“I haven’t been hungry.”
“I know, sweetheart. But you have to try. You always do this when you’re stressed, but your body is trying to heal. It needs nourishment.”
She sighed, her hands coming up to rest on her hips. “Well, it does smell good.”
“Good. It’s got to go for another forty-five minutes or so. I’m going to run you that bath. I’ve already got your favorite pajamas in there and that ridiculous towel you like to use for your hair.”
Her eyes went wide and shot down the hall. “Stone, no… I…”
“In the guest bathroom,” he whispered, and the relief on her face was instant.
Stone wasn’t sure she was avoiding the bathroom attached to their bedroom until that very moment. He hadn’t meant for the gesture to also be a test, but it was getting harder and harder to write off her avoidance of using the space as coincidental. Mae left the bedroom every morning with her work clothes in her hands, and came back dressed and freshly showered.
“Thank you.”
He nodded. “I’ll bring in that lavender salt scrub stuff you like.”
Mae bit her bottom lip. “Oh, could…”
“What? Name it.”
“I’ve missed using your soap the last few days.”
Stone laughed. “So, you’re finally admitting that you are the soap thief?”
Her smile nearly blinded him. “Never. But I will admit that I miss smelling like you. So maybe you could get the soap for me and join me in my bath? And then we can eat our fill of lasagna and cuddle. I think that sounds like the perfect way to spend our night.”
She stepped away, heading to the guest bathroom while Stone walked to grab his body wash. When he got to the bathroom with Mae inside, she had the water running, filling up the tub. He watched her for a moment, as she poured her favorite bath salts into the water. She looked calm. Almost serene. It had been a while since the tension wasn’t tight across her features.
And just as quickly as he thought that, her hand moved low on her belly as she winced.
“Are you still in pain?” he asked, pushing off the door frame.
“A little,” she sighed. “It’s not bad now. They felt like contractions the first few days, but it’s more like period cramps now. And they aren’t as frequent as they were. So, that’s good.”
He reached up, his thumb capturing the tear that rolled down her cheek.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“I’m still bleeding. It's light now, but if you don’t want to get in the bath with me, I understand.” Mae sighed as her eyes searched his.
“Shh.” Stone shook his head, his hand brushing across her hip as his fingers worked to pull her blouse up. The silky white garment was feather light in his touch, an article of clothing easily removed.
“God, you’re so beautiful.” He pressed his lips to her collar bone as his fingers worked the button on her pants. It popped open, and Mae wiggled her hips while her own hands guided the band down her legs.
“Do you really believe that?” she asked, just a second before his lips crashed into hers. The water from the filling bathtub drowned out the noises of their connection, but Stone could still feel the pleasure humming through her body.
“You are more beautiful than ever before, Michaela. I don’t ever want you to doubt that. What you went through, what you are still going through, I don’t know how to describe it. I see how strong you are, and how strong you think you have to be. I just want to take away all of your pain. But I don’t know how to do that. So I’m going to take care of you tonight.”
“I don’t think I can be strong anymore.” Mae closed her eyes, and Stone kissed her forehead.
“You don’t have to be. I’m going to take care of you.” His words weren’t just filler, meant to make her feel better in that moment. They were a promise that had been etched across his soul, and would remain there for the rest of his life.
Mae made quick work of getting him undressed and Stone stepped over the edge of the bathtub, standing with his hand outstretched to help her step into the tub. He sank into the water first, moving so Mae could fit right between his legs. Her back rested against his chest, and he loved feeling the way she relaxed into him.
“This is nice,” she whispered.
