“This is taking longer than I anticipated,” Gabriel grumbled.
“Huuhh,” Elodie agreed. Speaking was difficult, for the man smelled of crisp linen and cold nights under a thousand stars, and every time she inhaled, she tipped dangerously toward dreaming.
“I’m exhausted,” he said. “Can we at least lie down?”
“Good idea.”
Still embracing, they shuffled sideways until they came to the bed.
“Pull back the quilt,” Gabriel suggested.
Elodie reached out one hand to perform the task. The bed was low-set, however, and she was forced to lean, taking Gabriel with her.
“Careful,” he said. “Don’t unbalance us.”
“Of course not.” She tossed back the heavy quilt, and the movement caused them to rock on their heels.
“We’re going to fall,” Gabriel warned.
“We won’t,” Elodie scoffed, and promptly toppled over.
They dropped together onto the bed, or more specifically onto each other on the bed.
The world’s first magnitude ten earthquake took place inside their nervous systems.
“For goodness’ sake,” Gabriel muttered, his breath stirring the hair on Elodie’s crown (and other things farther down). “How have you survived this long?”
“It wasn’t my fault,” Elodie retorted. “You were too tall, and that made me lose my balance.”
“I was too tall,”he echoed amazedly. “Well, I shall endeavor to be shorter in the future. Move farther left, please. There’s a lump in the mattress.”
“Any farther left and I’ll fall off the bed.”
“Nonsense. I’ve got you.”
This announcement was followed by a brief moment of rose-tinted breathlessness. Then Elodie reminded herself that he in fact did not have her. He’d abandoned their marriage, and any metaphorical roses were spiked with thorns. “You’ve got most of the pillows, that’s what you’ve got,” she retorted.
“Stop wriggling.”
“I need to reach my dress hem, it’s shifting up.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Don’t swear.”
“I’m not, I’m praying for patience.”
“But you’re not religious.”
“I’m being driven to it.Mustyou wriggle so much?”
“Yes. The telescope in your trouser pocket is pressing against me.”
“I don’t have a telescope in my trouser pocket.”
“Then wh—Oh.”
Silence slammed down.
