A/N; As always, I want to thank all of you who are reading this! Just a little FYI, this chapter does have some M rated material in it. I would love to hear thoughts after this one!
There was something about watching her - his wife - that sent butterflies through his entire body and had held him captive for what had seemed like his entire life. He'd once believed that after so many years of marriage she'd figured out the effect she had on him, everything from her laugh, and the looks she gave him, to the effect a simple touch or brush of her lips had. All of these things had the power to leave him at her complete mercy. She had used that knowledge for everything from seducing to comforting him. She'd never used it against him, only to make him feel like the most wanted and loved man on the planet.
He wondered now as she continued to talk while getting ready for the day, if she had any clue of the emotional and physical grasp she held over him. Today the effect was very physical, almost to an aching point. He'd pressed soft kisses to her face, neck and arms to wake her up not long ago, but he'd wanted to do so much more.
Even now, watching her pout her lips to finish applying her lipstick sent a fantastic rush of shivers down his spine. Maybe her effect on him would be less if she didn't look so absolutely perfect to him.
He didn't know if the cause of his ache for her was because they were away together - without the kids - or if it had been the bath they had shared the previous night which had allowed him to feel closer to her than he had in nearly a year.
Only a week earlier, Dr. Benson had encouraged them to move to some more intimate exercises. These particular exercises involved both of them being completely undressed. The doctor had given them some suggestions on a few exercises with a specific course of action involving touching and lightly massaging each other. One of the things he suggested was that they spend some time laying naked cuddled up next to each other in bed. But he also encouraged them to come up their own ideas. The point of these kinds of exercises was that it would encourage physical intimacy, but without the expectation of moving all the way to intercourse.
Dr. Benson told them this would continue to be helpful even after they had taken things all the way. It would allow for physical closeness that both of them could feel, and desire, but without the pressure of always feeling like the end result needed to be sex. He specifically pointed out that connecting this way was healthy for any marital relationship.
With that in mind, and because they'd only had one opportunity since their meeting with the doctor to engage in these types of activities, Alicia had suggested the bath.
While Will thought it was a good idea, it had turned out better than he'd expected. The combination of hot water, the sweet scent of bubbles, and her naked body resting against his had provided him with familiarity and closeness to her that he hadn't felt in so long. In this instance it hadn't felt like an assignment. It hadn't seemed like something they were doing because they wanted to be able to mark it off the doctor's list, which was how some of these exercises had felt for both of them in the past few weeks.
He smiled to himself noticing the empty bottle of champagne and tiny tea light candles sitting on the edge of the tub. She'd sauntered into the bathroom in a robe after he'd run the water, carrying the bottle, two glasses, and the candles.
After setting the mood, he'd stood in front of her and slowly untied the knot that kept the robe securely around her. She was undoubtedly familiar with the look in his eyes as they lingered on her body. The anticipation of feeling all of her bare skin next to his for only the second time in the past eleven months was enough to bring him to his knees.
She'd smiled shyly, slightly nervous as she climbed into the warm water. This would be a very intimate situation – was she ready? But her nerves washed away as she sank into the soothing water, and he climbed in behind her.
His strong arms held her there as she turned her head to him and pressed her lips to his. Surprisingly, having her bare skin against his, and being allowed to continue pressing soft kisses along her neck, then to her shoulders, as their hands moved gently over each others bodies, had been enough to satiate his burning desire for physical closeness – at least until the sun had risen eight hours later.
"So what do you think?" she asked, clasping her watch over her wrist.
"I think you should do most of the questioning today." He moved in front of her placing his hands on her arms.
"Me?" she replied, looking at him as though he'd completely lost his mind.
He chuckled. "Yes, you. You're just as familiar with this case as I am. And after listening to you for the past ten minutes, you've clearly thought about how we should proceed today more than I have."
She moved away from him and sat on the bed to put on her shoes. "I don't know Will. It's easy to pose questions when it's just you and I, but…"
He sat next to her placing his hand gently on her leg. "Listen, if you don't want to, you don't have to. I just thought you might enjoy being more involved."
"No, it's not that. It does make me a little nervous, but do you think it's all right?"
"That you run the questioning for the deposition?" he asked, with puzzled expression.
