Page 104 of Hope After Loss

He finds my opening and starts pumping one finger in and out, curling it inside me and hitting that spot that drives me wild.

I brace my elbows against the shower and start riding his hand until I explode.

He holds me while my body quakes, and my own release causes my legs to buckle.

When the last tremble shoots through me, I go limp in his arms, my energy completely zapped. He keeps one arm around me while he turns off the water. Then, he guides me out onto the bath mat, dries me with one of the soft, large bath towels, and then wraps me in the luxurious robe that was hanging on the back of the door.

He leads me to the bed before toweling himself off, and I curl into a ball.

As I drift off to sleep, I feel him climb in beside me and pull the comforter over us.

Anna

The rest of the weekend goes by in a blur. Every day is busier than the next. As wonderful as Asheville is, by the time we get to Sunday, I’m more than ready to get back to Balsam Ridge and Kaela.

Weston drives me home and insists on helping me get my bags inside.

“I can carry them,” I tell him.

“I know, but I want to. Besides, I want to see Baby Duck for a minute.”

The porch light clicks on as we make our way to the steps, and my mother opens the front door.

“Hi, Mom,” I say and kiss her cheek as she holds open the storm door.

“Hi, baby. How was the trip?”

“Exhausting,” I reply.

Sheila is standing in the living room, holding Kaela, who reaches out for me and starts crying, “Ma-ma, ma-ma,” over and over.

I take her into my arms and squeeze her tightly as Weston slips by and heads to my room with my suitcases.

“Hi, baby. I missed you too.”

I pepper her face with kisses, and she slings her head back and blows a raspberry.

When Weston returns, she spots him and tries to jump down.

“Come here, Baby Duck.”

He opens his arms wide, and she leaps from me to him.

Weston starts spinning her around, and she belly laughs.

When he stops, she brings her hand up to grab at his nose, and he nips at it.

More laughter.

A throat clears, and we look over to Mom, who is watching us.

Weston kisses Kaela’s forehead and hands her back to me. Then, he leans over and kisses my cheek.

“I’ll see you guys at the office on Wednesday. I think you’ve earned a couple of days off to spend with your mothers,” he says.

“Okay.”

Mom follows him to the door.