The instant he was done, she ran hers along his.
When she was done, he lifted his lips, kissed her nose then dipped his chin and caught her eyes.
“You gonna read, baby?” he asked but he knew her answer.
Still, she gave it to him.
“Yeah.”
He grinned, bent his neck, kissed the indent in her collarbone and slid out.
She slid out of bed and he watched her silk nightie fall over her heart-shaped ass as she walked to the bathroom to clean up.
Chace rolled to his side of the bed, turned out his light and settled in. Then he watched his wife walk back into the room and climb into their bed.
He threw the covers over her.
She grabbed her book.
Chace closed his eyes and fell asleep.
*
An hour and a half later
Chace sensed the light going out and the bed moved as Faye settled into it.
Sleepily, he reached out an arm, hauled her into him, tucking her under him and he curled into her body.
“Done?” he muttered.
Her hand glided down his arm until her fingers found and laced through his.
“Yeah,” she whispered.
“’Night, baby.”
“’Night, honey.”
He felt his wife’s body relax under him as he felt Apollo and Starbuck adjust and settle on and around their feet.
And Chace drifted to sleep knowing that everything was right in the world.
Absolutely everything.
And he knew this because their kids were asleep in their beds under a roof he provided for them doing something he was proud of.
But he knew this more because like the night before, and the one before that, and all of them, every single one since she gave him the gift of her virginity, Chace Keaton and his Faye fell asleep, tucked tight, holding on, together in their bed.
The Colorado Mountain Series will continue
returning to Gnaw Bone
and the story of Graham Reece.
####
About the Author
Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.