He moved his hand along her unharmed side, feeling the long, slim line of her body. Finally he was feeling the beauty of her, not just seeing. He could have offered passion with his touch, but he turned it to cherishing.

When she began to touch him, she was hesitant and shy, but in the midnight shadows she grew bolder. Her hand moved over him, learning his body and slowly driving him mad with the knowledge that what they were starting could not be completed.

Finally her hand spread out over his heart and rested there as she drifted to sleep.

“Millie,” he whispered her name as he moved into sleep. “Millie, my love.”

Sunday

Sunday

Chapter 31 - Ben

Chapter 31

Ben

Benjamin got up early, as was his habit. He thought of touching Jenny before he left the warm covers, but he didn’t want to wake her. He liked watching her sleep.

She wasn’t young or beautiful in a classic kind of way, but she was precious to him. If they lived another forty years and slept together until they died, he’d always see the girl in her. Life doesn’t give many second chances, but Ben had found his. Everything he thought she did wrong didn’t matter. In an odd way Jenny was perfect just as she was. He couldn’t love her less and, he realized, he couldn’t love her more. She had all the love he had to give.

Closing his hand, he wished he could remember the feel of her a moment longer than his heart would beat. He wanted her soft skin to be the last thing he remembered in this life.

Ben slipped from the bed and pulled on his slacks as he walked to her tiny kitchen. Rummaging through her cabinets he found coffee and made a pot. Part of him felt like he was invading her space, but he guessed since he’d kissed pretty much everywhere on her body, she wouldn’t mind him opening drawers.

While he waited on the coffee he pulled on his shirt and picked up a legal pad on her desk.

With coffee and paper in hand he moved beside the bed. For a moment he just watched her hugging her pillow as if it were a lifeline keeping her afloat in dreams. Her dark ginger hair covered half her face. He had to fight to not straighten it back behind her ear. It had been lighter twenty years ago, but he liked it just the way it was now.

Forcing himself not to touch her, he began to make his list. He was on the third page of the legal tablet when he looked up and saw her watching him with those big blue eyes full of laughter.

Pulling the sheet over her chest, she used her cuddle pillow to prop her head up. “You making a list, Benjamin?”

“I am.” He smiled at her.