Page 14 of The Next Of Us
“Go inside, sweetheart.I’ll bring in the bags.”
His tender words pierced my heart and stung my eyes.It had been months since he’d addressed me with such care.
My breath lodged in my throat.In lieu of answering, I simply nodded and walked up the path to the door.
“Someone shoveled the path,” I muttered in surprise.“Who’s been up here?”
Either he didn’t hear me or didn’t deign to answer as was our new normal.
The reflection of moonlight off the snow gave off just enough light for me to insert my key in the lock.
I pushed the door open, and a rash of happy memories swept me into the past.How the kids had loved coming up here!It didn’t matter the season, if we had a long weekend, they begged to spend it at the cabin.
We’d brought them, along with their friends, at every opportunity.And if other family members happened to be there at the same time?We all just made room.
I huffed out a pleased laugh.Aaron and I had taken our first honeymoon up here.The heady sweetness of those memories provided a harsh contrast to where we now found ourselves and wiped the smile off my face.
I stomped the snow off my boots, unwilling to brave the cold floor in my stocking feet.Dropping my purse on a kitchen chair, I tromped through to the family room.
Thankfully, the wood stove was ready to go.I lit a match from the box on the sideboard and poked at the fuel inside until I was reasonably sure it would take.Whoever readied it did a good job.
I tilted my head to the side.It looked like Aaron’s work.I’d seen it often enough over the years.Were we the last to come up here?
Aaron pushed the front door open and set our bags inside before going back out to retrieve the groceries.
Like a well-oiled machine, we worked together to make the cabin comfortable for the next several days, or for however long it took to end what took near three decades to break.
I stocked the fridge with shaking hands while Aaron set the thermostat and brought the electric heater bags into the master bedroom.
Warm enough now to warrant shedding my heavy coat, I hung it up on a hook by the front door and hugged myself, briskly rubbing the outside of my arms to ward off the chill.
“It’ll warm up soon,” Aaron murmured from close behind me.
I tilted my chin down and to the side, almost breathless at his proximity.
Please touch me.
Please, please touch me.
I closed my eyes.He’d been my rock since I was seventeen years old.Every muscle and tendon in my body strained with the desire to lean back and fit myself against his chest.
“Nadine,” he whispered, his large palms cupping my upper arms.
I filled my lungs.
He continued, “It’s late.We’re both tired.Can we put everything aside for tonight and just be together?”
At my infinitesimal nod, he inhaled and drew my back against his chest.Dropping his chin to the top of my head, his hands ran down my arms to loosely loop around my waist.
I stood stiffly, expecting him to release me at any moment.But as the seconds ticked past, my resistance melted away and I sagged against him.
His chest expanded, his hold tightened, the sweetness of his exhale relaxing me further and opening my heart to the sweet seduction of his lips moving in my hair.“I love you.”
I wrapped my arms over his.
He sighed heavily, his breath tickling my ear.“I love you.”
I closed my eyes and pressed back against him.
