I watched out the window as the scenery kept moving and changing. I was thinking about Jackson and how he would react to where I grew up. It was a small town, that held little in the fancy department. I’m still unsure why he had me get all dressed up. I’m also unsure how I feel about the dress I’m wearing. It definitely showed a lot more skin than I was used to. I liked being covered up. I liked to hide behind my clothes. I felt safe there.
There was no reason for me to dress up. I wore my scrubs at work and when I had money to go out, I wore jeans and nice shirts. Nothing flashy, nothing sexy. This dress was sexy. The beige color gave it the illusion of being naked and when Jackson looked at me, I felt stripped bare. Normally I would feel uncomfortable with the way Jackson looked at me, but with him, I felt strangely calm. I felt beautiful and I felt sexy. His eyes on my body sparked something deep inside of me, something I didn’t know, something that made me shiver but not in fear.
I turned to look at him as he drove us. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. His jaw as set, and hard as if he was having difficulty sitting so close to me without touching. His profile was as sexy as his eyes. I studied him as we drove. He was strong, capable, determined and confident. Something I totally lacked, although with him, if I let go of the barriers I’ve built I feel a little more confident. Jackson carried himself as someone who demanded respect. I found it intimidating, but so damn sexy. I didn’t want to ask him about the girl he was seeing before, I didn’t want to ruin this spell between us. However, I did want to know. I needed to know what happened, what made him turn to his work and away from building a family.
“Why are you staring at me, Princess? Have I sprouted a second head?”
His voice brought me out of my thoughts.
I smiled, “No, I am taking you all in. I mean, I never get to just watch you.”
His head turned briefly to look at me.
“Oh yeah, and what do you see?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer him, so I figured I’d hit this head on. Why hide what I thought? What could it hurt to tell him the truth? My heart was already his. His to take, his to crush, his to do whatever he wanted with it. The only thing he didn’t have was my admission of love. I couldn’t give him that, I wouldn’t. Not yet anyway.
I cleared my throat and said, “I see a strong man. A man who demands respect and gets respect from all who cross his path. I see the beautiful soul you possess inside that you hide from the world around you but let so few see. I see a man who loves his family and who would do anything to protect them and take care of them. Someone who is confident in every decision he makes. Confident in what he wants, what he needs to fulfill himself. I see a man who has been hurt and closed off for a long time until recently. I see a man who has power, demands control and wonder what he wants with someone like me.”
I watched his jaw tick as he clenched it. His eyes hit mine briefly.
“Someone like you? What does that mean? Tell me, who are you?”
I moved my gaze back out the window. “I’m someone who certainly isn’t a match for you. I’m not confident. I lack the confidence and power that you have. I like to hide from the world, except for the people I take care of. I would rather sit in a library reading, writing and being alone. I’m not a people person. I’m not someone you show off or take somewhere to impress people. I’m broke. I have little trust and faith in people and I’m afraid.”
A tear escaped and rolled down my cheek landing on my arm which was tucked in my lap. I felt the car slowing down and I looked to see what was slowing us down. There was nothing, but Jackson was pulling off onto the shoulder of the road.
When he stopped the car, I looked at him. Jackson’s words came out hard and the look in his eyes was one of demand. He was demanding me to hear him. He exuded such power in his face and with his voice, my body shook.
“I’ll tell you over and over again until you believe it. You are the sexiest damn woman I have ever met. You have good reason not to trust people, Lacie, after the things you’ve been through, I get that. But you being no match for me, that is utter bullshit. You challenge me in so many ways. You don’t just give into me. You make me work for everything with you. You ask questions of me, you make me crave more of you. I don’t care if you’re a people person or not, I’d be happy tucking you beside me and never seeing another person again. Confidence? Oh, Princess, you have it. You just have it buried inside of you. I will pull it back out of you, believe me. I see it there. You don’t give yourself enough credit, Lacie. You, you alone bring me to my knees. I would give you anything if you’d just ask me. The confidence you say you see, it wavers around you. I feel inept and completely unworthy of you. I have yet to figure you out and that scares me more than anything because that leaves the chance that you will get away, and that is what will crush me. You have the power here, Lacie. You are the most powerful woman in my world, because you hold me in your hands to keep or to throw to the wind. That is the challenge here Lacie, will you keep me? Or will you throw me away? Only you can make that decision. Only you hold the power of us. I may know what I want, but keeping you isn’t in my hands.”
