Page 64 of Forever Fallen

“I want that, too…” she smiled tearfully, reaching for him.

Ryan couldn’t help the hiss quickly followed by an amused chuckle that escaped him as he clenched immediately at her cold feet against him – realizing he would treasure that unexpected moment in less than a month.

He kissed her forehead as she lay her head against his chest, directly over his heart.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Let’s get some rest… and we’ll finish the guest rooms in the morning – together.”

“Together,” she breathed, already sounding more relaxed and half asleep.

Ryan lay there, feeling her against him, and treasuring these moments, because it would kill her to know the truth. He’d just signed his commission four months ago for another five years in the Air Force.

The feeling of dread, loss, and doom was almost overwhelming.

Everything Ryan could have wished for was being laid before his feet and he’d foolishly signed again, thinking he would never find this kind of happiness and joy.

He would haveneversigned if he’d known that meeting Sophie was just within reach. Now, he would have to be content for four weeks a year – for the next five years, before he would have a chance to make a true home with Sophie.

CHAPTER19

SOPHIE

She awokethe next morning and couldn’t stop blushing, realizing that their marriage was actually going to be a real one… not just some crazy bargain between people to be dissolved quickly.

Ryan was incredible and every time she thought about him? She got butterflies in her stomach and couldn’t help the stupid-insipid smile that was plastered on her face.

Neither of them was perfect… but they were learning together.

As she padded into the kitchen, she found herself humming lightly as Ryan did, and realized that she was enjoying it. There was something so genuinely peaceful and lighthearted about humming a little tune – and the fact that her husband did that same thing.

He appeared at the doorway, smiling, before putting his hands on her waist and kissing her ‘good morning’ as she started the coffeemaker.

“Hey Sunshine…”

“Hey yourself…”

“I was going to make some eggs. Do you want some?”

“Actually, I was coming in here to see if I could ‘wow’ you with my culinary skills?” he grinned. “I make a mean serving of French toast and only my immediate family gets to sample it.”

“Ohhhh…” she smiled, perking up and pointing at herself playfully. “That’s me, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is…” he replied, laughing and shaking his head, before glancing at her sideways. “I love your smile.”

“I feel like this cutesy person that is sprinkling sunshine and rainbows everywhere each time I say, ‘I love you’…” she admitted, smiling at him.

“… But it’s true, too. It’s hard, because do I do the ‘puffy hearts’and ‘unicorns’thing? Or do I act all mature and tough like my gorgeous husband?”

“Oh, you should definitely do the ‘puffy hearts’and ‘unicorn’thing because your gorgeous husband is terribly insecure,” Ryan admitted, pulling her into his arms and hugging her. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say those three little words.”

Sophie winced and looked up at Ryan.

“Reality check. The sheets are still in the washer, aren’t they?”

“Shoot! Yes, I was a bit distracted and forgot about them,” he admitted, cringing. “They might have soured in the laundry.”

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