Chapter 7
STACY
Watching Helen comfort Harry in their sleep tugged at Stacy's heartstrings. It had already been a difficult two weeks and Stacy wished she could fast forward to where Harry was up and running again.
Treatment was working, the doctors declared. While it eased Stacy's heart to hear the good news she was still a frayed mess.
“Go, sweetie,” Eleanor pushed at Stacy, “they'll be fine. I promise. They've stayed with us on numerous occasions and the nurse is a button away.”
Frank and Eleanor had declared it was their weekend to babysit. That Stacy and Travis– Echo– needed a break.
Stacy was still trying to wrap her head around Travis' name as Echo. So many people from his club had shown up. Bringing food, toys, games; offering reprieves and adult conversation while the twins slept. It was nice, while strange and surreal, to meet so many of Travis' family in a hospital setting.
Travis was currently pulling on her arm, while Eleanor pushed her shoulders.
“Go take a break. Take a long hot bath. Eat a fancy meal. Get a full night's sleep. We will call you if it's an emergency but you won't hear from us. These kids are troopers. We've got this,” Eleanor assured Stacy as she nodded and left her heart in the room.
“I've got a surprise. If you're up for it,” Travis said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her to the main door.
“What?” She didn't mean to sound so exasperated, but the month was catching up to her.
“It's a nice night out for a walk,” he turned on the sidewalk, linked their hands and started off. Stacy didn't care where they went. It was a nice night, and she desperately needed fresh air.
Inhaling, she leaned her head on his arm, and she was reminded once again of how much muscle he had put on since they had met.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I've got you, baby.”
They walked in silence as he led her through the streets and into the entrance of a towering hotel. After checking in, Stacy's eyes wide the entire time, he guided her to a gorgeously expensive room.
“I'll start the bath. Robe is all yours. Everything will be taken care of. Do you want room service, or to go to the restaurant here?” He asked as he headed for the garden style tub in the spacious bathroom.
“Travis, I cannot accept all this.”
He snorted. “Tough cookies, it's already paid for. The club pitched in. The Old Ladies do that sort of thing for families all the time.” Bath running, he added what looked like lavender bubbles and soap going by the purple container. “Hop in. I'll order a variety and it'll be ready when you get out.”
“What about you?”
“I'll take a shower after we eat.” As he passed by, he kissed her temple. He always kissed her temple, her forehead, her cheek. Snuggles in uncomfortable chairs, soothing back rubs, hidden hugs while she cried in a dark corner.
Ensconced in the bathroom, the lovely scent of lavender filling the air and her scenes, Stacy disrobed and stepped into the bath. Instant euphoria infused her sore muscles and psyche.
Keeping her hair out of the tub as much as she could, Stacy relaxed as the warmth seeped into her pores. The longer she relaxed, her mind circled through all scenarios, past, present, and future, good and bad.
Trying to calm her mind, another part of her began to wake up. A part she thought long dormant. Did she want to act on it? She had learned that taking care of herself through these trying times was better for everyone involved. However, did that mean sexually too?
Travis seemed to want her as she was, extra curves to her middle and all. If she crashed and burned with her own husband she'd never recover, yet she wanted to try.
ECHO
Echo's plan to woo his wife had been difficult, if not a little slow. The plan to get Stacy completely out of the hospital, and longer than just a quick run home, had been easy to set up.
The full plan was to spend the night at a luxury hotel and then go spend time at the club lodge tomorrow evening. Then coming back to the hospital Sunday refreshed and ready for another week.
The doctors were optimistic that Harry could go home for a few days. Being a family in a hospital room wasn't the best opportunity to form bonds, however they were making it work.
With room service ordered– specialty platters, desert, all the trimmings– Echo sat on the bed and waited for Stacy to enjoy her bath. He wanted nothing more than to join her, he really wanted to. Just to hold her, wash her, care for her. To prove his love for her was still alive. Yet he held back from the crushing desire. It would take time for them to get back to the fun loving couple they once had been.
Rubbing his palms on his jean covered thighs, Echo waited. Reminiscing was his new favorite pastime while the twins were sleeping. Of the day he met Stacy. How he damn near lost his mind when she smiled at him.
Stacy was so sexy and talented up on that Vegas stage. Fuck, if he closed his eyes he could still see her shake and shimmy on stage in her sequined skimpy dress.
When the girls had gone out into the crowd, Echo tried his hardest to get her attention. And once he had it, he wasn't letting go.
The hot Vegas air had made picnics seem impossible, but they had managed. Walking the Vegas strip with her had been fun. Her laughs and smiles at his silliness with winning T-shirts, and free drinks, beaded necklaces and other various prizes, made it all worth it.
By the end of the first night, they had ended up in her tiny apartment room with fancy shirts, oversized top hats, and funky glasses to go with the beaded necklaces.
Echo had fallen head over heels in love with her that first moment, that first day. And he had spent longer than he intended to in one city. He hadn't cared though, only wanting Stacy.
Echo shared anything and everything he could about himself, learning just as much about Stacy. And when Echo had learned she didn't have a family, well, he could wait to share his with her.
Yet why hadn't he?
What in his mind had possessed him to selfishly keep her to himself? The answer was in the question. He was selfish and wanted to keep to himself. But his club had never done any wrong.
Before he could elaborate further, room service arrived and Echo set it up as he waited for Stacy. Damn, he forgot to grab flowers. Flowers were always a nice touch.
A grin lifted his lips, he had gotten two dozen roses worth of real petals when he had asked her to marry him. They had made love on the petal covered bed when she had said yes. He remembered using some petals to rub on her body as he kissed and touched her all over.
Echo gritted his teeth and ran his palm down his erection through his jeans. He needed to be good.
And that didn't help him one bit when he turned at the sound of the bathroom door and saw Stacy standing there in nothing but a tiny towel around her body.
His feet moved before his brain came online, stopping just before his beautiful wife.
“Travis,” she whispered, “make me forget. Make me feel like a woman for a little bit. I know that sounds wrong and awful, but–” He cut her off with a finger to her lips.
“I get it. I do. We need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of the kids.”
She dropped the towel and his hands reached for her. “Love me, Travis.”
“I do. I do so much,” he growled out as he twisted his arms around her and pulled her close for a soul crushing kiss. His wife needed him, and he'd be damned if he didn't follow through.