Page 126 of Bountiful
Zara put the baby’s medicine in a sort of eyedropper and squirted it into Nicole’s sleepymouth.
My baby girl was enraged. Unfortunately, Zara had to do it again with the pain reliever, and Nicole was inconsolable. She cried herself to sleep in my arms, and I didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone look sobereft.
When I finally set her down in the crib and tiptoed out, I could hardly believe she was actuallyresting.
I walked quietly into the master bedroom, where Zara had sat down on the edge of the bed and then tipped her body back onto the comforter in defeat. “Wow,” I whispered, trying to lighten the mood. “That wasintense.”
She sat up. “I’m so sorry. You went to all this trouble…” She glanced around the room, taking in the food, the wine bottle, the glasses. The chocolate I’d put on her pillow asajoke.
“Don’t be sorry.” I sat beside her. “Come here.” I pulled her into a hug. “I know you’re tired and stressed out. But she’s going tobeokay.”
“I know,” shewhispered.
“Andwe’regoing to be okay. You have no idea how happy I am that you’re here. I missed youterribly.”
Her eyes leaked. “That’s what I came all the way here to tell you. I missed you, too.Somuch.”
“See?” I buried my face in her neck and found smooth skin to kiss. “It’s us. In the same room. And that’s all I really needed from youtonight.”
Her arms came around my back, and I felt her body start to relax. Slim hands traced my spine, then my ribcage. “You feelsogood.”
“Come to bed with me,” I whispered. “Let me hold you. You’re probably exhausted.” I could see it inherface.
Zara got up and wandered into the glamorous marble bathroom, murmuring her approval. She emerged a few minutes later wearing a black silk nightie I’d never seen before. “You like?” she asked when she caught me admiring it. “I bought it when I thought this was going to be asexfest.”
I cocked a finger and beckoned her. “Get in this bed, woman. We’ll just have to see whattranspires.”
She gave me a tired smile, and I took my turn inthejohn.
When I returned, she was curled up on her side of the bed, looking anxious. “I hope she can sleep. And that the medicineworksfast.”
“If she doesn’t sleep well”—I slipped into the bed beside her—“we’ll take turns holding her. It’ll be okay.” I switched off the bedside lamp and rolled close to her. “How was your trip before the screamingstarted?”
“Fine? I can barelyremember.”
I curved my body around hers and put my hands on her shoulders. “Relax,baby.”
She tried. I worked my thumbs into the tight muscles of her back and used my fingertips to ease hershoulders.
“That’s…really awesome,” sheslurred.
“That’s right,” I whispered. “I believe it’s the first thing I ever told you—that I’m great at stress relief. Prolevel.”
She laughed, but then her laughter died when I reached around and teased her nipple with my fingertips, tracing a circle around it until I felt it pebble under the silk. She arched her back, offering me her neck, and I began to drop kissesthere.
“Mmm,” she said with a sigh. “I thought I was too tired for this. Butmaybenot.”
“I’m gonna do all the work,” I promised, kissing my way downherarm.
She gave me a wise smile over her shoulder. “You must bedesperate.”
“I am.” I rested my chin on her arm. “But not the way you mean. I’m a big boy, Z. I can go a couple of months without sex, if I know I’m going to see you again.” Her expression softened. “Of course, now that you’re here, I’m suddenlydying.”
She grinned and I was happy to see that naughty sparkle return to her eyes. A defeated-looking Zara was more worrying than a screaming baby. “Where do youwantme?”
“Stay right there,” I said, putting a firm hand to her hip. “Don’t you move unless I tellyouto.”
“Yes, sir.” She said it cheekily, but her cheeksheated.
