“Make love to me,” he said, his voice low and husked, his eyes dark in the dim light, glinting with the faintest gold. “Make love to me, so that I know I am forgiven.”
Her answering smile was slow, and glowed in her eyes. She kissed his mouth gently and then eased him into her so that he filled her very being. His hands held hers still.
“If you move,” he said, and the glint in his eye made his meaning clear, “it will be a very swift forgiveness.”
She smiled again, her loosened hair a veil around them. “Be forgiven,” she said.
And moved.
She felt his release, like a slow wave breaking within her, felt her own body begin to pulse around him, find its own release. It was a slow wave like his, spreading through her, its intensity filling her. Their arms were outstretched on either side, fingers meshed together, her head bowed over him.
Long after, as her body returned to her, she gently lowered her torso to his, brushing his lips with hers. They lay like that, still in their union, and she felt tears fill her eyes, fall on to him. She felt alarm go through him.
“No.” She loosed her hand, cupped his cheek. “They are tears of joy, only of joy.”
She loosed her other hand as well, folding both now around his back, as he did of hers. He held her to him, his cheek against hers.
“And joy is all,” he whispered now, “that I will bring you.”
“We will bring it to each other,” she said. And held him close against her heart.
And she to his.
Forever now.
“Mum?”
Dan’s voice was puzzled. Laurel knew why. Usually when he woke in the mornings he trotted into her bedroom, clutching Mr. Teds, to snuggle in with her before they both got up. It was a precious time for them both.
Now it was even more precious. At the hotel she’d panicked, terrified that Dan would find her in Xander’s bed, where she’d had no business being.
But now…
“I’m in here, darling. The big bedroom.”
The door was pushed open, and Dan appeared. Enquiry was on his face. Beside her, Laurel felt Xander stir, not used to being woken by a child. He sat up, yawning.
“Dad?” Dan’s voice was even more puzzled.
“The very same,” Xander confirmed. He held his arms out as Laurel sat up as well, keeping the bedclothes pulled over her torso.
“Why are you here?” Dan asked curiously, clambering up the bed.
“Your mum’s bed is too small for us both,” Xander said.
The explanation seemed to satisfy Dan. He settled himself down on the bed, right in the middle, holding Mr. Teds. He didn’t seem fussed by his father’s presence, and Laurel was glad. Glad for so much. For so very much.
“Are you here for breakfast?” Dan was asking Xander.
“Definitely,” Xander replied. “In fact, I’ll tell you what. How about you and I going down and making us all a special breakfast. What would you like?”
“Pancakes!” Dan said immediately.
“Excellent,” said Xander. He paused. “You’ll have to show me how to make them. We’ll leave your mum to come down when they’re ready.”
“Okay,” said Dan, then slithered off the bed and ran out of the room to put Mr. Teds back on his own bed.
Xander dropped a kiss on Laurel’s head. “See you downstairs,” he said.
