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He heard her question, but the words didn’t fit, not with all the stars around him, or the cold beauty of space, or the fire.
“Grant?”
He struggled to return to Natalie. He knew the dreamglide was gone and he was in bed with her. He’d been behind her, his maw fixed to her neck.
He blinked. He had a sudden memory of how much pleasure he’d felt as he’d come while being behind her, yet on top o
f her.
He smiled. Somehow, the orgasm had sent him on a rocket ride that had carried him through a dozen galaxies.
He lifted up slightly and stared down at her. Though even then it was hard to see her, to really see her. “It was like a dream. I saw things, I saw wonders of astronomy I’d only read about in books and magazines or online. What a mystery the universe is.” He supported himself on his forearms. “Did I ever tell you that at one time I wanted to be an astronaut?”
“No, you didn’t.” She smiled. “But I’m not surprised.”
He released a deep rush of air as though it traveled the entire distance of his boyhood memories. “Yes, I wanted to be an astronaut, build space stations, fly at light-speed.”
He was revealing things only his parents and Renee had ever known. “I guess what I’m saying is I just flew to the stars and it was amazing.”
She stroked his cheek with her hand. Only a faint iridescence remained, and her lemons-and-mint scent had diminished. “It was different for me. Oddly, when you marked me, and I felt that powerful sensation, my feet became rooted to the earth and began to drive down into the soil beneath my house. I felt anchored in Five Bridges as I’d never been before. Isn’t that strange given that you explored the universe?”
He nodded then leaned down to kiss her, but it wasn’t quick. His lips lingered for a moment then he pushed on her mouth until she opened for him. Once again, he drove his tongue inside, wanting and needing the connection. His cock was buried deep, but he was no longer hard. The lovemaking had at last come to an end and yet what remained was sweet beyond words.
~ ~ ~
As Grant kissed her, Natalie tried to understand what she was feeling. Lethargy was on her. She was fatigued from the night’s strife and exertions. The sex had been amazing and here she was in her own bed with Grant kissing her.
He drew back, and she smiled. “So, you went to one end of the universe and came back.” She loved that he’d disappeared in that way, almost unconscious from pleasure. He’d shared his deepest childhood desires of wanting to be an astronaut. “But why didn’t you end up at NASA?”
He chuckled and slowly withdrew from her. For a split second she almost wished she could take the question back. She didn’t want him to leave her body. But there was always this moment during lovemaking, or rather right after, when the separation began.
Life had a way of severing what could be so beautiful then thrusting two people right back in the middle of the essential struggles of life: Earning an income, keeping up a house and vehicle, sustaining a social life, and raising a family. She’d always marveled how she and Aaron could get so caught up in the bliss of sex but be arguing about patio furniture-versus-buying-a-grill about ten minutes later. She thought it one of life’s less-poetic aspects. A real drag.
She didn’t want that with Grant. She wanted the bliss a little bit longer.
But if she couldn’t have that, she wanted to stay close. It would seem she wouldn’t get physical proximity either, since he left the bed.
She sighed. As tired as she was, she didn’t want to return to real life.
Grant wasn’t gone long, however. Instead, he returned with a washcloth and drew the comforter back. “Allow me?” It was a question.
“It took her a moment to understand what he was doing.” She spread her legs and he tucked the cloth between. She met his gaze. “Thank you.”
He then surprised her by returning to the bed, getting close and pulling her against him to recline on his chest.
Her heart melted and once more tears bit her eyes. Who was this man, this would-be astronaut, who was so tender with her?
“I suppose I have to blame Renee that I didn’t make it into space.”
She could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn’t serious. He even chuckled. “Damn, I fell hard for her. But she was a surfer and I knew if I continued with my dreams, she’d leave me behind to chase the next set of waves, somewhere no doubt halfway around the world. I had a choice to make and I never regretted it. I shaped my life to hers, which I know is not the expected thing. But we were right together, and I had enough sense to see how rare that kind of relationship was.”
“I know what you mean. I experienced something similar with Aaron, though as far as I know neither of us gave up a dream for the other. But we got along so well. Our arguments lasted about the length of a song. Mostly, we laughed at the same jokes. That’s what drew me to him in the first place. We were at a party and somebody told the lamest joke, but we both laughed. And that cemented the deal. Okay, he was very handsome, too. And smart.”
She rubbed her fingers over his pecs recalling suddenly how his chest had been covered in his beautiful wolf’s fur when they’d made love. She leaned into him and smelled his skin, loving the lumber scent.
She shifted her hip trying to get comfortable. Something in the bed was bugging her.
She sat up suddenly and looked down. “Grant, why is there sand in the bed?”