"Yes. I can think of a few people who might have a problem with me…being more involved."
"David Lee?" he questioned.
She nodded affirmatively. "Yes and a few others in the firm." It had become abundantly clear to her in the past few months which of their employees thought she was still qualified to work at the firm and which ones didn't.
"Leesh, you're ready. You can do this. I'm not the least bit concerned about your performance, or the fact that you can't recall attending a single day of law school." He smiled bringing his hand to her cheek. "I know the information is in that head of yours somewhere. It's obvious to anyone who has spent time with you the past few months. And since you and I are two-thirds of the final decision making within the firm, it doesn't really matter what David Lee, or others think."
She smiled. "If you really think it would be all right, then I would like to take a more active role in this."
He pressed his forehead to hers. "I would love for you to take on a more active role." He held her gaze for a few moments. Today it almost seemed like he could see right into her soul.
She reached her hand to his chin and pressed a soft kiss to his lips as though she could sense how he was feeling - something that had been lost between them after her accident.
He reached for her hand after they pulled apart. "Come on. It's been a long time since I got watch my wife frustrate the life out of opposing council!"
They both laughed. "Well we'll see how it goes." She patted his chest and they both stood to leave.
He continued to watch her throughout the day feeling the same sense of excitement and pride that he'd been feeling for days now. He'd loved having his mother and his little family, the people he loved the most in the world, together over the previous weekend. Listening to Alicia and his mother talk while making meals together, watching the two of them having fun baking cookies with the kids, and holding a rather energetic family game night, had almost made things feel completely normal. Not that he wasn't happy with the way things were, but there was a certain comfort in experiencing those things again.
The familiarity of having her run the questioning nearly all day had been thoroughly enjoyable, not to mention entertaining at points. Watching and listening to her get a little snippety with opposing council and not allowing them to back her into a corner, had always been a turn on for him. Even from the time of their mock trial together. They had lost that one, but no one could accuse her of not giving it her all. The thought made him laugh under his breath.
"What's so funny?" she questioned, continuing to gather their things for the night so they could leave. "That attorney drives me nuts. We didn't see that last bit of potential damning evidence coming. It could destroy our whole case."
"I know, but I couldn't help but think back to our mock trial. You acted just as indignant with the guest judge in that trial as you did with the attorney today."
She looked up at him. "I acted that way in front of a judge?" She chuckled. "I don't know what came over me today, but he was trying to make a completely irrelevant point."
"I know. Which is exactly what you thought opposing council had done during the mock trial, and you weren't about to let him get away with it. The funny thing about that whole situation was that the attorney who was playing the role as the judge continued to try to get you to calm down, tried to come up with a good reason to keep you from objecting every two minutes. He never managed to do it because you were that good. I don't think he was expecting a third year law student to be able to come up so many relevant objections. And your constant interruptions really threw opposing council off balance."
"But you said we lost that trial."
"Oh we did! But our team still got A's because of your performance, and the fact that the professor could tell we had all done a significant amount research and prep."
"I can't act like that in front of real judge, I'll get censured."
A broad grin crossed his lips. "No, but I suspect that you'll quickly learn how to channel that passion in other ways, just as you did all those years ago. And that will allow the judges and attorneys to know you won't back down, but at the same time keep you out of trouble. You've seen me in court, but it might be very helpful to go watch Diane argue a few cases when we get home. You can say a lot of things, and get away with a little more in depositions than you can in front of a judge."
They gathered the last of their things, when Will paused briefly.
"What?" she questioned.
"I have an idea." An excited look crossed his features. "I think I know where we can find some cases to back up our argument. It might just slow these guys down, but we need access to cases that aren't in the data base." He took her hand and led her out of the conference room they were in. "I happen to know of a very large law library not very far from here that will have exactly what we're looking for." He smiled and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "Your trip to the law school just got bumped up a day."
Will felt a wave of nostalgia stepping onto the ground just in front of the enormous law library. In ways it felt like being a student all over again. He chuckled as he and Alicia entered the building.
"You've been doing that all day. What's so funny now?" she questioned, as they moved into the large open space.
"Nothing, it's just that the day we graduated I swore I'd never spend another minute of my life in this building."
