Earth(82)

He laughed. "Maybe next time – look, we're almost to the top."

I sighed, pulling myself up the rest of the way with the railing.

Micah helped by pushing on my backside.

I laughed. "Get your hands off my butt."

"It's such a fine butt." He spun me around, pulling me close and keeping me there with a firm grip on my gluts.

He leaned in, nibbling at my ear as he walked me backward to his pillows. I giggled.

Someone cleared their throat from the other side of the room. We both jumped apart like teenagers caught in the act.

"Does this mean my shift is over?" One of the guards looked from me to Micah.

"Yes." Micah smoothed out his shirt, trying to recover some dignity. "Is the watch up top in place?"

The guard nodded. "Been there for an hour. Shift change goes at midnight." The guard glanced at me. "There isn't really any insulation between you and upstairs, so—"

"So keep the noise down," Micah finished for him. "Got it."

My hand went to my cheeks, they were hot.

What am I so embarrassed about? I am an adult for Christ's sake.

"Very well, then. Have a good night you two." The guard took his exit.

As soon as his silhouette disappeared down the corridor of stairs, I erupted in laughter.

Micah put his finger to his lips, then pointed up with his other finger, as if to remind me.

"Oh, please – like you wouldn't want to give them something to listen to." I put my hand on my hip, taunting him.

"Is that a challenge?" He stepped closer again, bending down so his lips were inches from mine. He lowered his voice, whispering, "Or a promise?"

I closed the rest of the distance, sealing the deal with a kiss. It was slow and reassuring and grounding.

This is what Micah does for me; he grounds me. He is my rock, my Micah.

"I love you," I whispered, even as our lips still touched.

"I love you too, Kaitlyn." He pulled away, looking into my eyes. "Let's get married."

That one took me by surprise.

"I'm sorry," he continued. "That just came out. Do you still want to?"

"Get married?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Yes. I mean, that's what we were supposed to do in the States. Will it be legal?" My hands squeezed his arms.

He shrugged. "There really isn't a defined 'legal' anymore, I don't think. I'm not concerned about the paperwork. Let's do it for us."

I smiled. "The winter solstice is coming up…"

"When the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half," he said. "It’s perfect."

"Next week then."

"It's a date." He took my hands, kissing them both at the knuckles.

I turned, leading him to the pillows. I made myself comfortable, folding one pillow in half and propping it under my arm.

Micah still stood. He took off his boots and socks, throwing them aside. Then he lifted the hem of his shirt, baring first his abdomen – then his chest.

"Turn around," I said. He obliged.

Last time, I hadn't gotten a chance to really look at him. He was much thinner than I remembered, but then again, everyone was these days. He had a few new scars. An angry, red welt ran from his shoulder to his hip. "What’s that from?"

He turned the rest of the way to look at me, scratching his shoulder. "Ran into a small mob; somewhere in Missouri. Their weapon of choice was whips."

"Oh my God." I had never imagined what it must have been like for him, alone.

"I managed to get away, mostly intact. The couple I ran into down the road didn't, though." He shrugged and shook his head, as if trying to rid himself of the memory.

I do the same thing. "And that one?" I gestured to his shoulder where a patch of rough, pink scar tissue resided.

"Tried to convince a Fire to join us. He didn't agree." Micah unzipped his pants, turning to face me. "Let's not talk about my scars."

"Well." I toyed with the edge of a pillow. "I have to know what kind of man I am about to marry."

He removed his pants the rest of the way.

"Oh," I breathed. "That kind of man."

He was already hard, the evidence in the intimidating bulge of his boxers.

"Your turn," he said.

I shook my head, my smile teasing. "You're not finished yet."

One of his eyebrows went up. "Fine." He took off his boxers, throwing them at me.

I caught them right in front of my face. "So sexy." I laughed.

He dove onto the pillows, bouncing half of them up into the air. "Now it's your turn."

"Oh, I don't know." I rolled on top of him. "I think we can have some fun – even with my clothes on."