I stared at him as he spoke. The man took my breath away. Was he for real? Me? I could bring him to his knees? He’s not for real.
“Jackson, this is insane. You could have anyone, anyone—”
He cut me off. “Okay, then I want you. Only you. Are you going to give yourself to me?”
I shook my head. “Jackson, stop. There are women out there with more social graces, more class than me. You need someone like that with you. I’m just a challenge for you. I can’t do anything for your career, your company. I can’t help your business grow. I can’t even challenge you intellectually, we are in such different worlds.”
Jackson growled at me.
“You didn’t answer my question. Are you going to give yourself to me? You are the only one I want Lacie. The rest of what you say is lies. You can challenge me in so many ways, sexually, intellectually, spiritually, there is so much you do that challenges me. Without you my company is nothing, because without you I have no desire to push myself. As far as class, Princess you hold more class in your hand than the women who I’ve crossed paths with. Shallow, self-righteous, pompous, fake, lying bitches are what I’ve crossed paths with. Women who only care about what can be given to them, not what they have to contribute, not what they want for us, only for them. When will you see, you are saving me? You, only you.”
I was silent. What was I supposed to say? Jackson steered the car back onto the highway and we drove in silence for a while. This man was dangerous. So very dangerous to me. What did his ex do to him? He has nothing nice to say about the women in his social circle. Could I be what he needs? What he sees, could that really be me? Could I be the confident, beautiful woman he needed on his arm? Dressed the way I am tonight, I could see it, but in my everyday world? Tonight was like dress-up. It was like taking Cinderella to the ball. Is this the real me, or could it be?
Before I knew it we were pulling up at the most expensive hotel just on the outskirts of town. It’s a place I only ever dreamed about staying in. It had a lake behind it and I always imagined how beautiful the views would be from inside the hotel.
“Jackson, this is too much. Are we really staying here?”
Before he could answer a man was opening my door and reaching a hand out to me.
“Ma’am.”
I looked at Jackson and he smiled, nodding at me. I took the man’s hand and let him help me out of the car. Jackson was handing his keys to the man on his side of the car and having a short conversation with him. Before I could even take in the beauty of the front entrance of the Berkleigh Hotel, he was beside me.
“Jackson this is beautiful.”
I looked at him and he was staring over me, “It certainly is.”
I giggled, “Jackson, I was talking about the hotel.”
He smiled, “And I was talking about you. The hotel’s beauty pales in comparison to you.”
He leaned in and kissed my cheek. We walked up the walkway to the entrance and on Jackson’s arm, I felt like a princess. I held myself tall and proud, because who wouldn’t be proud to be on his arm. I noticed people turning to look our way and wondered what they were thinking.
Jackson moved from beside me to behind me as the doors were opened for us to enter. When we walked into the lobby, I gasped at the grandeur of it.
“All these men can’t take their eyes off you. I want to rip their eyes out for looking at you. You are absolutely the most beautiful woman in the room.”
I turned my head to him and he brushed my lips with his.
A man approached us. “Mr. Hewitt?”
Jackson nodded at him.
“Right this way sir, ma’am. Your table is ready. The bell hops will be sure your luggage arrives in your room.”
Jackson nodded and we followed the man into what I was to assume was the dining room. My eyes looked around at everything. Taking it all in. It was breathtaking. The chandeliers, the plush formal furnishings all around the lobby. The marble floor with the rich golden accents on the walls and around the whole place. This was more than I’d ever dreamed of.
Jackson had moved back beside me and had my arm tucked in his as we continued moving across the hotel lobby and down a hallway. We arrived at a door and the man held it open for us and once I was through the door, there was a beautiful patio built up that you looked down on the lake. The view was spectacular. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. The man went back through the door and Jackson came up wrapping his arms around me.
“What do you think?”
I gasped.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Wow. I dreamed about the view from this place, wondering what it looked like. As a kid I always wondered what it would be like to stay here. I can’t believe we are here.”
Jackson pressed himself against my back and pulled me tighter.
“Believe it, Princess. Tonight, I make dreams come true. Come, there is more.”
I took my gaze off the view and moved in the direction Jackson was leading me. As we walked, I kept watching the view off the patio and I caught a glimpse of flickering so I turned my eyes back in front of me. I stopped my feet, frozen in place.