They both chuckled moving further into the large space. Alicia paused to take in the grander of it all. It was inspiring in many ways, the old architecture, high ceilings that rose at least three stories above them, the dark wood shelving that held rows and rows of books, and the lines of wood tables each with their own reading lamps. The large arched windows on various walls, allowed the fading sun to cast a brilliant amber light on the wood and chandeliers. It was like they had stepped into the great hall of an old castle instead of a library. The scent of settled dust, aging paper amongst tattered leather bindings, mingled with an almost sweet vanilla aroma, only aided in making one feel as though they had stepped back in time.
It was the overwhelming scent of the space that reached deep into Alicia's soul somewhere and managed to bring on a rush of emotions, and memories. So overwhelmed by the sensation and new thoughts that suddenly flashed through her mind, she grasped onto Will's arm taking in a deep breath, closing her eyes. The only noises that could be heard were the rustling of pages, and hushed whispers in the distance. They were practically alone where they stood. The space was so large that there was more than enough room for dozen and dozens of law students to have their own quiet piece of this library.
"What's wrong?" Will asked, moving in front of her, placing both his hands on her arms to support her.
She inhaled deeply, slowly opening her eyes to meet his, as a tear escaped rolling down her cheek. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. What she said next surprised him as much as it surprised her. "I remember," she said, in an excited whisper next to his ear.
He tightened his arms around her. "Remember what?" he asked with a gentle smile.
"This place." She pulled away and turned around taking in her surroundings once again. "All of it. I remember walking in here for the first time and feeling excited and completely overwhelmed wondering what I'd gotten myself into."
Comprehending her words, he tried to pull her back to him. But her excitement only caused her to take a hold of his hand and pull him further into the building near the circulation desk. "I remember standing right here and laughing because Julia thought it was ridiculous that law students would need two huge libraries just to get a degree." She looked over to him. "There are two law libraries right?"
"Yes!" he responded enthusiastically. "The other one is for international, and commerce law."
She pulled him once again in the direction of the stairs. "Let's go see if my old hidden study area is still intact."
"You mean our old study area!" he playfully corrected, following after her.
She spun around. "No, I mean my study area. The one I kindly allowed you to share with me." She raised a knowing brow to him. But then paused again realizing what she'd just said. It was the first time she'd been able to respond to something he'd mentioned about their past that she completely understood, and without him giving any background or context first. She'd finally had a solid memory of him. She couldn't picture him in her mind specifically, but she knew he'd always insisted it was their study area, and she'd always countered by claiming it had been her space for months before he'd ever sat in the chair across from her.
He couldn't help but laugh, as she allowed him to pull her into his embrace. "You remember that ongoing argument?" He pulled her closer. "Leesh, what else do you remember?" he asked with hopeful desperation. Maybe she'd finally remembered some of their relationship. He didn't need her to remember everything, he just longed for her to remember something about him, about them, from the past twenty-three years of their lives.
"I don't know Will," she admitted honestly. "There's a lot of new information, new emotions, running through my mind right now. When the first memories hit a few minutes ago, it was like I was reliving the first moment I walked into this building all over again. It's an odd sensation really. It's going to take some time for me to sort all of it out."
"Okay," he replied.
The loss of excitement in his eyes was obvious. "You're disappointed," she said quietly, looking away.
He reached his hand to her chin so she'd look at him again. "No, I'm not. It was just really exciting for a few moments. Let's go upstairs and find your old study area."
She leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Okay"
He took her hand and headed for the elevator along the back wall, but she pulled him in the opposite direction towards the stairs.
"You're kidding me!" he said, laughing under his breath. "You're still going to insist we take the stairs?"
She glanced over to him with a knowing smile. "It's more inspiring to take the stairs that pass by all the books."
"Glad to see you've remembered the important things," he teased as they began their ascent to the third floor.
They stepped around the corner of some of the stacks not far from the fairly secluded corner of the third floor and stopped abruptly. Quietly retreating some, they watched for a few moments the two individuals that sat at the table - their table. Will realized the two were debating a case. The female was insisting the point she'd just made was correct, with a look of frustration on her face. But it was the male's reaction to her that made him laugh under his breath, and shake his head.
