Page 91 of The Formation of Us

“Come here,” he said, drawing her into his arms. “I’ve missed you in our bed. But if you’re still feeling poorly, we can wait another night.”

“I don’t want to wait.”

“Are you sure? Your eyes are dark.”

“I’m fine. I’m just worn out from sitting up with Cora.”

“I’ll make you feel better.” He held her against his chest and rubbed his hands over her back, kneading her tight muscles with his warm fingers.

“Mmm . . . I like your doctoring.”

“I’ll take care of you,” he said, massaging her neck.

“My muscles thank you.”

He chuckled and worked his fingers along her shoulders, in the way she’d done to him so many times. “What made you want to learn about the body and herbs and all those concoctions you make?” he asked.

Desperation. Loneliness. “I tended my mother’s roses with her and discovered I liked growing things. When I realized that some medicines were made from plants and trees, I wanted to learn about them, and that fed my curiosity about anatomy.”

“I’ve developed a curiosity about anatomy too.” He palmed her stomach. “I don’t know what muscles I’m feeling, but I like when they tense up like they’re doing now.”

“That’s my abdominis muscle, which will probably be stretched six ways from Sunday when I carry our first child.”

“You’ll be beautiful, but let’s hold off a while. I like sneaking away with you in the middle of the night.”

“I like it too.”

He reached around behind her and filled his hands with her backside. “I’m particularly fond of these muscles.”

“My gluteus maximus is flattered.”

He wrinkled his nose. “That’s an awful name for something so lovely.” She laughed, and he lowered his mouth to nibble her neck. “Last chance to escape if you’re not feeling up to this, be-cause if you don’t run from the room right now, I’m going to kiss you and make love to you all night.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“You’re sure then?”

“More than sure. But I could use some help with my dress. There are thirty buttons on this thing.”

“I’m in no rush.” Slowly, he slipped open the long line of buttons down the front of her dress then pushed it off her shoulders. “You know what I thought the first time I saw you?”

“Nothing. Your mind was blank because you were stunned by my beauty”

He pulled back, eyes wide in mock surprise. “You knew?”

She laughed and nudged his ribs. “What did you think?”

“That you shouldn’t be sad. That your whiskey-colored eyes should shine with happiness, that your beautiful lips should always wear a smile.”

He’d thought all that? She smoothed her palms over his broad chest, touched by his tenderness. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Being with you is . . . it’s I don’t know, I just feel complete in a way I’ve never known.”

“You won’t want for anything if I can help it.”

“Neither will you. If I could give you your heart’s desire, I would.”

“You have, Faith. Your gorgeous body. Your smile. You. My heart’s desire. Simple as that.”

“That’s all you want?”