Just the Two of Us

Ding! Most times they turned their ringers off at night, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear one of their devices going off. One of Miranda's eyes popped open and she knew she wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. "That's why we turn these damn things off," she whined picking up her phone, but there was nothing on her notification bar. Checking the time, she saw that it was exactly two in the morning. Her husband was still asleep, singing a song through his nostrils. Stretching across his back, she grabbed his cell from the nightstand, the brightness blinding her. Still laying on him, she tapped in his passcode and found the culprit. A notification for a game of "Words with Friends". "You have got to be kidding me."

"Huh?" Ben said rousing. He turned and she fell on his chest. "What's going on?" Miranda held up the phone. "Ahh! Turn it down!"

She laughed. "You forgot to turn your ringer off and now I'm awake."

"Sorry, my love," he said yawning and took his phone. "But since we're up, might as well play against 'ZebraPanda23'." He took his phone from her. "Oh, and good morning, Miranda."

Waving him off, she said: "Good morning, Benjamin. I'm going to check on the kid," she said rolling out of bed. She grabbed her robe from the back of the door and headed out. After a quick peek to their youngest who was sleeping peacefully, she sighed. They were so cute when they slept. While using the bathroom, she could hear Ben talking to himself. In the bathroom, slightly exhausted, Miranda stayed a little longer than was necessary. Back in the bedroom she shared with her husband, she climbed beside him as he shoved the phone her hands.

"What word can you make with this bullshit?" He asked.

Miranda cracked up and took a look at his board. "You could always swap, you know." They stared at it. "Wait." She dragged the letters in place and played "BOGS" for 36 points.

"Thank you."

"Now, can we get some rest please?"

"Yes, of course."

He shut off his phone and they faced each other. She loved drifting off to Ben's handsomeness, like she'd done for many years. For twenty minutes, Miranda tried hard to go back to sleep, but it didn't work. "It's 2:45 and I'm wide awake."

"Me, too."

"Good," she said squishing her face.

"Good?" He asked jerking his head back.

"Yes, we don't have to work in the morning," she began. She was Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital and he was her co-head of Trauma. "So… I was thinking that we could just talk."

He groaned exaggeratedly and she kicked him. "Ow, Miranda, damn." His arms locked around her body and his hand travelled down her ass, gripping it.

She sighed and pouted. "Not that kind of talk," Miranda said moving his hand from her butt to her back.

"Oh, okay." He ran his hand up her back and touched her hair. "So, what do you want to talk about?" Ben yawned.

"You ask me a question and then I'll answer it and then it's my go and you get another turn," she said batting her eyelashes in the mostly dark room.

"Where have I heard that before?" He inhaled and touched her ear. "Are you under the impression that we're going to have sex tonight?"

Miranda nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm assuming we'll have sex tonight. Or this morning rather."

He pumped a fist with closed eyes. "Yes!"

"Stupid," she joked. "Um, do you want more kids?" She asked.

His eyes flew open, bewildered. "Is three not enough?" He chuckled. Aside from their preteen in the next room, they had a high schooler who was sleeping at a friend's house and one from her previous marriage who was in college. "I thought we had three because we didn't want four."

With that, she laughed. "Answer the question."

"Honestly?" She nodded. "I'm content. A family of five has the perfect ring to it." Ben looked at her with hesitancy. "What about you?"

"No more," she said firmly.

"Then it's settled." Touching the hem of his shirt, she waited. "What's your favorite thing that I do?

"That's your question?"

"Yes," he answered somehow moving closer to her. He stared at her, patient.

Miranda could feel her heart fluttering like it often did when she thought about how lucky she was to have this man—her man. "My favorite thing?" He nodded. "Well, you are a great father, a great surgeon, a great husband, friend, all of that. You do it all well. But my favorite thing is when you look at me."

Ben scoffed. "Be serious."

"I am!" She told him touching available skin. "When we first met, we had on masks and all I could see were your eyes and they were so intense and then, soft. They just make me melt." She'd mentioned it countless times over the years, but, somehow, this time was different. "You look at me like… like I conquer all the problems. It's like you believe I can do anything. You see me; actually see me. If I'm happy or upset… And I love that feeling."

"Miranda… I am totally speechless."

"That's a first." He kissed her before pulling back to look at her. "Those eyes got you your third child." The mature couple cracked up, shaking the bed. "What's your love language?"

He made a face. "My what now?"

Miranda cleared her throat. "There's this thing. And, apparently, there are five ways in how you give love and how you receive it."

Ben cocked his head to the side, signaling that he was fascinated. "Go on."

"For example, I like to receive words of affirmation—especially from you." He nodded. She knew he knew. Ben always knew how to pick her up when she was down or boost her confidence. "And physical touch."

