Chapter 8
Reese shifted his body in bed and pulled the covers over his head as his dreams intensified. He had dreamed that he and Leah had made love several times, and that she had taken control of their joining. His body felt hard at the thought, and in sleep, he grabbed the extra pillow in the bed and sank his face into it.
His eyes flew open when he inhaled the scent. Leah’s scent. He jerked up in bed and glanced around, suddenly realizing it hadn’t been a dream. He and Leah had actually made love in this very bed. And now she was gone.
Hell!
Jumping out of bed, he slipped into his pajama bottoms, wondering where to search for Leah first. He was worried that last night’s activities would cause a setback. And they’d come so far. He had to find her, apologize for losing control, and —
“Going to a fire, Reese?”
He jerked around. She was standing in the doorway holding folded laundry in her hands. And she looked…at peace. He blinked. Hoping it wasn’t his mind playing tricks on him, he inhaled deeply and slowly walked over to her, stopping in front of her. Searching her face, he asked softly, “You okay, baby?”
She nodded as a small smile touched her lips. “Yes, Reese, I’m fine. I washed my clothes earlier and thought I would dry them while you were…”
“Forget about the clothes, Leah. How do you feel?” he asked with deep concern in his voice. She glanced at the floor before lifting her head to meet his gaze again. Then, to his surprise, the corners of her lips tilted into a smile. “Mainly sore.”
He was startled by her words for a quick moment, and then he released a relieved sigh before taking a step closer to her. “You wanted it,” he said in a low, husky voice, not taking his eyes off her as he thought back to the glorious way she’d made love to him.
He watched as her smile widened. “Yes, and if I recall correctly, I even took it. The nerve of me being so bold.”
He grinned. “Yes, the nerve of you.”
Moments later, the amusement vanished and was replaced with concern. “Other than being sore, how do you feel, Leah?”
This time it was Leah who took a step forward. “Other than sore, I feel wonderful. Reborn. Rejuvenated. I feel like a woman who has been given her life back, Reese. I had to be shocked into it, I guess. The thought of losing you, not sharing my love for you in a physical way again, made me forget about Neil and what he’d done to me. Suddenly, I realized that what is important is moving ahead with you, sharing my love and my life with you, for better or for worse. Good times and bad. I love you. I want to marry you. I want to have your babies. And--” she said softer, “I want to get your family together and tell them what happened. I couldn’t stand it if they opposed our marriage.”
He took the clothes from her hand, placed them aside, and gathered her into his arms. “You don’t have to tell them anything, Leah. All they need to know is that I love you.”
“But I want to tell them. I have to. Your mother and brother deserve to know the truth. And I want them to know what a wonderful man you are to have stuck by me for these six months and to have gotten me through some pretty difficult times. You are truly a special man, Reese Singleton.”
And then she was on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with all the intensity of a woman in love. Reese swept her up and carried her to the bed. A quiver of love and happiness flowed through her because she knew that, once again, she would receive sexual healing in the purest form in the arms of the man she loved.