by Laury Falter
My eyes snapped open then. “I’m…I’m not wearing any clothes.”
Eran grinned mischievously. “You are a deep sleeper.”
I was. In fact, so much so that I was now undressed and lying in a different bed which was located somewhere outside the city limits of where I’d been the night before.
I sat up, pulling the sheets to my chest because I didn’t trust them to remain against my skin.
To our left was an expansive kitchen with bay windows overlooking a forest of towering pine trees and the latest model appliances. To our far right was a vast great room with windows that presented the evergreen forest beyond as if it were a painting. It was decorated with a high beam ceiling, a state-of-the-art entertainment system, plush leather couches and chairs, and bookcases that ran the length of one wall from floor to ceiling. Directly next to this room was a bathroom that, while had only a narrow door, boasted a stunning marble sink, enormous claw-footed bathtub, and what appeared to be a walk-in closet already filled with clothes.
None of this looked familiar.
“Did we break in to someone’s home?” I asked, wide-eyed.
Eran tossed his head back and laughed vigorously, shaking the king-sized bed. “Take a closer look,” he suggested when he was able to draw a breath.
My eyes surveyed the room again realizing I hadn’t noticed the fireplace. It was one I recognized instantly. How could I not? It was nearly the only thing left from the night Eran and I first made love.
I inhaled quickly. “This…is our cabin.”
Eran was still grinning when he said, “Well, a portion of it anyways. I took out a wall here, a window there.”
“But when? When did you have the time?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t. Before we even left for London, a crew came in and remodeled. One that Mr. Hamilton suggested. The same ones who turned their basement in to a training room.” He ducked his head coyly. “I’ve been planning this for a while.”
I could see that. In fact, I was speechless, which didn’t happen often.
“The refrigerator is stocked, the boat is docked for fishing, and…well, we have two days to decide which we’ll tackle first.”
I bit my lip, trying to compose myself, a challenge considering the butterflies batting around in my stomach.
“Of course,” Eran went on. “There’s always the other option…”
“Which is?” I asked.
“The one in which we stay right here, in this bed, leaving only when our bodies have exhausted themselves.”
The butterflies batted harder.
He smirked. “I think you like that one the best…”
I giggled. It was impossible to keep any feelings hidden from him.
He reached out and placed his hand against my face, cupping my cheek. “That was my choice too,” he whispered softly.
When he kissed me it was slow, patient, tender. He drew me in.
Then his lips parted and he said, “I love you, Magdalene.”
In response, my own lips lifted in a smile. “I love you, Eran.”
We drew breaths at the same time, our chests pressing against each other, our bodies warming with anticipation.
Then we spoke the words together. “For all eternity, my love.”
Which started right about then.
The End
Brief Biography
Laury Falter graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University and a Master’s degree from Michigan State University. She lives with her husband and two stray dogs in Las Vegas. She has been secretly writing for most of her life and only released her first novel, Fallen, after the insistence of her sister, Babs.