"Now that I understand." She pushed his chest and he cocked a brow. "Um…" He picked up his phone and did a quick search. Two minutes later, he was saying: "Physical touch and… I suppose, quality time. I like being around people." She couldn't deny that. He was definitely the "people-person" in their relationship. "Especially you."

She pulled her bottom lip in and quickly released it. Ben took the hint and moved in for a kiss, taking her glistening lip into his mouth. Grabbing the back of his head, she glued them together. "Mmm." The kiss was so light with just a hint of roughness and so amazing. Ben's moan broke them apart. The butterflies in her stomach were displaced as he looked at her. "It's, uh, your go," she said in a small voice.

"Do you think that we're soulmates?" He posed.

She let go of a wide smile. "I think that there are different kinds of soulmates." His face was colored with intrigue. "There's like a friendship one, a career one and," Miranda touched his cheek, "a romantic one… So, I think you're my romantic soulmate, yes. I wouldn't want to be on this love journey with anyone else. You are mine." Her thumb rubbed across his lips.

"Sounds about right," Ben whispered.

"Am I your soulma—"

"Yes." She put her head back as he attacked her neck with slow kisses, turning her on. A question rose in her gut and it gave her goosebumps just thinking about it. Thinking about what his answer would be. Ben's voice cut into her thoughts. "It's your go, baby." Miranda closed her eyes. "You're sleepy now?" He asked.

"No."

"Then what?"

"I don't want to ask the question I want to ask," she admitted.

"Then don't, but we've never had to pretend—never had to fake it, right?" Making circles on his back, she shook her head. "Then…?"

All she needed was three seconds of courage. Miranda swallowed and opened her eyes to see him looking right back at her. Those daggone brown eyes. "Have you ever…" Her voice trailed off and she started again: "Have you ever thought about ending us?"

"Like divorce?"

She bobbed her head from side to side. "Or just packing up your stuff and leaving."

He shook his head. "No. Never." Miranda knew there was more so she stayed quiet. "There was a point when we first started dating when I thought that I could probably stop seeing you because I knew that I was going to fall in love with you and that my heart would no longer be under my control. But I didn't listen, obviously."

Sometimes, she could really hate the man in front of her. He would deny it, but he was absolutely perfect. "I have your heart?" She asked with a sly grin.

"You know you do," he told her picking up her hand and putting it between them. "And I have yours, too, right?"

"Well…" He started to turn over. "Okaaay. Yes, of course you do." Another buzzing went off and she said: "Oh, come on. I thought you turned your phone off."

"I did." Miranda blushed and grabbed hers. She had an email for a "Buy One, Get 50% Off" from her favorite shoe store. Tapping on the screen, she told him that she had to answer an email. "It's… very, very important."

"What time is it?"

"79.99," she responded absentmindedly.

"Huh?" He chuckled.

"Oh, almost four-thirty."

He laid his head on her chest, pushing his face up through her arms. "Are you shopping while we're talking and the talking was your idea?"

Miranda grinned and pressed the power button on her phone. "I'm listening."

"Am I the love of your life?"

"Benjamin Warren, that question is way too easy." He wiggled his eyebrows. "You were made for me. You are literally a piece of me."

Ben sighed. "And it is quite possible that I would die without you."

"Oh, definitely," she said smiling through a yawn. When Ben didn't copy her, she widened her eyes. "You didn't yawn."

"So?"

"You're a psychopath."

"What!?"

"Studies have shown…"

Rolling his eyes, Ben put his lips against hers, quieting her. "You watch too much of the ID channel and I want you to stop."

"For your sake or mine?"

"Ours," he told him in a voice that made her spine shake.

More kissing led to heavy petting and forced moans. "It's… your turn."

"How would you rate our sex life?" Ben asked sucking on her bottom lip. "From one to ten. One being… I only married him because he looked like he could be good in bed. Five meaning the head is good, but, uh, the sex is just okay. Or vice versa." Miranda smiled. "And ten being great and the realization that I'm the best lover you've ever had."

She tapped her lips. "Hmm." The answer was so simple. Her husband aroused her with a single glance. By the time they began kissing, she was dripping and her body was practically begging for his. Because nothing ever felt as good as piecing their bodies together perfectly as he molded her, unapologetically… She was getting moist just thinking about it. Miranda pulled her sex in, sending a tiny shock through her frame. She wanted him even now. "Um, let me see."

"Don't play with me, Miranda," he said scratching her chin with his teeth.

"Then you answer first. Since you're rushing me."

"Nine, of course."

No, this man did not just say nine! "What!?"

"Well, sometimes… you feel so good that I bust way too fast." A rumbling in Miranda's stomach had her putting a hand to her mouth to cover the laughter that was approaching. "But, aside from those times… Ten."

