"Louisa…"
Louisa woke with a start. Had someone been calling her name?
"Louisa"
There it was again, but this time Louisa could tell it was her husband whispering in her ear as they lay cuddled together while they slept. His arms holding her as he curled around her, his breathing soft and fluttering through her hair.
"Louisa, don't go."
It was true that they had been going through a rough patch….again and Louisa had been thinking of visiting her mother in Spain for a short while; but she hadn't mentioned it to anyone, had she?
"Please stay Louisa."
His voice sounded so needy, even as quiet as it was. Louisa wondered if he was awake, even as the evenness of his breath convinced her that he was still asleep.
"I love you, Louisa. I couldn't bear it."
Words that she had wanted to hear from him the last time she had left; when his horrid mother had been visiting. Words she needed to hear now from him. Words she knew she would never hear if he was awake. Louisa moved slightly to re-adjust the cover and Martin's arms tensed and reflexively tightened against her. A shudder passed through him.
"Louisa stay with me. Please don't go."
Trying not to wake him, Louisa turned to face him loosening his arms somewhat in the process. Hearing him whimper in protest, she tilted her head up and whispered back "It's all right, Martin. I'm not going anywhere. I love you." Louisa was done with running away. It had never made anything better between them.
Martin gave a contented sigh and seemed to settle; whatever dream he had been having soothed. Louisa reached up slightly and gave him a short kiss on the lips, hoping to further ease his dream. She could almost feel the moment he woke up, startled, but then began kissing her back. Louisa moved as if to pull away, but this time Martin pulled her toward him and deepened the kiss, refusing to let her go. When they broke for air, Martin pulled back, looking at her face confusedly. "I love you, Martin" Louisa whispered back, smiling into his eyes, pulling him back in for another kiss. He took that for permission and held her tightly against him, his hands roaming down her back until they cupped her bum and pressed her closer, his stiffness poking into her.
Later, as they spooned together once again, on the verge of sleep Louisa muttered "I'll never leave you Martin."
His lips pressed against her head as he kissed her through her hair. The last thing she heard was him whispering "Good."