“Jackson,”
I whispered. In front of me was a table centered at a staircase leading off the patio and down to a pathway that lead out to the lake. The table was set with beautiful china. There were candles, and flowers surrounding the area. There was soft music playing from a violin and cello. Beside the table was a tall stand holding a bottle and there was a waiter standing by the table in a suit and gloves awaiting our arrival.
Jackson stopped beside me as I couldn’t move. This was incredible. My legs were shaking and I felt tears burning behind my eyes. I turned to face him.
“This is incredible Jackson. Why are you doing this?”
He smiled a crooked grin on his face.
“Isn’t it obvious, Princess? I’m trying to impress you. I’m trying to show you the things you deserve.”
I reached up to touch his face. He leaned into my touch.
“You are an amazing man. This is more than I ever expected. Thank you.”
He leaned in to kiss me, before his lips touched mine he said, “This is only the beginning baby.”
After the kiss he pulled me to the table where we were seated and a bottle of champagne was opened then poured into our glasses.
Jackson held up his glass, “A toast.”
I lifted my glass as well waiting for Jackson to continue.
“To my princess, may she always feel like royalty and may she always rule by my side. To making dreams a reality for the woman who deserves the world.”
I clinked my glass against his and sipped the champagne. It was delicious, not like the cheap stuff I bought at New Year’s to drink with my dad. It was crisp and light and bubbled in my mouth.
“Umm, Jackson. This is amazing.”
He smiled at me as he watched me. He took my hand from the table and brought it to his lips kissing my knuckles. I watched him as his eyes never left mine. My stomach twisted and turned inside of me. My heart was hammering behind my chest. My whole body was throbbing and aching for his touch. Whatever spell he cast over me, I never wanted it to end.
The waiter returned with another man. They both placed plates in front of us covered with a silver dome. Once they were placed in front of us, the men stood up straight then reached down at the same time to pull the lids off our plates. The smell hit me first then the beauty of the food that laid steaming on my plate. There were mashed potatoes, with a filet on top then green beans sprinkled with almonds surrounding it in a formation like a tent. A rich-looking sauce was drizzled around the whole dish. It was perfection. It was too beautiful to eat. I closed my eyes and let my nose take in all the flavors of the dish. My mouth was watering as the smell was incredible. I never noticed the men retreating as the food held me captive. I opened my eyes to see Jackson looking at me. I tilted my head at him. There was no smile on his face but his eyes held a sparkle and intensity to them.
“You are so beautiful Lacie. The way you enjoy the beauty of this place and the food. It is so gorgeous to see the wonder and the beauty through your eyes.”
I dipped my head to look downward.
“I could never get used to this Jackson. The beauty of places like this will always be new to me. I would never take anything like this for granted. Most people don’t even bother to look around to see the amazing beauty in front of them.”
Jackson lifted his glass to his lips and sipped on the champagne.
“You are the only beauty I can see. You have spoiled these places for me. They will forever pale in comparison to your beauty and your awe. I want to take you everywhere with me, so I can see the beauty from you.”
Again, speechless. I picked up my utensils and I dug into my meal. The filet melted in my mouth and the potatoes were silky soft, fluffy having the most amazing garlic and chive flavor. This was real flavor.
“Ummm, this is incredible.”
I moaned over my food, I couldn’t stop myself. It was too delicious. Jackson was watching my lips. His focus was on me. It made me shudder.
“God that is so sexy. I’ve never wanted to be a fork so bad in all my life.”
Jackson’s raspy growl came across the table at me. I was blushing. I couldn’t stop myself. My eyes fluttered to my plate and Jackson chuckled at my embarrassment. Thankfully Jackson turned his attention to his meal.
I ate the food in front of me, gazing across the table at him and then to the view beside us. The moonlight glimmered off the lake and there was a gazebo out by the lake all lit up with twinkling lights around the ceiling and the poles of the building. It was breathtaking.
“I still can’t believe I’m here Jackson. And I don’t mean just here in this hotel, but here in my hometown with you.”
Jackson had finished his meal and was watching me finish my last few bites.
“Believe it. I want to know you Lacie. Being here is going to help me see who you are. I want to know all of you. The good, the bad all of it. That’s what this weekend is for.”
I watched him as his eyes held mine.