"You're an idiot!" She howled. It was loud and if she knew her youngest child, they'd be awake and at the door in two minutes. Ben stroked her hair. "I'll say a ten."

He raised both brows. "Even after I said what I said?"

She nodded. Whenever he came too fast or before she did, he always made sure that she was taken care of. To the point that she was pushing his head away and vehemently praying for her soul to return to her body. Telling him this, he smiled. "I love having sex with you."

"And making love?"

Miranda blushed. "Yes, and making love. So change your answer before I change mine."

"The judges have deliberated and it's tens… across the board." He kissed her, moving downward. His face landed in her shirt, softly licking her breasts through it. There was a light knock on the door. Before they could answer, it swung open. Ben sighed. "Yes, my child," he said.

"Hi, mommy," their youngest said coming over to the bed.

Ben made a face and shook his head. Miranda laughed and turned. "Hi, baby." The 10-year-old climbed into bed with them.

"I'm going to the bathroom,' Ben told them kissing the tops of their heads.

When he was gone, she looked at her baby. It always seemed to take forever, but pretty soon, they'd be taller, older, wiser and there was nothing she could do to slow time down. "Now, why are you out of bed?"

"I heard a noise." So much like their mother.

"That was just me and daddy laughing."

"Oh. What was funny?"

Miranda rubbed their hair. "Daddy was being silly."

They giggled and hugged her. "Can I have a snack?" And so much like their father.

"It's way too late… or early," Miranda said purposefully not saying "no".

"Please." They poked out their bottom lip, comically, folding their hands tightly. "Pretty please."

Looking into their eyes was a mistake that she willfully made. Known as a hard-ass throughout her hospital, with her children she was a softie. It took her oldest two a while to realize that they could get their way at any moment. But the ten-year-old had swiftly caught on and soon, Miranda was nodding. "Yes."

"Pop-Tarts?"

"And then straight to bed. No games, no TV. Got it?" She said in a serious tone.

The youngest smiled. "Yes."

Ben came out of the bathroom just in time to see their child clambering off the bed. "Hi, daddy!"

"Oh, I'm not invisible anymore?" He asked with a wink. "Where are they going?"

"Pop-Tarts."

"Oooh, that sounds good." Miranda smiled at him as they resumed their original position. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing." Her fingers played at the back at his neck while he closed his eyes. "What's your favorite part of surgery, hon?"

Ben didn't open his eyes and she thought that he was asleep, but he moved in for a kiss. "You know when a patient is on the ropes and you just know there's no way in hell they'll survive? And then even if they do… their life will be loaded with problems?" Miranda nodded. "But, by some miracle, something you did changed the course of their life forever?"

She smiled. "Yes." Those moments were some of her favorites. She had so many stories.

"I love those. I mean, I can't be a superhero, but I get pretty damn close."

"You're my superhero. And you're so good at what you do," she said. "It's why I hired you."

His eyes flickered open and he squinted. "But you didn't hire me," he laughed. He'd been a year below her in their residency and after being friends through the last year of her marriage and the start of her divorce, she'd looked up and he wasn't just Warren. He was Ben. Someone she loved with everything in her.

"Well, I gave my recommendation when I was asked about you becoming a head of Trauma."

"No one asked you anything," he told her. She giggled. His work spoke for itself and he'd been a shoo-in for the job. "Remember how we celebrated that night?"

Miranda grinned. Did she! Her body got fired up just thinking about it. "You and me, in an empty park in the bed of your truck…"

"Pouring rain…"

She inhaled slowly. "Soaking wet… the Quiet Storm playing." If she'd been feeling some kind of way before now she was hot!

"That's how your second child got here," he said grabbing her thigh. "You screaming in my ear and your nails in my back."

Her hips whined. "Your hands… in places. And you kissing me in my spot."

"What spot?" He asked in a voice that made her shiver.

Miranda grinned. "You know."

Ben kissed her chin. "Here?" His lips went to her ear. "Or here?" She shoved her hand into his t-shirt, gripping him. "Or maybe it's over here," he said moving his lips with hers.

"No," she moaned faking annoyance.

"Oh, I remember." On the side of her neck, he sucked her gently and she held her breath. "That's it," he said as she crumbled into his arms.

If he kept it up, she would be halfway to a slow climax. "Yesss," Miranda purred, throwing her head back.

"Shhh! The kid is still awake," Ben reminded her.

They smiled at each other. "I want you," she said. Her husband's smile grew. "What?"

"When we first got together, you never used to say that you wanted me."

She blushed at his accurate memory. "But I did," she admitted. It'd been hard for her and the best part of it was that he'd understood. And never once did his feelings for her falter. "I wanted you, needed you, prayed for you." A raised brow from him told her to keep going. "I prayed that God would send me a man who was handsome, first of all." She chuckled lightly. "And that he'd be loving and strong and kind and that he'd be patient with me and who would love my child." Miranda looked over to see that her husband's eyes were getting watery. He was so soft and she loved that about him. "And there you were."

