tonight … tonight was something else. It was spiritual. It felt like an out-of-body experience. Our connection snapped back into place, and we found our rhythm easily.

I glance over Abbi’s shoulder at the open door to the room next door. I don’t want to leave this bed and Abbi. Thinking about sleeping apart from her after what we just experienced together sits like a lead weight in my gut, but I promised I’d always keep her safe. I can’t go back on that promise. I don’t want a repeat of last night.

Harry suggested I set an alarm at around two a.m., but if I’m completely honest with myself, I’m terrified. What if it doesn’t work, and I hurt her again?

Reluctantly, I cautiously move away from my wife, careful not to disturb her. She repositions herself in my absence, and my stomach rolls. How many nights has she slept alone when she should have been with me? It feels so wrong to leave her—a colossal mistake. I take more care than I need, smoothing down the blankets around her, ensuring she doesn’t get cold during the night. I’m not sure how long I stand by the bed, watching her sleep peacefully, a small smile tugging at her lips, lifting my own.

She’s so damn beautiful, and she’s mine. Then, a darker thought enters my mind: I almost lost her. My fists clench at my sides, digging my nails into my palms. I grit my teeth in anger at myself. How stupid can one man be?

I uncurl my fingers and rake my hands through my hair, take one last look at my wife, quietly collect my sleep pants and T-shirt from the floor, and head to the other room. With each step I take away from Abbi, my feet grow heavier, as if I’m wading through molasses in concrete boots. My stomach swoops to my knees when her sigh breaks the silence and guilt oozes from my pores. I pause my steps, listening carefully in case she wakes, but no further sounds emanate from her. My shoulders drop from around my ears, and I take a breath, uncurling my tight muscles.

When I make it to the bed, I dress quietly, then pull back the covers with reluctance, my heart and soul still in the bed next door, wrapped around my wife like a blanket. Wishing things were different doesn’t help anything. I need to follow through and meet with Harry’s friend about my night terrors to discuss my options with him. I lay on my back, hands behind my head, staring at the popcorn ceiling, feeling as empty as ever without Abbi in my arms.