Seven ‹ A Dream of Winhill ›

As I watched Sally sleep against me the next morning, I got that same itch that something wasn't right. But I still didn't know what. Sure there were the occasional lip bites and twitches, but it could be anything. If it were something I did, she'd have told me. If it were something she wanted that she didn't know how to ask, she'd at least tell me she was trying to figure out how to ask. She'd done that when first trying to figure out how to talk to me about the intimacy thing.

She didn't want me to freak if she flinched when I touched her.

I scrubbed at my scalp. Dincht, quit being a chicken-wuss and just ask her what's wrong!

Sally sighed deep, her breath tickling my chest, and then moaned as she stretched. "I should get up and make you breakfast," she mumbled sleepily.

I smirked. "Nah. We can lay around for as long as we want." And it felt awesome. Skin against skin was a trip!

She sighed again and snuggled close, me draping an arm around her. "But we have to meet the doctor in Winhill," she reminded softly.

"Yeah. I know." I just didn't want to move. You know what I mean?

Sally suddenly sniggered. "I don't want to get up, either. You're warm."

Booya! I gave her a jostle, warning myself to take a Chill! before risking another word. "Are you cold a lot or something, Meg?"

Nodding so that her hair tickled my chest, she admitted, "Yeah. The doctors say I have poor circulation or something. Probably because of my accident. Zack just says my 'thermostat' doesn't work right. It's broken." She voiced a soft giggle again. "But that's okay. You're warm."

I laughed. She seems warm enough to me! But there was no way I was going to say that. Instead, I gave her a gentle squeeze while telling myself that I had to be imagining things. She sounded fine. "Maybe The Works will help with that. Studies show it's supposed to help with circulation to muscle groups."

"Oooooo." Then she pushed herself upright, holding her portion of the sheet up. "Really?"

Smirking, I laced my fingers behind my head as I held her twinkling chocolate-brown eyes. "That's what they say. Read some case studies and stuff, but…" I shrugged, my smile tilting to one side. "We could do our own case study," I offered.

She nodded, looking so eager that I couldn't help but laugh. Dude! She's fun!! I reached out and gave her chin a gentle chuck, which made her smile one of those little things that made me glow. Dincht…. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I fisted my hand behind my head, still smiling, and gave her chin a pinch. "Who gets dibs on the shower?"

"We could share."

My smile froze on my face and I think I swallowed my tongue as I stared at her. Sh-sh-sh-share?! Zellander kicked me in the head – Ass-wipe! Knock it off! – and made me say, "Thanks, Meg, but I'd just get in the way. It's not a very big shower." Aw come on! "You can go first. Then I can find out from the doc where he's at and where he'll meet us."

She looked toward the shower, giving me a second to fiercely scrub a hand down my face before forcing back the easy smile when she again looked to me. "I just thought…" Sally lowered her gaze for a fraction of a second before smiling a smile that didn't seem right and then nodding. "Okay."

Aw geez! I sent Zellander my favorite rude gesture while giving Sally's arm a stroke. Then, sitting up and reaching for my navy blue silk boxers, I said, "Maybe tomorrow." I sent her a glance. "No time-tables."

She flushed and nodded yet again, the smile blossoming to a silly giggle.

Whew. So I sent her a wink, slipped into my boxers before standing, and then snatched up the matching robe. Sally had gotten the set for me, but I had a feeling I wasn't going to have much time to wear them. Heheheheheheh…. Dincht! I turned to face Sally, who had slipped forward to kneel on the edge of the bed while watching me, and stepped close to give her a kiss on the forehead.

The only safe place to do anything when she looked like that.

"I'll make you breakfast again. 'Kay?"

She smiled up at me in silence for so long that I thought I was going to lose it right there. Then, one arm keeping the sheet up, she cupped my cheek to give it a collection of strokes. "Good morning, Mr. Dincht."

Duuuuuude…. I held her face in both hands, Zellander only letting me caress her cheeks. "Good morning, Mrs. Dincht." Sweet Hyne's ass that's awesome to say– Screw you, Zellander! I kissed her, proving to myself and the little prick that I could control myself.

When I pulled slowly back, the look on her face was the hardest test yet. But I didn't do what I wanted. I just waited until she slowly opened her eyes. She needs a little space. And if she didn't, oh well. A little space never hurt anyone.

I sent her a lop-sided smile. "We'll 'lova smotha' a little later."

Giggling as her cheeks flushed my ultimate favorite color, she nodded and wrinkled her nose at me, repeating "Lova smotha," in a funny voice that gave me the good chills.

