Healing
The first thing Adam did when he brought Wylie home was to make her a cheeseburger. She actually gave him as smile as he handed it to her on a plate, fresh from the skillet and covered with dripping cheddar cheese. She ate her burger hungrily. "Ohhhh, I love it so much, Adam," she said as she devoured every single bite.
"I am glad that such a little thing can make you so happy," Adam said.
She nodded as she continued to eat. She had consumed all of the cheeseburger, then she was thirsty. He fetched her a bottle of water. She sipped from the plastic bottle greedily, then she was exhausted.
Her great sacrifice had taken a lot out of her. She tried not to think of the baby, but her son was still on her mind. She reached for Adam's hand. "Can we go to bed now?" she asked.
His eyes got darker at the mention of them going to bed. Wylie in his bed? There was no way in hell he could ever refuse such a suggestion. He had dreamed of her in his bed, all snuggled up, soft and warm in his arms. Was it really happening? Or was he dreaming?
"Alright," he said.
He didn't even bother to clean up the kitchen. He continued holding Wylie's hand as they entered his bedroom. He just stared at her. Their eyes locked. He was waiting for her next cue.
"I want you to hold me. All night long," she stated.
His heart thudded wildly in his chest. Wylie... in his arms... ALL night long. How? How had he gotten this lucky?!
"Alright," he agreed.
He wanted to strip, take off every stitch of his clothing, but more than anything, Wylie just needed held and comforted. He could sense that she needed some healing. She was hurting... and he knew it was far more hurt than he had ever experienced. He wanted to help dissolve a little of that hurt into himself. He thought he could... if she'd just let him. He would find a way.
"It's going to be alright, Wylie," he promised her. "I'm here.'
They crawled into bed together and she settled into his arms. She was looking into his eyes... and for the first time, he thought he saw something there... something he hadn't seen before. She said his name in the softest whisper, and in that moment, her lips were beckoning him. Then in the near darkness, he kissed her... softly and tenderly.
In an instant, the gentle kiss had turned into something more. It exploded swiftly with passion. Wylie desired him, just as he desired her. He knew it then. Their kisses grew deeper. The hunger flamed between them as only their lips and their tongues spoke of the feelings they had kept hidden from each other. Then as he held her, he felt her relaxing completely. She had given a little sigh into their kiss.
"I'm so sleepy,' she whispered after his mouth had reluctantly withdrawn from hers.
"Sleep. You're safe here,' he said as he cuddled her head against his chest. With a tender touch, he was caressing her hair.
As the moments passed, she could hear his heart beating strongly against her ear. She didn't have her baby... but she had Adam. She had his arms around her. In her soul, she knew he could heal her. She knew he had the power. And then maybe, when she was healed, she could be free again. Free to truly love.
She murmured his name, snuggling in closer. Their bodies fit together like a glove. He was so warm and comforting. She didn't analyze her feelings for him... They were just right. She felt complete with him. He was all she needed in that moment. Wylie was safe.
Adam lay awake long after she had fallen asleep, cuddling her and reveling in the fact that he had her in his arms. Their kisses had been amazing and everything he had ever dreamed of in all of his most blissful fantasies. Words came to him, but he didn't dare speak. Wylie wasn't ready for his confessions. He never wanted to scare her away. All he wanted was for her to stay. He wanted to be the one who healed the pain that shone in her eyes. Maybe if they were lucky, she'd heal all his wounds, too. He had a few he had never spoken of, not even to her, his best friend.
He wanted to wake up in the morning and have her in his arms. His greatest fear was that he'd wake up and Wylie would gone... she'd no longer be beside him. He did not want her to disappear into the shadows. He was only just beginning to heal her painful wounds. She just had to give him a chance.