"Here I am," he said. "You've never told me that." There was a lump caught in her throat and all she could do was nod. The prayer had been a hopeless attempt to make God prove that what he'd put her through had been worth it. That someone better would come along. And he had. He was laying right next to her; the same way he'd been for the last twenty years.

"I prayed for you, too, baby."

"You did?" She asked stroking his bearded cheek. He'd been growing it out for a couple of months and it was long enough now that she could dig her fingers into it.

"Yes, ma'am."

"And?"

"God outdid Himself," he said simply.

A laugh escaped. "What?"

"Yeah, uh, truthfully, I wasn't very specific. I just asked for a good woman, you know? One I could grow with and be madly in love with." He sighed sweeping one of her curls away. "And you came out of nowhere checking every box and looking gorgeous doing it. And I fell." Ben put his hand to his chest.

She inhaled taking in everything he'd said, glad that she'd found a praying man. "I love you," she said.

"I love you," he echoed moving his mouth from her cheek to her lips. "Everything about you."

"Even when I make you mad?"

"Especially when you make me mad."

Husband and wife laughed again. Hers was high-pitched and light, carrying through the room and his was low and strong, grounding them. Miranda had never laughed with anyone the way she did with him. Sometimes, they'd be on opposite sides of a room, having two different conversations. But when they made eye contact, a quick smirk from either of them had them each bursting into a fit—about everything and nothing. "I love us."

"Yeah."

"Like you said, just the two of us."

He sat up suddenly. "Come with me," Ben told her getting out of bed.

"Where are we going?" Miranda asked.

"Put your shoes on and—"

"Shoes?"

"Yes. And before you ask, your child will be fine."

Her lips wiggled as she smiled. "You don't know me."

"Hmm. Also, grab a jacket and that blanket we use for picnics and meet me downstairs." With one last kiss, he was out of the door.

Unsure of what he had up his sleeve, she followed his instructions, happily. Slipping into a pair of sneakers, she checked on her youngest to see that they were indeed fine, knocked out and beautiful. She got the blanket from the closet in the hall and went downstairs to see that her husband was nowhere to be found. "Benjamin Warren, where are you?" She sang walking from room to room.

Through the kitchen window she saw him in the backyard setting up one of their tents. During the summer, when their schedules allowed, the five of them stole away to the woods and detached. Miranda complained, lightheartedly, the entire ride up to the campgrounds, but she truly enjoyed that time with her family. And the tent that she and Ben shared during those trips was being put together in their backyard. Her insides churned with excitement. Back upstairs, she found a huge bag and stuffed it with a second blanket and two pillows. In the kitchen once again, she picked up a bottle of wine and the half-eaten bag of popcorn from the pantry.

Walking out of the backdoor, Miranda saw that Ben had finally finished. "It's about time," she said.

He silently mimicked her. "Are you ready, Dr. Bailey-Warren?" He asked taking the thicker blanket from the bag.

"You know that I didn't officially change my name."

"Yeah, but you did in your heart, Dr. Bailey-Warren," he said over his shoulder as he went to lay the blanket on the floor of the tent. "Hand me those pillows, babe." She pushed the pillows through the nylon door. "Other blanket?" She nodded and handed it to him. "And the wine."

"I didn't get…" He gave her a look. "Here."

"Snacks?" She gave him the popcorn.

"Who ate half the bag? We just got these yesterday," he chuckled. "And I think that's everything." Miranda nodded. "Alright. Thanks, babe." He climbed inside, zipping the tent door.

"Hello!"

"Yes?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

Ben raised a brow. "Blanket, pillow, wine…" He shook his head and moved back inside.

Her frustration was rising and she wanted to rip him apart. "Benjamin!"

"Yes, my love!" He began smiling.

"You get on my nerves," she laughed.

He stood up and hugged her tightly, bending down so that they were even. "Is this better?"

"Yes," she said in the voice that had him biting his bottom lip. "That's better."

The two of them got settled into the tent. "Are you comfortable out here?"

"Yes, this was a good idea. You should set up the tent more often," she told him as they kissed lazily. Her favorite kind. There was no rush and their lips touched randomly, synchronized.

"When are you the happiest?" Ben asked on her jaw, rubbing his beard against her skin. Miranda took a deep breath, letting air fill her entire body. There were so many answers to this question. Her kids, her husband, herself… when they were all healthy and completely satisfied, she was good. That was all she needed. She was at her happiest. And if her hospital was running the way she wanted it to… God! Her heart soared thinking about it. "Babe?"

