He tried not to let it bother him, but it did. It had been six months since they’d had sex. Six months of not being able to feel his wife wrapped around his cock, his hands roaming her skin, her mouth tasting him.
He had to remember all that she’d been through with this pregnancy—the bed rest, the drama surrounding the birth of Pierce and Rory, almost dying. He’d decided to give her some time. Just because the doctor had said she was physically ready to have sex, didn’t mean she was mentally ready.
Over the next few weeks with him being home, Ethan started to see that something was wrong with her. It was impossible for her to be on all the time and he began to notice her far-off looks, the lack of light in her eyes, and the disappearance of her laugh. He knew it was more than what she’d gone through with her pregnancy and delivery. Something else was troubling her. He needed to find out what that was.
Sex had always been easy for them … when they were around each other. But now, Mia rebuffed his attempts which left him feeling a little rejected, a lot frustrated … and drunk in the basement.
Tonight was a little different. He’d called Luke to come over. Ethan needed to talk to someone and who better than their best friend. Maybe he could help.
With the sound of the door opening, Ethan pulled out two beers, popped the tops and set one on the bar for his friend.
“Whoa … beer’s already out? What’s up, man?”
With a swig of his drink, Ethan put his bottle on the counter then ran his hand through his too-long hair. “I’m concerned about Mia. I think something is bothering her. Have you noticed anything?”
Luke sat down across from him and took a long pull before answering. Right then, Ethan knew Luke was about to agree with him.
“The last time I saw her was a couple weeks ago for a short visit and she seemed off, but at the time I just thought she was tired. She was out of sorts—not her normal, bubbly self. But the biggest thing—her eyes—they seemed dull, kind of lifeless.
“She didn’t say anything?” Ethan asked, trying to process what Luke just told him.
“Not a word. All she talked about were the boys, Kaitlyn, and the championship game. Nothing about her.”
That seemed to be the gist of their conversations lately as well. He had the feeling his suga was lost.
“She’s not talking to you either?” Luke added.
“No. She’s, uh, tuning me out of a lot of things,” Ethan admitted uncomfortably. Tuning him out of her mind and her body. He needed to connect with her.
“Dude!”
Guess that need was noticed by Luke too. He would laugh his ass off if he realized exactly how long it’d been since Ethan last had sex. Close to seven damn months.
“Forget I said anything,” he said, realizing that her shutting him out stung more than he cared to admit. “I wish she would talk to me. All I want to do is help her.”
“And get laid,” Luke said, leaning back in his chair with a fucking smirk on his face before taking a drink out of his beer.
Smart ass.
Luke
It became a weekly ritual for Luke to stop by on Friday afternoons to visit Mia before he went to pick up his daughter from school. Last week, he hadn’t because Kaitlyn had been on vacation with her mother. After speaking with Ethan last night, Luke wouldn’t be missing this time. He needed to set his friend straight.
Pulling up to their house, he parked his Land Rover next to the garage and entered through the side door. He hadn’t knocked in ages. When he walked into the kitchen, he spied her in the family room, sitting on the sofa and staring out the windows. With a quick glance, he saw the boys were not around. Must be nap time.
It concerned him a little when he made his way to her that she didn’t bat an eye. He didn’t even register on her radar, she was that deep in thought. Yeah … he didn’t like that at all, he thought, plopping down on the cushion next to her.
There was no reaction. He had expected her to jump in surprise. Instead, she just slowly turned her head towards him and said, “Hi, Luke.”
He studied the troubled face of his best friend. “Vacant” was the word