So I kissed her on the forehead and then walked somewhat stiffly around the bed toward the door, sending Sally a last glance over my shoulder to see her lying on her tummy watching me with a silly smile on her face. She waved her fingers, sounding the silly giggle that I was really beginning to go wild for.

I winked, letting Zellander drag me out of the room and close the door firmly behind me. I pressed my forehead against it and released a slow and deep breath. Dincht…. the hell?!?!

Booya didn't cover it anymore.

***

After a short drive from the small 'tourist trap' town on the western shore of southern Galbadia called Moor's Head - which happened to have a dock where we moored the yacht - we were at Winhill.

I released a sigh as we walked hand in hand around the small town, only having a little bit of trouble keeping the visuals of the previous night at bay. "How soon before the Security Station is up?" Even if I had to work as support-staff, I so wanted to move here. It would mean a place I could make into a home for Zell and me. Just the two of us. A family of our own… It sounded better than anything I had ever imagined before.

"Squall said something like 18 months. But it could be less."

"Where are they in the process?"

"I think they're getting supplies rounded up or something. They've got all the contractors and stuff, and the Network has already purchased the computers and furniture and stuff like that. All we have to do is get the building complex up and then they'll deliver and set it all up. Security Goon Seifer breathing down their necks, of course."

I looked over at him, his gorgeous blue eyes meeting my gaze. "Have you seen the plans?"

"Have I seen what's going to be built, you mean?"

I nodded.

"Yeah. There's going to be the main building, staff dorms for those who can't get on-site housing, and… uh…" He snapped his fingers several times as his adorable face twisted into a frown. "Geez. What was that other thing… Oh! Right!" He grinned down at me. "A house for the head of the facility: Me."

My mouth dropped open; then I squealed and threw myself into his arms, mine looping around his neck as I kissed his face and hopped up and down with excited squeals of "Zell! Oh Zell! Congratulations, sweetie! You got Winhill!"

He laughed, saying "Okay, okay, beach bunny. Take it easy on me," and laughing some more.

I pulled back. "When did you find out?"

"Squall told me at the bachelor party." He grinned. "I've been choking on this secret for, what?, 2 weeks?"

I giggled. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so excited for you! You've wanted to have this station for Winhill for so long and now you've got it… Oh, sweetie…" And I kissed his cheek several times before pulling him into another embrace, sighing when his arms surrounded me.

"And I got you your house," he said softly. Then he chuckled. "It'll just take almost 2 years before we can move in."

"I don't care," I sighed. "I've got you and our apartment at Garden and the most wonderful future in the world."

"I don't know about that," he admitted, "but it sure will be worth whatever crap we've got to go through, huh?"

"Darn straight."

Zell gave my neck a kiss, sending a spark all around. Then he again took my hand in his and led me deeper into town. "It's about time for lunch. Did you want to grab a sandwich or something before heading out?"

"Whatever you want to do, sweetie."

"Well, why don't we go on a treasure-hunt first. Then we can have everything ready for doc when he shows up in a couple hours." He grinned and gave my hand a squeeze. "Then you're mine and no more sharing."

I giggled, flushed, and gave him a nudge in the ribs with my elbow before whispering, "…no more sharing." Nope. Just love and fun. No more fear. No more guilt, either. After all, why should I feel guilty for enjoying this time with my husband. And I was going to do my best to ignore them. But if you can't? When are you going to tell him? But how did I tell the man of my dreams that all I could think about was… sex?

I worried my lower lip, my hand tightening on his. Sally, you don't really think it'll change how he looks at you, do you? Come on! That's silly! You're married! But no matter how often I told myself that, there were so many other thoughts that came up to fight against such a simple fact.

I sent him a stealthy glance, watching him as he pointed and talked about Winhill and the different stories he'd heard. He was so handsome and so… mine. And the intensity of that thought scared me. I'd never felt this intensely about anything. But since being with Zell in such an intimate way, all I could feel and remember was that touch. That sharing. The hushed and gruff whisper–

Flushing, I looked away, swallowing hard as I told myself It's okay to like it. Remember? Janine and Mom said so. But… this much? So that was all I thought of? So that was all I remembered minute after minute? I bit my lower lip. You're married. It's what happens, I kept telling myself. And the 'but' still lingered. If I told him…

"Hon, once you share that one part of yourself with Zell, everything will change. Your feelings for him. His feelings for you. Your perspective on everything will be different. It will be like… like being connected to him." That's what my mom had said, yes, but all I could think about was… sex. All I could feel was skin moving against skin. All I could hear was my voice mingling with his as we– I whimpered before I could stop it, biting hard on my lower lip when I felt Zell's sidelong glance.

