Page 2 of With You

“Shade.” She uncrossed her legs. “Come here.”

Without even thinking, I went to her and dropped to my knees at her feet. Resting my head on her lap, I breathed her in.

“I miss you,” she whispered.

Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, but no sound left me. I snuggled my face on her lap, taking a deep breath.

I miss you too, baby. I miss you so fucking much.

But I couldn’t say the words.

“Shade.” Meadow ran her fingers through the hair at the base of my neck. “My parents offered to take Andrew for the weekend. They actually offered to take him Thursday through Monday. Now that they’re retired, they’re bored. And it keeps my dad out of trouble.”

I lifted my head, faked a yawn, and rubbed my eyes. But no matter how hard I tried hiding the tears, Meadow always knew. How could she not? She’s my fucking wife. I was an idiot to think she didn’t pay attention. Her father was a retired Navy SEAL. He probably taught her all this shit before she was out of diapers. Even her brother had been in the military.

Pissed at myself, I pulled away from Meadow but not before she caught my hand.

“Shade, please. I need this weekend with you. I need...”

I rose to my full height.

“Shade.” She tugged at my hand. “I needus.”

I looked down at her then. “You have us.”

She scoffed, pulling her hand away.

“No.” I grabbed onto her hand, linking our fingers and lowering back down to my knees. “You do. I promise you do.”

“Do I?” She cupped my cheek. “Every year, we go through this. It’s only getting worse, Shade. I’m worried. I can’t lose you too.”

My heart jumped. I had no idea she felt that way. It made sense. The first year was hard but as time went on, it only became worse. I was terrified that I would forget what Sunny looked like. Or forget the deep timbre of his voice.

“I’m sorry.” I rested my head back on Meadow’s lap because I didn’t know how to do anything else. It had been so long, too damn long, since it was just me and her. I loved our son. I lived and breathed for him, but he was getting older. Andrew was in karate and slow pitch. He was busy. Which made us even more so. “I’m sorry,” I repeated.

“I just want us. I don’t expect things to be perfect. No marriage is perfect, Shade.” She huffed. “Look at me.”

I shivered at the firm tone of Meadow’s voice.

“I just want some alone time with my husband.” Her thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “I want you in every single way, Baby Boy.”

My dick jumped. It had been years since she used that pet name, I almost forgot how much I liked it. But by the way my cock leaked at the term, I really liked it. I liked it a lot.

She tilted her head. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re beautiful.” And she was. She had put on some weight since having Andrew, but the added pounds only enhanced her curves. She was wearing a white tank top that was tucked into a long flowy skirt. It was dark blue with small white polka dots all over it.

“Shade.”

My gaze popped to hers. “Yeah?”

“I love you.” She gave me a small smile.

“Good.” I pushed my face into her lap, blowing out a long breath.

Her breath hitched. “What are you doing?”

Inching my hands up her calves, I pushed the material of her skirt up over her knees and to her thighs. “I miss you. I know life has been hard. We miss Sunny. I know as well that he wouldn’t want us wallowing but fuck him, we can wallow all we want.”

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