She looked at Ben as the moon peeked through the zippered window of the tent. He was everything to her. Her rock, her best friend, the other half of her. "In these moments is when I'm the happiest. When everything is right and perfect around me. Like now. Our children are safe." She paused and blushed a little. "And the way you're looking at me right now, full of lust with very kissable lips. This, baby, is when I'm the happiest."

"I heard that," Ben said. His hands palmed her butt melting them together. His fingers skated between her cheeks revving her up. How she was feeling right now, lazy kisses wouldn't do. They kissed passionately, breathing heavily. She opened her eyes for a second to see that his were closed and she quickly stuck a hand between her legs, touching herself. Her legs opened more. She was so aroused like she had been all morning, but she couldn't hold back anymore. She had to have him.

Her husband had stopped kissing her and watched. Miranda covered her fingers in her wetness, letting it expand between her digits for a second or two before removing them. She eased that hand into his pants finding him enlarged. "Damn."

"Take control, baby." Handling him expertly, her fingernails gently scratched him, appreciating how his body submitted and how his breath staggered as she stroked him carefully. "K-keep doing that." He let out a low groan and soon she felt the tiniest bit of moisture from him hit her hand mixing with her own. Ben grabbed her wrist, halting her. "That's good enough."

"You're not gonna let me finish?" She asked smiling at him with her eyes only. Squeezing him, she watched his body stretch, accepting her touch once again. Her thumb pressed against the tip of his piece.

"Don't do that," he moaned snaking his hand up to her chest. Miranda's knuckles kept rubbing the top of his pants and she told him to take them off. When they were out of the way, she flipped her hair to one side and began loving on him with long, methodic licks. Her full lips welcomed his length. Every bit of him that she could taste made her wet to the point that her panties clung to her body. "Miranda… baby."

This was one of her favorite parts, making him speechless and weak with the softest touches. "Yes?" She asked with no desire as to what he was going to say. When he didn't answer, she looked up at him, molding his sacks, waiting. "Huh?"

"Nothing," he said. "Fuck." His voice was so calm, relaxing her. He gently grabbed the back of her head, straightening her spine. "That's it, baby… Shit. I'm coming." His body jerked as he spilled all over her hand. Her tongue swiped around, tasting him. "Fuuuck. That was good. Damn it, woman." There was something about seeing him halfway depleted that made her so happy. "Come here." Ben closed his eyes, leaning in for a kiss, stealthily mounting her in the process. She could feel his relaxed piece bending against her and she opened her legs more, rocking on it, trying to wake it up.

They shared another kiss that was so long and deep that she felt it from the top of her head to the tips of her curled toes. He was such a good kisser. From their first until now, he just knew how to please her. Pressing his lips to hers tenderly for a few seconds before leading her to a heated kiss that left her panting and wanting more—always wanting more. Her fingers locked with his and he raised them above her head placing kisses on her arms and on her breasts through her nightshirt. Miranda loved how her nipples stood to meet his tongue. He seized both of her wrists with one hand and pushed up her shirt with the other, tasting her breasts fully. She wrapped her legs around him rolling her hips to cause friction as he licked her unhurriedly. "Go down," she murmured.

This pacing was driving her insane and he knew it. Rushing him, she started to push his head down, but he didn't move an inch. "You're impatient, Miranda," he growled, "and as soon as I get down there, you'll be begging me to come up." Her cheeks grew hot as he sat up, taking off his shirt becoming fully naked. Her back arched as her husband grabbed her panties, snatching them aside. With just a bit of force, two fingers entered her. "Oh, my God!" She said closing her eyes and getting lost in the rhythm of his fingers sliding in and out. His lips went back her breasts and her torso did a wave as it rose to connect with his mouth and hand at each spot. "Yes, babe!" Miranda ripped her arm from his hold and took his hand from between her legs, lifting it to her mouth, smearing her lips a little. She licked her lips before indulging on his fingers while watching his facial expressions cycle from shocked to stunned to surprised.

He bent down and sampled his knuckles. "I love that," he told her.

She wouldn't've blamed herself if she'd come right then and there. The feeling of being desired was overwhelming. He only wanted her. Miranda held onto his muscular arms as he resumed his finger strokes, this time kneading her button with his thumb. "Stooop," she whined.

"You want me to stop?"

She shook her head, grinning slyly. "No, but if you don't…"

"Let me hear it," he challenged. "If I don't, then what?" She reached for his wrist again trying to stop him, but he kept going, his movements stronger. And Miranda felt her thigh jerking. His palm pressed against her wet flesh and she couldn't help fucking it, thrusting her hips on it. "I can't hear you, Miranda."

"Ben…"

"Louder. The neighbors didn't hear." He quickly moved down her body, prying her legs apart with his free hand as he licked her tenderly but with purpose.

