But first¸ they had to wade through the shit.
To that end, he tightened his hold on her before either of their breathing had evened and told her quietly, “Starting today, gonna put a man on you, baby. Everywhere you go.”
He felt her tense against him, he fucking hated it, but he kept going.
“He’ll be unobtrusive. But even with him on you, when I text or phone, want you to answer. If you can’t right away, do it as soon as you can. Yesterday you didn’t and it made me uneasy.”
“Okay, Nick,” she agreed.
He let out a breath.
Then he hit the next possible pile of shit.
“You sleep okay?”
She lifted her head and looked at him through the dark before dawn.
“Yes,” she lied.
He slid a hand up her back.
“Baby,” he started gently, “every night I’ve had you, you been restless.”
“I’m not a good sleeper.”
“Shit in your head?” he asked.
“I…” She stopped whatever she was going to say and answered simply, “Yes.”
“Can I help with that?”
She laid still on him for a beat before she dropped her forehead to his.
He slid his hand all the way up her back to tangle it in her hair.
“Livvie?” he called.
“I think you just did,” she said, sliding her head down so she had her nose pressed against the hinge of his jaw.
“Sorry?”
“Helped with that. I think you just did, Nicky,” she told him, words in her soft voice he felt hit him hard in the gut.
So his “Good,” was gruff.
They fell silent and held on.
Unfortunately, he had to roll her to the side and pull out of her.
“Shower time, Liv,” he muttered.
“Okay, sweetheart,” she muttered back.
He pulled them out of bed.
Having waded through that shit, he took them to the second best part of the morning.
Their shower.