“How was house hunting with Simon last night?” Charity turned over in bed toward her bleary-eyed husband.

“You know Simon.” Elijah rubbed his eyes and face. “He talked more than looking at properties.” After a long yawn, he added, “I think we’re going to hit the links some evening this week if our schedules match up.”

“Elijah, I…Yeah it’s fine.” She looked over at her barely clothed husband. He was the perfect specimen from head to toe. He oozed sexuality and she would be naïve to think she was the only one who noticed.

He pulled her in by her oversized cotton t-shirt for a good morning kiss. She returned his affection but Elijah knew her well enough to realize that something was wrong. “Jamie hasn’t stirred yet and Mom is at your dad’s house. What’s up, Charity?”

“Nothing’s up.” How did she tell him she was wondering what he was up to? It sounded silly if she said the words out loud.

A single eyebrow rose on Elijah’s handsome face. “That was a sisterly kiss and you wear a t-shirt when you’re pissed off. You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“I’m not.” She stared at him, wondering why he’d said it like it might be a bad thing. “What if I were?”

“We haven’t really talked about it, but I’d be more than happy to have another little one running around,” Elijah said. He cradled her chin to look directly into her eyes. “Jamie’s already two. It’d be nice to have someone for her to play with.”

“How can we manage another baby? You’re busy enough.” Charity bit her tongue to stop the comment about Elijah and Simon hanging out together all the time now.

“You married a surgeon.” He sat up and stared at her. “You know what the life of a doctor is like. You’ve walked in my shoes. I wish I could spend more time at home with you and Jamie. That’s why I hired Sara at the office. You don’t need to be working. We don’t need the money.”

“So now you want me to quit my job?” She couldn’t believe he was implying that. She slammed her pillow against the headboard and leaned against it. If he wanted a fight, he was going to get one.

“I never said to quit your job. I just meant, if you feel it’s too busy. Or if you wanted another baby, then you could spend time at home without stressing about making money for some hospital.”

“You make it sound trivial!” she snapped. “Because I’m not saving lives on the operating table my job is less important?”

“I didn’t say that!”

“You didn’t have to. I hear you loud and clear.”

He looked at her like she was crazy. “Why are you mad? You just said a minute ago you weren’t.”

“I’m not!” She stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him.

“Charity.”

The single word carried so much emotion in it, she couldn’t stop herself from looking into her husband’s eyes. Elijah looked so sad, and confused. Perhaps she had been wrong. She leaned forward and ripped off her white t-shirt, which acted like a security blanket, and jumped on top of her husband. She had so much tension built up inside of her, and it wasn’t fair to take it out on Elijah.

Elijah leaned forward, his lips close to Charity’s ear. His scruffy cheek rubbed against her smooth skin. “I’m suddenly very horny.”

“Really?” she whispered back, giggling. She attempted to pull away but Elijah moved so she ended up under him, his muscular body hovering inches away from hers. Her breath caught and her heart sped as it beat fast against her chest.

Elijah let his hot breath move from her ear down her neck, trailing soft tickles as his lips pressed against the crook of her neck and onto her bare shoulder.

Charity moaned.

Elijah pulled his lips away from her skin and cool air replaced them, leaving goosebumps on her skin. He moved his head so she had to stare into his hungry eyes. He slowly brought his mouth against hers, dragging his tongue across her bottom lip.

She parted her lips, wanting to taste him. Elijah thrust his tongue into her mouth and groaned, pulling her hand to his chest and his fingers found their way into her hair and curled into a fist. She slid her other hand against the warm skin of his chest and ran her fingernails lightly down. She moaned again when Elijah pressed his naked body against hers, needing to get closer.

Elijah’s lips moved away from her mouth and his tongue swirled over her hardening nipple. He moved to the other breast and down over her ribs, along the center of her tight stomach towards her inner thigh. She bit her lower lip when he licked her exactly where she was silently begging to be touched.

“Fuck,” she mumbled when his fingers dipped inside her as he licked. She felt dizzy as her hips rose and rotated against him, powerless to do anything but focus on his touch. She clenched her jaw as she came, surprised at how quickly it had happened.

Elijah moved above her and timing it just right, he entered her deeply just as his lips connected with hers again. He pressed his body tightly against her, thrusting his hips in and out, the pace frantic and exotic at the same time.

Charity gasped, her hips lifting to meet each thrust, her hands rubbing his abs, his back, his derriere. She felt herself getting close to coming again and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, digging her heels into the small of his back to push him harder against her. Her body began to clamp around Elijah.

He thrust harder, his chest heaving as his breath came out in hot gasps. They were both covered in sweat, the beads of moisture sliding down his bare chest and falling onto hers. Charity tightened as she came again, primitive sounds escaped her lips. Elijah groaned deep from within his chest, thrusting hard inside of her as he convulsed and shivered on top of her.

“Sexy woman,” Elijah panted and grinned wickedly. “Any time you wanna take your aggressions out on someone, you know where to find me.” He tucked his hands behind his head and grinned as he lay naked and spent beside her. “What’s on your agenda for the day, after this amazing moment?”

Charity grinned and stretched like a feline cat. “Morning with Jamie and then I have a meeting with Hal Jaworski. We’re eating lunch at Judith’s so I’ll have to wear my power suit.”

“Not with that low-cut silk blouse you pair it with. Hal Jaworski has quite the reputation,” Elijah joked as he tried pulling her back toward him. “Another round to get out your aggression?”

“Hands off.” She laughed. “I have Mommy-duty.” She twirled as she reached for his white shirt she’d worn to bed and slipped it on. She felt ridiculously happy. They’d almost had a stupid fight, but whatever the issue was, it hadn’t been important.

“Mm.” He nodded as he watched her. “You’re one sexy mommy.”

Charity blew him a kiss as she left the room to scoop up Jamie. Elijah wasn’t hiding anything. Julie’s crazy hours must have caused her to get her signals crossed with Simon. Trust was the bedrock of their relationship and she decided to believe it was strong.