"You okay?"

I wordlessly nodded, returning his pressure to my hand and sending him the most fake smile I had ever done in my life.

Zell watched me for a moment more before giving my hand another squeeze and asking, "It says it's where?"

Lifting the handheld, I calibrated it and pointed ahead at a grove of trees outside of Winhill. The trees were in the blossom field we'd walked through last time being there. "Right over there. In that section of trees." Stop it! You're married! You're married!… But each time I let myself relax into the 'want', the odd feeling came again.

…and I didn't want it. I only didn't know how to give it up.

I didn't even really know what 'it' was.

"Okay. Well, I guess we're going there. Come on."

Zell took hold of my waist to heave me up onto the top rail of the fence. Then I climbed the rest of the way over, waiting for him to do the same. Standing beside me, we gathered the other's hand and made our way forward.

"Why would someone put a treasure chest in a forest– Of course, if it's as old as the other one, there wasn't a forest here back then. It might've been water like with the others. Who knows? It's kinda exciting to think about it. What coulda happened and all that. Like a write your own adventure story or something." Zell focused on me as I smiled up at him. "What d'ya think?"

I think you're adorable. I think I couldn't be any more happy. I think Winhill is going to be more a home than anywhere else, and I can hardly wait the 18 months… "I think it's very cool."

Zell smirked, releasing my hand to drape his arm around my shoulders. "Yeah. Everything's going to be cool, we just have to wait."

"Do you mind waiting?"

"Hell no! We've got a great apartment waiting for us, and I've got a great job as Head of Instruction… Though I'm not too thrilled with the stress. It's a pain in the ass, but kinda fun, too. Weird that way." He gave me a squeeze and kissed my temple. "And now I've got you. Waiting'll be a blast, I bet."

My smile teetered between silliness and euphoria as I looked up at him. Just 'go for it'. I had been so far. Just keep ignoring it. Maybe it'll go away? It could happen, couldn't it?

He touched my nose and then guided the handheld so that he could get a better look. "Okay… About 10 more meters, I figure. Any idea how deep?"

I lowered my focus to the handheld as Zell adjusted the collapsed shovels that hung on the back of his belt. "No. I'd have to change the monitoring program link with the satellite, and I didn't want to do that until we knew for certain we'd found the location."

"Okay. You're the boss."

We found the exact location and depth of the chest and then set to work. The satellite showed it as about 10 feet below the surface.

Very sweaty and dirty later, Zell threaded a rope through the side handle of the chest and then climbed up the same before helping me heave it out of the hole. Its dimensions were bigger than the other ones we'd found, making both Zell and me exchange hopeful glances before breaking the lock and hesitantly pushing the lid open.

"Oh my," I breathed.

"No doubt." Zell reached in and pulled out a handful of coins, rings, necklaces, and loose pearls. He looked up at me. "Do you have any idea how much this is worth?"

"Too much to even count," I said, voice hushed.

Zell absently nodded and then focused again on the chest. "Well… I guess we better get this back to Moon Spinner."

It took us about 45 minutes to get to Winhill. Then we loaded the chest into the rental car and headed out to Moor's Head. After struggling the heavy chest on board Moon Spinner, we left it on deck and went below to the galley to get the one we'd found the day before. When Zell checked his watch, he told me that Dr. Tahlson was due to come in about 40 minutes, which didn't give us much time to do much but strip down to our swimsuits and use the ocean to clean off the grime and sweat from our adventure.

Waiting for Dr. Tahlson to arrive, we laid close to one another on deck, bathing in the sun while enjoying the early afternoon brightness… together. I didn't think that word could be any more beautiful and satisfying then it had become these few days with Zell. The word's meaning had completely and totally changed from what I had known before. And I liked the change. Just focus on that then. Maybe you just need to get used to the… to the other thing? I had needed to 'get used to' being his girlfriend, so maybe…?

Zell adjusted his cheek against my upper chest, stroking my stomach with his thumb while his other hand carefully massaged the small of my back. I sighed and smoothed his hair with my hand, smiling up at the pale blue of the sky while enjoying the press of each breath he took. Throughout our relationship we'd been in positions like this before, prior to the near meltdown our first visit to Winhill, but this time felt so much… more.

I wish I could paint a better verbal picture, but I just don't know how to describe it.

