it’s because I frown too much. I stick my tongue out at my reflection. I think I frown just enough, thank you very much.
When I’m finally satisfied that everything is as good as it’s going to get, I walk through the bathroom door and into the bedroom. I let out the deep breath that I took in and stare at my bed.
Sprawled out on the left side of it is Lucky. He’s on his back, his eyes are closed, and his mouth is gaping open. A snore comes from somewhere deep in his sinus cavity.
I walk closer, taking in the details. He’s removed his shirt and unbuttoned his pants but left them on. He doesn’t have a lot of chest hair, but what he does have meets in a line in the middle of his pecs and goes down the center of his belly and disappears into the top of his Calvin Kleins. He looks positively edible. My pulse quickens as I imagine him with his pants off.
I war within myself. Should I wake him up and get this party started or just stand here and gawk for a little while longer? He’s got to be tired with all the hours he’s working. He wasn’t up here for longer than ten minutes, max. There’s a cup of tea on the nightstand next to the bed and it’s still half full.
I walk around the bed and lie down next to him carefully and slowly, trying not to jiggle him too much. He’s close enough now that I can feel the warmth coming off his body. I can smell him, too. Lucky has a scent I could never describe adequately, but I know what it reminds me of: all the times I’ve looked at him and smiled, all the times he’s come up to me and put his arms around me, all the hours, days, weeks, months, and years we’ve spent together, first as friends and now as lovers and partners in child rearing. He smells like home.
He moves a little in his sleep and then cracks open an eye. “Hey,” he says tiredly.
I smile. “Hey, sleepyhead.” I reach up and push his nose. “You snore.”
He frowns, his voice sleepy and sexy. “No, I don’t. That was you.”
I giggle, loving his sense of humor and the intimate way he’s sharing it. “That would be pretty difficult, since I was standing on two feet when it happened.”
“Lies and rumors. Rumors and lies. I’ve never snored in my life.” He rolls over, putting his back to me, and lets out a big, long snore, this time fake.
I snuggle up behind him, spooning him and burying my face in the back of his neck. I know it’s bold, but it feels right, like I should be here doing this with him. I inhale a deep breath of Lucky, smiling as it hits the pleasure spot in my brain. I’m so glad I opened my big mouth and told him how I felt about him not disappearing every night.
“I could get used to this,” he mumbles into the pillow.
“Good. Me too.” I mean it. I like this peace that I’m finding between us. We’re completely alone and nothing can intrude. I feel safe and warm. Maybe even loved. Respected at the very least. I haven’t found this place very often in my life.
“Do you want to fool around?” he mumbles.
I smile, my teeth grazing his skin. “Maybe.”
He lifts my arm off his waist and turns around so that we’re face to face. “I think you’re going to have to make the first move.”
“Why? You chicken?”
He nods very earnestly. “I’ve never had sex with a pregnant lady before.”
“Me neither.”
He barks a laugh right into my face.
I reach up and pretend to wipe something off my eyelid. “Thanks for that.”
He takes my hand in his and kisses the backs of my fingers. “I really like you. A lot.”
I try hard not to smile but I know I’m failing. He didn’t say he loves me, but I like this better. It feels safer. Liking each other is a great place to start. “I like you a lot too.”
“I want to take your clothes off now.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
The soft material of my nightgown tickles my skin as he slowly lifts it up. I wiggle around to help him get it off, and soon it’s going over my head and being thrown across the room. It sails through the air as if caught by a breeze before falling gently