“Well, that ain’t happening. To bed with you, husband,” she said.
She crawled up onto the bed, flopped onto her back, and held her arms out to the ceiling. “Take me. I’m yours,” she said.
He was going to have to pull out some marital aids, he decided, and headed toward the closet. He knew he’d be unable to get hard again for at least an hour and surely Rebekah would need more stimulation than usual to come after that gusher she’d just had in the shower.
By the time he made it to bed with a six-pack of vibrators pressed against his bare belly, Rebekah had fallen asleep. He grinned and whispered, “I win,” but he knew damned well he’d have no problem reinstating their competition in the morning. They couldn’t leave this game between them unfinished.
He set the vibrators within reach on the nightstand, planning to give her one hell of a morning wakeup call, and lit a candle. He switched off the overhead light and climbed into bed with his wife. She sighed contentedly when he drew her into his arms and flipped the comforter over their entwined bodies.
His body was tired, but his mind was so full, he doubted he’d ever sleep. So he held her and instead of shutting the world away, he let his thoughts wander. Unfortunately they wandered in ways he didn’t necessarily like.
Near sunrise, Eric rested on one elbow so he could stare down into the sweet face of his wife while she slept. The candle on the bedside table flickered wildly as it burned up the last of its fuel. Eric’s mind was still too full to sleep. His heart too full to move from her side. He traced one of her eyebrows with a fingertip, overwhelmed by the tenderness she stirred within him. At times he wanted to cradle her against him gently, afraid she’d break. At other times he longed to squeeze her tightly, to make sure she could feel the strength of his love. God knew he’d never be able to express it with the depth he felt it. She filled so much within him he’d never realized was hollow. But there were still a few places she couldn’t touch. Couldn’t fill. He wondered if he could love Rebekah better if he were whole.
If he tried to fill those spots of emptiness that had been left behind early in his childhood, maybe he could be a man worthy of her attention.
Maybe it was time.
Time to seek out his mother. Time to know the truth about why the heartless bitch had abandoned him. He didn’t even know if the woman was alive. Wasn’t sure if he cared if she was alive. But if she was... If she was, he wanted to know. Needed to face her. He’d thought that by burying her abandonment beneath years and years of disregard, she would cease to haunt him, but he’d been pretending. With Rebekah by his side, for the first time in his life Eric had the courage to find answers to questions that had eaten at him for years. With Rebekah by his side, he could face anything.
He was no longer alone.
Eric tugged Rebekah’s small body solidly against his chest, his heart thudding painfully beneath her temple. She stirred, her arm moving to circle his waist.
“Eric?” she murmured.
He remembered a time when she’d woken from sleep and, unfamiliar with having strange men in her bed, she’d called him Isaac. Now the only name she whispered when pulled from her dreams was Eric’s. He fucking loved that.
“Is it morning?” she murmured, her voice slurred with sleep.
“Not yet.”
“Are you horny again already?” And instead of grumbling about his ceaseless libido interfering with her sleep, she turned her head to kiss his chest.
“Getting that way,” he said with a grin.
Her hand reached up and sought his face, rubbing at the beard stubble she found beneath her fingertips. “Did you sleep well?”
Her breath warmed the skin of his chest and the achingly full heart within.
“I haven’t slept at all,” he said. “I’ve been watching you sleep.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were the creepy stalker type?” she asked.
“You’re on to me,” he said with a grin. “Can’t seem to help my limitless infatuation for you, Mrs. Sticks.”
“Completely understandable. I’m pretty awesome, you know.” She rasped her fingernails gently over his beard stubble.
“I know.” He pressed a kiss to her hair and forced himself to be serious, even though every instinct preferred to continue their light-hearted banter. “Do you really think we can find out about my mother?” he forced out.
Rebekah stiffened slightly and then tugged away from his chest so she could look at him in the low flicker of the candlelight. “I’m sure we can. Do you want to try?”
He worried his lower lip for a moment because he had promised not to lie to Rebekah and once he voiced this desire, there’d be no returning to his path of indifference. “I think so. The entire process will probably turn me into an emotional wreck or an insufferable asshole. You sure you can handle that?”
She nodded. “Yes, I know I can. With you beside me, I can handle anything.”
He smiled. “Yeah, I feel that way too. It’s the only reason I think I’m ready to face her.”
“Then we’ll find her and no matter what happens, I’ll still love you.” She gripped his chin in her hand and stared intently into his eyes. “You believe me, right?”
He gazed at her for a long moment, absorbing her affection, her love. He would probably never feel worthy of her, but he did believe her. She loved him. He could feel it in her touch, see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice when she spoke his name. Taste it in her kiss. It was real. She loved him. He believed. He’d never doubt it again.