Sighing again, I moved my hand from his hair to a soft raking motion of the skin of his back. "You comfortable enough?" I asked softly.

He nodded against me, his content release of breath giving me goose-pimples and a wider smile. Who would have known I would be like this with Zell Dincht? Who would have known he would be like this? At all? When I had first met him in person in the classroom at Balamb Garden, he had seemed all about becoming a SeeD. Training, studying, and doing what he could to try and pass the Field Exam.

When he had finally graduated at the age of 17, life had changed for him. Changed in a way few SeeDs experienced. Forced to mature in a matter of weeks, Zell had worked to save the world. My smile softened. I'm glad you had your friends with you, Zell. They had kept him safe for me. Making it possible for him to return so that I could keep stepping toward the future that I hadn't realized would be possible.

Actually, I hadn't realized that I had wanted it badly enough to fight my fear. But here I was: Married to Zell.

My smile faded a little as I focused again at the sky, my other hand teasing his hair with absent movements. Will I ever be completely done fighting off fear? It always seemed that the moment I had moved past one, another was waiting. The intimacy issue a prime example.

I sighed. There was no way to know. After all, I hadn't known I would have such a challenge with accepting the intimacy that came with marriage. I knew about the possibility of flinching away when he touched me, and being really embarrassed when seeing each other in the nude for the first time. But the problem with accepting how much I enjoyed being with Zell? No. I hadn't expected that.

But if I truly wanted a family, I had to face it. "Zell?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you want kids?"

Zell bolted upright and looked at me with wide eyes. "'scuse me?"

The ridiculous expression of shock on his face brought a giggle. "What?"

"Kids?" he repeated.

Nodding, I said, "Uh-huh. Do you want kids? Not right now, of course. You've got your position and I've got mine and then there's Winhill and that, but… Do you? Sometime after our careers have settled down a little?"

"Sure. I don't know how I'll do with babies and diapers and crap like that, but I get a kick outta playin' with the junior classmen." He grinned. "How come?"

"Well, I…" I reached up to tease the bottom of his tank-tee. "I'm just trying to figure what might be next." I sent him a quick peek. "And since we're married now… and we're going to Winhill soon, well, I thought that it might be nice to think about children," another peek, "and so I thought I should ask you how you liked them," another peek, and this time I noticed his expression had softened, giving me an internal swell and a flush of hot. "… what?" I asked with a self-conscious smile.

Then Zell went down to an elbow and caressed my lips with a finger. "I'm still trying to figure how to handle being married to the sexiest and smartest lady in the Network."

I shyly giggled an "Oh Zell," and gave his shoulder a gentle push.

He chuckled, gave me several soft and short kisses, and then resumed his previous position, this time wrapping his arms around me to hold me tight. "Winhill will be awesome for kids. There's a little school there, I think. One room, just like way-back-when. I guess there's only, like, six or seven kids altogether."

"It sounds wonderful," I admitted softly, returning to a stroke and play of his hair.

"No doubt. And with all the farms and ranches and stuff? And then finally a Security Section? It'll be great. Won't have to worry 'bout nothing. Practically."

"And kids should always have a safe place to live," I said, voice hushed in the euphoria of the possibility of a family with Zell.

He nodded against me, his arms tightening slightly. "So, yeah. If we stay in Winhill like I want… Yeah. We'll have kids. Boys. Girls. I don't care."

My expression softened, and I released a silent breath as I closed my eyes and envisioned blonde and brunette alike, playing in the front yard. Swinging on a swing-set in the back. Making mud pies. Going over to friends' houses… "As long as you're their father…"

Zell's chest rose and lowered in a deep breath as his lips tickled the skin of my upper chest with a soft kiss. "Man I love you, Sally."

My insides melted at that, ushering my complete self to an absolute adoration of this man: My husband. I lifted my head to press my lips against his hair and then looked again to the sky, softly stroking his back as he held me close against him, loving the feel of our hearts beating together. Adoring the feeling of his chest pressing against me as he took a breath, and mine against him with the same. Enjoying the tickle of his hair on my skin… It made the timid and shy woman I had been become an intense and passionate individual. I just had to 'get used to' her.

And to do that, I had to… I had to just let go.

"I love you, too, Zellander Hosia Dincht," I whispered. Completely.

Zell lifted his head, blue eyes twinkling as he smirked at me. "I told you no name-calling, Priscilla."

I smiled. "But I love your name. It sounds like… Like a historical General of legends."

He blinked. "No kidding?"

Shyly giggling, I shook my head. "No kidding."

