"I need to see the men settled," he protested.
"Later."
"Kinsley, honestly."
"Later," I insisted.
I wished I felt up to more than cuddling because there was no telling when I would see my husband again. Unfortunately, I wasn't back to my usual self yet.
Digging his feet in when we reached the thick carpet of the master bedroom, Burke tried to halt us near the door. "Kinsley."
"You're three seconds from whining, Burke. Grow the hell up."
"You realize you're forcing me to nap while telling me to grow up."
"Yep." We'd been awake all night, and neither of us had slept fully in several days. He could suck it up for a few hours. "I can't believe how long it's been since we were here."
"Strawberries."
Understanding, I smiled at him. There was a time when Burke eating strawberries and chocolate off my body was all I had to focus on.
"I'm game if you are," I whispered.
His smile turned wistful, and he pulled me into his arms. "I wish we could, Kinsley."
Sensing his impending flight, I grabbed his hand once more and tugged him to the bed. "Let's sleep for a little while."
Instead of responding, he pulled off his shoes and pants before climbing onto the enormous bed. I did the same, unhooking my bra and feeding it through my sleeves.
The first thing I did when I got on the bed was to move as close to him as physically possible. "Stay with me."
"For a bit," he agreed, encircling me in his arms.
Tears dripped out of my eyes, absorbed into his t-shirt. My throat closed with the agony of his impending departure, but I choked out the words one more time. "Stay with me."
When he held me tighter, I knew the answer was no.
All those months ago, when he first came to me and wanted to be with me, I thought the effort of loving him would be like the utter darkness of a new moon—frightening and overwhelming—yet breathtaking when the stars came out. Between living in fear, learning to forgive and to love him again, having his baby and becoming a true wife and partner, I thought I'd found my footing.
Life had a way of sneaking heartache into the brightness until the only thing left was despair. Though I’d avoided telling him out of a sense of inadequacy, I realized now was the perfect time to tell him how deeply I felt for him.
"I love you," I whispered.
There was no response to my statement. Tilting my head, I found him fast asleep.
And I wept.
Waking alone, a claw of terror gripping my throat at the end of my nightmare, I jumped from the bed and hopped on one foot to pull on my pants. I knew without checking, but I had to see for myself. Racing down the stairs, I found Wyatt, Parker, and Daisy in the kitchen.
Daisy looked up. "Oh, Kinsley, I put Finn down for a nap thirty minutes ago."
"He's gone."
Even without clarification, they understood. Wyatt's expression was one of discomfort. "Yes, an hour ago."
"He just . . . left."
"Um, yes. You knew he wasn't staying, right?"