"We'll ask the professor tomorrow, but that is not how a federal court would interpret it," the male responded, with a smug grin across his lips.
The female crumpled up the top page of her legal notepad and playfully threw it at him. "Fine, but if I'm right, you owe me coffee for the rest of the week."
Will turned to tell Alicia the interaction was exactly how they used to act, but she wasn't standing next to him anymore. He turned peering around the end of the bookshelf. She was standing there with her back against the shelving. He reached for her hand and moved in front of her.
She smiled, but her eyes looked as though tears were about to spring from them again, her breath racing as though she'd just sprinted a short distance.
"You okay?" he asked, closing the distance between them.
She nodded her head unable to keep the tears in any longer. "It's you," she whispered, tightening her grasp on his hands. "When I look over there I see you and me, and piles of books, a baseball in your hand, feet propped up on the table." More tears fell from her eyes. Will decided they should move somewhere a little more private, so he led her to a vacant study room close by, and closed the door. He sat on the edge of the table, drawing her close, placing his arms around her waist.
She wiped at a few tears on her cheeks. "This is silly, me crying. But to have a solid memory of you in my head and to know it really happened years ago, is an overwhelming relief. I hadn't realized how much not being able to remember you was effecting me. Not that I haven't believed everything you and others have told me. There's proof in all the photos, in the journal entries. It's just that to actually be able to recall you in my mind, somehow settles all the unnerving battles that have been playing back and forth in my head. I know for myself now that you really existed in my past." She reached her arms around his neck. "It's such a comfort Will. I feel like I could explode."
It was a mix of relief and excitement for him to. He'd been waiting, hoping, that this would happen at some point. He reached his hands cupping her face. "I'm so glad Leesh. I can't begin to express what that means to me." He meant every word. It was like gaining some of his own identity back.
They spent a few more quiet moments in each others embrace before getting to work. As thrilling as all of this was, they still had a client to defend.
Hours later, he sat alone in the quiet dimly lit space they'd occupied, cluttered with books, and pages of notes. In ways the evening had been just like old times, the two of them collaborating on a case, playing of each others ideas, and her seeming ability to constantly distract him with her beauty. If she hadn't left him mere minutes before to return a book to its rightful place, he would have wondered where she'd gone. After the recent return of a few of her memories, and his physical yearning for her, that hadn't subsided the entire day, he missed having her next to him. It was like this sometimes, though it had been so long, he'd almost forgotten how it felt to feel like part of him was missing when she wasn't in his presence. He'd go find her he decided, it was getting late.
She'd gotten distracted by the titles of some books among the stacks after replacing the one they had removed hours earlier. He had been so quiet approaching her she jumped a bit when he threaded his arms under hers from behind wrapping them around her waist. The startle caused yet another memory to flash through her mind.
/
"Will, stop," she protested, as he continued to press soft kisses to her neck. "Someone will see us, and I need to find this law journal." She reached to a higher shelf pulling a book from its resting place.
His hands tightened around her waist as he turned her to face him. She recognized the hungry look in his eyes. She'd become quite familiar with it in the past month since she'd allowed their relationship to become public knowledge. He moved closer to her, his hands slowly moving towards her hips. "Do you know how long I've waited to be able to kiss you in a quiet corner of this library?" He hastily pressed his lips to hers before she could respond.
His kisses had almost become a drug in the past few weeks, which was the only reason she allowed his lips to linger on hers. They briefly parted for air. "I don't know. How long?" she whispered, brushing her lips against his cheek.
He pressed his body more firmly against hers, causing a shiver to rush through her entire body. "Years Alicia, Years," he breathed, before pressing his lips to hers again.
/
She inhaled grasping onto the shelf in front of her as Will pressed his body closer to hers, placing a kiss to her neck. He knew the exact spot on her neck to press his lips that sent tingles through her body. In that moment it was difficult to determine if the intoxicating heat that rushed through her body was due to the memory, or the way he held her now.
Regaining a sense of balance in her knees she smiled and turned to face him, grasping onto his shirt pulling him closer as she pressed a heated kiss to his lips.
This was dangerous territory, her tongue in his mouth. He'd lost the willpower to keep images of her body from the previous night out of his mind at this late hour.
