The hot water had once again revived her as it had done the night before. Her tense muscles now felt much looser and more relaxed. Amanda pulled her hair up into a ponytail to get it out of her face. She then brushed her teeth, pulled a t-shirt over her head, and opened the bathroom door. There before her she found Lee waiting in bed with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses on the nightstand beside him. Lee smiled broadly when he saw her emerge from the bathroom.

"Whoa! What's going on here, big fella" she said playfully as she took in the whole picture.

Lee's expression quickly changed to one of confusion.

"A-man-da! Are you trying to steal another one of my t-shirts" he said as he gestured to the ARMY shirt she was wearing. "You know this is your apartment, too and you have your own clothes here now."

She smiled.

"Ha ha! No, I'm not trying to steal it. It was on the back of the door, so I put it on. It's comfortable and it smells like you, which is also comforting" she said sniffing the shirt.

"You know what else smells like me? Me!" he said playfully as the flipped back the covers inviting her into their bed.

Amanda smiled and climbed into bed beside him. She snuggled up against him and put her head on his bare chest.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" she said making lazy circles on his skin with her left pointer-finger.

"Surprisingly, no. Not this time. I thought you could just use a rest. But I am offering you some…..well some time to just be held. I think we could both use that."

Amanda silently nodded and gripped him tighter.

"That would be nice" she replied in her husky tone that indicated she was a little choked up.

Amanda settled into her husband. Lee placed his arm firmly around her and drew her close. His hand began to massage the back of her neck and rub her scalp. Loose, damp tendrils of hair began to fall out of the ponytail and onto his arm. Amanda reached back with her left hand and pulled out the ponytail elastic and let her hair fall freely on her shoulders. Lee worked his fingers deeper into her hair and continued to massage her scalp. Amanda stretched her spine as if she were a cat. She began to lightly rub Lee's chest, not to seduce him, but to feel him there with her. Her skin to his. She watched her hand slowly caressing his flesh. Suddenly she sat up and sprang out of bed.

"What's wrong?" he said alarmed.

"I forgot something important."

Amanda quickly went to the dresser and retrieved her wedding and engagement rings. She admired them as she slid each ring onto her finger and climbed back into bed.

"Damn! I left mine in the car." Lee said.

"We can get it later" she said as she settled back into the crook of his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and held her tight. Amanda breathed a sigh of contentment.

They both lay in bed with their eyes shut, holding each other. This was something they both needed. Just to be….quietly in each other's arms.

"Lee?" Amanda said after a few moments.

"Yeah?" he said is a hushed tone.

"If you weren't trying to seduce me, why don't you have any clothes on?"

Lee let out a low-pitched chuckle.

"Well…I don't really have a good answer to that question, Amanda."

Amanda laughed as she closed her eyes and felt Lee's breath on her head.

"Lee" she said again.

"Yes?"

"You know….it would be ok if later you uh, wanted to try to seduce me" she said playfully.

"I'll keep that in mind" he said as he shifted and kissed her passionately.