"Ben! Ben! Oh, God! Oh, God! Ben!" Her body popped and her walls contracted on his fingers as he eyed her from below. The smugness on his face was sexy as hell and she wished she could kiss him, but she was enjoying where his mouth was too much. Enjoying how his tongue curled around the sensitive parts of her body and how much he honestly loved pleasing her. "Shit!"

"Huh? Speak up."

"Oh my God! Oh my God! I'm coming. Damn it!" She cried out as her body shook with a fierce orgasm that had her slapping the ground trying to yank the grass through the sturdy plastic. "Jesus!" She said letting out a high-pitched moan that he tried to conceal with a kiss from which she was able to get a second taste-test of herself. Miranda pushed him away as he went for her bottom lip because what was the point of being outside if she couldn't be as loud as she wanted to?

He nodded reading her mind. "You're right. You're right. And I did say I wanted you to be loud."

Her body was still trembling and she felt so woozy. There was a moment where she thought she'd pass out. Catching her breath, she said: "Baby, that felt good." Her body unclenched for the time being. Her hand went to her hair, running a hand through her curls. "That, sir, was some of your best work."

Ben grinned. He was a master with every part of his body. It hadn't taken them long in their relationship for her to figure that out. She'd heard and witnessed the fact that a couple's sex life could diminish over time, but a couple of decades with this man and she was still hot for him. She could be smackdab in the middle of a meeting and her mind would flash to his touch and she'd be creaming, needing a release. "Thank you. Thank you," he said rising to his knees, bowing. She reached up and touched his face pulling him down for a kiss. A smile inched across his face as his hand danced between her legs again. She closed them shut. "I can't have none?"

"No," she responded with a smirk of her own.

"I can't have none?" He repeated.

Her "no" was wavier the second time. "And you didn't even say please."

"Give me some," he demanded with a hint of a growl. His jaw shifted before kissing her breasts, sucking slowly.

Miranda licked her lips as he pleasured her. "Say 'please,' Benjamin."

"Please, Miranda."

Pushing his firm chest, she flattened him to the floor of the tent. "If you must." Ben helped her remove her nightgown and panties. Their bare skin heated at every point of contact. They kissed again and he pulled her on top of him. Her legs straddled him and she positioned herself just above his crotch. "Now, why do I have to do all of the work?" She griped in a low voice.

"Because I'm telling you to." Ben sat up embracing her. His lips went to her ear: "And because you know you want to ride this dick, baby. Don't you?"

"Yeah," she whimpered already anticipating her second orgasm. Her body moved glacially on top of his turning up the intensity. Miranda loved the fire passing between them. He knew just what to say to rile her up. And everything that needed to happen to make him explode once again was being played out. Nibbling on his ear, she whispered: "You like me in control, don't you?" Ben nodded still holding onto her ass, he struck it, hard. She winced, frozen for a millisecond. He did it again and she exhaled an: "Ahhh…"

"Mmmhm. Now let me have some of that pussy," he grunted slapping her ass a third time. Miranda reached back and took him in her hands observing that since his first orgasm, he'd gotten bigger and he was primed for another. Her clit had taken notes and was doing the same. It throbbed against his skin and every movement either of them made brought her closer to her end. She was getting light-headed thinking of her next move. Her stomach now housed her heart and it mixed with the sounds of the birds waking and soft breezes providing the perfect soundtrack to their lovemaking session. Dragging his organ along her slit made her throw her head back and her nipples became erect to the point of hurting. As it slipped around her juices, she clawed his thigh with her left hand. Doing that a few times, put them both on edge. So much so that Ben was pleading: "Put it in, baby."

"Now?" She teased biting the corner of her bottom lip trying not to draw blood.

"Yes, my love. Just a little bit. I am dying here," he laughed. God, she loved hearing him laugh. Through the small window of the tent, the horizon had begun lowering, a bit of the sun peeked out. She wondered if he noticed. "I need to feel you on me, baby. Please."

Hearing that, almost had Miranda climaxing again. Her pussy was on fire! "Okay. A little." He nodded and she lifted her body a little, allowing him the smallest admission.

"Oh, yeah."

"You are too excited," she chuckled, removing him.

"Okay, okay. I won't be so excited," Ben promised with a laugh. "But day is breaking. Folks will be up soon." Smirking, she mimicked her previous action, lowering herself onto him, staring at him with a look that she hoped conveyed exactly how much she wanted him. His facial expression showed that he was slightly aggravated and eager. "Come on…" His tone was low and easy and with a slight twist of his waist, he plunged the rest of his pulsing member into her slippery canal.

"Jesus Christ!" She called out. "My God!" They kissed while she ground her body on his frenetically, propelling herself to one of her favorite sensations. "I'm not gonna last," Miranda admitted in his mouth before another wild and sloppy kiss.

