Something pulled me from my deep, comfortable sleep. Iām not sure what it was, but suddenly I was wide-awake and staring at the shadows made by the light of the full moon through the trees. They played across the ceiling and walls hypnotically and for a long time I watched them and listened to the rhythmic sound of my husbandās breathing.
It was when he began snoring slightly that I finally got out of bed. Snoring drives me crazy and I resisted the urge to wake him. Heād been working so hard and really needed to sleep, I just couldnāt be that self-centered. As I pulled myself from the warmth of our bed, I glanced at the clock. It was just past midnight; Iād only been asleep for about an hour.
The French doors to the balcony were open and a warm breeze wafted over me, scented with the night blooming flowers Iād planted when we first moved into our dream home. I pulled my white silk robe around me and followed the fragrance onto the moonlight-drenched balcony.
Iāve never understood why people describe nighttime as being quiet. Summer nights are filled with sound⦠the wind chimes on the front porch tolled mournfully, countless crickets sang their songs of courtship, and in the tree above me a bird cooed. Was he calling for a mate?
I lifted my face to the sky and smiled up at the moon, breathing in the heady fragrance of the jasmine mixed with the cool earthy scent of the night. The breeze played through my hair with the familiarity of an old lover and pulled my diaphanous robe open. I made no move to cover my nakedness. No one lived close enough to see onto our balcony and there was a strange freedom in being nude outdoors.
Sighing contentedly, I smiled to myself. What was this feeling? Happiness? Bliss? My life was certainly far from perfect, but at the moment every day stresses were nowhere to be felt. I hummed the melody of our first dance from our wedding to myself and leaned on the railing to look upon my flower garden below.
Feeling the sudden need to walk through the dew-dampened grass and commune with my plants and flowers I began to turn to make my way downstairs. An arm around my waist stopped me in mid-motion and I was pulled into my husbandās embrace, his breath hot on my neck. I melted into him, resting my head in the crook of his neck.
āWhat are you doing up, Connor?ā I whispered.
He nuzzled me, kissing my neck. āI woke up to hold you and you werenāt there,ā he said in a soft voice.
The touch of Connorās lips sent charges of electric desire through me and I groaned. My head rolled back against his shoulder as he swept a gentle hand over the sensitive skin between my breasts. With his chin he pushed aside my hair and nibbled on my earlobe. I squealed and the bird in the tree above answered back.
I started to smile, but suddenly Connorās lips were on mine. Our mouths joined and moved against each other. Reaching up with one arm, I pulled him in closer. As our tongues touched I ran my fingers through his silky black hair.
The kiss broke and we said nothing, but just looked into each otherās eyes. In the daylight his eyes would be a warm chocolate brown, but now they were black as onyx in the color leaching moonlight. He traced my jawbone with his thumb, his expression warm and loving. We smiled at each other, not speaking and barely moving.
Slowly and gently, Connor began to caress my breasts. My nipples hardened with his touch. I let my weight fall into his arms and arched backward. His head dipped down as he took one nipple into his mouth and sucked at it gently. I felt my breathing quicken and twisted my fingers in his long hair, silently demanding he increase the pressure.
He complied, sucking the nipple over his teeth, causing me to shudder and whimper against him. With his free hand, he reached down to play with the moisture that had arisen between my legs. He knew exactly where my most sensitive place was and went right for it, stroking the moisture over my clitoris. My hips lurched at the pleasure and I clung to him, groaning softly.