10
"Spooning,” said Zandra in her croaky, first words of the day. “That has to be the best word ever invented.” Zandra moved her whole body ever so slightly just to feel her husband's body wrapped around her and the softness of the sheets and the perfect feel of her bed that morning.
“Mm," said Emmett tightening up around her and bringing the entire front of his body into perfect contact with the entire back of her body, not to mention the arm he had wrapped around her middle. They fit together so perfectly.
"You know what's crazy?” said Zandra. “We could flip around and we would still fit together like we were made for each other.”
“Mm,” repeated Emmett.
"Thanks for sleeping in with me this morning.” The clock on the nightstand read 8:45. Zandra couldn't remember the last time they had stayed in bed together that late.
"I think we're going to be just fine,” whispered Emmett as he kissed her ear.
"This is a start,” said Zandra. “A heavenly start. Remember, by dinner tonight, three things that we're going to change. And that's from each of us. I already know one of the things I want. "
Emmett sighed. "Fine. I'll let you have your way with me every single night, even after my long, long work days. I'm willing to sacrifice.”
Zandra wanted to elbow him playfully, but she wasn't sure she was comfortable with him being so casual about intimacy so soon after what happened yesterday. But they did have to move on.
"Well it does involve a sleepover,” she said.
"I like where this is heading,” said Emmett as he shifted by millimeters around her, recharging all the nerve endings in her body. Zandra wished they could stay like that for hours.
"My car. Your truck. Every night in the garage."
"Sounds risqué.”
“Well, they are married by association so it's okay.”
“Hey,” said Emmett in that low husky voice that sent chills all through her. "We’re married, too.”
"That's right, we are. We're also almost late for an appointment.” Zandra flipped around and planted a kiss on Emmett then escaped from the most comfortable prison imaginable. “Get dressed. Unless you're going to meet the dog coach in your underwear.”
"Maybe I'll go out there naked and roll around with the dogs and bite their neck and show them who's boss. Pack style.”
Emmett kept his eyes on her as she jumped into a pair of pants and grabbed a comfy shirt from the closet. Physical attraction had never been a problem between them, thank goodness. Yeah, Zandra didn't have the perfect body like She Who Must Not Be Thought Of, but really, who did?
"I told you, he wasn't like that at all. Totally laid back and just watching and observing. He's more like a dog psychic or psychologist than a dog whisperer.” She was glad Emmett would be there for today’s appointment.
Emmett groaned as he rolled out of bed and stretched. It was Zandra's turn to admire. It had been years since Emmett had done the actual installation of counters or lugging the heavy slabs around, but he spent time at the gym more days than not and it definitely showed. He was also rather fastidious about his hygiene, keeping his hair just the right length, and manscaping his chest hair. She loved how it accentuated his large chest muscles but didn't hide anything or make him look like a bear. He didn't really have a six pack, but you could see some muscle in his abs, and he had that tapering from torso to waist that made it nearly impossible to resist going over to him and wrapping her arms around.
Emmett caught her staring and made his pec muscles bounce one at a time.
“Ooh!” said Zandra.
"You like that, huh?" He lifted both arms and flexed his biceps.
"I like that even more. How did I get so lucky to marry the studliest guy on the planet?"
He straightened his arms and brought them forward in front of him to display his triceps. "Just lucky I guess.”
He really could be an underwear model. Zandra grabbed one of his shirts off the shelf and threw it at him. “Put some clothes on, Mr. Universe. I'm going to get a breakfast plan going until the guy gets here.”
Zandra went to the kitchen and pulled open the fridge and freezer doors. They so rarely ate a formal breakfast together that she didn't have anything planned.
"Hello there, eggs Benedict.” She pulled the eggs out of the fridge and some hash browns out of the freezer and set them on the counter then heard the deep roof of Fiyero announcing someone's arrival. That dog had a particular bark for every situation and the doorbell bark, as Zandra called it, was one that echoed through the garage and let anyone on the other side of the door know they better just turn around and leave if they weren't welcome on the property by the human.
“He's here,” called Zandra.
Emmett came out of the hallway brushing his hair with his fingers and said, "I heard the doorbell. Felt it actually. Do you remember when Pastor Jack talked about bringing down the walls of Jericho? It was a couple weeks ago in his sermon. If they would've had a couple of Fiyeros they could've done it in one pass around the city instead of seven. I wonder if I need to call out a structural engineer to see if that bark is doing damage to this house.”
“A couple weeks ago? That was at least four months ago.” She followed him toward the front door.
“Well, a couple weeks in my time. Been so busy bringing home enough food to feed those monsters. You know that a lot of my clientele is only available on the weekends.”
Zandra hugged him from behind, finally getting that feel of his firm tapered midsection that she wanted. "I love how you take care of us. You really are a hard worker. I got to warn you, number two on my list … I want you to be in church with me at least twice a month. No, actually I need it.”
She couldn't see his face, and wasn't sure if she wanted to or not.
At the front door, Emmett turned to face her and took her into his arms. "If that's what you want, what you need, I can make it happen.”
Zandra squeezed him tighter, her head buried against his muscular chest. Things were absolutely going to get right again. They'd be better than ever. She’d been right to give him another chance instead of lighting all his stuff on fire.
Emmett released her, taking her by the shoulders and looking down at her, said, "Of course, that doesn't apply to football season.” He turned and walked out the front door.
Zandra wanted to kick him playfully in the butt but he was already out of reach.
"I can do all things,” she reminded herself and followed him out.