He sucked her bottom lip, tightening his hold on her waist. She tensed briefly, shuddering through their lovemaking. "Let go, my love." Ben took her hands and sat up, attaching them together. "Come for me."

"Ahhh," she said as heat built up in her stomach.

"Let me feel you release on my dick." She opened her mouth, licking her lips as his mouth went to her nipples. "While I'm ripping into you."

"Fuck me, Ben." He nodded and pushed her backward, smoothly climbing onto her, easing into her. "Yes, baby! Yes!" She raised her leg so he could go deeper and hit her spot. "Yessss! That's it!" An incredibly powerful orgasm was slashing through her body and she scratched his back. Ben burrowed into her, his hips moving quickly.

"You like that, baby?" Her responsive moans rang out in their massive backyard. "I'll take that as a yes."

Finally satisfied, she burst, shaking beneath him. "Ben! I'm coming, baby! I'm coming!"

"Me, too, Miranda!" He yelled pounding into her, burying his face into her chest. "God, you feel good."

She felt her spirit leave her body as she climaxed. With a deep inhale, it returned. Their breaths were loud and quick as they came down from their orgasmic highs. She held him, kissing his shoulder as he lay on top of her, drained. "This tent… is an aphrodisiac," she laughed.

"It is." Miranda rotated her hips and he jerked. "Damn it, girl. Have we ever been in here without you jumping my bones?"

She gasped, pushing him off of her, a chill hitting her bare body. "Like you didn't kiss me first."

"Like you didn't touch me first."

Miranda looked into her husband's playful, brown eyes before turning over in his arms. "Don't start, Benjamin Warren."

"Okay, Miranda Bailey-Warren." There was that marvelous feeling again.

They pulled the blankets over naked bodies. "Whose turn is it?" Ben asked into her back, kissing her lightly.

"Mine." She took a deep breath. "Uh, what makes us work?"

The kisses paused for a second. "Trust. That you trust me. That I trust you. Implicitly. Without hesitation. That no matter what, we'll make our way through anything," he said. "And I trust that it's the same for you."

There had been a hiccup or two early in their marriage, when she wasn't sure she could or even wanted to trust another man, but Ben had changed all of that. He was honest and open, laying out his feelings and not letting her hold back. It also helped that they were really good friends first. "I trust you with my life."

He nodded and she closed her eyes as the loud sunshine peeked in, warming her skin. "I cannot believe you kept me up all damn morning."

"Me?"

"'Me?'" He mocked good-humoredly. "Yes, woman. You." Glad that he wasn't able to see her, she smiled to herself. "You know, uh, I was really looking forward to a night of sleeping; and, I don't know, maybe you'd let me get a li'l something, but this has been much better. So much better. I have butterflies like it's a first date."

Miranda sighed and faced him, putting her hand on his chin. He kissed her palm. "And I am falling in love with you all over again. I can't help myself." She shut her eyes once again, a peace wafting over her. Silence consumed the talent until she prompted him: "It's your turn."

Ben sat up and picked up the bag of popcorn, opening it. "Is there something that you've never told me?"

"There's probably a lot of that I haven't told you," she replied sitting up as well.

"You know what I mean, Miranda."

"I do." She twisted her lips to the side and gestured for the bag. "Um, I don't know if I ever told you that before my first marriage had really dissolved, I almost kissed a man who wasn't my ex-husband." Ben stayed quiet, creeping his finger up and down her thigh. Such shame poured over her. It had been a moment of vulnerableness that had her almost kissing another man. Her ex had cheated on her, yes, but she still wanted to be faithful to her vows and to the promises she made to her child. It had been so nice when another man had showed genuine interest in her. She'd been a millimeter away from kissing him before stopped, apologized and walked away. "It was… only a kiss," she continued taking the bottle of wine he was offering. "But it upset me that I had the potential to be like him. And I've never told anyone about it."

Her husband lifted her chin. "You are such a beautiful soul, Miranda. And you'll never be like him."

She blinked back tears. "Well, not now. I don't want to kiss anyone but you." She smiled and he copied it.

"You'd better not kiss anyone besides me."

"I won't," she said giving him her word. "But that goes for you, too. Those lips belong to me."

"Yes, dear."

Enjoying their simple existence, they snacked in silence. "Is it my go?" He nodded, tossing popcorn into his mouth, chasing it with wine. Finished, they lay back down and held one another. Miranda grinned at the fact that she could tell how much he'd changed in their twenty years together. It was amazing to have been with someone that long. Someone she didn't come into the world knowing. She'd just found him. Her heart shook happily, hoping that her children all found what she'd found in their father. Thinking of the past made her smile, but imagining the future—"Where will we be in fifteen years?"

