Only in Dreams(67)

“What are you doing?” I ask, shoving him gently, a little startled.

“I’m waiting patiently so I can greet my wife with a kiss on our first morning as a married couple,” he tells me before delivering a devilish grin.

“Why Mr. Wallace, are you trying to put the moves on me?”

“Most certainly, Mrs. Wallace, is it working?”

“I don’t know, keep trying, and we’ll see.” I smile.

Henry laughs softly, leans in close, and grazes my lips with his. The previous night’s lovemaking flashes through my mind. Though Henry now tires much easier, his skills in the bedroom have not diminished with his illness. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect wedding night, other than a groom who isn’t suffering from a brain tumor.

A brain tumor. My husband has a brain tumor. Even though I’d thought about it all the way to the house last night, I refuse to share my anxieties with Henry. There seems to be a lot of things I don’t speak to Henry about these days. I keep telling myself that when he’s well, I will be able to share more with him. However, right now, the last thing he needs is more stress.

Yet, no matter how many times I tell myself the secrecy is for his benefit, I am plagued by guilt. Like what happened between Christian and me. Telling him about what went on in Texas, or even that Christian tried to break up the wedding, will only serve to upset him, which is the last thing I want to do right now.

“Hello? Earth to Paige?” I hear Henry’s voice break through my thoughts.

“Huh?”

“What’s going on with you?”

I look at him, puzzled. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I delivered you a pretty damn good kiss, if I do say so myself. I’ve been nibbling at your neck in such a way I doubt I could even resist myself, and you’re just staring off into space. What are you thinking about in there?”

“I’m sorry,” I begin. “I guess I’m still waking up. Here, try some more, let’s see if you can get my attention.” I shove his head back against the line of my throat.

He convulses slightly with laughter. I feel his hot breath against my neck, sending a chill through my body. “Oh yeah, how’s this?” he asks, and then with wet, full lips begins pressing against my skin, tickling at my flesh and sending shivers down my spine. I arch my back in delight.

“Henry,” I whisper softly, pushing into the motion with which his body is now moving. I can feel the anticipation increasing between my legs.

Suddenly there’s a booming knock. Pulling away, I clutch the sheets to cover my bare breasts. “Is that someone at the door?”

Henry thinks about the question for a moment, and then bowing his head, moans, “Damn it, the chef.”

“What? Who?”

“I hired a chef to come prepare an incredible brunch for us,” he explains.

“Can you tell them to go away?” I ask, frustrated.

“I think that would be rude, don’t you?”

“As rude as not keeping your new wife sexually satisfied on her honeymoon?”

“Oh—now you’re just playing dirty. You stay here. I’ll let her in so she can get started, and I’ll be back in bed before you know it.” Henry explains.

I furrow my brow, confused by what he is suggesting. “You want to have sex while that poor girl is in there cooking for us?”

“Great plan, right?” He smirks. “By the time we get done, we’ll both be famished.

“Are you crazy?” I gasp. “Go let her in. We’ll wait and eat like civilized people, and then it’s back to bed.”

He grins at me. “You’re such a cock tease.”

“Is that right?” I laugh, sitting up and slipping on my robe.

Henry jumps into a pair of sweats, then over his shoulder confirms, “Yes, yes it is.”

“Mrs. Wallace, I’m going to ravage,” he promises and then is out of the room, off to answer the door. I feel a tingle spread through my lower half. He has probably called me Mrs. Wallace a couple dozen times since we exchanged our vows, and I can’t hear it enough. It literally makes my toes curl and my knees weak when he says it.





HENRY AND I have been having such a fantastic time on our honeymoon, I find myself forgetting just how sick he is. He’s no longer the man I left in New York when I headed to Texas. Often, the slightest thing, like an icy breeze picking up off the water, can cause his chest and bones to ache. Though he tries his best not to complain, I can see the pain on his face.

It feels like we just got here yesterday, but it’s already time to return to the city. I can see how much Henry loves it here, and I’d give anything to figure out a way to stay. To shut out New York, the doctors, and hospital visits, and stay here, in this moment together. The real world brings with it reminders of my mistake with Christian and of Henry’s sickness. At least here I’m able to pretend that life is perfect.