Opening Night Jitters
Too long in coming.
Too many years, too many steps forward and even more backward. Too many other responsibilities and voices. Too many warnings and arguments.
Way too long.
But they were almost there.
"Fuck."
Or maybe not.
She stifled a groan as he pulled out. So close.
She opened her eyes when she felt the bed shift, finding his back to her as he pulled on his boxers. "Where are you going?"
"It wasn't meant to happen."
Rising to her knees, she placed her hand on his shoulder. His skin burned red. "Turn around, Danny." She trailed her other hand down his abdomen, but he grabbed it before she could get under the waistband.
"Don't." Barely there.
"It's not as if I haven't seen that before." A week after her retirement from public life and her ability to say the right thing on the spot had evaporated. Kissing the nape of his neck, she whispered, "I'm sorry. Don't go."
He sank to the bed, but wouldn't look at her.
She pressed her nude body against his back, her arms draped around him. "These things happen." One hand stroked his cheek as the other rested over his heart.
"And we're off to a fabulous start." His chin dipped down. "I can't even keep my end up."
She hid her smile against his collar bone. "Your end's probably got stage fright."
"Really not helping," he growled, but the knots in his back and shoulders loosened just a little.
"There are other ways I could help."
He turned his head enough to look at her, the embarrassment fading. "I bet there are."
"Want me to demonstrate?"
Grabbing her hand again before it could descend too far, he raised it to his lips and kissed her palm. "Could we leave it a while?"
"We've lasted this long." Bumping her forehead against his, she continued, "But I do have one request."
"What?"
"Could we either get dressed or under the covers? I'm freezing."
He twisted around, his gaze dropping to her chest, and she slapped him in reply.
Wanting him to feel comfortable, she added, "You can leave your boxers on if you want."
He leaned over and kissed her, before grinning and standing to slide them off. "They might get in the way during rehearsals."
She settled under the covers and held open her arms as he climbed in beside her. His head came to rest against her shoulder and his arms encircled her waist. Stroking his back, she enjoyed the feel of skin on skin. The rest would come when the time was right.