He inhaled, rubbing circles on her back, caressing her rolls lovingly. "Well, in fifteen years, you'll be a young 61. I'll be an even younger 59." She poked him. "Ow!" She shrugged and they grinned at each other. "And I'll be begging you to retire with me, but you'll refuse and I will have to pry the scalpel from your hands." She did her best to hold in a laugh. "But eventually, you'd let me and we'd start our new hobbies," he sighed. "I'll be into gardening and brewing homemade beer because it's peaceful and because I like beer. And you'll paint and, uh, start your memoir because you're wildly talented and have things to share. We'll do some traveling because surgery took so much of our time, but we won't have regrets about it." Miranda didn't know when it happened, but she was crying. Ben pushed some tears away. "You okay, babe?"

"Yes. Keep going."

"And the, um, kids will be grown and they'll bring their children over and we'll spoil them rotten for a weekend and send them on their way. They'll come to us when their parents are pissing them off and we'll be able to relate. And one of the kids will move back in and we'll say we hate it but secretly, we'd love it. Then they'll be gone again and it'll be back to being just the two of us."

Miranda pressed her lips to his prickly chin. "That was a good answer. But… I'm not retiring before 65."

"We'll see." They kissed passionately for a long minute. She loved the connection they were making. And loved that they were still able to learn each other, physically and emotionally. The surgeons were quiet for a while; so long, in fact, that in addition to Ben snoring, Miranda could hear cars driving down the street and honking and voices. She fell asleep to those sounds. Waking up later, she picked up her phone and saw that it was almost seven o'clock. Her mind drifted to her child probably rousing and looking for their parents—who were in the backyard completely naked and exhausted. She nudged her husband reaching for her nightgown. "What? What?"

"Let's go inside. The baby will be getting up soon."

He rolled his eyes. "That child is ten years old. They're not a baby."

"They're my baby," she grinned tossing him his shirt.

"Thank you." Miranda started to stand up and Ben grabbed her arm. "Hey. Good morning."

"Wasn't it good five hours ago?" She moved in for a quick kiss that morphed into a slow, impassioned one. "Good morning." Making their way into the house, she uncorked the bottle of wine, sipping leisurely.

Ben jerked his head back. "It's seven in the morning," he laughed. She held out the bottle for him. "Thank you. Should we make breakfast or go back to bed?"

Miranda shot him a look and he raised his brows. "Is that your question or are you genuinely asking?"

"Both and don't give me the Bailey face."

"Come on." Leading the way, she walked into their bedroom to see their youngest lying crosswise on the bed. She shook her head. "Should we move them?"

"Nah, let 'em sleep." Wife and husband joined their child in the bed. "It's, uh, your turn," Ben whispered.

Miranda pointed to the small figure between them. He shrugged. "Uh, what could I say or do to make you hate me?"

"Hate, babe?" It was Miranda's turn to shrug. She knew her husband was perfect; a gem of a man who she loved more than anything. But she wondered what that thing was that he could do or say that would have her hating his guts even for a finite amount of time. Nothing came to mind, sure there was the a-word, but she never had to worry about that with Ben. His touches only came from a place of love and only with her permission. And, unless she was temporarily mad at him, she always gave permission. Then there was the c-word, the d-word and the other d-word, but she figured even then, she couldn't hate him. It required too much energy and if any of those things happened, Miranda would simply have to grieve, move on and continue her life. She would hate that part, the moving on part, but she wouldn't hate him. "I guess," he said startling her from her musings. "I guess if you suddenly became an axe murderer, I would be forced to hate you." She cackled loudly and Ben reached over their kid and put his hand over her mouth, laughing himself.

She pushed his hand away. "Be serious."

"I am. I couldn't hate you. Sorry." Miranda blew a kiss to him and he caught it putting it against his lips. "Two more questions?"

She stroked the ten-year-old's head. The way they slept reminded her so much of herself. Yawning, she closed her eyes, saying: "Okay."

"I could just ask you later," Ben offered with a yawn of his own, "since you're asleep."

They looked at one another. "I'm not. I'm not. My eyes are just… closed. I listen with my ears."

"Good point." Their child snuggled against her and she kissed their head. They moved some more pushing their body into her stomach. "Do you love me, babe?"

"Yes, my love," she answered easily. He was her great love, the one who made her heart scream and holler. "I get overwhelmed by how much I love you." Miranda glanced over at him. "Do you love me, babe?"

"Way too much, baby." He smiled at her, kissing her nose. "It's ridiculous how much I adore you."

She reached for his hand and brought it to her body. He opened his palm against her chest. "Good talk, babe."

"Although it was just supposed to be just us two," he said looking down at the one between them.

Sighing a smile, half-asleep, she replied: "No matter what. It will always be just the two of us."