A Love Like This by Kahlen Aymes Page A

you.”
    I got up off of his lap and pulled up the
leggings and retrieved the sweater from the floor and quickly got
redressed while he adjusted his clothes and checked for telltale
wet spots.
    I laughed softly as I watched him. “Don’t
worry; I think I got most of the glop.”
    “Do I smell like sex?” he asked, a grin
spreading out on his face.
    I leaned in and sniffed. “Nope.”
    “You can’t tell because it’s on you too,
silly.” He gathered me up and lifted me off the floor so he could
kiss me hard on the mouth. “Thank you for coming to see
me.”
    I giggled and kissed him back.
     
    *****
     
    The sun was coming up when I heard the door
open. Finally, Ryan was home. I had showered and tried to sleep but
all I could do was lay awake and wait for him, reliving the
glorious half hour in the doctor’s lounge. I pretended to sleep so
that he would shower and climb into bed with the intention to sleep
and not make love.
    He didn’t take long and was soon sliding his
muscled, naked self in bed behind me. He curled up next to me and
pulled me back against him. I was naked as well and he murmured a
soft sigh. His strong hand closed around my forearm and his face
settled in the curve of my neck.
    “I know you’re awake, Julia. You aren’t
breathing hard enough to be sleeping. You can’t fake me out,” he
whispered.
    “I guess next time I’ll breathe heavier,
then.”
    “Jesus, I’m tired,” he sighed against
me.
    I felt content. Safe. Whole.
    “I know.” I looked over my shoulder toward
him. “Sleep, my love.”
    “You feel so good against me like this. My
whole world exists right here in this bed.”
    My hand traced over his forearm that was
wrapped around me. Over and over I lightly traced his warm skin,
the muscles and sinew strong beneath my fingers “It’s nice to have
you home. You work too hard.”
    “I’m sorry you have to work tomorrow,
sweets. It’s too bad we can’t goof off all day, but thank you for
asking me to come along. Can I ask for something?”
    “Anything.”
    “Will you make lemon muffins for breakfast?
Before my day shift?”
    I smiled and pulled his hand up to kiss it,
dragging my mouth over it lightly. I loved this man so much. I’d
give him the world and all he wanted was lemon muffins. “Of course.
Anything you want.”
    “I knew you would. I don’t care about
anything else. Take my job. Take it all. I just want you. I want to
hold you forever and never let go,” his voice was starting to slur
as he drifted quickly to sleep.
    I snuggled in closer and breathed in his
breath as my eyes closed. “Okay, then don’t. Don’t let go.”

 
     
     
    ~4~
     

    “I’m sorry, babe,” I said in hushed tones.
“I’m gonna miss my flight. It can’t be helped.”
    Ellie was crying in the other room, her
relationship with Harris in shambles. It was impossible to leave
L.A. and head back to New York as I’d planned.
    Ryan sighed heavily on the other end of the
line. I could picture the disappointment on his handsome face.
    “Julia, the timing sucks!” he said
harshly.
    I flushed guiltily. Ryan had been monitoring
the most optimal time to conceive even more diligently than I had,
and he’d only agreed to my impromptu trip to L.A. on the
understanding I’d be home in time for the weekend. It was rare he
had two days off in a row and we’d both looked forward to a weekend
sequestered in bed in our quest to make a baby. But mostly, to just
soak each other up.
    “I know!” I said adamantly then lowered my
voice. “I’m disappointed, too. I’m sorry! But Ellie’s a mess,
Ryan.” I cringed when my friend burst into a fresh bout of sobbing
in the other room. Surely Ryan could hear her wailing. “She’s
devastated. Harris broke up with her last night. I just can’t leave
right now.”
    “Christ! Why now? I can’t get a fucking break!” Ryan’s tone became harder. “I knew this was
coming! She brought this on herself.”
    “She’s my best friend! I can’t