One of them had to come to their senses. She pulled away to take in some air, her eyes piercing his. "Ozone" she said, barely audible.
He suddenly wondered what had gone wrong. Maybe he'd taken the kiss too far, and it had made her nervous. But she was the one who had kissed him passionately first.
"Leesh?" His hands remained on her hips but he pulled his body away from hers.
"I just had another memory…one with you. Let's get out of here. I'd like to continue this at the hotel." Her hands slid from his chest to entwine them with his.
He let out a nervous breath of relief. Nothing was wrong. She just wanted to leave and continue things behind closed doors.
There were endless thoughts rushing through her mind as he closed the door to their hotel room behind him. She felt intoxicated, yet she hadn't had a drink all day. She watched him remove his suit coat - she loved him in blue. Sensing her eyes on him, he turned his gaze to her. That look... He'd been looking at her like that nearly all day. She couldn't ignore any longer the brown eyes that seemed to be looking right into her soul.
He couldn't understand why she was just standing there as if in a trance. Maybe she was remembering more. He'd noticed that look in her eyes a few times while they were at the library. He wondered what it was really like for her to get some of those memories back. He wrapped her up in his arms, and the trance seemed to dissipate.
She looked right into his eyes. At that very moment she knew exactly what she wanted, and it sent tingles through her whole body. She reached her arms around his neck. He could feel the quickened beat of her heart when her chest pressed up against him.
"We're here now. If I'm not mistaken, you mentioned something about," he didn't have a chance to finish his sentence before she pressed a fervent kiss to his lips again, taking his breath away. The kiss lingered as his hands moved over her body. He was looking forward to another night like the last.
Moments later they came up for air. She pulled away, but her eyes met his filled with desire. "Do you want to share another bath, maybe shower together?" he asked, brushing a strand of loose hair behind her ear. He thought those things might go really well considering the mood she seemed to be in. She held his gaze, but didn't respond. "If not we could get undressed and continue this in the bed," he suggested. "Or,"
She pressed a finger to his lips. "Will, I want..." Suddenly she grew a tad nervous, but she knew it was now or never. If she didn't just come right out and say it the moment would pass - the spell would be broken. If that happened she felt like she would blow away in the wind. His embrace was the only thing keeping her on solid ground.
"I want...you to make love to me."
He was fairly certain the world stopped spinning on its axis right then. Time seemed to stand still. He had to swallow hard the burning lump in his throat to keep his composure.
He had a dozen replies, but he simply pressed his temple to hers. "There's nothing…I'd rather do."
A rush of excitement and anxiety flooded her all at once, but she didn't voice her concerns from months ago. I won't know what he likes, what he wants.
She held his gaze for a few lingering moments. "I'm a little nervous," she admitted, fearing she'd ruin the moment.
"We'll take things slow," he breathed against her ear before pressing a soft kiss just below her earlobe. An audible hum escaped her lips. He could have said more to help ease her nerves, but he felt the tension flee her body and her shoulders relax. She didn't need him to say more. She felt at complete ease in the security of his arms.
Moments later, he reached for her hands slowly walking backwards towards the bedroom. The light was dim, the sheets had been turned down and the sweet scent of fresh cut flowers filled the air around them.
His desire to make love to her was enough to shatter him into a thousand pieces, and he knew from past experience they could make quick work of it. But this was not one of those moments. Tonight was special. He wanted to make her feel like a goddess, and burn the memory of this night into their minds forever.
She reveled in the boyish look on his face as his fingers reached for the buttons on her jacket, and was a little surprised at the thrill that shot through her as his hands slowly slid the fabric from off her shoulders. Was it always like this, feelings so intense you could almost taste them? She watched in eager anticipation as he continued with her clothing.
Everything seemed familiar and yet incredibly new to him. It had been too long since he'd removed clothing from her body, something he'd always reveled in doing because of the reaction it brought from her. He gently lifted the sleeveless silk blouse over her head - all he could see was her. Everything else in the room was a blur - damn the effect she had on him. His body grew more wanting with each passing second.
He pressed his lips hard against hers as he reached for the zipper of her skirt. Her fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt, feeling a sudden urge to place her hands on the skin of his toned chest.
Once his shirt lay on the floor he broke the kiss. It was almost painful for her, feeling like a piece of her had been ripped away.
