Della turned over gently, so as not to wake Perry, and held the alarm clock closer to her eyes. It was hard to make out in the dim light of the dawn, but it looked like it said ten minutes to five. She sighed. Only ten minutes until the device went off, starting another long, long day.
She'd fallen into bed last night around midnight, and Perry had quietly joined her two hours later. His arrival had registered with her, as it always did, but she had been too exhausted to do much more than kiss the air in his direction and collapse back into the pillow.
That had been how the last several days had gone-she was up with the sun for a shower, waking him just before she left for the office. The day would be busy in court until five and then she'd spend the evening at the office, handling the paperwork, and he'd spend the evening in the field, investigating with Paul. She'd stumble home to a dark, empty apartment, and he'd follow in the wee hours of the morning.
They were together, of course, in court and at the office, but work always prevailed in #904. There was no time for indulgent kisses and whispered sweet-nothings. This case, especially, thick in deceit and thin in answers, made Perry's playful, affectionate side pull back into hiding.
Truthfully, Della decided she missed being his wife. She was spending so much time being Ms. Street, the competent secretary, and he being Perry Mason, the lawyer. She wanted an evening of being Perry who couldn't keep pet names off his lips and Della who couldn't keep her hands to herself. She wanted an evening where they were firmly entwined on the couch, connected at the lips and just about everywhere else.
Della clicked the alarm off before it had a chance to ring, knowing there was no chance she was falling asleep anytime soon, despite her lack of sleep. No reason to wake Perry, not after the late night he had. She'd wake him after her shower, just before departing for the office.
An arm slipped around her middle and drew her close, and she felt an unshaven cheek against her neck.
"Stay," he whispered into her skin, "just for a moment."
Della sighed and turned over in his arms to return the embrace.
"I haven't held you in days," he murmured. Della felt his words shivering over her skin. "Haven't kissed you in hours," he added. Perry's hand wandered over her midriff, as if taking stock of something he hadn't in a long time. Della tucked his cheek into her palm, gently caressing his face.
"It's been a long case," she whispered back.
"I miss my wife," he said, his eyes searching her face.
"I'm right here, Darling," she replied.
Slipping his hand up her side, he tipped her chin up to meet his lips. Della kissed him almost desperately for a moment, not realizing how much she'd missed his kiss. She wound her arms around his neck, keeping him close. Perry broke the kiss after several long moments, gasping for breath. Her forehead fell to his.
Perry tucked a kiss near her ear and whispered, "in this terrible, mixed up world, you are my only respite."