Page 150 of Mountain Grump
Ethan smooths the blanket with his palms, then pulls down the top edge. When he holds his hand out to me, I hand him the pillows.
He sets them in place. “You’re on that side.”
I step out of Ethan’s big shoes and walk around to the far side of the bed. “I thought you haven’t brought women here before?”
“I haven’t.” The bed creaks as I climb into it. “But I’ll always sleep between you and the door.”
The lantern turns off.
The room goes dark.
And my breath catches in my throat.
I’ll always sleep between you and the door.
Putting himself between me and any danger.
Telling me he’ll always do it.
Implying there will be more nights together. Not just a weekend stranded in the wilderness.
The bed creaks again as Ethan climbs in, and I lie on my side, facing him, head settled on the pillow, blanket pulled up over my shoulders.
“Ethan?”
“Yeah?” His reply is close, his body turned to mine.
“I just want you to know I’m on birth control. The arm implant.”
“Good.”
I wish I could see his expression. “Good because…?”
Because he assumed I was?
Because he doesn’t want kids?
“Good because I plan on coming inside you again.”
A sleepy snicker sneaks out of my chest at his seriousness.
Followed by a yawn.
“Ethan?” I close my eyes.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for today.” I feel my body getting heavy with sleep. “I’ll explain it all tomorrow. But… thank you.”
His knees bump into mine. “Are you thanking me for involving you in a plane crash?”
My lips pull into a smile. “It was a controlled emergency landing.”
Ethan’s exhale ghosts over my lips. “Go to sleep, Wife.”
Wife.
What a pleasant word to fall asleep to.
