Ten minutes in the bathroom served to take care of her pre-bedtime ablutions and restore her equilibrium. Stepping back into the bedroom she took a deep breath and shrugged her wrap off onto the nearest chair. Then she turned to pull back the covers on the bed – only to nearly collide with a large male body. Robert, watch it! "What are you doing?"
"Getting into bed." He hesitated. "Uh, you did say –"
"Yes," she reiterated firmly, wanting there to be no mistake about it. I did. "But this is my side."
"What do you mean, your side? I've always slept on the left side."
What? "No, you haven't," she protested. "This has always been my side. You've slept over there." Don't tell me you've forgotten. I won't believe you. She looked down at the piece of furniture. "Besides, this is the right side."
He glared at her. "No, it isn't. This is the left side –" he pointed to the side nearest to himself – "and that's the right."
"Don't be ridiculous," she shot back. Look, I'll explain it to you very simply. "When you stand at the foot of the bed, the side by your left hand is the left side and the other side's the right."
"But that's not how you do it," he contradicted. "You stand at the head of the bed…well, not 'stand' exactly – but maybe kneel down, or sit, kind of, and face the foot of the bed and then that's the left – what?"
He broke off as Anna began to dissolve into silent laughter. I can't believe we're arguing about this. We're about to sleep together for the first time in years and we're arguing over which side of the bed is which. She stood, one hand held to her mouth, shaking helplessly at the sheer, wonderful absurdity of it all.
"Oh, Robert," she gasped out at last, "I'm so glad you're back."
A reluctant grin tugged at his lips. "You are?"
She reached forward and wrapped her arms snugly around his waist. "Oh yes."
He cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand, tilting her head up toward his and stroking his thumb along her bottom lip. Her lips parted in anticipation as his mouth brushed against hers with such infinite tenderness that it brought tears springing to her eyes.
Anna slid her hands along the broad muscles of his back, pulling him into an even tighter embrace as their lips meshed and moved together with a synchrony like the sudden recollection of a half-forgotten melody, sending a shiver down her spine. Her tongue traced the roof of his mouth as she once more savored the taste of him, drawing out the kiss for as long as she could. She drew back slowly, lingering, fingers brushing the fine hairs at the nape of his neck as she smiled with love into his clear blue eyes.
His answering smile was warm and gentle, melting over her as he took her in, as he seemed to stare down into her very soul and caress it with his soft, steady gaze. "Me too."