“When do I get to know you? When do you tell me about you Jackson?”
He chuckled, “There isn’t much to know about me Lacie. I’ve spent many years throwing myself into my work that there isn’t much about me that’s interesting.”
I knew this wasn’t the time, but I couldn’t hold back.
“According to your mother and sister there is a lot more. They’ve worried about you and how closed off you’ve been. Apparently you were engaged once.”
Jackson’s expression hardened. He poured more champagne in his glass and mine. Once he took a drink from his glass emptying at least half of it he responded.
“That was not of their concern to tell you.”
I watched him matching his hardened stare.
“So, it’s okay for you to know of my past relationships, but not for you to share yours with me? Wow, double standard much?”
Jackson watched me.
“There isn’t much to tell. I’ve made mistakes in the past Lacie. I’ve been with women. None of them hold a candle to you. Why do we need to discuss this?”
I was torn. I didn’t want to ruin our evening, but yet I wanted to know. I needed to know what happened.
“Fine, don’t tell me. But don’t expect me to bare my soul to you any further either.”
I stood up and moved toward the top of the stairs leading to the pathway down to the lake. I stood there wrapping my arms around myself just staring at the beauty, trying to forget how easily he shrugged off my questions. I heard him push his chair back and move behind me.
“I will tell you anything you want to know Lacie, but tonight is not the time. Do not let this ruin our evening. Come, dance with me.”
He reached a hand out to me. I turned, looking into his eyes. There was pain there, when there was desire before. What had happened to him? Did I want to pursue this or did I, like him, want to just enjoy tonight?
I looked at his hand as I reached out and took it. My gaze slid back up to his eyes and his expression was changing before me. What once showed pain, now held the desire and something else I didn’t quite recognize. He pulled me away from the stairs and beyond the table before pulling me against him and swaying with his arms around me holding me tight to him.
I didn’t hear the wait staff clearing the table, I didn’t see the women playing the instruments that provided us the music all evening. I saw and heard nothing but Jackson and his breathing. Our bodies moved against one another. His body touching me ignited a fire through me that I couldn’t deny. My eyes held his as we moved and I saw the same desires rolling across him.
Never had I felt what I feel in his arms. There were no differences between us when he touched me. There were no barriers to overcome, just us. I felt beautiful in his arms, sexy and a confidence brewed throughout me that made me feel like I was enough for him. Looking in his eyes I felt powerful, rocking my hips harder into him watching his eyes flare with desire for me, made me feel like a woman who ruled the world. Yes, Jackson made me feel like anything was possible, and tonight I was going to show him my power.
“Jackson.” My voice was a breathy whisper.
“Yes, Princess.”
I leaned in and pulled his neck to mine taking his lips with mine. I initiated this kiss and I was going to own it. I opened my mouth to him and licked my way over his lips parting them to me. I held his head to me and I controlled the depth of that kiss. When I slowly pulled back, I met his eyes.
I felt his growl as I said, “Take me to our room Jackson.”
There was no hesitation and no delay. He moved me back the way we came and to the elevators. At some point the man who greeted us must have slipped him the keys because we were in the elevator and riding up as I backed Jackson into the corner of the empty elevator and continued the kiss from the patio. I was unbuttoning his shirt to press my hand against his flesh when he tore his lips from mine.
“Lacie, God, you’re killing me.”
I pressed my hips harder into him and just looked into his eyes. The elevator dinged and he was pulling me out of it, down the hallway to our room.
Once we were at the door to our room, I wrapped my arms around Jackson’s body and ran my hands down his chest. I moved my hands to his hips and slid them down his hips to his thighs. Sliding back up I slid my hands over his exquisite ass, then up his back and over his shoulders. I felt the shudder run through his body as he struggled to get the door open with the key card. Finally, I heard the beep allowing us entrance.
Jackson’s body moved away from me as he entered the room and allowed me entrance past him. As I passed through the door, I brushed my hip across his lower half eliciting a groan from him. I moved in taking a quick glance around. It was beautiful. He had candles set around our room, rose petals scattered over the bed and leading from the entry way to the bed. Another bucket holding a bottle of what I assumed was champagne and I couldn’t believe the details he put into this night. I heard the door click and I turned pressing myself against him, catching him off guard and pushing him against the door.
