“There’s not. It only leads to one thing.” He stops in the middle of the stairs and looks at me. “Just so you know, I’ve never brought another person up here before. Chef Benny knows this space is off limits. Even BJ hasn’t been here.”
Where the hell are we going?
We continue to climb until we reach the top of the stairs, where French doors sit. They have thin, white, silky curtains. While they’re not opaque, I still can’t see where they lead. I’m half hoping for a red room of pain.
He opens them, and I can’t help but smile. It’s a small balcony facing the back of the house. It provides a great view of the stars in the late-night sky, which appear to go on as far as the eye can see. There’s a huge circular hybrid of a sofa and a lounge chair. It’s got a back to it with a small overhang and is filled with pillows and blankets. It kind of looks like a soft, cushiony cloud.
“What is this?” I ask.
He intertwines his fingers with mine. “I don’t have a ton of memories of my mother. You know I was so young when she passed, but I do vividly remember the small second-floor balcony at our old house. I wasn’t allowed out there. My parents called it their adult space, but I used to spy on them late at night when they would spend time out there. They would sit for hours and talk, laugh, dance, kiss, and I’m sure they didotherthings too, though fortunately I never saw that. It was their special space. No television, no phones, no crazy son, and no other responsibilities except spending quality time together. For some reason, it always stuck with me. I didn’t build this house, but I did build this balcony in hopes of one day having someone special to share it with.”
I absorb his words and how much this space must mean to him. “Why did you bring me out here?” I ask with genuine curiosity.
He tilts his head to the side and looks at me as if the answer is the most obvious thing in the world. “Because you matter to me. Because you’re my wife. Because you’re the person I want to share this space with.”
This man is really getting to me emotionally tonight. I’m not sure I can handle it.
His thumb runs across my cheek, wiping away a tear I didn’t realize had escaped. He brings that thumb to his mouth and tastes it.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. Even though I’m in my black bra and thong, and we’re outside, I’ve never felt so much warmth in my life.
He holds out his hand. “Do you want to dance with me?”
Even though there’s no music, I wordlessly nod as I take his hand. He pulls my body to his and wraps his big arms around me, with his comforting hands resting on my back. It’s like a cocoon of safety. Nothing and no one can get to me right now.
I place my hands on the nape of his neck and run my fingers through his hair, which is a little long right now. It’s normally messy, but he styled it nicely tonight. I know he did that for me.
He commands, “Alexa, play wifey.”
I look up at him. “If ‘Waterfalls’ starts playing, I’m leaving.”
I can feel him shaking with laughter. “No, I have something else in mind.”
“You have a playlist namedwifey?”
He smiles. “I made it today, hoping we’d spend time up here together. I wanted to, but I wasn’t going to tell you about it unless I was truly feeling it. This space means a lot to me.”
Oh boy, this man might break me.
“Ordinary” by Alex Warren starts playing on the speakers I hadn’t noticed before.
He smiles. “I couldn’t possibly think of a more perfect song for you.”
“Ordinary?” I question with a heavy dose of skepticism.
“Have you ever listened to the lyrics?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“He wrote it for his wife. It’s about finding anextraordinary partner. Listen to it closely one day.”
I sense none of the usual joking in his tone. He means it. I desperately want to read the lyrics as soon as I can.
“I will,” I promise.
We comfortably sway to the sweet song. I try to listen carefully, but I’m too absorbed in all things Daylen. It must be the pregnancy hormones because I’m so overcome with emotion for this man right now. I’ve never felt closer to another person in my whole life.
His hands move all over my body as if he’s memorizing and cherishing every inch. It’s driving me wild. I can feel his erection growing in his pants just as my own need begins to intensify. With slightly trembling fingers, I begin unbuttoning his shirt until it’s completely open. I need his skin on mine with a desperation I don’t recognize.
