The house was
completely dark when Kenji steered the car up the driveway. He didn’t expect Felicia
to wait up for him, not at this hour. After turning off the engine and
collecting his luggage, he tapped the code into the security pad. The door
clicked open. Inside the foyer, he hung his coat and proceeded up the stairs.
On the second
floor landing, he paused to listen. Nothing stirred. He moved down the hall and
approached Felicia’s door. Testing the knob, he found it unlocked. Kenji walked
inside and then set his bags down. When he entered the bedroom, Felicia jerked
under the covers. He approached silently and noticed she was still sleeping.
Her eyes moved rapidly under the lids; her body twitched.
Gritting his teeth,
he turned away and stripped out of his clothing. Reluctant to disturb her, he
decided against a shower, knowing she’d wake up. He walked around the bed,
heading for the living room when he heard a muffled cry. Kenji spun around. Felicia
bolted upright in bed.
“Good God,” she
whispered from across the room, hand on her chest.
“I did not mean to
startle you,” he said from the doorway.
“It’s all right,”
she said, wiping her forehead. She pulled the covers down the other side of the
bed. “Tired?”
He nodded.
“Come to bed.”
He moved slowly,
studying Felicia during the approach. When he sat down on the edge of the bed,
she shifted behind him.
Then she touched
his shoulder. “Babe?”
Kenji faced her.
She inched closer and cupped his chin. He stared into her eyes, hoping to quell
the beast writhing inside. Felicia stroked her fingers through his hair. Light,
feathery touches brushed his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pushed
her back on the bed, and set his head against her chest. She was warm and soft,
everything he needed to pull him out of the darkness he faced the last several
days. Her presence calmed him in ways he still didn’t understand.
He shut his eyes,
held her tight, and breathed her in. When he shuddered at the images filling
his head, Felicia kissed his temple and stroked her hands down his back. As he
glanced up, their eyes met again. She looked exhausted, worried, and scared,
although she’d never admit it. Leaning in, he gently pressed his mouth to hers,
wishing he had the strength to confront and comfort her.
“I’m glad you’re
home, babe.”
“As am I,” he
responded.
“I told you I’d be
here.” She smiled sweetly, brushing the hair from his face.
Kenji put his head
back down and clutched her closer. She threaded her legs through his and wrapped
her arms around his shoulders, letting her fingers follow the trail of his
spine. Kenji focused on her. The slight rise and fall of her body as she
breathed. How perfect she felt beneath him. Her gentle caresses soothed him,
and he eventually fell asleep in her sheltered embrace.
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