Page 31 of Healing Bonds

“She didn’t look like this, Ryan.” I sank into the comfort of his embrace and closed my eyes, reminding myself that he’d seen all of me and he still loved me, even reminded me of it a moment before.

“I didn’t fall in love with you for your body, Amber. Don’t forget that.” He spun me around and held my chin up with one hand, the other on my waist. “I don’t want that girl anymore. I want the woman standing in front of me, the one who stuck by my side for six years and waited for me. I want the woman—not the girl.” He brushed his lips against mine and unclipped my bra all in one motion.

“It’s just… look at you compared to me.” I pointed at his toned stomach, his hard abs on display.

“They’ll go, too,” he gently reminded me. “I haven’t been training in the gym like I did over there. Maybe you won’t be attracted to me anymore.” He laughed, shooting me a teasing grin.

I huffed. “You know that isn’t true, Ryan,” I reprimanded.

“Then, what are you worried about? Your body will always remain beautiful in my eyes. Never forget that.”

“You won’t be saying that when I’m nine months pregnant,” I mumbled into his chest, lips brushing against his light dusting of hair.

“Oh, you’ll be hot as fuck pregnant—trust me. I won’t let you leave the bed. The thought of you carrying our child sets my blood on fire, Ames.” I reached down to pull my shorts down, leaving me in just a pair of white lace panties that matched my now discarded bra. “You’re telling me both of those women are going to see us in just underwear?” he asked as he shed his jeans and picked up our clothes to put on the counter.

“Some people take everything off, but I’m not comfortable doing that.”

“And you swear they don’t get handsy?” He walked me over to one of the already set-up beds. looking down at it, trepidation filling his gaze.

“Well, none of the ones I’ve gone to, but they might with you. Have you seen how hot you are?” He chuckled and helped me onto the bed. I laid facedown, and he placed the small towel over my butt and kissed up my spine until he was at my shoulders.

“I forgot to mention how much I love your freckles. One day, I’m going to kiss them all.” I felt my body grow hot at the thought. I was covered in freckles…everywhere.

“Might take you all day, Mr. Wilson.” I watched him settle onto his bed, taking great care to cover his perky ass with the small towel, and I giggled.

“If there’s any funny business, I’ll be blaming you, Mrs. Wilson, and you will just have to make up for it in the room as a consequence.”

“Then, I hope something happens.” I blew him a kiss as the door opened. The two women walked around the room, preparing everything. The whimsical music got a notch louder,and then, someone was rubbing my feet and calves with oil. I bit back a groan. That felt soooo good.

“Newlyweds?” the one rubbing my feet asked.

“Two weeks,” I said through the hole around my face.

“Oh, I remember how fun that was. The nonstop sex. My husband was insatiable.” The other giggled, and I blushed.

“Well, enjoy, you two. We’ll be sure to get all the tension out of your muscles so you can continue your fun.”

“Pay extra attention to my wife please. I’m insatiable, too.” Both masseuses laughed. I was ready to sink into the floor at my husband’s playful manner.

At dinner later that night, I felt like I was floating on a cloud. With no tension in my body, I was a new woman. Walking into the fancy restaurant earlier, I knew everyone was looking at me. I had dressed to impress my very sexy husband.

In an all-black, lace dress that rested mid-thigh, with my long, creamy, freckled legs on display, my feet wrapped in gold stilettoes, gold bracelets dripping off my wrists, and my big wedding ring glinting in the bright lights of the restaurant, I looked killer. My red hair was styled in a fancy updo, leaving my neck open, with a small gold chain that he had given me as a birthday present years ago adorning it. I was a sexy image all because he had boosted my confidence and reminded me that I was beautiful.

“You are absolutely stunning, Amber,” he told me for the third time since I walked out of the bathroom an hour earlier.

“Thank you for reminding me. I got so lost in my head that I forgot just how beautiful I can be when I try,” I teased him with a smile.

He scoffed. “Everyone in this hotel agrees with me. The men can’t keep their eyes off of you, even the women,” he whispered, taking a swig of his beer.

I glanced around the room and saw a few stray looks aimed our way before turning back to Ryan. “I’m sorry,” I apologized. “It’s only for you.”

He grabbed my hand and shook his head. “Do you know what a compliment it is that every man in this room is jealous of me?” I took a sip of chardonnay, confused. “I have the absolute honor of having the most beautiful woman in the room as my wife, and they’re all wishing you were theirs.”

I arched a brow at him. “You wouldn’t have said that six years ago. You used to get so angry when people looked too long.”

“I was a child, Ames.” He shrugged. “I’m a man now, and I understand that you, my sweet girl, only have eyes for me. What woman waits six years for a man if she doesn’t love him?” I sighed at his sweet words. He really couldn’t be more perfect.

“I don’t want to leave here,” I said a little while later over our glasses of wine. “We’ve never been this happy, Ryan.” The waiter dropped off a breadbasket and then walked away, and Ryan reached for one, buttering it and handing me half.

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