Mared awoke in the middle of the night almost forgetting where she was. Her body was so blissfully tired. She then noticed Tom's sleeping figure lying next to her. She was so content to be close to him-keen to be near him. She grabbed a blanket, got up from the bed, and searched around grasping in the dark for her phone to text Elin. Though it was the middle of the night, better than no text. She entered: "Ok. With DCI Mathias. Love you." She hoped her daughter would interpret that as working, so she wouldn't have to lie and say so. When she returned to the bed, she could tell Tom was sleeping peacefully. She felt his soft and quiet breathing. Even in the dark, she could tell the covers were only drawn to his waist. His bare back faced her. Mared couldn't resist. She brought her lips to the back of his shoulder while he slept. She kissed him sweetly and lovingly there 2 then 3 times and rested her cheek against him at the same spot.
She truly loved him. She was in wonderment that he unafraidly and so tenderly confessed that he loved her earlier that evening during their physical union. His eyes were so soulful then. He had opened his eyes for that moment he said I love you. His expression was so full of perfect love! Mared felt she might be dreaming to hear such words from his lips. Yes, it was amidst the throws of passion, but it held such meaning-deep and true. In that very moment, physically, he was so tender with her. Tom was the one man she trusted the most in the world.
As the morning light flooded through the window nearby, Mared and Tom both seemed to wake up naturally just moments apart.
Their heads still lay upon their pillows, when their eyes sparkled as they made eye contact, communicating in the silence.
...
*Note: Apologies for the short update. More to come hopefully... *