Page 18 of Leviticus
“I, um…” I trailed off, unsure of what to say as I pulled the covers up closer underneath my chin.
“I’m so sorry, Ruth, I didn’t —”
“Please don’t,” I interjected, my eyes finding his as I rolled onto my back. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, unsure of what to do. “Please don’t be sorry for touching me. I am your wife.”
He sat up in the bed, his wrinkled tee shirt and sleepy eyes making his handsome features endearing.
“It’s kind of the point, isn’t it?” I asked with a shyness I wish I could get rid of. He was strong and confident. I wanted to be confident and sure, instead of shy and blushing. I covered my cheeks with a sigh.
“Please don’t,” he finally spoke, his hand finding my wrists and pulling them away from my face gently. “Your blush is adorable.”
“It’s embarrassing,” I countered, rolling my eyes.
“I quite like it,” he admitted, his hand dropping from mine to run through his hair. He had quite the case of bedhead, which made me want to giggle at him. “Okay, shall we call a truce?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I don’t want you to think that I will just take advantage of you,” he began.
“I don’t think that, Leviticus.”
“Levi, please,” he corrected, and I nodded. “So, with that understanding, I won’t apologize for my half-asleep cuddles if you agree not to cover up your blushes.” The smile on his face was infectious and I couldn’t help but return it.
“I suppose I can agree to that,” I agreed. “You really do have the most comfortable bed.”
“We do,” he corrected, arching an eyebrow and pinning me with a look. That look made the tingling return deep within my belly. “But yes, it is a ridiculously comfortable bed, one that can be very difficult to leave some mornings.”
The way he looked over my body as he spoke the words made me flush again. My hands were halfway to my face when I remembered our little agreement. No more covering my blush. Instead, I steeled myself and let the blush happen.
I threw back the covers, grimacing at the cool morning air and tiptoeing to my modest suitcase in search of a pair of socks. Bare feet on cold floors in the morning was the absolute worst. When I turned around, he was lifting his sleep shirt over his head, baring his torso to me.
I hadn’t seen him naked before. The consummation had happened so quickly and we had stayed clothed for the most part. His skin was lightly tanned, stretched taut over his muscles. He wasn’t bulky, but his body was strong, like the runners I had seen in one of the films at church. My hands itched to touch him, which only made my blush reappear. I spun back around, not wanting him to see my embarrassment; not wanting him to know I was sitting there ogling him like a crazy person.
“I’ll go make us breakfast,” I said quietly as I slipped on my robe and a pair of socks. I didn’t wait to hear his response before I opened the door and walked down the hall. I took a deep cleansing breath as I walked away from the bedroom and down the stairs. Yes, a little distance would do me some good. I had barely walked down the hall when I realized that I had never gotten that tour and had no idea where the kitchen was.
“Right through there,” Levi’s voice explained from about halfway up the stairs. I looked up at him with a smile.
“Thanks.” I followed the hallway towards the back of the house, where it opened up into a beautiful kitchen. The house was gorgeous; much nicer than my own parents' home, but not extravagant either. Well, except for the bathroom. That room was fit for a king!
The kitchen was decorated in a deep, rich gray with dark countertops and beautiful embellishments on the cabinets. I let my hands move over the design carved into the wood.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Mm, yes. Wherever did you find these?” I asked, my eyes not moving from the swirling patterns that moved across the wood.
“I didn’t. Malachi made them,” he admitted, moving toward the refrigerator. I stepped close to him, putting my hand on his.
“Please, let me cook breakfast.” My eyes stayed locked on his deep blue ones.
“Very well,” he finally answered, though his body language had changed. He was more tense. Had I overstepped?
My eyes lowered, and I smiled. “Thank you.”
I looked through his refrigerator, gauging what my options were. His home was fully stocked. I had forgotten that it was customary to stock one’s home before a honeymoon took place.
Honeymoon. As I grabbed the eggs and a few other items, I let myself think about that word. I would be here in this home with Levi for the next month. Completely alone. I had much learning to do. Perhaps that was the place to start. Instead of fixating on the awkwardness of being physical with my new husband, I would focus on learning his home and learning how to be the best homemaker I could. Yes, that felt like a much better plan.
I cracked a few eggs in a bowl and began preparing the ingredients for omelets. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it would taste good, and I hoped it would please him. The ingredients came together quickly. The pots and pans were affixed to the ceiling above the stove and I realized that I could barely reach them.