His eyes rested on the thin layer of lace that covered her breasts – the things he'd do to them – he could already imagine.
Paying particular attention to where his gaze had landed, she became moist at her core. He'd spent time fondling her breasts, but the thought of how his lips might feel on them, had a dizzying effect on her.
She leaned in and pressed her lips to his as her hands fervently moved to the belt of his pants, her skirt slipping to the floor.
Soon he was completely undressed. She took a moment to gaze at the effect their actions were having on him, causing a feeling of pride and satisfaction to come over her.
The thin layer of lace that covered her breasts and core was all that remained on her. He wanted to devour her right there. Their kisses growing more heated with each passing moment, he gently reached one hand behind her back, the other under her thighs and lifted, placing her gently among the soft coverings of the bed. She shivered as her body hit the cold sheets. He crawled into bed next to her pulling the blankets over them to keep her warm before he began his assault of kisses on her again.
She'd experienced moments of arousal in the past months, but this was different. His every touch seemed to hold meaning, and it made her feel as though she'd lose conscious control of everything if she let go of him. Her hands traced circles on his chest as he leaned closer. Beginning with her lips, he trailed kisses down her neck…to her shoulders…to her chest. His warm hands reached for the clasp that lay at the center of her breasts. He slipped the straps from off her arms and leant closer again.
Her heart beat faster, her breathing quickened in anticipation. He exhaled taking a brief moment to admire her porcelain skin. His lips became moist as he bent down again to press soft kisses to her body. She moaned at the sensation, her fingernails digging into his shoulders.
Minutes later his lips trailed down her torso. Her hands tangled in his hair for a brief moment before he slowly removed the lace from her core. His hands pressed against her inner thighs and suddenly a new kind of anticipation enthralled her body as his warm palms glided slowly towards her most intimate parts. Her head tilted back and a pleasurable gasp escaped her lips as his fingers played with her outer core - she never wanted him to stop.
He watched her, the heat rising to a boiling point within him feeling her reaction. Soon her eyes met his once again. He held her gaze as he removed his fingers from her, slowly lowering his head to where they had been. When his lips touched her most sensitive parts, she grasped onto the sheets at her sides, moaning at the sensations he'd just sent through her. Seconds later her fingers tangled in his hair, her entire body increasing in excitement. She didn't know how much longer she could endure these intense feelings. "Will," she gasped. It was all she could coherently say at that moment.
He looked up at her. A knowing smile crossed his features as he shifted to press his lips to hers again, leaving his fingers to play inside of her. He was unraveling her piece by piece and she moaned at his touch. Moments later, her body couldn't contain the intensity anymore. Her muscles tightened, she grasped his arm, pulling her lips from his in audible pleasure.
Her skin flushing, body trembling, the pleasant sound of her satisfied cries - oh how he loved watching her fall over the edge knowing he'd been the one to do it to her.
Moments later as he ran a gentle hand over her arm, her body began to relax. She opened her eyes. The pleased look on his face only caused her to want more. Her lips met his again more intensely than before. Things became more heated. Their bodies danced together like this, skin to skin for endless minutes.
At one point she found herself on top of him. - the longing for the end in each of them growing with every passing second. Her lips danced across his face, neck and chest while her hand massaged his length. He felt as though he might dissolve right into the bed from the pleasure. They continued to roll beneath the sheets savoring every moment, every kiss, every breath as if it was the first and last time they would ever be just like this.
Eventually neither one could take it anymore. Sweat crossed both their brows. Somewhere in the middle of the quiet moans and whispers coming from both, she managed an audible but breathless few words. "Will…please…I need…"
The sound of her voice told him she was about to break with or without him - some things would never change. He shifted until he lay above her. He'd waited for what had seemed like an eternity for this moment.
Suddenly a concerning thought crossed her mind. "Wait," she gasped, almost in panic. Her hand tightened on his arm. Why hadn't she thought about sooner?
He froze, looking right into her eyes. Was she changing her mind? He felt as though he'd die if she ended it right here.
"Do we need…protection?" she asked breathless, worry written all over her face.