"Sweet!" He grinned. "Okay. You can call me 'Zellander' whenever you want."

I laughed, tousling his hair with both hands as I said "Oh you silly."

Zell's grin widened. Then he kissed the skin of my collarbone and moved to a crouch, pulling me up to sit while holding my hands in his. "Doc's going to be here any second. You should short-up."

I nodded and accepted my white linen shorts from him. "Thank you. I would have forgotten."

"You wanna wear my tank? Or are you okay with just your swimsuit?"

I slipped into my shorts. "Well… I don't know." I looked over at him. "It's modest enough, isn't it? I mean, it isn't inappropriate?"

One side of Zell's lips twitched. "It's fine, bunny. It's up to you. If you'd rather wear something over it, it doesn't matter to me."

"Well…" I looked down at the swimsuit. It was the lavender one my mom had made before, so it was alright, but it didn't offer much in the way of… I shyly smiled as I lifted my gaze. Zell already held out his tank-tee. I giggled and accepted it. "Thank you."

"Sure."

I took a deep sniff of his shirt, flushed when I heard him chuckle, and then slipped it on over my head. Then I accepted his help to stand and followed him to the sides of the yacht. Sure enough, Dr. Tahlson's houseboat approached from the starboard side.

"What d'you think about the doc?"

I smiled and gave a wave in response to the doctor's. "I like him. He's smart but has a funny side." Looking to Zell, I noticed his lopsided smile as he watched me. "What?"

"I think you like everyone."

"So what if I do?"

Zell gathered me close and nibbled my neck, ignoring my protests and squeals of "Zell! The Doctor!"

After giving my neck one last kiss, he set me purposefully back and touched my nose. "We'll pick this up later."

I don't think I had ever giggled as silly as I did then.

***

Unfortunately, none of the items in the chests were anything more than very valuable trinkets. So, no runes or magical/physical protection to be offered. There was a magicite shard in the chest, however, and the signets and designs on the jewelry had Dr. Tahlson in a very happy mood. When asked, Dr. Tahlson didn't want to comment until he could be certain one way or the other.

"Suffice it to say that these are from a very… important dynasty."

Then he asked if he could take them to his houseboat so that he could do a more thorough examination and search via his uplink with the Foundation's database. Zell and I of course gave him permission, as we had been playing footsies the entire time he had spoken with us in the galley.

I'm afraid I didn't do a very good job of paying attention.

Zell invited him back later that evening for dinner, which Dr. Tahlson said he might forget in the midst of his research, and then Zell reluctantly withdrew his hand from my leg to help load the chest with the treasure onto his houseboat. I sent him an understanding smile and blew a kiss, which caused a grin and a wink just before he ducked out of the galley and made his way upstairs after the doctor.

I think I had always craved acceptance and tenderness while growing up, but I had always been too shy to look for it. Zell gave me all that on so many different levels, pressing past the shyness while taking things as they went, and me along with it. Accepting me. Doing his best to give me what I needed. Helping me change into the person I wanted to be while loving me for who I was. How a guy could understand me that much blew me away.

Making me want him more, and blowing the… guilt? to new levels.

I mean, what had happened to the modest and under-control person I had been? What had happened to the person who had rated her self by her intelligence and her personality and not how good she was in bed? I didn't know. All I knew was… I hadn't expected this.

I heard Zell's laugh, and then his call of "See ya later, doc!" Then I heard his recognizable step down the stairs as he whistled his favorite tune. Yep. 'Eyes on Me.' Jazzy.

When he came into the galley, he 'plopped' down beside me, hands still in the pockets of his denim shorts, and sent me a boyish smile. "Now what?"

Sally Dincht came up with several ideas before Sally Regal once more made her presence known. I looked away, not sure how to fight one over the other. So, I just shrugged while sending Zell a sidelong glance. You need to tell him. But how did I do that without dying of embarrassment?

Zell pulled his hands from his pockets before facing me. "Sally? Is something bugging you?"

Come on. Now's your chance. Tell him. "Um… Well…" But how did I say 'Zell, all I can think about is how to get you to touch me like you did before. But I'm afraid that makes me look like a freak.' Yeah right!

"Did I do something?"

That made me sharply look up. "No, Zell," I said quickly. "Why would you think you'd done something?"

"I don't know. It's just…" He rested a hand on my thigh, causing a swell within. "Are you sure you're okay? You can talk to me about it. Whatever 'it' is. Swear."

How can I talk to him about it when he'll blame himself? I forced a smile and brushed some hair from his cheek. "You're just too cute for words. That's all." Then I pulled him into a hug. It wasn't his fault. I just had to get used to being married. "That's all."

