“If I don’t fall asleep, I’ll go to the room next door.”
I take his hands—large, warm, and buzzing with restless energy. “Exiling yourself to another room isn’t the answer. I want you here with me.”
“I want to share a bed with you, Luna. Of course, I do. But it can be… a lot when the insomnia hits. It’s not just lying still.”
“Then we’ll deal with it together.”
His eyes flick down to mine, something honest and reluctant in them. “I’m not good at that. Sharing my problems.”
“Do you want this, DK? You and me?”
“You know I do.”
“Then this is what it means. We share shit. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”
“You don’t have any ugly.”
“I was a second away from going off on you. My temper is not pretty.”
“So you’ve said. But I find that hard to believe.”
I roll my eyes. “Boy, do not test me.”
He laughs, then pulls me into his arms. “Am I forgiven?”
“Are you staying in this bed with me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay then. You’re forgiven.” I slide my hand into his hair. “I read that partnered orgasms can help with relaxation. It’s supposed to release hormones that serve as natural anti-stressors.”
He kisses the side of my neck, nipping the skin. “You had me atpartnered orgasms.”
I blink against the dark in that split second ofwhere-am-I?before remembering I’m at the lake house. It’s deathly still, but something had pulled me out of deep, post-orgasmic sleep.
Now alert, I realize his warmth is missing. I turn over, finding his empty pillow and a pocket of cool space on the sheets where he’d been. If he’s retreated to the other bedroom, I’ll be crushed.
I sit up and see him in the armchair, silhouetted against the moonlight. He’s pulled on a pair of shorts, his head is down, clutching something in his hand.
“DK?” I whisper, not to startle him.
He slowly lifts his head, squinting without his glasses. His gaze is weary in a way that makes my heart ache.
“Hey,” he murmurs, the low gravel of his voice barely carries across the room. “Did I wake you?”
“No. The bed just felt too big.”
“I can come lie with you so you can get back to sleep.”
I ignore his suggestion. He’s a natural at taking care of me, but resists the role in reverse. I climb out of bed, the AC cool against my bare skin. I find my robe, slip it on, and cross to him.
“Did you get any sleep?” I ask, kneeling on the rug in front of him.
“Yeah, but I woke up an hour later. I tried to ride it out next to you, but… I was too wired.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Everything. Nothing.”