He breathed a heavy sigh of relief, and smiled at her. "No! I'm more than happy to explain it to you but," his eyes wondered over the parts of her he could see, resting on the small scar on her stomach. His breathing still rapid, he looked back up to her. "Leesh, I'm going to fall apart if we can't finish this first," he said desperately.
"Okay," she giggled, her sudden anxiety eased.
"Are you ready?" he asked, sincerely.
"Yes!" Her lips met his again as he gently began to move into her, allowing for her body to adjust to him.
An audible moan sprang from her lips, as he entered her. The sensation of feeling him inside her took over her emotions. Her focus lie solely on how he filled her up, and the thrill it sent through her entire body. Mere seconds later, her eyes clenched shut at the image that drifted through her mind at that very moment – the image of him and love making past. The emotions, feelings, that accompanied that flash of memory, sent intense waves of pleasure through her body. But she didn't want the present moment to be overtaken by the past. She forced her eyes open so she could see him - watch him - in this moment as their bodies moved in perfect rhythm together - faster and faster. Finally the moment came, their heavy breathing replaced by indescribable sounds.
In that moment she understand what he'd meant months ago when he'd said that making love allowed their souls to mingle with each other. It was clear as day and for a brief moment it felt as though they'd left their physical bodies behind - their souls dancing together. All too soon their bodies fell limp. He slowly opened his eyes to meet her gaze, her lips curved into a loving, satisfied smile. In this shared tender moment he wanted to ask why tears were streaming from her eyes - but hers weren't the only tears silently making their way down her cheeks. Still breathless she reached her hand to his face, brushing away his tears as her lips met his in a soft loving kiss. Their hearts bound together once again had found refuge amongst the storm - they'd become one again.
They lay quietly tangled together beneath the sheets a few minutes later. Her head gently rested on his chest. His fingers ran smoothly through her hair.
There was something comforting about feeling the gentle rise and fall of his chest, and hearing the faint sound of his heartbeat. Her mind remained on what they'd just done. It had been better, more meaningful than she'd imagined. It hadn't simply been a physical act. It had been an emotional reconnecting that they'd both needed. She was more grateful than ever now that he'd been so patient in waiting for her to feel comfortable with it.
"How are you doing?" he asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm good. Really good,' she giggled, peering up at him, with raised brow. She was still on a fluttering high, and it made him laugh under his breath.
"I'm glad we waited for this," he admitted. "It was difficult for me at times, but it gave us the opportunity to grow closer together in many ways, and I'm probably a better husband now for it."
She propped herself up onto her elbow and reached a hand to his cheek. "You're a wonderful husband, Will. Thank you for being so patient with me. I feel closer to you now than ever."
He smiled and kissed her hand softly. "What made you decide you were ready?"
"I think it was a lot of things built up over the months. Getting to know you better, doing things together. Watching you interact with the kids." She placed her free hand on his chest. "The memories of you that came back today, and the way you've been watching me the past five days or so. There's been something in the way you've looked at me that I hadn't noticed before. It made me feel good, safe…wanted. Your eyes seemed to be filled with nothing but love and concern for me, as if I was the most important woman in the world."
"You are the most important woman in the world to me." His hand ran in soothing circles across her back.
"And I believe that now because you've shown me what that means. I know what it's like to truly be loved by someone. I know what it's like to feel as though you've lost everything, and still have someone believe in you. To have someone in your life who never gives up on you no matter what you try to throw at them, and it's one of the most wonderful feelings in the world."
"You know I'm in love with you right?" he said softly.
A few tears escaped her eyes. "Yes." Her hand brushed against his cheek again. "I'm in love with you too."
He'd waited months to hear those words coming from her again. It felt like finding a missing piece to a puzzle. Bit by bit he was starting to feel like a whole man again. "It means a lot to me to hear you say that." He leaned in, pressing his warm lips to her forehead.
Her eyes met his gaze again with a wanting look in them. "So…can we do it again?" she asked, a mix of excitement and seduction in her tone.
He chuckled at her enthusiasm, wrapping his arm tightly around her. "Yes!" he responded, pulling her on top of him. He'd make love to her all night if she wanted.
A/N; I hope you all enjoyed this! Lest some of you think they are out of the woods, and we are nearing a happy ending, these two still have quite a few hurtles to overcome before the end.