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The words had barely left his mouth before Tyler widened his legs in a sudden movement and the shift dislodged her feet from the rungs. Her body sank lower on him and they both moaned at the sensation.

“Lexi…I trust you.” 

She tried to get her feet back into position but he set up a rhythm that made it impossible. All she could do was hold on to him, let the pressure within her build. She wanted to scream, but she couldn’t. Her lungs lacked air, and she couldn’t focus on anything but Tyler and what he’d said, how he made her feel, until they both cried out.

_________

Tyler wasn't coming home that weekend. During last night’s late-night phone call, he’d broken the news to her, regret clouding his voice, and she'd tired to squelch the stab of disappointment she felt. 

“So are things okay with you guys?” Lily asked her. 

“Don’t you have to go home to your husband?”

“He is working and will be home late today. A few more minutes won’t hurt. Well?”

Lexi shrugged. “They’re…fair.”

“Fair? You’re getting along? Having sex?”

“Lily!”

“Welllll? I don’t want details, just reassurance that you’re both okay.”

“Things are progressing as well as can be expected.”

“Uh-oh. That sounds ominous.”

“We need time to get used to being married.”

Lily set her glass aside and grabbed her purse and keys. “Do you miss him when he's in Olkfield?”

Lexi paused by the refrigerator and fingered the stainless steel front. “Sometimes.”

Like at night when the house grew chilly and too quiet. Or when she hung up the phone after one of their many talks in the dark and she wanted him to be there instead. She even liked the stupid songs he sang in the shower. It was so sweet and sexy in a really weird way.

Lily chuckled, “It's so funny how you keep worrying and expecting something bad to happen,” she said, “You clearly miss him. You're not working this weekend, are you?”

Lexi knew where this was headed. “Yeah, but I don't know if I want to spend my weekend off on a plane.”

“Tyler does it for you.”

Lexi gripped the pull bar on the fridge, her palm sweaty. “You’d better go before Daniel sends out a search party.”

Lily sighed and jingled the keys in her hand. “Okay, okay, I get the hint. Think about what I said, okay?”

After Lily had driven away, Lexi sat and checked her e-mail, making sure there was nothing work related she'd forgotten to do. Then she decided to check flights to Olkfield. To go or not to go, that was the question.

___________

Tyler couldn't believe his eyes when he came home and saw Lexi lying on his couch fast asleep. Pleasure filled him as he set his bag aside and squatted down in front of her. 

“Lexi? Sweetheart, wake up.”

She mumbled something like, “Too tired.”

She had to be exhausted. The baby, the flight and time difference, a hard day’s work. But she was here and he couldn’t stop grinning because of it.

“Let’s go to bed. Come on, up you go.”

He scooped her up in his arms, carried her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed before he went back to get her bag and his computer. Tyler locked up, stripped and then set to work on making her more comfortable, hating the dark shadows he saw beneath her eyes, the way she never fully awoke because she was so drained.

He couldn’t stop kissing her, though. She’d flown to Olkfield and he knew what a concession it was on her part to come to him. Tyler dropped another kiss to the soft, sensitive skin of her neck and shoulder, chuckling softly at the chill bumps that arose on her skin. Pure, soft skin. Her hives were gone? That more than anything had him squeezing her close and burying his nose in her hair. Her hives were gone. Maybe she was getting used to him. Their marriage. The idea of being pregnant.

Snuffling softly in her sleep, Lexi rolled and flung her leg across his thighs, snuggling close to his chest. She inhaled and released a contented sigh. Tired though he was, the feel of her made him hard and achy. His hands began to roam and before long Lexi’s head rose, her thick lashes lifting to reveal the glimmer of her eyes. “I thought I was dreaming,” she complained. “I didn’t think you were ever coming home.”

“If I had known you were here, nothing would’ve kept me away. Why didn’t you call me?”

“Knew you were busy.” She yawned and pressed her nose to his shoulder, her eyes closed. “Don’t know why I came.”

His arms tightened and drew her closer, hoping he knew why. “I’m glad you did.” 

He’d left her T-shirt and underwear on, but now his hands slid over her rump, pushing the material away. 

Unlike the times before, this love making was slow and lazy, both of them tired but needing that intimate connection. And when it was over Lexi fell asleep on his chest, their bodies still joined. Tyler stared up at the ceiling, completely and totally exhausted but unwilling to miss the pleasure of holding her in his arms, praying he was even more closer to her heart.

—-----------

Lexi went to work on Monday morning feeling more hopeful about the future. She felt a stronger connection with Tyler. Lying in bed and watching the apartment's pool reflect moonlight onto Tyler's bedroom ceiling, they’d talked about everything.

When she’d mentioned some of their college adventures, Tyler had started laughing and the movement of his chest bounced her head until she’d lifted it to see his smile. He’d immediately rolled with her, kissing her, making his way down to her stomach and acting silly by talking to the baby. According to him, the baby was going to be called Gigabyte, because their baby needed a nickname.

It had been a great weekend, one that made her think that maybe she and Tyler's marriage might have a chance. She'd hurry up and join him in Olkfield  soon. Definitely something to think about—after she got rid of the headache plaguing her.

“Jeez, stop already,” she muttered to her aching brain. Her head had begun to pound like a teenager with a new drum set and her lower back felt tight and achy, her legs weak. You’re probably sick from breathing in the recycled air on the plane and sore from being stuck in those tiny little seats.