I was married.

I was.

Zell's arms tightened around me before he pushed back and intensely watched my expression. "Are you sure, Sally? I'm not playing. Really. You can tell me anything."

"I'm alright," I told him again, keeping the smile in place by thinking of all the happy times we had shared over our relationship. Visualizing them. Holding them as close as I could to keep the fear from showing in my eyes… The more I thought of them, the less power the fear had and the more genuine my smile felt. I even found myself sighing and saying, "You are so handsome."

Zell's ears and face went red as he sent me his usual boyish smile. "I am?"

I softly giggled as I nodded, trying to look serious as I put my fists on my hips. "Don't sound like you don't know it, Mr. Dincht. You use it to the best of your ability, and you know you do!"

He had me wrapped around his little finger.

"Tch! Whatever. You're the one that's got Seifer wrapped."

My mouth dropped open a fraction of a second before I complained, "I do not," and gave him a firm shove.

You guessed it. Zell shoved back, and next thing I knew we were tussling and wrestling on the couch with squeals and giggles and chuckles while protesting when the other found a weak spot and used it to its full potential. It was so much fun, even though I was laughing so hard I was crying. And, to my surprise, the firm contact and the exertion didn't invite the strong desire.

I was too busy defending my ticklish spot on my side.

But soon after that the wrestling slowed and ceased, the contact softening into more of an exchange of kisses, strokes, and caresses. The simpleness of it made me warm all over, still inviting a desire for a deeper connection, but for some reason the fear and guilt for enjoying it so much didn't rise as powerfully as before. We just laid along the couch, fully clothed, and enjoyed 'making out'.

We hadn't been able to really relax and do something like this since Winhill. And to not have the sirens and flags and restraints hitting us over the head was… amazing. The freedom was… It was wonderful.

Not even 'Sally Regal' could complain.

Zell pulled very slowly back from a particularly enjoyable kiss to whisper, "…booya…"

I couldn't even giggle I was so overwhelmed with everything. I only released a deep breath and nodded. There was no way I could speak. Not and make sense.

He kissed me again, this time along the cheek, and then nibbled at my ear as his hands worked at the small of my back. "…relax…" he directed in a hushed voice.

I hadn't even realized I was tense, but then I felt the release and couldn't help but moan with relief. Those tension knots could hurt. I was only so used to them, and had such a high tolerance for pain, that I didn't realize they were there until they were huge.

Zell pressed his lips against my temple and then adjusted his arms around me the same time he adjusted his position so that he lie on his back and I was nestled somewhat against his side. He continued to tenderly stroke my back along my spine, occasionally pausing at the base.

When I opened my eyes, he was smiling at me, his other hand behind his head. "Hi."

I relaxed into my smile, feeling another release just before the whole body shiver.

"Whoa. That was a biggie." Zell chuckled, adjusting his hand behind his head. "I haven't had a release like that in a while."

Letting out a content breath, I rested my cheek against his chest (my favorite position). "It feels wonderful," I groggily admitted.

Zell's hands continued to gently work along my spine. "I wonder if it's the bed. I forgot to check it." He kissed my head. "I guess I don't make a good pillow after all."

Sighing again, I mumbled, "You make the best pillow. My back just wants to try and ruin my honeymoon. I'm not pampering it anymore, and now it's pouting." I had noticed a growing pain since… I flushed and bit my lip. Oh no!

"Sally, you just tightened up back here. What's up, girl?"

But there was no way I could tell him that being intimate might have been causing back problems. He would've felt guilty! And I wanted him to enjoy it as much as I did– I nearly slapped a hand over my mouth. Instead, I squeezed my eyes shut tight.

"There it is again." Zell once more adjusted his position, this time sitting up and helping me do the same. "Sally? What's going on?"

I flushed furiously as I sent him a smile and slightly shook my head. "Nothing." Stop lying! "I was just trying to figure out the best way of fully testing a new bed before buying it without shocking the sales clerk." Sally! Just tell him!

Zell howled, causing a wider smile as I watched his boyishly handsome face with his kind of wild hair from where I'd toyed with it with my fingers… I shoved the guilt in a box and drew him closer with my arms around his neck. "Come here, sweetie. We weren't done."

"…yes, ma'am," his mouth whispered against mine, his arms surrounding me while his hands continued to massage my lower back. The simple action held such thought and care to my comfort that, if wanting him hadn't been blissfully major before, it certainly was now.