My hands slid down his chest touching bare skin where I already opened his shirt and grazing down over the hard on between his thighs. I cupped him there and stroked him over his pants causing him to moan and jerk in my hands. I backed away from him allowing him to slide his jacket off as I backed toward the bed. I ran my hands down the center of my chest and down to the throbbing area between my legs. I reached for the dress and pulled it up over my head as I held Jackson’s eyes until it came over my head. I dropped the dress to the floor and met his eyes again.
I didn’t know where this seductress was coming from, but I embraced her. I slid my heels off my feet kicking them to the side. I watched as Jackson pulled his shirt off discarding it to the floor with his jacket. He moved toward me letting his gaze roam my body.
I lit on fire for him. I felt like flames engulfed me. Once he reached me I turned pulling him so that his back was to the bed. I pressed his chest until his legs hit the bed. I reached up placing my hands on his shoulders pulling him down to sit on the bed.
His body sank onto the bed and he kissed me between my breasts. I moved and straddled his lap pulling his head between my breasts again. His breath was so warm against my body that it sent chills racing throughout me. Jackson’s arms were wrapped around me and I leaned back arching my chest into him letting my head fall back.
Jackson took full advantage of the position and began kissing up my neck to my shoulder and nibbled his way up to the hollow of my neck where when he nibbled me I gasped. My hips rocked against him, grinding down on him. There were no words between us, just moans and breathless hitches as we lit one another on fire.
I reached behind me and unclasped my bra, pulling if from my body allowing Jackson to look across my naked breasts. I allowed him to take each one into his mouth suckling and pulling my nipple till I felt my wetness coating my skimpy underwear. I rocked against him and felt him harden against me. After he successfully peaked both my nipples, I pushed him back against the bed. I ran my hands over my body sliding them over my breasts down to where our bodies met. I rocked my hips moving over him and threw my head back reveling in the sensation of him through our clothes ratcheting up my desire for him. His hands came to my hips pulling me and forcing me to grind harder against him.
I was gone. Lost in the feeling of him against me and I wanted more. I slid back onto his thighs and unbuckled his belt and his pants. I slid the zipper down and felt his hardness brush my knuckles. I reached inside his pants and underwear and took him in my hand. God he was hard, hot and pulsing in my grasp. Jackson sat up and held onto me as he slid back onto the bed farther. He laid back down and I slipped his pants and underwear off him as he lifted his hips for me. I moved off him momentarily to pull his clothes off his body and to slide my underwear down my legs.
I climbed back on his legs and crawled up his body never leaving his eyes. I dipped my hips to touch his bare erection to me. I moaned as he skimmed over my clit. I took his lower lip in my teeth gently tugging and he lifted his head to pull my lips into a devouring kiss. I let him kiss me and I reached between us rubbing him against me until I slid him to my entrance. I let him slide a little inside of me, then pulled my lips from him. I sat up and sank deep and hard down his shaft taking all of him in one motion inside of me. My head fell back as I gasped and Jackson cursed as I sheathed him hard and tight.
“Fuck, Lacie!”
I rocked him deep inside of me and gasped at the pleasure it evoked in me. I pulled up and slammed back down against him, not letting up. I had a need to drive him harder and harder inside me. I needed more, I wanted all of him I had to have it. His hands came up to my nipples twisting them and pulling them as I rode him harder and harder until I could feel my insides tightening around him. I felt the pulsing begin and I knew I was almost there.
Jackson felt it too. He flipped me over onto my back and he drove hard and deep inside of me. His hips crushing into my pelvis and his balls slapping against my ass as we met. My legs wrapped tight against him until he pulled my legs over his arms and he grunted as he plowed harder into me.
His voice was tight and hard as he said, “Come Lacie, now. I need you to come with me.”
His hips kept pounding me until finally his words sparked a fire inside of me and I needed to give myself over to him.
“Jackson,” my voice on the edge of a scream my back arched my neck raised to him as my head tilted back on the bed and I came flying apart under him. There were bursts of colors all around me and my body was tingling and exploding around him. My walls squeezed tight around him as he slammed inside of me and buried himself in a depth I’ve never felt. I felt his warm spray throughout me and I heard his guttural moan as he exploded.
