Their afternoon delight had left him feeling very content. They were lying in her bed, no sheets to cover their nudity. He was comfortable in his own skin, but found women tended to be a little more modest. Katherine had been at first, but the signing of the divorce papers had released her inner wild woman. He noticed the difference in the way she walked, holding her head high, with her shoulders back.
He was glad to be a part of the change and hoped to continue to support her as she put Tim behind her. He wasn’t naïve enough to think she would suddenly be over it. There had to be long-term side effects to the abuse she endured. It would take time for her to stop looking over her shoulder all the time and to truly feel as if she could settle down and relax.
“Thank you,” she said, her warm breath brushing over his chest.
He grinned. “Did you seriously just thank me for sex? Because if you did, you’re welcome, but a thank you isn’t necessary. It is I who should be thanking you.”
Her soft giggle shook both of our bodies. “Not that. Thank you for putting me in touch with Meredith.”
“I did nothing more than get my ass thrown in jail. She met you, liked you and really disliked your soon-to-be ex, and decided she wanted a part of kicking his ass to the curb.”
Her sigh was loud and long. “I know this is going to sound strange and it is probably stupid, but I was terrified this morning. I had talked myself out of signing those divorce papers so many times I lost count.”
“Why were you afraid?” he asked, his arm automatically tightening around her, pulling her naked body against his.
Another audible sigh. “I don’t know. After being threatened for years, you start to believe it. He always told me if I tried to divorce him, he would kill me. I knew he wouldn’t kill me, but he would make me wish I was dead. That’s how he controlled me. Death would be an escape. He would never willingly let me escape. I know the divorce papers don’t really change anything and I’m sure he’s going to try and come after me again, but I don’t know, it’s like a divorce gives me some armor. Like I have told the world I am not his wife.”
“I am your armor. I won’t let him near you,” he said, vehemently.
She leaned up and kissed him. “Thank you. But I don’t want you to get hurt and I certainly don’t want you going to jail for me again. That was horrible.”
“I woul
d do it again and again. I’m not going to lie; I really enjoyed hitting him, making him bleed. All I could think about was you and what you endured. I can’t wrap my mind around a man built like that hurting you,” he said, the fury making his blood boil.
She patted his chest. “It’s okay. I survived. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? I’m a stronger person because of what I lived through.”
“You shouldn’t have had to live through anything like that,” he growled.
“Thank you. I know I have you in my corner and I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel. You give me strength,” she whispered, kissing him again.
“I’ll be here for you. No matter what happens, I will always be in your corner. I’ve got you,” he said, squeezing her butt.
“Are you hungry? We skipped lunch and I’m starving. And I want to celebrate!” she said, pulling away and sitting up beside him.
His eyes dropped to her naked breasts, a cheeky smile spreading across his face. “I could eat.”
She rolled her eyes, her arm stretching across her breasts, doing little to actually hide them from his view. “Later, buster. I need food.”
She got out of bed and pulled on some clothes before turning to look back at him, finding him naked and leering.
He grinned again, raising one shoulder. “I wasn’t going to miss the show.”
“I don’t know that I really have anything here to throw together. I’ll just order in. Anything in particular you’re in the mood for?”
She realized the folly of her question a second too late. His eyebrows danced up and down as he stared down at his nude body before looking at her again. “I have a few things in mind.”
Katherine giggled as she walked out of the room, his answer quite obvious. “We have all night, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere,” he shouted from the bedroom.
He chuckled when he heard her giggling. He got up and dressed, throwing on his slacks and undershirt, not bothering with his black dress shirt. He left his socks and shoes off as well. He planned on spending the day holed up here with Katherine and the fewer clothes he had on, the better.
She was standing in front of the large window in her living room, the shape of her body outlined with the light streaming through the glass. He shook his head with awe. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. He loved her humility and her strength. There was so much more to her than the surface beauty. He realized he admired her and there were few people he could actually say that about.
She turned to look at him, her phone in her hands and smiled. “What are you doing?”
“Staring at you.”
Her warm smile encouraged him. He stepped around the loveseat in the room and wrapped her in his arms. He held her close for several minutes, neither of them speaking. There were a million thoughts running through his mind as his heart seemed to slow and fall into the rhythm of hers. They were truly beating together as one.