God it felt so good, I rocked my hips and I felt myself coming apart again at the feel of his release inside of me. I couldn’t stop my hips as they begged for more and Jackson held himself deep inside of me letting me take what I needed from him. I gasped and felt my body tighten around him again as I came again around him. That had never happened to me before. Never had I felt that. Never had I come so hard then again. The feel of him exploding deep within me triggered something inside of me and I couldn’t hold back.
My body tensed up and I pushed at Jackson as the realization of what I did took hold.
“Jackson, move. Get off me! Oh my God, what did I do?”
Jackson moved off me but tried to hold on to me. I was struggling underneath him and trying to get away from him. He wouldn’t let me off the bed.
“Lacie, calm down. What’s the matter?”
I was starting to panic and I was hyperventilating. Jackson pulled me up into his arms and said, “Breathe, Lacie. Just breathe.”
I gasped until I was finally able to get my breathing under control and said, “Jackson. I’m not on birth control. I don’t know what I was thinking. This, oh my God, what have I done.”
Jackson held me in his arms and chuckled.
I pulled back and looked at him. “Why are you laughing? This is bad, this is so bad.” I tried to move out of his arms and he held me tight.
“No, you are not moving away from me. Lacie, look at me.”
I turned my eyes to his. “This is not the first time we’ve had sex without protection. I figured since you didn’t stop it, you were on some form of birth control the first time, until you told me afterward you weren’t.”
I held his gaze. Oh my God, he was right. We only used a condom that first night we were together. Holy shit! What have I done? I shook in his arms and I was terrified. What if? No I can’t think about that. How did I let this happen? Jackson shook me in his arms.
“Lacie, look at me.”
I shook my head no at him and tried to move away from him.
“Look. At. Me.”
His demand hit me and I turned to look at him with tears in my eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Jackson. This is my fault. I’ll take responsibility for whatever comes. I won’t—”
He reached his hand up to my lips silencing me.
“Don’t even finish that statement or I will become extremely angry. Lacie, I was here too. I could have said something or stopped this. We are in this together. I’m not going to stop having sex with you and I most certainly am not going anywhere. I never thought about having kids until that first time we had sex without a condom and then it hit me that it was a possibility and…”
My eyes held fear at what he was going to say next as he paused.
“I couldn’t be happier at the thought of your body carrying my child. So whatever happens, I’m not going anywhere.”
My head was spinning. Between the mind-blowing back-to-back orgasms I just had and the realization that we haven’t been using protection, I was in shock. Jackson talked as though he wanted me to have his child. He talked like we were husband and wife and possibly having a baby, not like it was in reality. We’d just met and started dating, barely knew one another and now, I could be pregnant? How could he be so unconcerned?
We barely knew one another and now this. I didn’t know what to do, I wanted to run. That’s what I did. I ran. I didn’t stand up for myself, I didn’t work things out I just took off running, never looking back. Jackson’s hands were stroking my body and I shuddered under his touch.
I looked in his eyes. I saw sincerity there. There was something else in his eyes but I still couldn’t place what it was.
“Jackson, I can’t do this. We can’t keep doing this. We need to use protection. I can’t get pregnant. I mean we don’t know each other. We don’t know where this is going. I’m not going to trap you to be with me. That isn’t my intention.”
Jackson turned me on his lap so that I was straddling him again. I could feel the wetness of us sliding out from between my legs, but Jackson didn’t seem to notice or care.
“Lacie, you can try and run from this but I’m not running. As far as I’m concerned you’re it for me. I’m not going anywhere. I want to continue doing that over and over again without a condom. You feel good around me and I would be proud to mark you with my seed and plant a baby inside of you. I would pray every time I bury deep within you that you become pregnant. I want you forever Lacie. Do you understand me? I don’t feel trapped. I want to be trapped by you. I want to keep you with me. I never want to let go. I want to trap you.”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “Jackson, this is insane! You don’t know me. I don’t know you—”
He cut me off and said, “Then tell me what I need to know about you Lacie and ask me what you want about me. I’ll tell you anything, anything, just don’t fucking leave me again.”
I held his eyes and I saw pain there. I saw the raw emotion behind his words. Could he love me? No. I shook the thought away. I shivered and Jackson mistook if for me being cold. He lifted me and I tighten my legs around him as he moved to pull the blankets down on the bed, then he laid me down, climbed over top of me to slide under the covers facing me. He held me to him stroking my back.
We were quiet until I said, “Tell me about her. Tell me what happened.”